Win-Win Appeal

Posted on March 7, 2017

Win-Win Appeal

Commercial swimming pool enclosures offer new opportunities and increased profitability to venues by extending the season, increasing throughput and reducing costs. Pic: Certikin International

The vagaries of the Great British weather can play havoc with outdoor pool time. While outdoor pools are often the main attraction in the summer, during the cooler months they tend to be a no-go area for holidaymakers and can ultimately cost the pool operator, with little or no return on investment. By weather-proofing an outdoor pool owners can not only benefit from year-round pool usage but can also extend the swimming day; a win-win situation for both park owners and their guests.

Commercial swimming pool enclosures offer new opportunities and increased profitability to venues by extending the season, increasing throughput and reducing costs. There are two main types of swimming pool enclosures; telescopic or fixed. A fixed pool building remains in place and ventilation is provided via lift up sides and access is via doors at the end of the building. Changing rooms and shower facilities can easily be incorporated if required. In contrast, a telescopic pool enclosure enables you to fully open the pool and enjoy warm sunny days whilst rolling it back either by hand or using solar powered motors when it turns colder. Both types of pool building can be freestanding or attached to an existing adjacent building.

PLANNING REQUIREMENTS “It’s important to remember that a swimming pool enclosure is not a temporary building and will require planning in sensitive locations as will the swimming pool,” advises David Lawrence, Managing Director of Telescopic Pool Enclosures, who has been marketing retractable enclosures throughout UK since 1991. He adds: “We always undertake all planning and if requested building regulations for our enclosures and accept full responsibility.”

The company has held sole exclusive rights for the ROLAL retractable or fixed swimming pool enclosure for the UK, EIRE and the Channel Islands since 1998 and has installed hundreds of enclosures throughout the UK. The enclosures are the only retractable enclosures designed for glass of either 6mm safety or 16mm sealed units. They are also the only retractable enclosures in the UK using as standard 16mm triple walled polycarbonate, which makes them the most insulated enclosures that offer all year use without any additional heating other than the pool water. Since 2006, the company has also offered another complete range of retractable enclosures with low to medium heights and high, smaller enclosures.

These are not glass, but glazed with either eight or 10mm of twin walled polycarbonate or clear or bronze solid 4mm transparent polycarbonate. “All our enclosures are constructed on site by our own skilled fitters and are done so usually within a two to three week period. Larger enclosures can take longer especially when using glulam beams to allow incorporation of walls, chalets and other buildings,” says David.

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Paperless Policy

Posted on March 7, 2017

Paperless Policy

Leisuredays’ Managing Director, Ryan Wilby, presents a cheque for £15,163 to Barbara Dinsdale, of Heart Research UK, and their mascot Hartley.

A paperless initiative by insurance provider, Leisuredays, has helped the company raise more than £15,000 for national charity, Heart Research UK.

Leisuredays donates £1 to the charity every time a customer chooses to receive their insurance documents by email rather than in the post. The Paperless Policies initiative has raised a whopping £62,908 in the last eight years.

This year, Leisuredays’ Managing Director Ryan Wilby presented the charity with a cheque for £15,163 during Healthy Heart day. The money will help to prevent and treat heart disease across the UK by funding the charity’s work.

“We thought we’d written our biggest cheque last year, but once again I’m delighted that our customers have helped to raise the most money yet to support Heart Research UK’s very valuable work,” said Ryan. “Plus, customers not only receive their insurance documents quicker but they’re also helping to protect the environment too.”

New Income Stream For Caravan Parks

Posted on March 7, 2017

New Income Stream For Caravan Parks

The EV Charge Online charging pedestals from Rolec provide a new income stream to the caravan park.

A revolutionary EV charge point management system which means that EV drivers no longer have to pay any membership, subscription or connection fees and the caravan park operator does not have to pay a licence fee, has been developed by one of the UK’s electric vehicle charge point manufacturers.

The EV Charge Online from Rolec enables EV drivers to simply pull up to a charge point and, using their mobile phone, login to the charge point and pay-to-charge using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal via Rolec EV’s secure back office. GPRS connectivity to the back office is provided by Rolec’s network partner Vodafone, who supply roaming SIM cards designed to lock onto the strongest signal in the area, regardless of network provider. Over 200 businesses have already installed EV charging pedestals complete with the EV Charge Online system.

Rolec EV’s Managing Director Kieron Alsop commented: “These charging pedestals, when used by an EV driver, immediately begin paying money back directly into the caravan park operator’s bank account.” He added: “These self-managing pedestals are easy to install, requiring only an electricity supply in order to provide EV drivers with charging facilities.”

High Praise

Posted on March 7, 2017

High Praise

Center Parcs has achieved double reconition for delivering excellent service.

Short break provider Center Parcs has been recognised by two industry standard organisations for continuing to deliver excellent service to its guests. All five Center Parcs villages retained their five star status from Quality in Tourism whilst the company also maintained its Hospitality Assured Premier position.

Center Parcs achieved an average score of 92 per cent and the Quality in Tourism assessors commented on the high standards of presentation and service throughout and also praised the number of new initiatives and investments made by the business. Paul Kent, Center Parcs Operations & Development Director said: “We’re really pleased to have maintained a five star status from Quality in Tourism across our villages and uphold our Hospitality Assured position. “The recognition from these external industry assessors is really important to Center Parcs and a testament to everyone who works hard to continually deliver excellent service to our guests.”

Show Success

Posted on March 7, 2017

Show Success

The 2017 Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show will take place at the NEC Birmingham on the 8th and 9th of November.

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show has been nominated for the Show Rising Star award at the 2017 Exhibition News Awards. The award celebrates the most promising up and coming trade shows in the exhibition industry and the success of Holiday Park & Resort Innovation over the last couple of years caught the eye of the judges.

Holiday Park Event Director Will Mansfield, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to see our efforts have been rewarded with this nomination. The show smashed all our expectations and has rapidly risen to become the foremost event in the hugely exciting luxury staycation market, and to now be recognised by the industry alongside some of the country’s most outstanding trade events truly caps a dream year for the team.” This year’s event will take place at the NEC Birmingham on the 8th and 9th of November 2017. To book your free ticket and to find out more about the show, visit www.holidayparkshow.co.uk.

Gold Rush For Staffordshire Park

Posted on March 7, 2017

Gold Rush For Staffordshire Park

Adam Breakspeare proudly shows the gold award his family’s park has earned for its quality standards.

The owners of Oakland Holiday Park in Staffordshire are celebrating after the park won the overall gold award in the holiday parks category at the recent Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards. It is the second year in succession that Oakland Holiday Park has scooped the top title. The presentation to the Breakspeare family, which has owned the park for more than 30 years, was made at a glittering ceremony at the Alton Towers Conference Centre.

The park provides luxury caravan holiday homes for private owners, and is also just completing a major refurbishment of its self-catering chalets which are available to rent. The park’s clubhouse has also been given a full makeover this winter, and will be ready to welcome holidaymakers when the park re-opens for the season in March. Partner Adam Breakspeare commented: “Our aim is to provide firstclass surroundings for visitors, and to match these with a high standard of hospitality – both are often mentioned by in our online reviews.

“They are also two of the main criteria in the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards, so naturally we are delighted that the judges were impressed with what we’ve achieved.” He added: “A big share of the credit must go to our team of staff who help us maintain our high standards, and do a great job of making our guests feel at home.”

Park Expansion

Posted on March 7, 2017

Park Expansion

Tingdene is expanding Bedwell Park in Cambridgeshire

Tingdene Parks is expanding one of its Cambridgeshire park home sites with the addition of new plots. Bedwell Park in Witchford is about to see the launch of seven plots on what is already one of the county’s most sort after park home estates exclusively designed for the over 45’s. Works have already commenced to accommodate a mixture of ready to move into homes and vacant plots for customers to design and furnish to their own specification.

The homes which are built to the latest energy saving standards provide low maintenance and can be designed and built to individual specifications, with over 100 floorplans and ideas to choose from. Each home also comes as a turnkey package, to include carpets, curtains beds, kitchen appliances, sofas and chairs providing the opportunity for that truly fresh start in life. By choosing to downsize and move on to these private residential estates has meant that owners have been able to release equity from their previous property, leaving some money in the bank allowing them the opportunity to truly enjoy life.

Diary Dates

Posted on March 7, 2017

Diary Dates

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June.

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire this summer and will once again showcase the latest designs from some of the UK’s leading lodge and park home manufacturers. Taking place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June and with a special trade preview day on Thursday 8th, The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show will have over 50 lodges on display, plus a vast array of other products and services for the park home sector.

Manufacturers confirmed for the 2017 edition include Pathfinder, Manor, Oakgrove, Prestige & Homeseeker, Lodgikol, Pemberton, Tingdene, Sovereign, Stately-Albion, and Phoenix Lodges. A number of both residential and holiday parks will also be represented at the show such as Darwin Holiday & Leisure Resorts, Lakeland Leisure Estates, Berkeley Parks, Haulfryn Group, Kerdene, John Roman Homes, Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Laird Estates Group and Birch’s Park Homes. As always, entry to the show is free and there is free parking on site. The show opens daily at 10am and dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads at all times.

For more information visit www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk.

Matlock Park Gets £1Million Makeover

Posted on March 7, 2017

Matlock Park Gets £1Million Makeover

Haytop Country Park will feature a number of luxury lodge homes.

Residential and luxury lodge park operator, Countrywide Park Homes is investing £1 million into a new development on Haytop Country Park in Matlock, Derbyshire. This is the 15th park to be added to the Countrywide Park Homes portfolio and will see the addition of a number of new luxury lodge homes while retaining its current camping and touring caravan area. The on-site mill house that has survived two World Wars will be renovated into a farmhouse-style tearoom, shop and residents lounge.

The new development is set to attract prospective homeowners from across the country and boost the local economy with the influx of new visitors to the park. Jonathan Harvey a Partner at Countrywide Park Homes said: “We are investing a lot of money in to the park and hope to create luxury affordable homes, whilst also maintaining the history and beauty of the park.” This is one of the first in a line of luxury lodge parks to be developed by Countrywide Park Homes, following the success of Malton Grange Country Park in Yorkshire. Jonathan added: “I’m thrilled to be expanding our portfolio of parks, and am especially excited about this new addition. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside and picturesque towns, the new homes will be the perfect place to make some lifelong memories with your loved ones.”

Recruitment Drive

Posted on March 7, 2017

A major regional recruitment drive has been launched by Shorefield Holidays, a leading tourism business with holiday parks in Hampshire and Dorset.

Recruitment Drive

Shorefield Holidays has launched a major regional recruitment drive to enable further growth of the holiday business. Shorefield, which runs six holiday parks across Hampshire and Dorset, employs more than 250 full-time staff and contributes more than £27m every year to the local economy.

In recent years Shorefield has seen significant growth across its parks, both for holidays and holiday home ownership. Managing Director Simon Pollock explained that with the impact of the staycation trend, and the increased cost of holidaying abroad following Brexit, they are anticipating this growth will continue.

“We are proud of our staff training and development programmes, and especially of our team, many of whom come from the local area. We are an Investor in People and especially want to foster local talent,” said Simon.