Hey Big Spenders!

Posted on May 3, 2017

Hey Big Spenders!

Outstanding Safari Tents’ catalogue of tents ranges from 7.5m² to over 100m² and includes a substantial collection of luxury furniture.

Growth in demand for glamping accommodation options, such as yurts, is up 13 per cent on last year according to Pitchup.com. Meanwhile bell tents, which bridge the gap between glamping and camping, have enjoyed a 101 per cent growth in bookings as holidaymakers search for more affordable glamping options. A North Herefordshire activity centre is reaping the benefits of its highly successful glamping villages, which have seen year on year growth of over 100 per cent.

Business is booming for Oaker Wood Leisure near Leominster, since it launched its first woodland glamping village in 2014. The park quickly reached maximum capacity, so over the winter of 2014/15 they built a second village. Each village is made up of nine wooden pods, made locally by Jaques International Ltd, and can be booked exclusively by groups which has proved popular with corporate team building groups and stag and hen parties. School and youth groups visits have also increased year on year with the second glamping village meaning Oaker Wood can now accommodate groups of up to 120 young people.

Kate Tudge of Oaker Wood Leisure explains: “We have two glamping villages that each sleep between 12 and 50 people in wooden pods. We only take exclusive bookings so the groups have private use of all the village facilities, including the fire circle, dining and kitchen hut, Scandinavian style barbecue hut, showers and toilets.” She continues: “Our Glamping & Activity weekend package is very popular. This includes two nights glamping and two outdoor activities at a package price of £160 per person. We could sell our weekends in spring and summer several times over, so there is definitely a growing marketing for packaged activity and glamping weekends.”

Inspired by the African experience, Safari Tents are fast becoming one of the most popular forms of glamping accommodation. Pic: Boldscan.

HOME FROM HOME : Glamping has changed markedly in the last few years, with a definitive move into more luxurious interiors, higher specification facilities and the provision of individual toilets and showers. New designs and innovations are constantly evolving and premium quality components and interiors are now the norm, rather than the exception. “Around 65 per cent of the enquiries we get from people who are thinking about adding glamping to their parks or farms never go beyond the initial thought stage. The usual issues include planning considerations, lack of identifiable locations within the parks or lack of understanding within the old guard,” reveals Mark Scott of Clear Sky Safari Tents. “Holiday parks are all about selling caravans and lodges and it is often difficult for existing management structures to fully understand the revolution that is happening throughout the holiday park industry with the UK and Europe.” He adds: “Glamping is a revolution that will continue to grow and develop in all sorts of directions, this is not a fad, it’s a movement led by the networked generation, fuelled by social media and experienced by younger families for a more adventurous holiday experience.”

CHANGING MARKET : Anouk Wanders of Outstanding Safari Tents agrees: “Glamping has not only proved to be a trend, it has changed the holiday industry. “The level of comfort that guests have come to expect is getting higher and higher. For example, private bathrooms was a rare luxury just a few years ago, but nowadays most glamping accommodation features built-in bathroom facilities.” Anouk adds: “The market is going through major changes and we have to adapt very fast. We need to keep developing new structures and need to be innovative to keep up with this increasing demand.” Inspired by the African experience, safari tents are fast becoming one of the most popular forms of glamping accommodation. Great for families, couples or groups, tents offer something extra special for holiday makers and many parks are reaping the rewards of a safari tent investment.

COMPANY CONTACTS

BOLDSCAN Tel. 01823 665849 www.albioncanvas.co.uk

CLEAR SKY SAFARI TENTS Tel. 0845 299 6484 www.safaritents.net

FUTURE ROOMS Tel. 01452 501455 www.futurerooms.co.uk

OUTSTANDING SAFARI TENTS Tel. +31 (0)318 575056 www.safaritents.co.uk

OAKER WOOD LEISURE Tel. 01568 780111 www.oakerwoodleisure.co.uk

YURTS FOR LIFE Tel. 01803 762370 www.yurtsforlife.com

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Fit For Purpose

Posted on May 2, 2017

Fit For Purpose - Holiday Hot Tubs

Hot tubs are the must-have ingredient in the recipe to holiday booking success it has been revealed. According to self-catering specialists Hoseasons, a private hot tub is the number one searched for item on the website, accounting for more than 100,000 searches each month. With thousands of models to choose from, selecting the right hot tub for a holiday let can be a potential minefield. Holiday home owner Lucy Dawson recently invested in two new hot tubs for her two rental properties at Easter Ellister Farm, situated on the Rhinns of the Isle of Islay - an island off the west coast of Scotland.

CEDAR HOT TUBS : Lucy first invested in a circular cedar hot tub for her property – An Linnean – in 2008. The hot tub proved to a be a very popular addition with guests, so Lucy decided to upgrade the hot tub this year and has also purchased a second hot tub for her other property – Easter Ellister. “Having run the two self-catering houses of similar standard and in the same location, I can say without doubt that the house with the hot tub is more popular than the one without. I would say I get at least 25 per cent more bookings for An Linnean and the property is booked up most of the year round,” says Lucy. “This is the main reason why I have decided to install one at Easter Ellister too.

People just want that little added bit of luxury on holiday and for some reason a hot tub hits those buttons!” Lucy purchased the hot tubs from Eagle Leisure, based near Glasgow. She opted for the seven-seater Freedom model and the six person Vantage model out of the Coast Spas stable. Both have full foam insulation and insulated covers to help retain heat. They also feature Coast Spas’ 50sq ft cyclonic pressurised filtration to ensure the guests are sitting in the cleanest possible water. Each of the hot tubs cost around £7,000, but Lucy estimates that she can make most of this money back within ten weeks of rentals of the property.

RotoSpa recommend that holiday hot tubs are changed every five years to keep them in tip-top condition.

“It is a big investment to install hot tubs but I believe them to be an essential part of my business in attracting customers,” says Lucy. “I would always advise other holiday property owners to do their research before taking the plunge though. I paid the price in choosing an internet ill-researched purchase the first time around and had countless problems with the tub over the years. It was very costly to maintain and run. She continues: “You need to make sure you are buying good quality, well made tub that is well insulated and good filtration system. “I would advise going to a reputable spa retailer who knows their stuff. I was incredibly impressed with the customer service and installation service from Eagle Leisure, something you just don’t get when you order online.” Eagle Leisure recommend the Coast Spas range of hot tubs for holiday properties. Their bestselling models for this market are the 7ft and 8ft options, which seat up to six and eight adults respectively and are available from £6,995.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

“There will be some customers looking for a low end hot tub just to say that they have one,” explains Debbie Ekins, Commercial and Communications Manager at Eagle Leisure. “These usually retail between £2,000 - £3,000, but personally I don’t think there are any great quality holiday hot tubs on the market place within this price range. If something seems too good to be true it probably is.” Debbie continues: “On the other hand, we get some holiday owners who realise that a hot tub purchase of £7,000 - £8,000 is an investment. Adding a hot tub allows the property owner to a) charge a higher rental rate and b) rent out the property to full capacity – so should be able to quickly make their money back. Plus they get the peace of mind knowing they have a quality hot tub that the guest will be happy with and that will last them a long time.”

COMMERCIAL USE

Holiday hot tubs should be suitable for commercial use. Pic Easter Ellister Farm.

Over the past ten years, a significant amount of holiday park operators and holiday let owners have purchased and operate what are in fact domestic hot tubs only designed for home, and not intended for commercial use. Commercial spas, the type found at health clubs and spas, are generally much larger than the average portable spa with bigger and better filtration and sanitation systems along with other features that suit much heavier bather use. “It can be tempting to purchase cheap imported tubs but it can be a very expensive mistake if you experience service issues,” reveals Jason Smith, Sales Director at RotoSpa. “Holiday hot tubs drive revenue so they need to be reliable. If they are not you will regret it. My advice is to buy quality, buy once and buy British.”

The British-made RotoSpa range is ideal for holiday use given its durability, low cost, UK support and the ability to specify bespoke features tailored to the individual risk assessment for the site. The RotoSpa Quatrospa and DuraSpa are among the UK’s bestselling holiday let units, which feature Individual auto dosing sanitiser systems and individual sand filters. The autofill and quickdrain system is operated by the touch of a button and enables the water to be completely changed in less than ten minutes.

In terms of life expectancy, RotoSpa recommend that hot tubs are changed every five years, however, the company has installed tubs on holiday park sites that are still going strong some ten years later. When selecting a hot tub supplier, Jason advises: “Choose a hot tub supply partner with a long pedigree of manufacture and service - someone who will listen to your needs and offer solutions to them rather than try and force you into an overpriced unit from their stock with features unsuitable for high demand use. Use someone who will work with you as a partner not just sell you a tub.”

HOT TUB HAZARDS

From an insurance claims perspective, hot tub-related slip and trip injuries are not uncommon. If a holidaymaker slips in a wet area, or even inside the hot tub itself, there’s a potential for them to be quite seriously hurt. “Skin irritation claims are also quite high up on the claims list, from minor rashes to quite serious skin conditions,” says Tom Dallow, Customer Claims Manager at Compass Insurance. “We were particularly surprised by a claim made in relation to a baby getting a rash from a hot tub - but this is certainly not the only claim we’ve received relating to an individual who shouldn’t have been in a hot tub in the first place!”

VITAL IMPORTANCE

Further highlighting the vital importance of managing water health and safety correctly, Compass has had one allegation of Legionnaire’s Disease having being ‘caught’ from a hot tub on record, as well as several claims made related to injuries sustained by suction from hot tub outlets. Says Tom: “Thankfully for all involved, Compass doesn’t receive hot tub related claims in high numbers. Of those we have dealt with, park owners will be interested to note that in many cases no negligence was found, so no pay-out to the claimant was made. “However, we must stress that insurers will struggle to defend parks where written evidence of appropriate hot tub management is not available. A compliant, common sense approach is critical.” If parks carry out appropriate risk assessments, follow relevant health and safety regulations to the letter, keep relevant documentation up-to-date and display clear rules on safe usage for users to adhere to, then there’s no reason why hot tubs should be considered a commercial hazard. You should speak to your insurance advisor to discuss your individual circumstances.

COMPANY CONTACTS

COMPASS INSURANCE Tel. 01452 511 430 www.compass.co.uk

EAGLE LEISURE Tel. 01355 264466 www.eagleleisure.co.uk

ROTOSPA Tel. 0121 354 3428 www.rotospa.co.uk

WELLIS Tel. 01246 559071 www.wellis.eu

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Holiday Snaps – Alex Saul, General Manager at Greenacres, Cardigan View and Garreg Wen holiday parks.

Posted on April 26, 2017

Holiday Snaps - Alex Saul, General Manager at Greenacres, Cardigan View and Garreg Wen holiday parks.

Alex is the General Manger of three holiday parks North Wales. His career began in the nightclub industry, before a brief spell managing health clubs and then joining the holiday parks industry at parks in Cornwall and South Wales. He now looks after more than 1,400 holiday homes across the Greenacres, Cardigan View and Garreg Wen sites. Alex’s downtime is spent with his wife Claire and two children, Annabel and Barnaby. During the summer he enjoys kitesurfing and in the winter he likes to go shooting with his Labrador Floyd.

How is the summer season shaping up for your parks? The 2017 season is looking fabulous; double digit growth in holiday bookings and strong caravan sales mean we are in a great place. I keep seeing reports that it will be the hottest summer in years which would be the icing on the cake.

What are you most looking forward to about the summer season? I think the parks look a bit lost and forlorn when they are closed. I am looking forward to seeing families enjoying themselves, venues full of people having fun, kids riding around on their bikes and the smell of BBQs in the air.

If you had to identify one element, what is the most crucial aspect to the success of the parks? The team - it’s a cliché but so true. Without your team you do not have a business. Even in the age of the internet, people buy from people and relationships are important. They are also the parts of the holiday families remember long after the photos of a sunny day have faded.

What challenges are currently facing the holiday park sector? Competition between parks and the drive to create value for customers will always be a challenge. Things like a weak pound are on our side but we cannot take it for granted, we have to provide great service and high standards if we are going to maximize on the opportunities in front of us.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom? A coach and phycologist called Martin Perry made us do an exercise involving throwing tennis balls around. You stand in a circle throwing to each other and keep adding balls until they start to drop. The lesson is that you can do loads to get a successful catch and it taught me that the responsibility for a successful catch lies with the thrower. In business this means that the responsibility for a team successfully implementing projects, lies with the management.

What has been your most interesting experience in the holiday industry? The variety that I am faced with in a single day is staggering and definitely keeps me on my toes. The best part is getting to know the different types of people we encounter, from the successful entrepreneur who is looking to buy a holiday home to the young family taking a well-earned weekend away.

Where do you see yourself and the park in ten years’ time? I think the next ten years are going to be very exciting and a fabulous time for the industry. New players will come in and for the companies that get it right, great rewards and success will come. I love this industry and in ten years’ time I hope to be doing pretty much the same, enjoying the challenge, working with great people and helping families get the most out of their recreation time.

Where do you go on holiday? I am a keen kite surfer so anywhere there is sun a wind. This year as a family we went to Cape Verde which was amazing.

Wish You Were Here…

Posted on April 26, 2017

Wish You Were Here...

Picture postcards from Cringoed Holiday Park in Llanbrynmair, Mid-Wales…

Cringoed Holiday Park sits alongside the river Twymyn one mile from the small village of Llanbrynmair in the heart of Mid-Wales. A gem of a site in the Twymyn valley between Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons, the area offers a terrific opportunity for bird watching, walking and cycling.

The park itself is owned and run by husband and wife team Paul and Sue Mathers, who have made many improvements to the campsite for tourers, statics and campers since they took over ownership in 2001. “Having owned our own caravan for some years, we decided that we liked the idea of owning our own park and one day we came across an advert in Daltons Weekly – Cringoed was for sale,” explains Paul Mathers. “It was just what we were looking for. Inspiration mixed with overwhelming enthusiasm - we were sold and the deal was done there and then.”

16 years on from a bare field and a near nonexistent income, Cringoed has matured into a successful and well-presented caravan park. It now boasts over 40 static holiday homes, 20 seasonal pitches, casual camping, camping pods, extensive landscaping and modern facilities and even a 4 star badge. The site provides toilets, hot showers, washing-up facilities and a launderette for guests and there is a large children’s play area and a games room with amusements.

Cringoed Holiday Park

Tel. 01650 521237

www.cringoedcaravanpark.wales

Holiday Snaps – Josh Donald Managing Director of South West Holiday Parks

Posted on March 17, 2017

Holiday Snaps- Josh Donald Managing Director of South West Holiday Parks

How is 2017 shaping up for your parks? We are very excited about the 2017 season and feel that the staycation will be stronger than ever with more and more families choosing to holiday in the beautiful South West. Demand is already up on last year for camping, holiday lodges and private lodge ownership.

What challenges are currently facing the holiday park sector? Not just meeting, but exceeding, our customers’ expectations is our greatest challenge. We strive to offer the very best in accommodation, facilities and service and the expectations of our customers are rising at the fastest rate I have ever seen.

How have visitor expectations changed during your time in the holiday business and how have you reacted to those demands? Our customers will not accept poor service or accommodation and they are right. We are constantly re-investing to ensure that we keep ahead of our competition. Customer retention is very important to us and proves that we are getting it right.

If you had to identify one element, what is the most crucial aspect to the success of the park? Our team. Everyone plays their role to ensure the smooth running of the business and we work hard to ensure we pull together and deliver the best parks we can for guests.

Who is the most important person in the business and why? We believe that our customers are the most important people. They are the reason we are in business and what we offer them really matters.

What has been your most interesting experience in the industry? Developing Coast View, Shaldon and taking it from a run-down out-dated holiday camp to a dynamic five star holiday park. We are not finished yet and there is still much to do but the transformation has been incredible and very rewarding to see.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom? My father once told me ‘customer first or you’ll have no customers’ and this has stuck with me ever since, and works because it is so true.

Where do you see yourself and the company in ten years’ time? Still growing, developing and learning I hope. Perhaps with several more parks to add to the SWHP brand but without forgetting that we never wanted to be the biggest; just the best.

Where do you go on holiday? We appreciate how lucky we are to live in Devon but we do spend a lot of time with family and friends on the Isle of Wight. We also love Cornwall, France and Italy but never get to go as often as I would like.

Wish You Were Here

Posted on March 17, 2017

Wish You Were Here

Picture postcards from Pearl Lake Leisure Park, Shobdon in Herefordshire… Run by Glenn and Hannah Jones, Pearl Lake Leisure Park is a luxury country park set around a breathtaking 15 acre glacial lake. The lake is the largest natural lake in Herefordshire and is the crowning jewel to 80 acres of rolling park land that also boasts an exclusive nine hole golf course, a crown bowling green and relaxing woodland walks.

Pearl Lake Leisure Park is being continually improved and updated by Glenn and Hannah and has won numerous awards for their efforts in the time they have been there. As a member of Visit England’s grading system the park has achieved a five star status. The Lakeside Bar Kitchen was revamped last year and the owners are also investing in a new sun terrace for the 2017 season. Children can enjoy the play area, football pitch, skate ramps and recreation field.

In the village of Shobdon there’s a village shop and Post Office that takes care of all the essentials, and the local village pub is just a few minutes’ walk away. Open for a ten month season, March 1st to January 2nd, holiday home owners can even celebrate Christmas and New Year at Pearl Lake. Tourers are welcome and self-catering holidays are available. There are also a wide range of both new and pre-owned holiday homes for sale.

Devon Park Embarks On A Green Safari

Posted on March 17, 2017

Devon Park Embarks On A Green Safari

The owners of Ladram Bay Holiday Park are stepping up their efforts to make the park a haven for flora and fauna, including endangered species.

Visitors to Ladram Bay Holiday Park this year are being invited to enjoy a ‘green safari’ of the grounds where a raft of new wildlife-friendly initiatives are taking place. Last year the park was named by world-famous botanist David Bellamy as a winner of his prestigious conservation award at its top gold level.

Now Ladram Bay’s family owners say they intend to move up another gear in their efforts to make the park a haven for flora and fauna, including endangered species. Holiday guests, it says, will notice many new plantings of native trees, shrubs and flowers – including foxgloves flourishing in fallen trees which have been allowed to naturally decay. At the same time, the park will be removing various non-native species such as laurel – and bolstering its historic hedgerows with new plants such as blackthorn, spindle and hazel.

Credit for much of the work, says Ladram Bay, is due to head gardener Scott Rowe who leads a four-person grounds-keeping team tasked with putting the park’s plans into action. Park director Zoe House says the latest initiatives will add an extra dimension of discovery for holiday guests to enjoy during their stays: “Our family first started welcoming holidaymakers to Ladram Bay Holiday Park more than seventy years ago,” said Zoe. “It was then a farm, and we have never forgotten our agricultural roots and the importance of managing the land in a sustainable way. “Protecting the natural world and its inhabitants is even more important now than it was then, and we try to ensure that the park is as welcoming to wildlife as it is to guests.”

BH&HPA Welcomes New Chairman

Posted on March 7, 2017

BH&HPA Welcomes New Chairman

Paul Searle has been appointed as the new Chairman of the BH&HPA.

Paul Searle, managing director of Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton, North Norfolk, has become the new national chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA). The organisation brings together the owners and managers of some 3,000 park businesses which, according to tourist board statistics, accommodated 13.5 million holidays in 2015.

The figure equates to 30% of all holiday nights spent by domestic holidaymakers in Britain that year. Paul believes that the association he now chairs is stronger today than at any other point in its 60-plus year history: “Ours is an incredibly diverse industry, bringing together businesses of all types and sizes,” he says. “The sector includes many long-established family-owned enterprises, which form the majority of BH&HPA’s membership, as well as major holiday park groups with a national presence.

COMMON GOAL “What binds us together, however, is a common goal – and it’s that of constantly evolving, and refining the standard of the services and facilities we offer to customers. “An important way to achieve this is by parks coming together to share their knowledge and experience, and the association is the perfect platform for facilitating this,” said Paul. Paul heads one of Norfolk’s largest and most popular holiday centres which he manages in partnership with his brother Andrew and sister Joanna.

The family business was founded in 1954 by Paul’s grandfather, Geoffrey, and began life as a modest touring park serving visitors to the popular coastal resort of Hunstanton. Today, Searles provides more than 500 privately owned and rented caravan holiday homes and lodges, as well as 300-plus touring pitches plus luxury timber camping pods. Paul follows his father, Richard, who served as BH&HPA national chairman from 1995 to 1997, and who was appointed MBE for his services to tourism in 2001.

Good Neighbours

Posted on March 7, 2017

Good Neighbours

Artist’s impression showing the planned development at Meadow Home Park.

When Andrew Thornley’s parents diversified from running a bakery to running caravan parks in the 1960s, the ingredients were set for a family-run business that is still going strong almost 50 years later. Olympic Park Homes, as the company is now known, has been in operation for six years although Andrew Thornley has been in the residential park homes business for at least 17 years. Now in his sixties, Andrew is still very active in the business but is gradually passing over the reins to step-daughter Sam Leigh-Jones and her husband Darren Jones.

Six years ago, Sam and Darren took an increased role in the company, initiating a stronger commercial focus that led to them re-branding as Olympic Park Homes. Today, Olympic operates three residential parks - Delamere Grove and Meadow Home Park in Cheshire and Carrwood Park in Lancashire. All three Olympic parks are exclusive to people 50 years or older, are pet friendly and crucially, are set in stunning locations. Meadow Home is the newest and smallest of the three parks, but Sam considers it to be the family’s flagship park. “We bought Meadow Home from another family in June 2015,” explains Sam. “At the moment we have 18 homes there, but we already have planning permission for another seven. I don’t think you could find a more picturesque and peaceful location.”

THIRD TIER Meadow Home Park lies beside the River Weaver and the layout of the park takes full advantage of its natural topography. The development, which will add in a third tier of new homes to replace older models, is planned to start this May. Sam hopes that it will be completed by September. “We’re really excited about this project and also keen to get it completed,” says Sam. Darren, Sam and their two daughters live on the site and take a strong personal interest in their residents.

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Finger On The Pulse

Posted on March 7, 2017

Finger On The Pulse

Hoseasons sells well over a million holidays each year on behalf of its partners, who also benefit from year-round, multi-million pound, multi-media promotional campaigns.

Staying ahead of your competition and showing off your best assets through strategic marketing is an increasingly essential element for a thriving holiday business. Carefully balancing the elements of a successful marketing strategy to suit the tastes of your target audience is key. For that reason, marketing for all businesses, regardless of size, needs to be carefully thought through, and often requires a multi-pronged approach.

“A good marketing strategy is essential for any holiday park, regardless of size or scale,” comments Mark Warnes, Property & Portfolio Director at Hoseasons. “We recognise that owners take much pride in the operational management of their parks and want to ensure that occupancy is at its highest throughout the year. To achieve this, a fully integrated marketing strategy which includes digital and traditional channels is required to fully showcase and promote the USP’s on each park, to the desired audience.” Hoseasons by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is one of the UK’s leading self-catering accommodation specialists, with over 28,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings throughout Britain and Europe including lodges, parks, boats, cottages and apartments.

The brand sells well over a million holidays each year on behalf of its partners, who also benefit from year-round, multimillion pound, multi-media promotional campaigns. Says Mark: “Knowledge, recognition and trust are the most important benefits for any park when partnering with Hoseasons. “The brand is led by people with a flair for marketing and desire to push the boundaries of traditional UK holiday perceptions.

“We realise that customer attitudes to marketing are constantly changing and we ensure that our marketing is fresh, engaging and embraces technology.” He adds: “Our marketing strategy is fluid and we utilise digital methods to drive website traffic and create targeting campaigns that work alongside ecommerce initiatives and traditional channels of print and offline strategies.”

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