Record-Breaking Quarter

Posted on May 4, 2016

Record-Breaking Quarter

Fritton Lake

Hoseasons reported a record-breaking first quarter, posting seven of its best 10 booking days ever during the first three months of the year.

The company saw overall bookings increase by eight per cent compared to the same period in 2015. Lodges and Log cabin bookings were particularly strong, jumping 14.5 per cent and three and four-night short break bookings were also up, rising 11 per cent year on year, with short breaks now accounting for nearly 70 per cent of holidays sold.

Simon Altham, managing director of Hoseasons said: “These figures clearly demonstrate the continuing appeal of the UK luxury short break market for both families and couples looking for a safe, secure and convenient getaway only a short drive from home. Continued investment in the sector means standards of accommodation and facilities have never been so good.”

Hot Tubs Are The Golden Goose

Posted on May 4, 2016

Hot tubs are a highly profitable addition to a holiday letting. Pic: Caldera Spas.

Hot Tubs Are The Golden Goose

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.

“Hot tubs really are the golden goose of the holiday market,” comments Jon Moxon, business development manager at Hoseasons.

“There’s been a meteoric rise in the popularity of hot tub holidays since our first unit went on sale at Faweather Grange, Yorkshire, in 1997. These days there are more than 2,500 lodges and luxury holiday homes with hot tubs across our portfolio, with unit numbers increasing by 21% since 2013.”

A highly profitable addition to a holiday letting, there are however, potentially hazardous pitfalls to avoid before taking the hot tub plunge. Although more affordable, domestic hot tubs are designed solely for home use and are not intended for commercial use. “Avoid the temptation of buying a cheap spa on the internet,” advises Chris Brady of Lincolnshire-based 1 Stop Spas, who is heading up the UK branch of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.

“We come across plenty of customers whose opinion when buying was ‘I only want a cheap spa because I’m only renting it out’. Like most electrical equipment, buying cheap isn’t always cost effective over a few years.”

He adds: “Cheap spas can cost up to ten times as much to run, meaning higher overheads. They are often fitted with cheap components, therefore the reliability is not very good meaning in inconvenient downtime for you and rental customers.”

Industry Returns To The Good Times

Posted on February 23, 2016

Industry Returns To The Good Times

A highly successful year for many, 2015 got off to a good start with an extended spring season and the early onset of summer, which put a spring in the step of many holiday park operators.
Riding the crest of a wave, the holiday park and tourism industries in general are feeling positive and confident as we head into the New Year. Holiday Park Scene magazine asked a selection of leading industry personalities to give their take on 2015 and their predictions and resolutions for the year ahead…

Tim Gibson

Managing director of Haven Holidays

“2015 was very positive for Haven; our business grew by over 6 per cent, with more customers searching out and enjoying their holiday in our luxury end accommodation. As a result, they did pay more for their holiday in 2015 but the improvement in our guest satisfaction scores suggest that they found the extra investment in their holiday well worthwhile.

“The good early season weather certainly helped get the year off to a good start and we were able to maintain the momentum throughout the year. Also, our continued investment in the product both physical and service elements has contributed to an increase in repeat custom which bodes well for the future.

“Looking ahead to 2016, we are already seeing more people choosing to book early to secure their first choice of park and chosen accommodation. Some of our most exclusive units are already very well sold and people will increasingly discover that if they wait, it’ll be too late.

“I hope to spend more time on park this year speaking to our park teams and our guests. I also plan to continue to work smarter, to make sure we continue to deliver our business objectives in the most efficient but also the most enjoyable way possible.”

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New Breaks Are A Breath Of Fresh Air

Posted on February 3, 2016

New Breaks Are A Breath Of Fresh Air

A new range of woodland-based lodge breaks for those looking to make the most of the great outdoors has been launched by domestic holiday operator Hoseasons.

Wanderwood is Hoseasons’ seventh new specialist product range in as many years.

Wanderwood is Hoseasons’ seventh specialist product range in as many years and offers families affordable back to nature escapes at six leafy locations across the UK, including Norfolk, Surrey, Somerset, Shropshire, the Lake District and the Northern Highlands.

All lodges are pet-friendly and include complimentary binoculars, umbrellas and wildlife literature. WiFi is also included and hot tubs feature at all locations.
Hoseasons managing director, Simon Altham commented: “Natural escapes that allow people to forget all about the stresses and strains of everyday life and spend time with those who matter most are exactly the type of short breaks our customers are telling us they want. That’s why we’ve put the work into developing Wanderwood and why we hope it will be a popular addition to the Hoseasons product portfolio.”

Peak Season Booking Boom

Posted on December 15, 2015

Peak Season Booking Boom

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in Devon enjoyed bumper peak season bookings for 2015.

Despite a wet August, the UK’s holiday park sector enjoyed a bumper peak season of bookings this year. The summer was both cooler and wetter than the two previous summers, with temperatures below average and heavy rain at times. But it seems the weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the country’s holidaymakers. In September, Hoburne Holiday Parks revealed a 16 per cent increase in the value of bookings compared to the same period last year, meanwhile Hoseasons celebrated its fifth record summer in a row. Hoseasons managing director, Simon Altham commented: “I don’t think anyone would seriously claim it was a good summer when it came to the weather, but that clearly didn’t affect bookings. “People are more interested in the quality of the accommodation, what’s on offer nearby and having time to catch up with those that matter most to them, rather than the weather. They increasingly want experience-led breaks rather than weather-led ones, so while it’s always nice if the sun is shining, it certainly doesn’t matter if it isn’t.” In Devon, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks saw bookings increase by six per cent compared to 2014 during the summer season.The company had a 99.3 per cent occupancy level throughout the school holiday period, with many holidays booked at short notice. Forward bookings for 2016 are currently running at 19 per cent up on the same time last year. Sales and marketing director, Kevin Darvill said: “2015 has been a superb year for Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks. We enjoyed record sales and excellent customer satisfaction levels and we look forward to another bumper year in 2016,” he added.

Boost In Holiday Cottages

Posted on December 8, 2015

Boost In Holiday Cottages

Domestic holiday giant Hoseasons has added more than 9,000 quality-graded properties to its cottages portfolio.

Hoseasons has expanded its cottages portfolio with the addition of more than 9,000 quality-graded properties. The move means that agents now have access to 11,313 quality-graded cottages across the UK via the agent portal on the Hoseasons website. Tariq Khan, head of trade sales at Hoseasons, says the increase demonstrates the self-catering specialist’s commitment to giving agents and their customers the widest choice possible when it comes to domestic breaks. He said: “Boosting our portfolio in this way not only massively increases the number of cottages available through the agent portal, it also underlines the fact that we offer a true one-stop-shop when it comes to self-catering accommodation.” The extra stock now being made available to agents via www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents was previously available on consumerfacing sister site www.cottages4you.co.uk. “Bringing everything together in one place simplifies the booking process for agents and reinforces the strength of the Hoseasons brand at the same time,” Khan added.

Hoseasons
Tel. 0844 847 1356
www.hoseasons.co.uk

New Glamping Developments

Posted on July 5, 2015

New Glamping Developments

Whitehill Country Park

Ruth Badger, star of BBC’s The Apprentice, marked the official opening of a brand new development of luxury Bouja caravans in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Whitehill Country Park in Devon.

The former Sir Alan Sugar apprentice joined a host of other guests at the family-run holiday park in Paignton to celebrate the official opening of its Bouja range.

Taking the holiday caravan experience to a whole new level, Whitehill is one of only six other parks in the UK to offer the brand new Bouja concept in partnership with Hoseasons.

Described as ‘a new dawn in caravanning’, the boutique caravans feature added luxuries including iPod docking stations, WiFi and a Wii U, plus an outdoor hot tub.

Bunn Leisure Announces Record Year

Posted on May 27, 2015

Bunn Leisure is celebrating its record-breaking 2014 results, which saw an increase in bookings, sales and turnover.

Bunn Leisure Announces Record Year

South coast holiday park Bunn Leisure has announced a record breaking year in 2014, with holiday bookings, turnover and caravan sales all reaching a new high.

The park in Selsey, West Sussex, benefited from last year’s sweltering summer and extended months of opening to post its best ever set of results. The park sold a record 420 caravans with sales up 12 per cent on the previous year. Turnover from bookings at Bunn Leisure and its sister campsite Warner Farm rose significantly, as did income from retail sales and site fees.

The company was also recognised by its industry peers with an award for 20 years of partnership from Hoseasons, a Hoseasons Diamond Award for customer service and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

John Bunn, managing director of Bunn Leisure said: “Our mission is to provide our owners and guests with a fantastic, fun and safe place to enjoy the traditional British holiday and our aim is to always exceed our customers’ expectations.

“Our success in 2014 shows we are getting the formula right – and we are continuing to invest in Bunn Leisure to grow this successful park where people love to holiday and our staff love to work.”

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.

Taking The Plunge

Posted on November 28, 2014

Having their own hot tub is often the highlight of a holiday break for many guests. Pic Master Spas

Taking The Plunge

There is something rather decadent about lying back in an al fresco hot tub with just the gentle bubble of warm water to break the silence – don’t knock it until you have tried it.

Appealing to families as well as couples, for many holiday makers, having their own hot tub is the highlight of their break. Perfect any time of the year, hot tubs are especially indulgent when it is cold outside so add to the lure of an autumn or winter holiday offering.

For holiday park operators, adding a hot tub is an opportunity to enhance visitor appeal and to add a premium to the letting price of the accommodation. Switched on holiday sector marketeers are cashing in on the popular trend with a host of websites and on-line marketing offers, highlighting the added attraction of a holiday hot tub.

The Management of Spa Pools booklet insists that a hot tub in a commercial environment needs to have a continuous chemical feeder built into the spa
to continuously treat it with disinfectant.

Hoseasons is among them, currently offering more than 750 holiday options with a hot tub. On-line searches of holiday accommodation with hot tubs spring up a multitude of websites such as www.hottubholiday.co.uk and www.forestholidays.co.uk all majoring on hot tubs as an added attraction. Potentially profitable, there are however, many pitfalls to avoid before taking the plunge and adding a hot tub to your holiday offering.

Shrewd operators and owners will look before they leap when it comes to showing duty of care not to mention doing the necessary sums to ensure a profitable bottom line.

“The best advice I can give holiday operators is to keep it simple and only invest in hot tubs if they can provide or include service, within a daily maintenance routine, to ensure safe water and correct settings,” advises Stephen Weller, of Master Spas, one of the UK’s longest serving suppliers.

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