Safety First For Holiday Hot Tubs

Posted on April 8, 2015

Peter Heffer, director of holiday parks at Lorica Insurance warns hot tub owners to ensure they have the right insurance cover.

Safety First For Holiday Hot Tubs

The increasing popularity and demand for holiday hot tubs can be a double-edged sword for holiday park operators.

Installing a hot tub is a substantial investment that can add real value to a holiday property. Even so, unexpected events can happen which can result in serious damage to the tub or to the bathers. For this reason park owners should be aware of the risks and ensure that they’re fully protected by their insurance policy.

“Firstly, there is the risk of damage to the hot tub itself and an insurer needs to appreciate that they are providing cover for this aspect,” explains Peter Heffer, director of holiday parks at Lorica Insurance.

"For example, is the tub an intrinsic part of the holiday or residential home structure or is it a standalone unit, which is arguably contents.”

Peter adds: “Other important questions to think about include does the sum insured cater for the hot tub? Does the insurer provide full policy cover or are certain losses, such as escape of water and accidental damage, excluded? Will cover operate if the home is sub-let?”

There is also the question of cover for injury to third parties. When it comes to hot tubs there can be increased risk of disease if the tub is not properly cared for and maintained to a high standard. With this in mind, Peter stresses the importance of ensuring that you are covered for legal liability to members of the public should they contract an illness or suffer an injury whilst using the hot tub.

Peter adds: “Lastly, you should consider if your insurance policy involves any special conditions that require you to conform to manufacturers’ safety and maintenance requirements. Whether the hot tub was professionally installed or not can also affect the policy.”

Lorica strongly recommend that you check your individual requirements and cover position with your insurance advisor. Talk to the Lorica team today to be sure you are prepared and fully covered for all eventualities.

Lorica Insurance Brokers
Tel. +44 (0)7827 895671
www.loricainsurance.com

Open Season Showcase

Posted on April 8, 2015

The resident clown on the Holiday Resort Unity stand was popular among the shows younger visitors at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome show.

Open Season Showcase

The UK’s largest start of season holiday showcase, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show descended on the NEC in February and once again proved itself to be an unmissable exhibition.

With over 350 exhibitors and a host of well-known personalities, provided a popular platform for companies to showcase their latest products and innovations. The star-studded line up featured guest appearances from Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell, TV presenter Helen Skelton and DJ and former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler.

Popular TV personalities Ben Fogle and Matt Baker officially opened the show and later took to the Expert’s Theatre for a Q&A session with visitors. Matt, a two times BAFTA winning presenter with a love of the countryside, proved a hit with visitors as he helped to promote the work of The Caravan Club on its stand. Addressing first-day visitors, he said he was encouraged to see so many young people at the show and enthused about the benefits of families getting out and about together.

His counterpart, broadcaster, traveller and adventurer Ben also drew in the crowds as he delighted the audience with accounts of his adventures rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, crossing Antarctica on foot and running across the Sahara.

A highlight of the show was the dog agility displays, which returned to the NEC following the success of last year’s sessions. Demonstrating both agility and obedience, there were performances by Hall Green Retired Greyhound Trust, Romanian Rescue Dogs and Lucy Heath of The Company of Animals to name but a few.

Organised by NCC Events, a wholly owned subsidiary of industry trade body the National Caravan Council and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club, the show brought together all the leading manufacturers, including Bailey, Coachman, Elddis, Lunar, Swift, Trigano, ABI and Adria, not to mention some of the UK’s leading dealers with many special editions to see.

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Hassle Free Moves Add Up With Part Exchange

Posted on April 8, 2015

When Verna and Ricahrd Culpeper visited Scamford Park with a view to investigating park homes, they knew immediately that it was the place for them.

Hassle Free Moves Add Up With Part Exchange

Verna and Richard Culpeper had lived in their three bedroom, semi-detached family home in leafy Harrow for 37 years when their daughter suggested it might be a good idea to move closer to her. As she lived on the west coast of Wales, she was worried that as they became older, with an eight-hour round trip between them, she wouldn’t be able to take proper care of them.

Having spent lots of time in Pembrokeshire over the years, Verna and Richard were familiar with the area, had friends and family nearby and liked the idea of being able to spend their retirement years there. They began to look at suitable properties and dismissed their initial choice of bungalows as they were either too expensive or needed a lot of work.

When they visited Scamford Park with a view to investigating park homes, they knew immediately that it was the place for them. Peaceful, friendly and with stunning views over the open countryside, the Culpepers could see themselves living a fulfilling and happy life there. They could also see that the park owner, Jason Hartley, took real care over the park and its residents’ well-being.

They immediately put down a deposit on the show home that they looked around, an Omar Colorado 44ft x 22ft and put their house on the market, expecting it to sell quickly as it had a big extension, thus making it one of the best properties on the street. At first, everything seemed to be going well and they soon accepted an offer. Unfortunately, the lady who had submitted the offer then became uncontactable and eventually they had to accept that she had no intention of going through with the purchase. Undeterred and with Jason being very understanding about the delay, they put the house back on the market.

Eventually they found another buyer, but unfortunately he messed them around several times, eventually pulling out of the sale as there was no planning permission documentation for the extension, despite the fact that it had been completed 50 years previously.

Verna explains: “We hadn’t sold a house for 37 years and needed some help. Unfortunately we felt that the estate agent was not ‘on our side’ and the situation just got worse and worse”.

Seeing the great deal of stress that Verna and Richard were under, Jason suggested that they might like to think about using Quick Move Properties to part exchange their house so that they could buy the park home.

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Quick Move Properties
Tel. 01793 840931
px@quickmoveproperties.co.uk
www.quickmoveproperties.co.uk

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

Posted on April 1, 2015

West Hayes Caravan Park in Lyme Regis has installed an Endless Summer enclosure over its existing pool to extend its swimming season.

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

Fed up with a seemingly endless round of wet summers, West Hayes Caravan Park in Lyme Regis called in local pool retailer, Isca Pools to install an Endless Summer enclosure over their existing swimming pool to extend the swimming season.

Manager of the caravan park, Carol Bishop, says: “Erecting the enclosure is the best thing we have done in terms of increasing our business. “We have had so many favourable comments from customers about the difference it has made and the fact that they can now enjoy the pool, one of our main attractions, for so much longer, that it is worth every penny spent on it.

“Whereas before we could only open the pool from May to September, now we plan to open it from March to October.”

A textbook installation, the 17.6m x 11.0m, nine bay telescopic enclosure at West Hayes was up and running in just four days. Endless Summer is an experienced British company that manufacture pool enclosures specifically designed to suit the UK climate.

The pool enclosure is made up of a series of modular components which can be integrated to ensure that the enclosure can accommodate almost any shape pool, pool surround materials and adjoining buildings. The flexibility of the design and its adaptability will respond to your most creative and imaginative plans. Besides the standard enclosures, custom designs include retracting, fixed, lean-to, low level and centre opening models.

Richard Kinver, MD of Isca Pools says: “This is the second Endless Summer enclosure that we have installed and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other clients.

“It has surpassed mine and the customer’s expectations and is the ideal solution to the unpredictable British climate. It’s easy to use, unobtrusive and attractive in design.”

Endless Summer
Tel. 0800 083 7495
www.endlesssummer.co.uk

Record Breaking Start To The Year

Posted on March 25, 2015

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park in Devon is just one of a number of parks that saw a boost on bookings during January and February.

Record Breaking Start To The Year

The UK could be in for a bumper tourist season as 2015 got off to a flying start for holiday parks across the country, with many enjoying record-breaking booking figures in the first few weeks of the year.

It is estimated that around a third of all summer holidays are booked during January and February, with early birds looking to snap up the best deals and accommodation on offer.

One of Devon’s biggest independent holiday parks, Ladram Bay Holiday Park, saw a surge in bookings and figures were up by nearly 50 per cent on this time last year. The award winning park on the Jurassic coast saw bookings rise by 46 per cent in the first full week of January and then by 52 per cent the following week, compared with the same period in 2014. The holiday firm has now launched a recruitment drive to meet the anticipated high demand for the tourist season.

Director of Ladram Bay, Zoe House said: “It’s very busy and that’s great news for us and testament to the enduring appeal of the West Country and the work we are doing to continue to improve the Ladram Bay experience whether people are staying with us in holiday homes, apartments, lodges, motorhomes, caravans or camping.

“2014 was very good for us but this year people seem to be making their decisions earlier and not just for their main summer break.”

Mirroring the trend, another of Devon’s popular parks, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park reported its biggest ever online booking day on January 31st, representing an increase of 35 per cent on the same day last year. The park has seen high demand Easter since the school holiday period has been condensed into two weeks as opposed to three in 2014 and also for Spring Bank Holiday as more families are now using it for a second holiday to complement a main summer getaway.

Hoseasons also enjoyed a 16 per cent increase in online bookings as demand for domestic holidays reached peak levels in January. Lodge holidays performed particularly well with bookings up 17 per cent, while boating holidays also started the year well up 12 per cent.

Upgrades Underway At Carlton Meres

Posted on March 25, 2015

The refurbishment of Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Suffolk is due for completion later this month.

Upgrades Underway At Carlton Meres

Guests at Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Suffolk will soon be benefiting from improved facilities and services, after an investment of £250,000 from park owners Lifestyle Living Group.

The extensive eight-week refurbishment and renovation schedule began in January and will see upgrades to the sanitary blocks and swimming pool, plus the installation of new hard-standing touring pitches, a commercial kitchen and a new owners lounge adjacent to the bar. Other enhancements will include new gaming machines and flooring in the arcade, as well as an overhaul of the site entrance, spa area and gym.

David Macdonald, director of Lifestyle Living Group said: “We’re investing a lot of money to improve our flagship site and sincerely hope all our visitors enjoy the changes coming their way.

“All the activities being undertaken are geared towards making life better for people staying at Carlton Meres and we are confident the effort will strengthen our offering and increase the popularity of an already successful park.”

When finished later this month, the development will open up 75 new pitches, taking the total number of spaces for statics up to 219 and tourers to 200.

Holiday Parks Urged To Get Active

Posted on March 20, 2015

In2action works with holiday parks to help them boost their revenue and visitor experience through activities.

Holiday Parks Urged To Get Active

Activity specialists In2action are urging holiday park operators to maximise the opportunity for activity participation and revenue during off-peak seasons.

As the largest provider of activity services to the holiday park sector, In2action works closely with companies to create cost effective leisure solutions that will boost both revenue and visitor experience.

In2action’s top tips for improving activity participation in the off-peak season:

• Widen your market. This can be achieved by introducing non holidaymakers to your site. For example, provide activity packages for local schools, clubs and organisations.

• Keep it fresh. Assess your current activity provision and design new concepts that fit in with the guest profiles during off-peak seasons. Passive activities for older guests and toddler packages are usually a hit in the autumn and winter months.

• Put your customers first. Work with your instructing team to ensure they put your customers at the heart of everything they do. They are some of your greatest assets so train them to upsell activities through word of mouth.

Lakeland Parks Chief Is New Association Chairman

Posted on March 16, 2015

Henry Wild has become national chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA).

Lakeland Parks Chief Is New Association Chairman

The association representing Britain’s £4 billion holiday parks industry is now being headed-up by Lake District leisure business developer Henry Wild.

Henry has become national chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) which brings together the owners and managers of some 3,000 parks.They range from small farm-based camping sites to major park groups, as well as residential parks.

Henry, 44, is a director of his family’s long-established holiday parks business comprising Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside and Moss Wood Caravan Park in north Lancashire. Both parks provide privately owned caravan holiday homes as well as touring pitches – and were among the first to gain the David Bellamy Conservation Award on its inception two decades ago.

Popular Show Returns To Stoneleigh This Summer

Posted on March 16, 2015

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show returns to Stoneleigh Park from 11th – 14th June.

Popular Show Returns To Stoneleigh This Summer

The UK’s biggest show for leisure lodges and residential park homes returns once again to the grounds of Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire this year.

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show 2015 is your chance to view over 50 show homes including the launch of several new lodges and homes from the country’s leading manufacturers.

In addition to the display of homes, a host of suppliers will be exhibiting related products and services including decking, coatings, hot tubs, insurance, refurbishment and garages. The Trade Preview Day is Thursday June 11 and the show will be open to the public Friday to Sunday June 12 to 14.

Entry and parking are free and each visitor receives a complimentary show guide. Keep up to date with the latest show news by visiting www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk

Holiday Snaps: Andrew Howe, Bridge Leisure

Posted on March 12, 2015

Holiday Snaps: Andrew Howe, Bridge Leisure

Andrew Howe is CEO of Bridge Leisure, which owns holiday parks in Cornwall, Yorkshire, Ayrshire and in Moray, Scotland. Andrew has worked in the leisure industry for 17 years, within both independent and plc companies including UK caravan park operator Park Resorts and Sandy Balls Holiday Centre.

How is 2015 shaping up for Bridge Leisure?

We couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the year; a new park acquired; new funding in place for more acquisitions and we are seeing good like for like growth in terms of holiday home sales and holiday sales at our parks. It’s looking like a great year!

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

The sector is in good shape as consumers and the economy gather confidence and momentum. Of course there are winners and losers and those operators with tired parks are struggling to retain ever more demanding customers.

What are the challenges facing holiday parks at present and how are you meeting those challenges?

Two main challenges; red tape and ever increasing regulation. No one objects to the sector being regulated but the burden is growing exponentially and affects good operators perhaps more than the poor operators it is aimed at. Secondly, the sector lacks coordination and a single voice. We have very good trade associations but park operators resist working together which is a shame.

What is the single best marketing or promotional tool for attracting visitors?

The internet – but only if you know what to do with it.

What is the best business advice you ever received and from whom?

Not something addressed to me directly but a quote from a former CEO of Swissair who remarked “if our tray tables are dirty our customers will worry that we don’t service our aircraft engines properly”. It’s worth remembering and encourages a customer eye view of what you are doing; no other view has any lasting relevance.

Who is the most important person in your business and why?

Front line staff; they see our customers and I don’t. It’s the team at the parks who make the difference between happy and unhappy customers.

Where do you go on holiday?

Sounds clichéd but I don’t get many holidays. I like ‘doing’ holidays and skiing particularly.

Anything else you would like to add?

Yes, we are looking for more parks to buy!