Playground Upgrades

Posted on May 19, 2015

RSS Playground Inspection and Maintenance recently
completed a substantial refurbishment of a 7-tower HAGS SMP play unit at Sundown Adventureland.

Playground Upgrades

The outdoor play area at Sundown Adventureland in Nottinghamshire has recently been transformed into a state-of-the- art play zone, with help from RSS Playground Inspection and Maintenance.

An independent inspection of the play unit identified significant timber decay, leaking from roofs and rusting of metal components. The park’s owners faced an estimated replacement cost of £200,000, but RSS stepped to provide a more cost effective solution.

RSS undertook a full site survey identifying all the defective items and proposed a full refurbishment. The fixed price for the complete refurbishment totalled £76,000, a little over a third of the cost of a replacement unit and took around four months to complete.

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Guests Do Donkey Work

Posted on May 13, 2015

Carers at the Donkey Sanctuary adjacent
to Oakdown Holiday Park near Sidmouth are ready to welcome park guests for a VIP donkey experience.

Guests Do Donkey Work

Guests staying at a top East Devon holiday park can this year enjoy a VIP donkey experience to raise much-needed funds for a local sanctuary.

Oakdown Holiday Park in Weston is offering holidaymakers a behind-the-scenes introduction to the world of Britain’s largest equine charity. The Donkey Sanctuary, adjacent to the park, provides care for around 500 donkeys – many of which have been neglected, overworked or abandoned.

In conjunction with the park, small groups will spend a hands-on morning helping the sanctuary team with a variety of tasks including grooming, walking, feeding and petting. The VIP package, priced at £38.00 per person, also includes a slap-up farmhouse cooked breakfast with a special gift for younger donkey devotees.

Park owner Alastair Franks said: “Donkeys and mules are hardworking animals, and can also be very affectionate – but sadly, they are sometimes the victims of neglect and cruelty.

“But these animals, as our visitors will see, are now leading happy and fulfilled lives in the care of dedicated volunteers who provide all the treatment and attention they need. “For children especially, this will prove a real eye-opener of a morning!” added Alastair.

Plans For Irish Center Parcs Village

Posted on May 13, 2015

Center Parcs has announced plans to open a new holiday village in Northern Ireland in 2019.

Plans For Irish Center Parcs Village

Center Parcs has announced plans to develop a holiday village at Newcastle Wood in County Longford, Northern Ireland.

The new development will feature up to 500 lodges, more than 100 indoor and outdoor activities, a spa, a range of restaurants and the iconic subtropical swimming paradise. The 375 acre site is currently owned by Coillte, the state forestry company and Center Parcs has signed an option agreement with the company.

The new Center Parcs, which is expected to open to guests in 2019, will create approximately 750 jobs during construction. Once open, the €200 million development will have capacity for up to 2,500 guests and will employ up to 1,000 people in permanent jobs. Center Parcs estimates that, when operational, the new holiday village will add approximately €32 million to Irish GDP per annum.

Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “We are thrilled and excited about the prospect of bringing the Center Parcs concept to families in Ireland. “This new Center Parcs will have all of the ingredients that have made us so popular with families in the UK for the last 28 years and I am certain that Center Parcs will be a great success in Longford.

“We look forward to liaising closely with the local community during the next few months to fully share our vision and to explain the huge economic and social benefits that a Center Parcs holiday village will bring to the area.”

Pathfinder Reaches Peak

Posted on May 5, 2015

Pathfinder Homes launched The Summit lodge at the Ideal
Home Show in April.

Pathfinder Reaches Peak

The Ideal Home Show at London’s Olympia proved to be the ideal platform for Pathfinder Homes to launch its new and highly innovative lodge – The Summit.

Visitors to the 18-day show were the first to see the new five star luxury lodge which is inspired by Alpine landscapes and the spirit of Tibet and the Himalayas. Pathfinder Homes attended the Ideal Home Show in partnership with The Dream Lodge Group and welcomed a number of television personalities to the stand to view The Summit, including Channel 4’s George Clarke and BBC’s Melissa Porter.

Oscar Absalom of Pathfinder Homes comments: “The inspiration behind the lodge came from the managing director’s trip to the Alps. Each and every last detail of the interior and exterior of the lodge was considered and scrutinised - there could be no substitute for perfection with the design.

“The response we received at the Ideal Home Show was extremely positive and we look forward to presenting the lodge at other shows during the summer.”

Pathfinder Homes
Tel. 01626 833799
W. www.pathfinderhomes.co.uk

Holiday Scene: Patrick Langmaid

Posted on May 5, 2015

Patrick Langmaid of Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park

Holiday Scene: Patrick Langmaid

Patrick Langmaid is director of Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park near Padstow in Cornwall, owned by his family’s business for over 25 years. Patrick trained as a chartered surveyor, and spent three years working for a property agent in Germany. He then returned to the UK to study for an MBA at Cranfield University, going on to complete a post-graduate marketing diploma before joining Mother Ivey’s. Today he manages the park with the help of his wife Margaret.

How do you see the UK holiday industry at the moment?

These are tremendously exciting times and the industry is, I believe, in very good shape. But the best opportunities are reserved for those who enjoy embracing change – and anyone insisting on just ploughing the same furrow is at risk of being left behind. However, I regret that the punitive taxation system in England does fetter this industry’s ability to market itself more aggressively to overseas markets.

How is the 2015 summer season shaping up?

Many holiday parks experienced a downward trajectory post-2008 which finally bottomed out, at least for Mother Ivey’s, in 2013. The curve is now very definitely up, and bookings for 2015 are racing ahead of 2014, itself a very good year.

What are the main challenges facing the industry?

Some parks in popular seaside areas such as ours are having to adjust to the changing dynamics created by the ban on term-time holidays for children. A more positive challenge, though, is taking advantage of the huge marketing opportunities presented by social media. I also think the hospitality industry as a whole needs to engage more closely with schools and universities to give a more accurate picture of the great career opportunities we provide.

How do you see your business beyond its profit objectives?

We have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility which manifests itself in a number of way. We are a Living Wage employer, provide accredited training and apprenticeship schemes for staff, believe strongly in environmental sustainability, and are active in the local community. We also invest much time and energy in charity fundraising.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom?

Many years ago, my father told me to limit my worrying to those things which I could change and not to waste energy worrying about things that cannot be changed. He gave me the advice when I was struggling with O-levels, but it applies equally to business and to life generally.

Where do you go on holiday?

Almost always within the UK. This year we are going to Rye on the Sussex coast, drawn there by the wonderful scenery in the TV drama Mapp and Lucia which we enjoyed over Christmas. Let’s hope Poldark works its similar magic for Cornwall!

Natural World

Posted on April 24, 2015

It is Forest Park’s commitment to its surroundings, the beautiful scenery and natural attraction of North Norfolk that brings families back to the park each year.

Natural World

Situated on the North Norfolk coastline and nestled amongst 100 acres of woodland, it is Forest Park’s unique mix of coastline and forest, along with its commitment to nature that has made the park a firm favourite among holidaymakers for generations.

Since 1967, owners Simon and Deborah Gurney have run holiday park that it is today. Among its accolades, Forest Park has been awarded a David Bellamy gold conservation award each year since 2001 for helping wildlife to flourish and reducing energy consumption.

"Our location is probably what makes us stand out the most,” comments park owner Deborah Gurney. “We are very proud to be able to offer beautiful scenery which includes sea views and sheltered woodland. Having lived in Norfolk for the majority of our lives we appreciate how precious the unique woodland and coastline is too. The scenery is what makes Norfolk so special so we have an unwavering commitment to nature and conservation too.”

Visitors to the park will spot a range of environmentally friendly initiatives that have been employed around the site, including bird and butterfly boxes, as well as the management of dead trees and forest areas to encourage natural habitats to thrive. The park also uses low energy light bulbs, runs electric buggies, monitors water usage and encourages recycling. It also supports the community where possible by buying from local suppliers and backing local events and sporting clubs.

Today, the park accommodates 250 tourers, motorhomes and campers, complemented by two cottages, a wilderness campsite and over 400 wooden lodges and holiday homes. Open for ten months of the year from March to January, Forest Park welcomes over 20,000 guests each year.

“We welcome a whole host of clientele from couples and young families to group bookings, the three generation holiday and the retired. We are also proud to be a dog-friendly resort to ensure that the whole family can enjoy a break together,” says Deborah.

Forest Park
Tel. +44 (0)1263 513290
www.forest-park.co.uk

Record Funding For Coastal Attractions

Posted on April 17, 2015

Suffolk Coastal district council is one of the areas set to benefit from £36 million of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund. Pic: VisitBritain / Rod Edward.

Record Funding For Coastal Attractions

Seaside towns across England and Scotland are set to benefit from a cash injection of over £45m to boost growth in coastal areas.

A total of 27 coastal towns and villages across Scotland will benefit from £9.58m of UK government funding through the Coastal Communities Fund and a further £36m has been allocated to seaside towns in England. The money will support projects that will create nearly 3,000 jobs and almost 1,500 apprenticeships and training places.

Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury, said: “I created the Coastal Communities Fund because, as someone who grew up on a small island, I know how much difference targeted investment can make to people’s lives. It’s already supported scores of coastal communities from the Highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England.

“Overall, hundreds of communities across the UK will benefit, creating jobs and making sure that some of our most remote and fragile communities share in the economic recovery.”

Among those to benefit will be Blackpool’s world famous illuminations which will receive nearly £2m to help create new light shows that will become a major tourist attraction and create and support nearly 550 new jobs. Tate St Ives will get £3.8m to help extend the art gallery so it can welcome 76,000 new visitors a year and Scarborough’s historic market will get £2.7m to refurbish the market and create space for 30 new businesses creating more than 80 jobs and apprenticeships.

Center Parcs Introduces Google 360° Technology

Posted on April 15, 2015

Center Parcs villages have been mapped using Google Business View technology, including the first fully operational sauna to be virtually toured.

Center Parcs Introduces Google 360° Technology

Center Parcs has become the first UK holiday resort to be comprehensively mapped using Google Business View technology.

The technology allows visitors to the Center Parcs website to virtually explore every square inch of the villages at the click of a button, whether viewing the subtropical swimming paradise or taking a look inside the range of accommodation options on offer.

It took 20 days, over 180 hours and in excess of 25,000 individual images to create the 140 different virtual tours. All buildings have been captured internally, including each of the different restaurants, leisure facilities and Aqua Sana spa.

In combination with Google Street View of all Center Parcs Villages, this is the most extensive use of this technology within the UK holiday sector. Four of the five Center Parcs Villages have been mapped, with the recently opened Woburn Forest set to follow later this year.

Cash Boost For Broadland Sands

Posted on April 15, 2015

Park Holidays UK’s investment at Broadland Sands aims to strengthen the commitment to family-friendly features found across other parks within the group.

Cash Boost For Broadland Sands

Holidaymakers at Broadland Sands Holiday Park in Suffolk will soon be benefiting from improved facilities following a £750,000 investment by the park’s owners Park Holidays UK.

The redevelopment project at the popular seaside park in Corton will see upgrades to the guest facilities and the park’s central holiday complex where a new state-of-the-art entertainments venue will be created.

Tony Clish, director of Park Holidays UK commented: “The facilities at Broadland Sands were already of a good standard, but as a company we are committed to keeping our holiday parks one step ahead of the competition.

“That’s why, after taking over the business, we made it our first task to walk around and draw up a wish-list of changes which would add to guests’ experiences.

“We have budgeted three-quarters of a million pounds for these projects, but we are prepared to let this figure over-run if it gives us the results we want.”

Despite only featuring on the company’s website since the New Year, Broadland Sands is already among the top five parks for bookings.

Mr Clish says that holiday home ownership proved extremely popular last year across his group and that 2015 is likely to see demand rise even further.

Movers And Shakers

Posted on April 8, 2015

The Beverley Holidays management team (back row L-R) Michael Jeavons, Tim Jeavons, Peter Jeavons, (front row L-R) Claire Jeavons, Nicola Furneaux and Gary Furneaux.

Movers And Shakers

Staying one step ahead and keeping abreast of the ever-changing holiday market has proven to be a winning formula for South Devon-based Beverley Holidays.

Owned and operated by the Jeavons family, there are three award-winning park areas which fall under the Beverley Holidays banner, each offering something different for discerning holidaymakers.

Last year the family-run company undertook a major re-brand - changing the names of the areas and upgrading the entertainment facilities on offer. This year will see a further investment of £1 million to increase the luxury accommodation offering.

Claire Jeavons, marketing director and third generation of the Jeavons family comments: “The way that holidaymakers plan, book and take their holiday is constantly changing and there are always new things you need to consider and adapt to. We have always looked ahead to make positive changes and I think this is vital for any successful business.

“We recently simplified the area names to Beverley Park, Beverley View and Beverley Bay to create greater unity. We have also enhanced our entertainment offerings at Beverley Bay and Beverley Park, whereby we have created two distinct venues that complement one another by providing something to suit all tastes,” adds Claire.

In response to the growing demand for luxury accommodation, 26 new top of the range caravans have been added to the holiday park, together with a platinum hot tub lodge to add to its existing lodge fleet.

Claire says: “The holiday park industry is always changing and the introduction of these brand new luxury caravans and our hot tub lodge is all very much in line with the emerging glamping trend."

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Beverley Holidays
Tel. 01803 843887
www.beverley-holidays.co.uk