Thrills And Spills

Posted on June 30, 2017

Thrills And Spills

Water play is sure to keep guests returning year after year…

There’s no better time for enjoying the thrills and spills of water play than on a family holiday.

A holiday park that can offer a unique and exhilarating swimming experience is sure to score over it’s nearest rivals. Through smart design and a clever selection of features, any holiday park can transform their swimming pool into an exciting aquatic play space that guests will enjoy and want to return to on repeat visits. “Water play installations offer a range of benefits when compared to standard swimming or paddling pools,” explains Ernie Hemming of Ustigate Waterplay.

“Firstly, a water play installation uses water on demand, which is a more economical and cheaper solution as water will be consumed only when someone touches one of our activation bollards using considerably less water. Moreover, a water play installation provides countless hours of fun for all the family.”

Ustigate installed a bespoke splash zone at Dinosaur Adventure Park in Norfolk last year.

The allocated splash area had previously been home to long-standing old wooden outdoor play equipment which had become outdated so the park owners took the decision to reinvest in the area and give it a new lease of life. The new splash zone takes inspiration from the famous Dippy the Dinosaur, the mascot and one of the Dinosaur Adventure Park’s most popular attractions in order to attract and retain more customers on site.

The splash zone was divided into three bays which have range of play items designed for each age group - toddler, teen and family. The focal point is the huge ‘supersplash’ elevation consisting of a bucket that tilts over crashing onto a platform creating a mini-tidal wave soaking everyone in its spray zone. The fully PWTAG compliant filtration and recirculated water system ensures highest quality of water for children to play in.

EXPLORE OPTIONS

Ustigate’s Vortex sourced products offer the latest designs and features which are premium quality and competitively priced. The price of a typical splash pad depends mainly on three factors; size of the scheme, the type of water system that will be used - one use or re-circulating - and finally the selected water features. According to Ustigate, a typical once use system would usually cost between £50,000- £100,000 and a recirculating system costing £300,000- £500,000.

“Ensure you have explored all possible options as water installations can be expensive and time consuming,” comments Ernie. “Remember that the cheapest option may not always be the right decision in the long term as a significant drop in quality may lead to additional repair or alteration costs in the future or even worse closing of the water play installation. “Even though initial setup costs for a high quality and robust water system may be excessive this will be cost effective in the long run as the water system will be able to stand the test of time and demands of excited children.”

Leyland-based World Leisure recently completed a £1.5m overhaul of the swimming pool facilities at Ribby Hall Village Holiday Park in Lancashire, in just 12 weeks.

MAIN ATTRACTION

The holiday park’s pool is well-known for its water slides and is used by members and visitors alike. It was given a refurbishment eight years ago but bosses at the attraction decided the time was right for a complete revamp, with added facilities to maintain interest for visitors. The new pool features new slides including a 48m interactive play slide. Members and guests are able to climb a tower to the top of the slide, which then takes them out of the building and back inside again. As they come down the slide, they can play an interactive touchpad game on the inside of the slide, with scores recorded once the ride is complete.

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Company Contacts

Certikin Tel. 01993 778855 www.certikin.co.uk

Hippo Leisure Tel. 01752 771740 www.hippoleisure.com

Ustigate Waterplay Tel. 01322 424445 www.ustigatewaterplay.co.uk

World Leisure UK Tel. 01777 284883 www.worldleisureuk.co.uk

Making A Splash

Posted on May 3, 2017

Making A Splash

The overhaul of the swimming pool facilities at Ribby Hall Village was carried out by World Leisure.

The swimming pool facilities at Ribby Hall Village holiday park in Lancashire have undergone a £1.5million transformation. The pool was refurbished eight years ago but bosses at the attraction decided the time was right for a complete revamp, with added facilities to maintain excitement and interest for visitors.

The work was carried out by World Leisure and the pool now features new slides including a 48m interactive play slide. World Leisure also refurbished the splash pool and added an interactive aqua deck play structure, with tipping buckets and integral slides.

A themed Glass Reinforced Polyester toddlers’ pool links into the splash pool, with a slide and steps to open the pools up to all ages. Mark Leech, Senior Manager at Ribby Hall Village, said: “It is important as a business to continually invest and improve the facilities we offer to our customers. We believe the new interactive slide and new splash pool features will be real talking points that will bring family visitors back again and again.”

Gas Meter Checks

Posted on May 3, 2017

Gas Meter Checks

All gas meters should meet the new Measuring Instruments Directive (MID).

Property owners could be liable for prosecution if their gas meters do not meet new safety standards. The Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) replaced the old Ofgem legislation in 2016 and governs the manufacture and accuracy standards for electricity and gas meters in the UK.

The aim of the legislation is to ensure that customers and users are protected by ensuring that all meters comply with safety and accuracy standards. “This is particularly important for property managers as it could mean your existing meters are illegal,” says Chris Smith, Managing Director for Energy Controls – a leading supplier of SMART meters and Pre-payment metering systems. “If so, consumers may have a right to refuse to pay for their electricity and as landlords you could be liable to prosecution.”

You can check the meter itself for an MID stamp of approval or you can ask your supplier to provide an MID certificate. Your meter supplier is legally required to provide supporting evidence that their meters conform to MID standards; if they are unable to do so then it is highly likely your meter does not conform.

Pool Upgrades At Campsie Glen

Posted on May 3, 2017

Pool Upgrades At Campsie Glen

The pool at Campsie Glen Holiday Park has been upgraded for the summer season.

Campsie Glen Holiday Park in Stirlingshire has invested £80,000 into upgrading its outdoor swimming pool facilities. The new development, which launched in April, features an enclosure over the existing outdoor pool, plus the installation of a brand new children’s pool and new changing and toilet facilities.

The new Perspex enclosure, model Endless Summer in Moss Green, is an aluminium and acrylic structure that offers safety by taking away the danger of broken glass, and functionality by sheltering the pool area from cold drafts and making it more weatherproof.

The new children’s pool is a 2.5m x 4m NIVEKO one-piece pool, which was supplied and installed by Eagle Leisure from South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Both swimming pools run on energy efficient air-source heating system contributing to the environment-conserving focus of the park. Bruce Thomson, Operations Manager at Wood Leisure, commented: “We are committed to investing in our parks and facilities to deliver value to the families from Scotland and beyond. This significant investment supports our long-term growth and development plans while benefiting our customers, wider community and Scottish economy.”

Happy Days

Posted on May 3, 2017

Happy Days

An exciting and challenging play area for all ages and abilities gives children somewhere to let off steam and make new friends as well as giving them some independence on holiday. Pic: HAGS.

As any holiday park operator will tell you, happy and entertained children mean happy and relaxed parents. An exciting and challenging play area for all ages and abilities gives children somewhere to let off steam and make new friends as well as giving them some independence on holiday. Mike Harris, Director at Warren Farm Holiday Centre in Bream, Somerset invested in new playground facilities last year, designed and supplied by HAGS. He said: “We are known as a child friendly park, and people purposefully book plots near the play areas.

The initial outlay was definitely worthwhile and we have a large number of repeat visitors because of this, as well as many new ones.” “The more attractive, enticing, challenging and fun the outdoor play equipment is, the more likely it will be that visitors to the play area will continue to visit and enjoy all the facilities on offer and it could be the deciding factor on choice of holiday destination,” comments Stuart Wetherell for Wicksteed Playgrounds. Wicksteed was recently commissioned to create an impressive and imaginative playpark at Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, Scotland. Reflecting the history of the area, a large bespoke timber castle-inspired feature takes pride of place at the centre of the play area. The custom-built castle is adorned with turrets, slides, climbing nets and monkey bars as well as a bridge over a moat and portcullis entrance.

Wicksteed Playgrounds was recently commissioned to create an impressive and imaginative playpark at Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick.

The £300k play facility was developed as part of a £3.64m park regeneration project, funded by Scottish Borders Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund. “Local children were involved with creating the designs and ideas for the play area and came up with the idea of incorporating Hawick’s history and scenery into the design. The play park proudly features a castle, river design, horse artwork and a common riding flag as part of the surface design,” commented Gordon Webber, Wilton Lodge Park Events Manager.

RANGE OF FEATURES : The play park features a range of different zones with play equipment suitable for a variety of age groups and abilities. A timber fenced area features sensory sound and visual items as well as a central carved timber totem pole. Wicksteed has become the go to for cleverly designed bespoke playgrounds which can reflect the history of the site or have a theme running throughout. The company has also developed an award-winning range of outdoor gym equipment, the FLZ, which is ideally suited to the holiday park environment and suitable for those aged 14 plus.

“Prices do of course vary depending upon the type of equipment, landscaping and installation but a product from Wicksteed’s Toddlers’ range might start at around £500 with individual, interactive panels from around £590,” explains the Stuart. “An entire playground which could contain multi-play, modular units together with fitness products would obviously require greater funds, so it all depends on the project in question. To achieve a ‘wow’ factor a new green site fully supplied area should have a budget of around £70K.”

World of Rides have served the holiday park industry with a fully comprehensive range of coin-operated leisure rides and equipment for nearly five decades.

REGULAR CHECKS
Apart from keeping your play equipment and areas regularly checked to meet health and safety standards, there are no guidelines stipulating when a playground requires updating, this is solely down to playground owners. However, updating your equipment regularly to stay ahead of the competition will certainly help attract and retain customers, providing a greater return on investment.
It is recommended that any equipment purchased for unsupervised use is certified as compliant to EN1176 (the European Playground safety standard), this ensures that the equipment is designed and manufactured to a high standard and will provide an exciting and challenging experience while minimising risk. The safety of children on their playgrounds doesn’t just depend upon the initial design of the area and the selection of equipment within it. Its continued management and the delivery of high quality inspection and maintenance schedules are crucial if the safe opportunities for children to play creatively are to be preserved. Mark Rands, Head of UK Installation and Service at HAGS comments: “We know that a good maintenance regime will significantly extend the life of your equipment and reduce the likelihood of accidents. Regular servicing and replacement of worn out parts is essential to keep your play area safe and compliant.
“Remember it is the responsibility of the owner to keep the play area safe, delaying needed repairs not only shortens the life of the equipment but increases the risk of an accident. The inspection should cover the whole of the site - not just the play equipment. Pathways, fences and seats all need to be checked.”

FIRM FAVOURITES

Fenland Leisure Products’ (FLP) U-Design service is for bespoke projects from small special needs units, access bridges to larger themed multi-play units and fully equipped assault courses. Your project can be based on existing products and tweaked to your specific requirements or wholly new and unique. Bespoke designs are a fantastic group involvement activity. For children, fun is strongly related to play and they have great capacity to extract the fun from it in a spontaneous and inventive way. What a great legacy to build and be a part of. FLP will guide you on the legalities of play equipment design and advise you when it comes to surfacing and fall heights, but the creative ideas are all yours.

HAGS is a global company with a product offering that stretches over an extensive range of thousands of play products– designed for people of all ages. They have gained over 50 years’ experience in providing both landscaped and traditional outdoor areas. The best-selling UniPlay and UniMini ranges from HAGS offer a vast number of play functions and games within a unique modular system.
HAGS offer a wide range of standard ready-made units for every size and budget, and additionally, all units can be customised by adding special features or games to create your ideal play space.
Liz Townsend, Head of UK Proposals for HAGS says: “Our customers want a play area that is visually striking and attractive – something that immediately captures the imagination of children and becomes memorable so families have a great time and want to return again. The design details are what holds a child’s attention for longer than a few minutes, for example: tower structures are very popular with all ages, even more so when they have interactive games and imaginative activities that can involve all generations.” Liz continues: “At HAGS we focus on a ‘cost per user’ model during the design process, this helps eliminate single user items that can be expensive to own for little return in place of items that offer great play and financial value for users and owners alike.”

“Play facilities are vital in holiday parks, in order to both attract and retain the family spend,” says David Robison of World of Rides. “2017 is going to be a milestone year for the UK’s holiday parks, as Brexit and the fluctuating exchange rates are making more and more families stay at home in the UK for their holidays. However, if operators do not invest in new equipment to entertain their visitors and guests during this exceptional year, then they may not return in future years.” World of Rides have served the holiday park industry with a fully comprehensive range of coin-operated leisure rides and equipment for nearly five decades, ranging from battery rides and static rides to quadricycles and rowing boats. “For the past few years our Go-Karts, Super Hero Trikes and licensed character static rides have been the firm favourites with children, but for 2017 holiday park operators are suddenly asking for our driving school cars and above ground pools with bumper boats, in order to satisfy the demand of their customers for new experiences,” says David.

COMPANY CONTACTS

FENLAND LEISURE PRODUCTS Tel. 01354 638359 www.fenlandleisure.co.uk

HAGS Tel. 0845 260 1655 www.hags-smp.co.uk

WORLD OF RIDES Tel. 0191 49 20 999 www.worldofrides.com

WICKSTEED PLAYGROUNDS Tel. 01536 517028 www.wicksteed.co.uk

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Under New Management

Posted on May 3, 2017

Under New Management

Stanmore Hall Touring Park in Shropshire has appointed a new management team for the new season. Gary and Tania Smith have been promoted to managers of the Bridgnorth park and will be supported by new assistant managers Nick and Sandra Bellinger.

The Smiths have worked for park owner, Morris Leisure, for five years, having previously served at Oxon Hall Touring and Holiday Home Park, Riverside Touring and Holiday Home Park and Ludlow Touring Park. Before becoming caravan park managers, Tania worked as a chef for 32 years and Gary worked as a landscape gardener for 27 years for Birmingham Council. “We were at that time of life when we both wanted a change of lifestyle,” explains Tania, who has two children and five grandchildren.

“Gary was working nine to five while I was working evenings and weekends and we hardly saw each other” “We now see each other 24-7 and absolutely love being park managers.” Assistant Manager Sandra Bellinger added: “Morris Leisure is a great company to work for and our only regret is that we had not stayed at one of their parks before we started to work for them. It’s definitely something everyone should try.”

We’ll Meat Again

Posted on May 3, 2017

We’ll Meat Again

Hollins Farm park manager Daniele Balia with some of the Holstein Friesian cattle which greet holidaymakers

Hollins Farm park manager Daniele Balia with some of the stein Friesian cattle which greet holidaymakers

Hollins Farm Camping and Caravanning Park near Silverdale is offering youngsters the chance to learn about the food cycle. The farm raises traditional breeds of sheep, cows and chickens in its picturesque Lakeland setting, and then supplies the meat to local dining establishments.

“Surveys suggest that many children have a disconnect with farming, and some don’t know that bacon comes from pigs, or eggs are produced by chickens,” said Park Owner Michael Holgate. “That’s why we’re encouraging mums and dads who stay with us to regard Hollins Farm as a place where youngsters can really have their eyes opened. “As well as discovering more about nature and the countryside, youngsters can also make that important connection between farming and the food they eat,” added Michael.

Hidden Entrapment Danger Strikes

Posted on May 3, 2017

Hidden Entrapment Danger Strikes

A four-year-old British girl is recovering after being sucked into a spa filter at a hotel complex in Bulgaria.

Holiday park owners are being urged to show duty of care when it comes to the swimming safety of their guests. Earlier this year, a four-year-old British girl was seriously injured after being sucked into a spa pool filter at a holiday complex in Bulgaria. Thankfully, doctors were able to save the girl’s life and she is now recovering from severe injuries to her bowel and intestines. An incident of this kind is known as ‘entrapment’ and is entirely preventable, and only happens because what appears to be a perfectly safe outlet is, in fact, a potential death trap.

Every year incidents of entrapment – where limbs and other body parts are caught via strong suction from drains at the bottom of either private or public pools – are reported in the media, tragically because the event often results in drowning. But worryingly many incidents are also going un-reported. The Blue Cap Foundation in the Netherlands conducted an investigation into swimming pool entrapment at 100 hotels and aqua parks in popular European holiday destinations. They found at least one hazardous circumstance in every swimming pool that could cause an injury and 31 of the pools were condemned to be dangerous and even life-threatening.

“The problem is that there is nowhere to report this type of incident and most holiday companies are nervous about action been taken against them from over reactions,” comments Craig Valentine, Health & Safety Manager at Bourne Leisure. “I think that there should be a confidential hotline or email address that such incidents and other pool-related issues could be reported without reprisal. In turn this would help stop dangerous incidents happening by using industry best practice with learning outcomes.” Many UK companies have been campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers of entrapment for years. These include Mineral Supplies International (MSI), which has supplied the Vac-Alert anti-entrapment device to UK and European markets since 1996.

Installed on both pools and hot tubs, the Vac-Alert responds within a millisecond to any increase in filter pump suction; spring-loaded pistons open the pipe to atmosphere, freeing a person trapped by life-threatening suction. “Entrapment is a serious issue globally,” comments MSI’s Amanda Slade. “But what’s concerning is that many cases of entrapment are going unreported and are being put down to ‘accidental drowning’. After all, no pool operator wants that type of bad publicity.” Amanda adds: “This is why we have been working with major holiday operators and cruise liners who want to demonstrate that they will put duty of care first every time when it comes to their customers.”

Squeaky Clean

Posted on May 3, 2017

Squeaky Clean

The increased demands placed on heavily used facilities require careful consideration and professional planning.

Washrooms are one of the most-used facilities at a holiday park or campsite and are all too important to be left to chance. From design layout to lighting and cleanliness, it’s often the smallest rooms that can have the biggest impact on a customer experience. Modern washroom designs continue to become ever more stylish, sophisticated and eco-friendly, from urinals with television screens to all-in-one toilet, sink and vanity table units. “Washrooms don’t have to be boring and grey,” comments Ged Hirst of design specialists Cubicle Centre.

“Vibrant cubicles and walls brighten the washrooms and create a better environment. There are many coloured and woodgrain panels available to match any theme or design choices you might want.” Cubicle Centre is an award-winning, family-run business that manufactures and supplies washroom panel products. These include toilets cubicles, shower cubicles, vanity units, and wall panels. The company has supplied dozens of holiday parks with durable washroom facilities. Most recently, Cubicle Centre provided shower and toilet cubicles for the newly renovated washroom block at Glan Morfa Mawr Caravan Park on the Welsh coast.

VITAL INGREDIENT : “Holiday park toilet and shower facilities are vital for attracting repeat visitors,” says Ged. “Guests want to be as comfortable as possible during their stay. A dirty, smelly or out-of-order washroom will damage their experience. “My advice is to ensure facilities are well signposted, well-lit, heated and cleaned at regular intervals. It is also important to make sure you provide enough toilet cubicles, washbasins and showers - this will reduce the chance of visitors having to wait to use the facilities.” Ged advises that a properly planned and maintained washroom can last between ten and 20 years, depending on the quality of the fittings, panels and sanitary products.

Loo of the Year entrants benefit from a cost effective way of receiving an independent assessment of the standard of their washrooms. Pic: Old Oaks Touring Park.

Exploring the different types and qualities of materials on offer is essential. Heavy duty locks and legs will keep your shower and toilet cubicles in working order and water-proof wall and cubicle panels will be able to resist distortion and damage from moisture. Says Ged: “Buying cheaper products to begin with will end up costing you more later on. For example, MFC cubicle panels are a cheaper option but they can swell and distort when exposed to too much moisture. Whereas Compact Grade Laminate (CGL) panels will cost more initially but are water-proof and vandal resistant, which means they will be durable enough to last the heavy use environment of a holiday park washroom block.”

Another key consideration is the safety of the guests who use the facilities. Visitors will use the washroom block in different weather conditions. On rainy days users might walk in wet and mud, which can be a slipping hazard so the flooring should be non-slip to avoid these types of falls. The facilities should also have good lighting for safe use a night and adequate heating. It’s also important to consider less physically able visitors. There should be easy access to the washroom via ramps if needed and clear circulation routes at 1500mm wide for wheelchairs should be provided. Larger sized shower and WC cubicles with grab rails may also be required. The increased demands placed on heavily used facilities require careful consideration and professional planning. It goes without saying that well-designed washrooms should at least be clean, dry, well ventilated and user friendly. hygiene in kitchens and other back of house areas which the customer cannot see. Poorly maintained washrooms can easily damage the wider reputation of a business.

COMPANY CONTACTS

DUNHAMS WASHROOM SYSTEMS Tel. 01603 424855 www.dunhamswashrooms.com

LOO OF THE YEAR AWARDS Tel. 01531 640715 www.loo.co.uk

ARMSTRONG COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY SYSTEMS Tel. 01635 263410 www.armstrong-laundry.co.uk

CUBICLE CENTRE Tel. 01924 457600 www.washroomcubicles.co.uk

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Fit For Purpose

Posted on May 2, 2017

Fit For Purpose - Holiday Hot Tubs

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. With thousands of models to choose from, selecting the right hot tub for a holiday let can be a potential minefield. Holiday home owner Lucy Dawson recently invested in two new hot tubs for her two rental properties at Easter Ellister Farm, situated on the Rhinns of the Isle of Islay - an island off the west coast of Scotland.

CEDAR HOT TUBS : Lucy first invested in a circular cedar hot tub for her property – An Linnean – in 2008. The hot tub proved to a be a very popular addition with guests, so Lucy decided to upgrade the hot tub this year and has also purchased a second hot tub for her other property – Easter Ellister. “Having run the two self-catering houses of similar standard and in the same location, I can say without doubt that the house with the hot tub is more popular than the one without. I would say I get at least 25 per cent more bookings for An Linnean and the property is booked up most of the year round,” says Lucy. “This is the main reason why I have decided to install one at Easter Ellister too.

People just want that little added bit of luxury on holiday and for some reason a hot tub hits those buttons!” Lucy purchased the hot tubs from Eagle Leisure, based near Glasgow. She opted for the seven-seater Freedom model and the six person Vantage model out of the Coast Spas stable. Both have full foam insulation and insulated covers to help retain heat. They also feature Coast Spas’ 50sq ft cyclonic pressurised filtration to ensure the guests are sitting in the cleanest possible water. Each of the hot tubs cost around £7,000, but Lucy estimates that she can make most of this money back within ten weeks of rentals of the property.

RotoSpa recommend that holiday hot tubs are changed every five years to keep them in tip-top condition.

“It is a big investment to install hot tubs but I believe them to be an essential part of my business in attracting customers,” says Lucy. “I would always advise other holiday property owners to do their research before taking the plunge though. I paid the price in choosing an internet ill-researched purchase the first time around and had countless problems with the tub over the years. It was very costly to maintain and run. She continues: “You need to make sure you are buying good quality, well made tub that is well insulated and good filtration system. “I would advise going to a reputable spa retailer who knows their stuff. I was incredibly impressed with the customer service and installation service from Eagle Leisure, something you just don’t get when you order online.” Eagle Leisure recommend the Coast Spas range of hot tubs for holiday properties. Their bestselling models for this market are the 7ft and 8ft options, which seat up to six and eight adults respectively and are available from £6,995.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

“There will be some customers looking for a low end hot tub just to say that they have one,” explains Debbie Ekins, Commercial and Communications Manager at Eagle Leisure. “These usually retail between £2,000 - £3,000, but personally I don’t think there are any great quality holiday hot tubs on the market place within this price range. If something seems too good to be true it probably is.” Debbie continues: “On the other hand, we get some holiday owners who realise that a hot tub purchase of £7,000 - £8,000 is an investment. Adding a hot tub allows the property owner to a) charge a higher rental rate and b) rent out the property to full capacity – so should be able to quickly make their money back. Plus they get the peace of mind knowing they have a quality hot tub that the guest will be happy with and that will last them a long time.”

COMMERCIAL USE

Holiday hot tubs should be suitable for commercial use. Pic Easter Ellister Farm.

Over the past ten years, a significant amount of holiday park operators and holiday let owners have purchased and operate what are in fact domestic hot tubs only designed for home, and not intended for commercial use. Commercial spas, the type found at health clubs and spas, are generally much larger than the average portable spa with bigger and better filtration and sanitation systems along with other features that suit much heavier bather use. “It can be tempting to purchase cheap imported tubs but it can be a very expensive mistake if you experience service issues,” reveals Jason Smith, Sales Director at RotoSpa. “Holiday hot tubs drive revenue so they need to be reliable. If they are not you will regret it. My advice is to buy quality, buy once and buy British.”

The British-made RotoSpa range is ideal for holiday use given its durability, low cost, UK support and the ability to specify bespoke features tailored to the individual risk assessment for the site. The RotoSpa Quatrospa and DuraSpa are among the UK’s bestselling holiday let units, which feature Individual auto dosing sanitiser systems and individual sand filters. The autofill and quickdrain system is operated by the touch of a button and enables the water to be completely changed in less than ten minutes.

In terms of life expectancy, RotoSpa recommend that hot tubs are changed every five years, however, the company has installed tubs on holiday park sites that are still going strong some ten years later. When selecting a hot tub supplier, Jason advises: “Choose a hot tub supply partner with a long pedigree of manufacture and service - someone who will listen to your needs and offer solutions to them rather than try and force you into an overpriced unit from their stock with features unsuitable for high demand use. Use someone who will work with you as a partner not just sell you a tub.”

HOT TUB HAZARDS

From an insurance claims perspective, hot tub-related slip and trip injuries are not uncommon. If a holidaymaker slips in a wet area, or even inside the hot tub itself, there’s a potential for them to be quite seriously hurt. “Skin irritation claims are also quite high up on the claims list, from minor rashes to quite serious skin conditions,” says Tom Dallow, Customer Claims Manager at Compass Insurance. “We were particularly surprised by a claim made in relation to a baby getting a rash from a hot tub - but this is certainly not the only claim we’ve received relating to an individual who shouldn’t have been in a hot tub in the first place!”

VITAL IMPORTANCE

Further highlighting the vital importance of managing water health and safety correctly, Compass has had one allegation of Legionnaire’s Disease having being ‘caught’ from a hot tub on record, as well as several claims made related to injuries sustained by suction from hot tub outlets. Says Tom: “Thankfully for all involved, Compass doesn’t receive hot tub related claims in high numbers. Of those we have dealt with, park owners will be interested to note that in many cases no negligence was found, so no pay-out to the claimant was made. “However, we must stress that insurers will struggle to defend parks where written evidence of appropriate hot tub management is not available. A compliant, common sense approach is critical.” If parks carry out appropriate risk assessments, follow relevant health and safety regulations to the letter, keep relevant documentation up-to-date and display clear rules on safe usage for users to adhere to, then there’s no reason why hot tubs should be considered a commercial hazard. You should speak to your insurance advisor to discuss your individual circumstances.

COMPANY CONTACTS

COMPASS INSURANCE Tel. 01452 511 430 www.compass.co.uk

EAGLE LEISURE Tel. 01355 264466 www.eagleleisure.co.uk

ROTOSPA Tel. 0121 354 3428 www.rotospa.co.uk

WELLIS Tel. 01246 559071 www.wellis.eu

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