SOUTH WEST TOURING SUCCESS

Posted on May 17, 2024

DISPLAYING RECENT AWARDS at the Wareham Park (from left) park managers Adam and Nicky Wake, plus family members Sarah Birch, Tony Birch, Chrissy Bracey and Ben Bracey.

The South West’s top destination for campers and the owners of motorhomes and touring caravans has been officially named as Wareham Forest Tourist Park near Poole. The family-owned business was awarded the top gold accolade against fierce competition in the Camping and Caravanning Park category of this year’s South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Judges announced their decision at the glittering awards ceremony at the Great Hall of the University of Exeter, attended by finalists and sponsors from the tourism and hospitality industry across SW England. Lynmouth Holiday Retreat near Exmoor beat hundreds of other parks to take the silver accolade in the Camping and Caravanning Park category of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

The family-owned business is one of four award-winning holiday parks in Devon, Somerset and Cornwall owned by the family’s 35-year-old business, Coast & Country Parks. The group’s parks provide not just pitches for tents, touring caravan and motorhomes but also luxury holiday homes to own and to rent.

Ian James said everyone was delighted that Lynmouth Holiday Retreat had been singled out by judges as one of the South West’s top destinations for people seeking a perfect rural escape: “What makes us especially proud is that the South West Tourism Award judges looked not just at the quality of our facilities, but also at the high standards of hospitality we provide.

“Delivering this is largely in the hands of our park team, and they deserve a big share of the credit for their crucial role in creating a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere,” said Ian.

TOURISM TRENDS UNDER MICROSCOPE

Posted on March 13, 2024

TOURISM TRENDS UNDER MICROSCOPE

WELCOMING TOURISM minister Richard Lochhead (third from left) to the conference were BH&HPA (Scotland) director Keith Campbell, BH&HPA Scottish policy director Sarah Allanson, and director general of BH&HPA Debbie Walker

Delegates from holiday parks across Scotland gathered in Edinburgh this winter for their annual national conference. Held at Our Dynamic Earth, the event brought together senior figures from many of Scotland’s near 200 parks providing camping, caravan, luxury lodge and glamping holidays. Members of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland), and guests heard from a line-up of guest speakers including Scotland’s Tourism Minister Richard Lochhead.

Welcomed to the conference by association Directors Keith Campbell and John Kirkaldy, the Minister said that parks were doing much to minimise their environmental impact: “Sustainability is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s tourism strategy, and I welcome the steps the holiday parks industry is taking to champion green getaways in order to help achieve our net zero ambitions.

“This year I have visited several parks to see how they work within their communities, and with other local businesses, to provide the best possible visitor experience. “These businesses – and the visitors to campsites, caravan and holiday parks - make a valuable contribution to our national and local economies,” said Mr Lochhead.

Earlier in autumn, Mr Lochhead visited Findhorn Bay Holiday Park on the Moray Firth where electricity is generated by wind turbines, supported by the grid using a green energy tariff. The minister, who was a guest of BH&HPA, made his own contribution to a greener future by planting a commemorative tree to mark what the park described its new series of eco-adventures.

GUEST SPEAKERS
The conference also heard from other guest speakers on a range of different topics impacting on park businesses, many of which in Scotland are long-established family enterprises. Subjects addressed included how parks can best formulate and implement a green energy strategy, and what holiday home manufacturers are doing to make their products more sustainable.

Tourism trends were also put under the microscope, along with an examination of how parks could continue to meet the ever-rising quality expectations of holiday park guests. Running parallel to the conference at Our Dynamic Earth was an exhibition featuring suppliers of goods and services to Scottish holiday parks.

Keith Campbell, owner of Highland Holidays with three parks in Tyndrum, Oban and Ben Nevis, said that in 2023 holiday parks had remained as popular as ever with families and couples. But he added that the industry was by no means complacent, and that parks continued to invest heavily is their businesses to ensure they provided world-class standards of hospitality.

An economic survey produced four years ago and currently being updated found that BH&HPA member- parks in Scotland are part of a sector generating £772 million of annual spending in mainly rural areas, and that the industry also helps sustain over 14,300 full-time jobs.

GOLDEN GLOW FOR PARK HOLIDAYS UK

Posted on March 5, 2024

GOLDEN GLOW FOR PARK HOLIDAYS UK

WITH 56 PARKS across Britain, Park Holidays UK is consistently offering outstanding standards.

Major parks group Park Holidays UK has earned two top quality awards, thanks to guests who say that they consistently enjoy gold standards of service during their stays. The first accolade was the prestigious 2024 Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award which puts Park Holidays UK among a small elite of Britain’s most outstanding holiday providers.

Feefo is one of the world’s most trusted review websites, and its gold award goes only to companies which achieve exceptionally high scores from customers throughout the year. In 2023, said Feefo, almost all guests delivering their verdict on Park Holidays UK gave it a rating of 4.5 or 5 – the maximum score – based on their experiences.

Feefo also gave a special award to Park Holidays UK for delivering 10 years of consistent service excellence. Brad May, Chief Marketing Officer at Park Holidays UK – which operates 56 parks across Britain - said that all members of the staff team deserved to take a bow: “These awards are a fantastic achievement of which everyone at the company can be proud, not least because of what customers are saying in their reviews,” he said.

“Our high quality standards always earn praise from customers, but guests are just as keen to comment on the relaxed atmosphere, friendliness, and hospitality they enjoy. “Making this happen is entirely down to the enthusiasm of our loyal and hardworking teams – and many reviewers say what a great difference our staff make to their stay.

“It’s always our aim to provide guests with the best possible holiday memories, and we are delighted to be exceeding their expectations in so many different ways,” added Brad. Bookings for 2024 have got off to an extremely strong start, he reports, and ownership of holiday caravans and lodges are continuing to grow in popularity.

SIXTY ACTS OF ANNIVERSARY KINDNESS

Posted on October 25, 2023

SIXTY ACTS OF ANNIVERSARY KINDNESS

ROBERT AND RICHARD HARTLEY are celebrating Trevornick’s six decades in business with a grand giveaway.

The family behind Cornwall’s Trevornick Holiday Park will be marking six decades of hospitality with 60 Acts of Kindness to the local community and their loyal guests. So far, these Acts of Kindness have included gifting a free night’s stay at one of Trevornick’s popular self-catering cottages to an inspiring man walking the British coastline to raise money for charity.

The team have also carried out beach cleans, donated to local food banks, built extra bird boxes on site and perked up the much-loved Holywell Bay RNLI Lifeguards on a dreary day with doughnuts. The team has until the end of the year to complete the task of fulfilling all 60 acts.

The Hartley family and their Trevornick team have also been surprising guests with randomly placed ‘Diamond Tickets’. “To celebrate such a milestone for our park, we are giving back to our loyal guests, local community and beautiful natural environment here in Cornwall with 60 Acts of Kindness,” explains Robert Hartley who runs the business, founded by their parents, alongside his brother Richard.

“Diamond Tickets have been hidden throughout the park as a way to reward our wonderful visitors by offering them a fantastic mix of gifts and giveaways,” Richard continues. “So far this year, guests have enjoyed free drinks at on site bar The Farm Club to free holiday stays, and so much more.”

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque village of Holywell Bay on Cornwall’s north coast, Trevornick have been providing holiday experiences for families and travellers since 1963. With its enviable position perched high up on the hill of Holywell Bay with sweeping coastal views across to stunning Gull Rocks and out to sea, the park welcomes over 20,000 guests through its gates every season.

UNLOCKING YOUR BUSINESS POTENTIAL

Posted on October 24, 2023

UNLOCKING YOUR BUSINESS POTENTIAL

Looking forward to an unmissable event...

HOLIDAY PARK & RESORT INNOVATION visitors can explore showcases offering an extensive range of products and services.

If you’re eager to stay ahead in the industry and unlock the latest trends, innovations and strategies to take your business to new heights, then mark your calendar for November 15th and 16th and set your SAT NAV to Birmingham’s NEC! The countdown is on to Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, the UK’s premier event for holiday park and resort professionals at the NEC Birmingham this November 15th and 16th.

The event will once again run concurrently with three other shows – Farm Business Innovation, Family Attraction Expo, and Leisure Food & Beverage Expo. Together, the four shows form the largest event for businesses in the fields of land, leisure, and tourism.

Whether you’re a seasoned industry player, or exploring the idea of starting your own business, join Holiday Park Innovation to discover cutting-edge products, strategies and insights to stay ahead in the leisure, hospitality and tourism industry.

The 2023 event promises to be the best yet, with visitors getting the opportunity to explore exhibition space spanning two halls that showcases an extensive range of products and services essential for building successful holiday businesses, as well as getting valuable updates and inspiration from the show’s insightful speaker programme.

TOURISM SECTOR
With new innovations reshaping the UK tourism sector by improving the planning and booking process, enhancing customer experience, promoting sustainability, and providing valuable insights to businesses, technology is a key theme through the exhibition halls and seminar programme.

Immerse yourself in a world of pioneering innovation, with 420 exhibitors across the four shows showcasing tailored products and services designed to meet your unique needs.

Confirmed exhibitors include Swift – the UK’s largest manufacturer of touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, Hoseasons, TouchWood Play, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Tiny House Pro, Creative Play, Dale Leisure Supplies, Cubicle Works, Clear Sky Safari Tents, Innovative Leisure, Volta Compliance and Go Low Carbon.

Every aspect of providing a first-class holiday experience will be covered – from planning consultancy and booking management software, to safari tents, outdoor play equipment and washroom solutions.

THE HOLIDAY PARK & RESORT Innovation event covers every aspect of providing a first-class holiday experience.

SEMINAR HIGHLIGHTS
The extensive seminar schedule across both days of the show features experts from a wide range of specialisms sharing top tips and advice for start-ups and existing businesses. Across both the Keynote Theatre programme – sponsored by Cottages.com and Hoseasons – and the Seminar Theatre - sponsored by Maxxton – you can hear from dozens of industry experts across 90 sessions.

Tom Clark is General Manager of Brit Stops, and will host a seminar at the show. “From a small family business and passion project, we have grown Brit Stops into an established and recognised brand within the motorhome industry. At the show we’ll share our focus on driving innovation and expansion at Brit Stops and supporting the next chapter of UK motorhome tourism.”

Gillian Hare and Brodie Farrow of Pitchup.com will reflect on post-pandemic trends. “Rather than representing a one-off peak, the pandemic kickstarted a legacy of outdoor holidaying that will continue to benefit the industry for years to come,” says Gillian. “We’ll talk about emerging trends and provide tips on how you can successfully ride the new wave of outdoor tourism, including case studies from those that have been there and done it.”

WITH LONGER OPENING TIMES this year, Holiday Park & Resort Innovation looks to be the best ever.

NEW ZONE
New for this year is ‘Great Taste of the Country’ a dedicated zone for independent food businesses which will feature live culinary demonstrations, providing an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products in action. The line-up includes popular food brands Hello Fresh, Devil’s Bridge Rum, and My Gyros.

Verity Hyland, Events Director for Agriconnect, said “As the UK tourism industry continues to thrive, many business owners are looking to invest in their businesses with new innovations and diversification options,” she said. “Holiday Park & Resort Innovation provides a unique platform to learn from a diverse range of experts, connect with like-minded rural entrepreneurs, and acquire actionable takeaways to enhance the profitability and sustainability of your business.”

With longer opening times this year from 9am to 5pm on day one and 9am to 4pm on day two, entry to Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, and the other three events, is free of charge.

HOLIDAY PARK & RESORT INNOVATION provides a unique platform to learn from a diverse range of specialist suppliers.

REGISTER FOR TICKETS HERE

FAMILY PARK TAKES TOP HONOURS

Posted on February 15, 2023

FAMILY PARK TAKES TOP HONOURS

GARETH ROWLAND and his daughter Kelly, centre, plus members of the park team receive their top park award

The family owners of Holivans, a holiday park near Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire, are celebrating after being crowned as the county’s leading provider of park holidays happily coinciding with their 70th anniversary celebrations. The long-established business scooped the top gold accolade at the Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Awards in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year 2022 category.

Today it provides more than 172 pitches including luxury lodges with private gardens and hot tubs, holiday caravans to rent and own, glamping units, and pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes. Facilities include indoor and outdoor activities for youngsters, plus the park’s popular Tow Bar where families can relax over drinks and enjoy evening entertainment.

“We are immensely proud to have achieved this gold award from Lincolnshire Tourism, not least because we were up against so many other superb parks in the region,” said managing director Gareth Rowland “It is especially important to us as judges were looking not just at the quality of what is provided, but also the standards of service and hospitality on offer to guests. “Delivering this is in the hands of our friendly and hard-working staff team who always go the extra mile for customers, so they must also take a big share of the credit.”

IRRESISTIBLE COMBINATION

Posted on February 15, 2023

IRRESISTIBLE COMBINATION

Pictures and reports from the unmissable Holiday Park & Resort event...

THE HOLIDAY PARK SCENE team has gathered information and contact details for some specialist suppliers who stood out for the Holiday Park SCENE team.

The hotly-anticipated Holiday Park & Resort Show proved to be an irresistible combination as visitors from across the sector flocked to the NEC in Birmingham. November’s two-day business show received a positive response from visitors, speakers and exhibitors alike.

Complementary shows of Farm Business Innovation, Family Attraction Expo and Leisure Food & Beverage ran alongside Holiday Park & Resort, combining their pulling power for an irresistible draw.

Free to attend, more than 11,000 visitors were recorded across the show offerings, with many visitors opting to attend a choice of 140 seminars, 500 hand-picked exhibitors, industry-leading experts and unrivalled networking with a wealth of business development opportunities.

BROAD SPECTRUM
The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show provides you with the unique opportunity to network with 5,257 of the biggest names in the industry. Exhibitors maximise the opportunity to showcase products and services to an array of industry experts and buyers, directly from the holiday destination market.

Exhibitors responded to the current economic climate with an array of advice and information on new income sources, cost savings and ways to increase business efficiency. One of the key ingredients were ways for holiday park and resort owners to diversify and innovate their businesses and operations.

The combined event business awards are a celebration of ideas that are pushing the boundaries in design and service, recognising those that combine an unprecedented blend of innovation, creativity and uniqueness to its user. This year’s competition winners included a cocktail machines that serves up excellent quality cocktails at the touch of a button. Daisy Vending were awarded for their provision of milk and milkshakes featuring its premium milk vending machines.

Inch Perfect Trials saddled up to be first passed the innovation line as an on-line retailer for new and used trial bikes with the added offering of training and experience days The sustainability award celebrated NexGen Heating for its innovative heating solution for applications across multiple industry sectors. Plan your 2023 visit early for the event that returns to Birmingham’s NEC on November 15 and 16. Holiday Park Scene will once again work with the show organisers as a preferred media partner for the event. Autumn issues of the magazine will be distributed at the show.

ADVICE ON ENERGY COST SAVINGS

Posted on October 26, 2022

ADVICE ON ENERGY COST SAVINGS

In a bid to help hospitality with the energy costs crisis, the not-for-profit Zero Carbon Forum is offering free energy saving guidance from its Save While You Sleep initiative. The aim of the scheme is to help businesses, like holiday park operators, reduce their power usage overnight to cut costs and carbon.

UK Hospitality estimates that 10,000 business could shut permanently in the coming 18 months. While bosses of companies owning almost half of the UK’s 47,000 pubs said that thousands of pubs face closure without urgent government support to soften the blow from soaring energy bills.

Mark Chapman, founder of Zero Carbon Forum said: “We look forward to seeing what Government intervention is provided to support our sector, but we want to provide all our knowledge and insight to try to help every operator in the industry during this crisis.

“By sharing the data and analysis gleaned from our members’ overnight energy usage made into a range of accessible resources, including engagement training and checklists, operators can engage their teams quickly to reduce energy waste and save on costs and carbon.” The Save While You Sleep programme was officially launched following member trials, which have realised energy savings per outlet worth £6,000 per annum at 2021 market rates.

SMART METERS
It works by combining energy and carbon analytics with operational training and ongoing coaching. Existing energy smart meter data is run through Zero Carbon Services’ proprietary intelligence platform, to identify energy wastage every day and night.

Advice and guidance is straightforward but impactful with processes to save on energy, via a two -stage ‘10-minute’ shutdown process supported by posters and energy checklists for General and Area Managers.

The Zero Carbon Forum is a non-profit organisation which builds on 10 years of carbon reduction collaboration in the UK’s hospitality and brewing sector. It enables members to reach their decarbonisation targets faster, more efficiently and more cost effectively than acting alone.

For more information visit: www.zerocarbonforum.com and www.savewhileyousleep.world

HELP TO FILL PARK STAFFING GAPS

Posted on April 27, 2022

HELP TO FILL PARK STAFFING GAPS

REDWIGWAM’S LORNA DAVIDSON is heading up a strategic partnership to help restaff the hospitality sector

Hospitality is one of the most significantly impacted industries in the UK following the pandemic. Staff shortages due to isolation remain a challenge in 2022 with some businesses reporting that a third of their workforce are isolating at any one time. Soaring costs, supply chain issues, Brexit and an 80% decline in shift work hours during the pandemic are also factors for the industry.

So Redwigwam, the UK’s largest award-winning platform for flexible staff, has signed a partnership with leading hospitality software company Eviivo to help rebuild the hospitality sector. The company has helped over 5,000 businesses, both small and large, with finding and managing high quality temp staff to fill their shifts. The partnership with Eviivo, which helps over 13,000 hosts, property owners and hoteliers successfully manage properties through its award-winning platform, will help Redwigwam extend its offerings to ease communication services, manage guests and automate tasks for a wide range of B&Bs, hotels, vacation rentals and other independent accommodation.

Lorna Davidson, founder and CEO of Redwigwam, said: “We are looking forward to seeing how we can help bring significant workforce achievements to the accommodation sector together. “Our partnership will help sectors like hospitality to better navigate worker shortages and rising wage costs as well as providing business owners tools to succeed the next time that critical shortages occur.”

WINNING CUSTOMER JOURNEYS

Posted on April 27, 2022

WINNING CUSTOMER JOURNEYS

Value is going to be important to the post-COVID consumer…

GOOD PERSONALISATION of hospitality experience goes beyond money

Figures from leading hospitality tech company Zonal reveal that 80 per cent of consumers are interested in some form of personalisation when visiting hospitality venues. Zonal’s most recent GO Tech report shows that while financial incentives, such as personalised discounts and deals are popular, there are other previously untapped opportunities for hospitality businesses to drive sales and repeat visits through personalisation. The findings highlight both a generation and a gender gap when it comes to what consumers want from personalisation and the data they are willing to share to get it.

Commenting on the findings, Alison Vasey, Group Product Director, Zonal, said: “At its very heart, hospitality is about providing a personal and bespoke experience for every individual consumer. Traditionally this has been done face-to-face and in-venue, but now technology can help venues offer a personalised touch at every stage of the customer journey. “From offering customers discounts on their favourite drink to delighting them with personal touches in venue such as balloons on their birthday, there are numerous ways for businesses to further enhance the great customer experiences the industry is always striving to deliver. “There is perhaps a lack of awareness currently around what a SPRING 2022

THERE ARE NUMEROUS ways for businesses to further enhance the great customer experiences.

WINNING CUSTOMER JOURNEYS NEWS SPECIAL

Value is going to be important to the post-COVID consumer… personalised experience could look like and a wariness around sharing data. However, our research shows that through clear communication and by offering the right incentives, venues can overcome this and create bespoke experiences that drive sales and encourage loyal and engaged consumers.” Across all consumers, the top five most wanted forms of personalisation are:

• Discounts and deals - A third (33%) expect tailored discounts and deals as a matter of course, and nearly half (45%) think they would be nice to have
• Loyalty schemes – Well over a quarter (29%) are interested in a loyalty scheme with rewards that are personalised to their habits and preferences
• Updates - 29% of consumers expect to receive updates about things like the status and timing of their orders, and a further 46% would welcome them
• Recommendations - Around a fifth of consumers now expect to receive tailored recommendations (20%), or to be presented with personalised menus that incorporate their favourite dishes and drinks (19%). Another 44% and 43% of consumers respectively regard these as nice-to have
• VIP perks - One in six (17%) consumers would like the ability to sit at a favourite table without having to ask, and some would appreciate celebratory details like balloons on a birthday The research was carried out in partnership with industry data and insight firm, CGA and tech specialists, Airship.

Karl Chessell, CGA Director - Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA, commented: “As we emerge from COVID, it’s clear that consumer behaviour has changed in some fundamental ways. As they establish new habits in restaurants, pubs and bars, people expect their brands to treat them as individuals rather than numbers. It means that personalisation is increasingly not just a nice surprise— it’s an expected part of a hospitality visit. “Value is going to be important to the post-COVID consumer, especially at a time when disposable income is squeezed. But as our GO Technology research makes plain, good personalisation goes beyond money: it’s about the creation of memorable experiences that show people they are valued.

It will be a powerful driver of loyalty and recommendation in 2022 and beyond, and the brands that can deliver it best will have a huge head start on the competition.” Dan Brookman, CEO, Airship & Toggle, agreed: “Now is the time more than ever to get to know your customer. Personalisation, context of purchase and customer lifetime value are key drivers not only for marketing, but for overall growth. “Taking ALL your customers on a journey that represents your brand, that interacts across all the physical and digital touchpoints will deliver engagement. Be clear in your message, concise in your value exchange and keep it simple for your teams!”

ZONAL
zonal@fsc.uk.com
www.zonal.co.uk