Hot tubs

Lap Of Luxury – Holiday Hot Tubs

Posted on November 18, 2015

Lap Of Luxury

UntitledAppealing to families as well as couples, for many holidaymakers, 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 to 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.

When Jenni and Andrew Thomas opened the doors of their idyllic 300-acre working farm, Castle Pren, in rural mid-Wales to holidaymakers the first thing on their shopping list was two hot tubs. The couple called on the services of Three Counties Pools & Spas in Hereford, who recommended the stunning Caldera Vacanza Vantos. Open since May, the park had almost full occupancy through the summer and into autumn.

Jenni says: “Caldera hot tubs have proved a wonderful business asset - the customers absolutely love them. Regardless of the weather, or the time of day they are in use. They are a great investment.”

2Will Welch of Three Counties Pools & Spas adds: “The hot tubs were easy to install with no access issues. We have installed numerous Caldera spas for holiday park settings now and they have all proved highly successful. As soon as the tub is in the correct position, the water fill is started so that by the end of the install, the tub is full and heating and full instruction can be given on tub operation and water chemistry.”

Chesterfield-based Superior Spas recently supplied 26 hot tubs to a holiday park in Devon. The park was charging around £40 per night for each holiday let, but with the addition of the hot tubs the fee has increased to £100 per night.

Superior Spas sales manager Chris Cave says: “We offer discount on bulk orders, so holiday park owners are looking at an average cost of between £2,300 and £2,700 for a good quality hot tub with bulk discount applied. These will last for between five and ten years, if maintained properly, so it really is a worthwhile investment.”

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Show Visitors Spoilt For Choice

Posted on June 26, 2015
The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show took place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire in June.

Above: The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show took place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire in June.

Show Visitors Spoilt For Choice

Visitors from across the country descended on Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire last month to visit the 2015 World of Park & Leisure Homes Show – the biggest in the show’s history.

With over 50 homes on display from some of the UK’s major manufacturers in the leisure lodge and park homes industry, the visitors were spoilt for choice at the four day outdoor exhibition.

The feel good factor was evident among exhibitors and the trade preview day was an ideal opportunity for park owners, site managers and others working within the industry to visit the show ahead of the general public.

As in previous years, the 2015 show was a one-stop-shop covering all aspects of park life. A varied selection of exhibitors were on hand to offer expert advice and guidance on choosing the right park and the right lodge or park home to fit any budget.

Omar Park Homes celebrated its 50th year in business with a cake cutting ceremony and drinks reception.

Above: Omar Park Homes celebrated its 50th year in business with a cake cutting ceremony and drinks reception.

A highlight of this year’s show was a pop-up holiday park created by park and holiday home specialists Pathfinder Homes. Located at the main entrance to the show and aptly named the Pathfinder Garden Quarter, the area was equipped with aweinspiring gardens, luxury lodges and a courtyard, and featured some of Pathfinder’s most popular lodges – The Summit, Keeper’s Lodge, Meadow View and Country Retreat. In fact, The Summit lodge was voted ‘Ultimate Lodge of the Year’ at the show for its innovative design and evolutionary detailing.

Mike Wills, Pathfinder Homes MD stated: “We are delighted to have won the Ultimate Lodge of the Year Award for the third consecutive year. The industry is experiencing such an exciting period and we are proud to continue to innovate the standard.”

Meanwhile Omar Park Homes celebrated its 50th anniversary at the show with a special cake cutting ceremony and the launch of its brand new park home – ‘The Anniversary’.

Aside from lodges and park homes, there was plenty of information and advice on refurbishment, maintenance and of course those must-have little luxuries such as spas and hot tubs.

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World of Park & Leisure Homes Show
Tel. 01789 491451
www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk

Exceeding Expectations

Posted on May 20, 2015
Carmenta offers the ideal solution for bespoke projects – both indoors and out.

Carmenta offers the ideal solution for bespoke projects – both indoors and out.

Exceeding Expectations

They say the trick to full occupancy in the holiday business, is knowing what the punters want…even before they do! Case in point – holiday spas and hot tubs. Once considered an unnecessary nuisance – these days, switched on marketeers, vow the addition of a hot tub will increase the likelihood of an on-line booking by 70 per cent.

Where spas and hot tubs lead, wellness now follows whetting an appetite for sauna, steam, experience showers and a host of relaxation treatments. Leading UK suppliers, Anapos, report a sharp spike in wellness project enquiries in the past nine months. “The increase in interest in the home wellness market puts more pressure, in turn, on commercial venues to constantly raise the bar but they will always look at return compared with investment.

Martyn Wood, national sales director at Anapos Thermal Spa Equipment advises holiday park operators to think carefully about the target audience of their spa offering and recommends providing a bolt-on children’s area, to keep the kids entertained while the adults enjoy the spa. “A good spa facility will attract customers from far afield, so it’s worth investing to put your spa ahead of others in the area.

“The appeal of a spa is the peace and quiet, so keeping to an ‘adults only’ policy is advisable. However, on a holiday park the majority of guests will more than likely be staying with children, so I would suggest offering a children’s play area or club to keep the children amused while the adults enjoy the spa facilities.”

Holiday parks can also benefit from opening the spa up to non-residents. Offering spa day packages and spa weekend breaks can be real money spinners if charged at premium spa prices. For those that are looking to expand their spa offering, or to add a new spa, Martyn suggests offering a selection of elements that will make your spa stand out from the crowd: “As a starting point, a basic spa should ideally include a hydro pool, a minimum of three thermal cabins, around four to six treatment rooms and a nice relaxation area is a must.

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Urban Cedar Launches First Lodge

Posted on May 19, 2015
The new Urban Cedar home adds a new dimension to Urban Cedar’s already extensive product range of high quality hot tubs.

The new Urban Cedar home adds a new dimension to Urban
Cedar’s already extensive product range of high quality hot tubs.

Urban Cedar Launches First Lodge

Hot tub specialists Urban Cedar have branched into the holiday lodge market with the launch of their brand new holiday home lodge. The luxury Urban Cedar Home features a contemporary design, cedar galley style kitchen, solid oak flooring and Bosch appliances.

The first lodge is sited at The Retreats, a brand new development of just 25 lodges located at Padstow Holiday Park in Cornwall. The 40 x 12ft lodge is finished with galvanised steel and cedar decking and steel gabions filled with local Cornish stone.

Antony Perry, managing director at Bristol-based Urban Cedar explains: “A key feature we wanted to create within the lodge design was space. When the master bedroom door is open you can see from one end of the lodge to the other.

“We also decided to locate the French doors on the side so to make a clearly defined lounge area.”

The lodge design can be adapted to suit all size requirements and bespoke features can also be added.

Antony adds: “We’re excited to be launching our Urban Cedar Home which will add a new dimension to our already extensive product range of high quality cedar hot tubs. “Looking ahead, we would like to grow this side of the business by buying and redeveloping old caravan sites.”

Urban Cedar
Tel. +44 (0)1934 833 844
www.urbancedarhome.co.uk

 

Safety First For Holiday Hot Tubs

Posted on April 8, 2015
lorica

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

Taking The Plunge

Posted on November 28, 2014
plunge

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.

plunge2

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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Best In Show

Posted on August 29, 2014

Best In Show

LIW11 - general crowd shot

Up to 7,000 leisure professionals from across the country are expected to visit LIW at the Birmingham NEC.

Autumn is shaping up to be a busy season for the holiday park industry, with not one but three not-to-be-missed trade shows in the pipeline.

The popular Leisure Industry Week (LIW) will return to Birmingham’s NEC and this year it promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

Up to 7,000 leisure industry professionals are expected to visit the three day show from 30th September to 2nd October, spanning across six core sectors including Pool & Spa, Play, Health & Fitness, Eat & Drink, Leisure Facilities and Sport.

New for this year is the hotly anticipated Pool & Spa Advice Clinic, providing a comprehensive swimming pool and spa information centre at stand W440. Representatives from four of the industry’s leading pool and spa companies will be on hand to offer advice on all aspects of design, installation and maintenance. From planning a new pool to refurbishing an old one, or deciding which wellness options will generate the most revenue, the panel of industry experts have got it covered.

best-in-show-staring-lady

The Landscape show features contemporary, cutting edge technologies and methods, and is supported by a comprehensive free seminar programme.

CUTTING EDGE PRODUCTS

Next up is the well-established Landscape show, which focuses on the design, build and maintenance of indoor and outdoor landscaping projects.

Visitors to the show at Battersea Park will have the opportunity to view cutting edge products and technologies geared towards improving their property, including hot tubs, paving options, specimen trees and planting, containers and decking. The Holiday Park Scene team will also be in attendance on stand A37 – stop by to pick up your free copy of the magazine and discuss how you can get involved in future issues.

The show will be open to the public from 10am – 6pm on Tuesday 23rd September, and 10am – 5pm on Wednesday 24th September. Tickets are free of charge and available by registering on the website.

RANGE OF BUSINESS IDEAS

If you’re looking for new ideas for your camping or caravanning business, be sure to visit the Farm Business Innovation exhibition and conference when it returns to Olympia London on 27th-28th November.

Don’t let the name fool you – you don’t need to be a farmer to benefit from a day at the show. The combination of suppliers, seminars and workshops covers a range of ideas that any forward-thinking camping or caravanning business owner will find invaluable in maximising the revenue potential of their business.

The schedule of seminar and workshop topics includes tourism, glamping, retail and marketing, with expert advice on how to identify the opportunities that are right for your business.

 

 

Increased Demand For High End

Posted on July 3, 2014
autograph

An increasing number of holidaymakers are seeking luxury lodge holidays in the UK’s most scenic locations.

Increased Demand For High End

The Hoseasons Autograph Lodge Holidays brand is attracting an increasing number of holidaymakers looking for high end getaways in some of the UK’s most scenic locations.

Typically attracting a younger, more affluent customer profile, all of the lodges within the Autograph collection are stylish and contemporary and feature the comforts of home, with cotton bed linen, fluffy towels and luxury toiletries.

“Demand for Autograph Lodge Holidays is rapidly increasing so we’re continuously on the lookout for more boutique locations to join the portfolio,” says Robbie Davies, head of business development at Hoseasons.

Spotting a gap in the market, Hoseasons launched the Autograph brand in 2008 with just four locations, and it has since grown into a niche portfolio of 28 locations, featuring almost 300 of the best lodges across the country.

Robbie continues: “In 2007 we saw an opportunity for a consistent and branded portfolio of high end lodge breaks, predominantly targeting couples looking to get away for a special occasion or romantic short break. Nobody else was offering anything similar, so after a years’ development and innovation Autograph Lodge Holidays was born.”

There is a tough set of criteria that the lodges must meet in order to be considered for the collection, from accommodation décor, fixtures and fittings to geographical location, but having the Autograph Lodge Holidays name attached to a lodge development signifies that it stands out from the crowd and offers something special. As such, operators can command a higher rental tariff as customers are willing to pay more for an exceptional customer experience.

To read more on Hoseasons Autograph Lodge Holidays, please subscribe online.

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs Celebrate Holiday Park Success

Posted on March 13, 2014
The Darwin Group has chosen Jacuzzi Hot Tubs to premium rate its luxury lodge park offering.

The Darwin Group has chosen Jacuzzi Hot Tubs to premium rate its luxury lodge park offering.

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs Celebrate Holiday Park Success

The Darwin Group invests in a diversified portfolio of UK Holiday Parks, who look for the very best quality products and suppliers to ensure they receive excellent returns on their investments.
The Darwin Leisure Property Fund invested £8m to transform the Cheddar Woods Holiday Park in Cheddar, Somerset, from a predominantly camping site to a luxury lodge park with extensive leisure facilities.
With 60 lodges on the new development, Darwin placed an initial order for six Jacuzzi hot tubs for premium accommodation.
Thrilled with the quality and performance of the products, Darwin have since placed an order for a further 23 Jacuzzis for this particular site which were delivered in January.
They have also further requested 27 tubs for Woodside Beach Holiday Park, which is coming soon to the Isle of Wight, as well as 30 tubs for Piran Meadows in Cornwall.
“The Darwin Group is a forward thinking business that understands that hot tubs are an essential product to help increase occupancy of their lodges throughout the year,” comments Martyn Winstone, national sales manager for Jacuzzi Hot Tubs UK.
“They therefore chose the genuine Jacuzzi Brand to give them the edge against their competitors as well as gaining benefits of reliability and full product support, hence giving them peace of mind for years to come.”

 

Jacuzzi
Tel. +44 (0)1274 471889
Email. Martyn.winstone@jacuzziemea.com
www.jacuzzi.co.uk

One Stop Shop For Lifestyle And Leisure

Posted on January 27, 2014

One Stop Shop For Lifestyle And Leisure

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show will return once again to the beautiful grounds of Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire in 2014.

Following the tremendous success of this year’s show, the 2014 dates for the diary are: Friday 6th June & Saturday 7th June, 10am till 5pm and Sunday 8th June 10am till 4pm.

There will also be a new trade preview day on Thursday 5th June, from 10am till 5pm. Over 40 show homes will be available to view, plus the opportunity to meet many of the UK’s leading manufacturers and find out more on hundreds of parks across the UK. Leading providers of garages, decking, chassis, coatings, hot tubs, insurance and finance to name but a few, will also be exhibiting at the show.

As always, entrance and parking at the show is free.

More information on exhibiting or visiting the show can be found via www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk