Movers And Shakers

Posted on April 8, 2015

The Beverley Holidays management team (back row L-R) Michael Jeavons, Tim Jeavons, Peter Jeavons, (front row L-R) Claire Jeavons, Nicola Furneaux and Gary Furneaux.

Movers And Shakers

Staying one step ahead and keeping abreast of the ever-changing holiday market has proven to be a winning formula for South Devon-based Beverley Holidays.

Owned and operated by the Jeavons family, there are three award-winning park areas which fall under the Beverley Holidays banner, each offering something different for discerning holidaymakers.

Last year the family-run company undertook a major re-brand - changing the names of the areas and upgrading the entertainment facilities on offer. This year will see a further investment of £1 million to increase the luxury accommodation offering.

Claire Jeavons, marketing director and third generation of the Jeavons family comments: “The way that holidaymakers plan, book and take their holiday is constantly changing and there are always new things you need to consider and adapt to. We have always looked ahead to make positive changes and I think this is vital for any successful business.

“We recently simplified the area names to Beverley Park, Beverley View and Beverley Bay to create greater unity. We have also enhanced our entertainment offerings at Beverley Bay and Beverley Park, whereby we have created two distinct venues that complement one another by providing something to suit all tastes,” adds Claire.

In response to the growing demand for luxury accommodation, 26 new top of the range caravans have been added to the holiday park, together with a platinum hot tub lodge to add to its existing lodge fleet.

Claire says: “The holiday park industry is always changing and the introduction of these brand new luxury caravans and our hot tub lodge is all very much in line with the emerging glamping trend."

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Beverley Holidays
Tel. 01803 843887
www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

Posted on April 1, 2015

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

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upgrades Underway At Carlton Meres

Posted on March 25, 2015

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

Upgrades Underway At Carlton Meres

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

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

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

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

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

Holiday Parks Urged To Get Active

Posted on March 20, 2015

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

Holiday Parks Urged To Get Active

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aqua Sana Takes Top Spot

Posted on February 9, 2015

Aqua Sana Takes Top Spot

Opened in June last year, the spa at Center Parcs Woburn Forest has been named ‘Best Spa to be Social’ at the Good Spa Guide Awards.

Aqua Sana at Center Parcs Woburn Forest has been named ‘Best Spa to be Social’ at the prestigious Good Spa Guide Awards.

The Good Spa Guide Awards are decided by specially appointed Good Spa Spies who review over 100 spas every year and complete a detailed audit sheet, covering all aspects of the spa from service and facilities to cleanliness and maintenance.

Delighted with the win, Aqua Sana group manager Kerry Fenton-Kent said: “Aqua Sana Woburn Forest has only been open since June and to already be recognised as one of the best spas in the country is amazing. The award is testament to the dedication and hard work of the whole team and we’re all thrilled.”

Inspired by nature and combining different approaches from many of the leading European spas, Aqua Sana Woburn Forest encompasses six unique spas, each one with a variety of multi-sensory experience rooms, including two world-first experiences – the Mineral Room and the Sensory Experience.

The Good Spa Guide panel said: “Aqua Sana Woburn Forest is a beautiful, well laid out, well designed spa which is perfect for small social groups. Spa visitors can move around as they wish in whatever way they wish but with cosy areas all around the spa, it offers a private element too. It’s a high standard of spa-ing in a social environment.”

Swim To Win

Posted on December 19, 2014

Swim To Win

Even parks with the most basic of wet leisure facilities can maximise the potential their offering with a few simple measures that will broaden appeal.

With water leisure at the top of many visitor priority lists, it is vital for holiday parks to continuously not just meet but exceed demands for safe and fun aquatic facilities.

Even parks with the most basic of wet leisure facilities can maximise the potential their offering with a few simple measures that will broaden appeal and keep the guests coming back time and time again.

“The pool is a vital tool in attracting and retaining new customers,” explains Kevin Christopher, leisure manager at Swanage Bay View Holiday Home Park in Dorset. “We do our utmost to provide an extensive range of pool-based activities, and are continually improving these to ensure that guests are more than satisfied with the offering.”

The indoor heated swimming pool at Swanage Bay View is open to guests and the public, and sees around 50,000 users on average each year. The pool plays host to an assortment of water activities as well as swimming sessions, including snorkelling, aqua fit classes, pool parties and the increasingly popular Waterwalkerz, which can be hired by guests on request.

Kevin comments: “We run Waterwalkerz sessions every weekend for our younger guests between the ages of five to sixteen, at a cost of £5 per session. “We have had the two Waterwalkerz for just over year now and they are certainly one of the most popular activities we run at the pool.”

The Waterwalkerz at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park are a popular attraction at the poolside.

Haven holiday parks make the most of their swimming facilities by offering swimming lessons for children, amongst other pool-based activities. In partnership with the Swimming Teacher’s Association (STA), Haven provide Learn2Swim sessions for guests aged four and above, as well as parent and child Water Confidence sessions for youngsters between six months and three years of age.

Gordon Bush head of sports and leisure for Haven comments: “Many of our parks offer sessions to team members and their families and have also worked in partnership with local communities by inviting local schools onto park to access our lessons and facilities.

“Last year we taught nearly 18,000 guests in just one of our lessons. We trained a further 75 swimming teachers in 2014 and will look to train a further 60 in 2015 so that we can deliver this life skill to our guests of all ages.”

The indoor teaching pool at Haven Holiday Park in Burnhamon- Sea was recently transformed into a highly interactive water play area aimed at increasing water confidence among youngsters. Supplied by Hippo Leisure, the pool now features a short mast which supplies two interactive water channels with a flow of water. There are also large tipping buckets, water wheels and shark showers, which are suspended above the pool on a span pipe, with high level water spraying, tipping and showering at regular intervals.

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Best In Show

Posted on August 29, 2014

Best In Show

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.

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.

Accolade For Outstanding Parks

Posted on July 3, 2014

The team from Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland were presented with a gold award at the VisitEngland Awards of Excellence.

Accolade For Outstanding Parks

Holiday parks from across the country have been recognised in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

The awards, which celebrate their silver jubilee this year, promote quality in England’s tourism industry and celebrate the very best the country has to offer.

Leading the pack was Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland, which scooped the gold award in the Holiday Park of the Year category. Located in the small fishing village of Seahouses, the family-run park offers a mix of touring pitches and holiday lodges to hire or buy.

Allison Thompson of Seafield Caravan Park said she was delighted to win gold - the second time the site has landed the top prize. She added: “It is testament to the continued investment in the park and most importantly to the dedicated and motivated team at Seafield, who continually strive to not only maintain but to improve the customer experience.”

The silver award for Holiday Park of the Year went to Gwel an Mor Resort in Portreath, Cornwall. Leaplish Waterside Park at Kielder Water in Northumberland and Waldegraves and Cosways Family Holiday Parks in Essex were awarded joint bronze in the category, and Hoburne Bashley came highly commended.

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: “The VisitEngland Awards celebrate the very best in the tourism industry. It is the highest accolade in English tourism and recognises the true champions of our industry, and the top quality visitor experiences we are fortunate to have on offer in England.”

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Vauxhall Half Century

Posted on July 3, 2014

The indoor water world and outdoor splash zones are the most popular leisure facilities at the family friendly Vauxhall Holiday Park.

Vauxhall Half Century

Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, Vauxhall Holiday Park remains one of Norfolk’s most popular holiday resorts.

Offering family holidays and short breaks to suit all budgets, the five star park is a firm favorite among holidaymakers looking to visit Great Yarmouth and the Norfolk Broads.

The family owned park was founded by the late Stanley Biss in 1964, and his sons Wayne and James Biss now deal with the day-to-day running of the park. Both are supported by general manager Roger Finney and a 50-strong team of on-site staff.

Amy Woodyatt, marketing manager at Vauxhall says: “We are very proud to have recently achieved the number one spot on Tripadvisor in our category, and a certificate of excellence award.

“Our loyal customers are great ambassadors for the park, often returning a few times a year. We actively encourage feedback from guests, as we find that word of mouth and customer reviews often attract new holidaymakers.”

As one of the first parks in the country to offer caravans with running water and electric in the 1960s, Vauxhall’s accommodation options have come a long way in the last 50 years. The park now accommodates approximately 430 bespoke holiday homes, including 48 chalets, plus 200 standard camping pitches and 13 super pitches.

There is also an ongoing investment strategy to replace older holiday homes to keep at the forefront of comfort and design. This year the Vauxhall team have introduced a new and exclusive owners site, following requests from returning customers, as well as investing in a new range of holiday homes and glamping mega pods.

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Haven Opens New Pool Complex At Burnham Holiday Park

Posted on June 9, 2014

The newly renovated pool at Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Park is now over 40% bigger, offering guests an improved swimming experience.

Haven Opens New Pool Complex At Burnham Holiday Park

Guests and owners at Haven’s Burnham-on- Sea Holiday Park in Somerset will benefit from a bigger and better new pool this season, following a £2million refurbishment project.

The new and improved pool has increased by 40% in size and now includes a children’s splash area, a fitness lane and added water features. The café and viewing area has also been re-designed and upgraded, to be in keeping with the main pool hall. Fran Hoyland, holiday experience manager said: “We are really excited by our new pool and we know it will really enhance our guest’s experience.”

The pool was officially opened at the end of March by Martin Cox, mayor of Burnham-on-Sea. “With rising fuel costs and our commitment to the environment we look to ensure our pools are energy efficient and have as minimal impact on the environment as possible” said Fran.

Burnham’s new pool uses combined heat and power technology, which in simple terms converts gas into electricity to provide heat in the pool. An air heat recovery unit re-circulates and re-uses the heat generated by the pool, therefore keeping the heat within the pool building.