Park Operators

PRIME BBC SPOT FOR BREAN SANDS

Posted on September 4, 2020

PRIME BBC SPOT FOR BREAN SANDS

Viewers of BBC’s The One Show were given a sneak preview of how a major Somerset holiday park was getting ready to welcome back its much-missed guests. The popular magazine show went behind the scenes at Holiday Resort Unity in Brean Sands as it put the finishing touches to re-opening preparations.

Alan House, director of the familyrun business, showed the programme’s reporter how social distancing and other safety measures would help give peace of mind to guests. He said that bookings had gone “absolutely crackers” in the weeks running up to today, and that staff couldn’t wait to see the park bustling with smiling faces again.

“At last the great British seaside holiday is back, and people can finally enjoy a relaxing carefree break they need and deserve,” said Alan. “Our job now is to provide some truly memorable experiences, and for our business to start salvaging what it can from the rest of the holiday year.”

SURGE IN CARAVAN PURCHASE DEMAND

Posted on September 3, 2020

SURGE IN CARAVAN PURCHASE DEMAND

The UK’s largest digital marketplace for new and used cars, Auto Trader, has reported that views of caravan adverts increased 18% last week and views of motorhomes adverts increased 17%, compared to the previous year. A survey of 2,000 UK adults which the brand carried out to examine this trend further reveals almost half of the population (40%) is planning a 2020 staycation (provided Government guidelines allow), and that caravan holidays are set to almost match stays in hotels this year. Only 40% of those planning a staycation this summer said they would consider staying in a hotel, while 33% say they would consider staying in a caravan - making caravans second only to hotels in popularity amongst those planning breaks.

Caravans are also set to overtake the popularity of rented holiday apartments and houses, which have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity over the past few years thanks to a new wave of disruptive rental websites and B&Bs. Demand for rented apartments and houses this summer is set to trail behind that for caravans and hotels, with just 27% of those planning staycations saying they’d consider them. The trend for caravans seems to be being driven by a need to feel safer. 37% said staying in a caravan would mean they could sanitise the environment properly themselves, to limit the spread of germs from those outside their family.

Auto Trader’s Rory Reid comments: “Coronavirus has changed the way we live our lives in so many ways, and there’s no doubt this will extend to our holidays. “Many are unlikely to want (or be able) to quarantine themselves for 14 days after a holiday abroad, so we’ll be seeing UK beaches and other hotspots a buzz with British holidaymakers this summer. He continues: “Caravan holidays in particular will shoot through the roof. The idea of holidaying in a space that you yourself own, which you can clean yourself and which won’t have been used by others recently, is definitely reassuring.”

NORFOLK WELLNESS RESORT PROPOSED

Posted on September 3, 2020

NORFOLK WELLNESS RESORT PROPOSED

Consultation has begun on a proposed 200 acre ecowellness resort in Ashwicken, Norfolk, comprising of 154 floating and lakeside holiday lodges including treehouse accommodation, a clubhouse on the water and associated boat house.

There will be a specialised focused on water-based pursuits including rowing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing and open water swimming.

Developer Norfolk Farm Leisure wants to transform Ashwicken Lake near East Winch, with 154 floating and waterside holiday lodges with a £35m investment. The resort has been designed by London-based Baca Architects, which specialises in building on or near water.

The resort will lead to an estimated £8m (£6m in King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, and the remaining £2m in Norfolk) boost to the local economy and the creation of 340 jobs.

WINTER OPENING LIFELINE

Posted on September 3, 2020

WINTER OPENING LIFELINE

Holiday parks and campsites have welcomed the news that they could be given the green light to remain open over this winter. Following a lobbying campaign by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the Government has sent a message to local authorities in England, asking them to fast-track applications for a longer season.
Scottish local authorities have received a similar signal from the Scottish Government.
England’s Local Government Minister Lord Greenhalgh said he hopes winter opening requests will receive a “sympathetic approach” following huge losses suffered by most parks this year. The association’s Director General, Ros Pritchard OBE, said the lifeline was a step in the right direction to helping prevent wide-scale job cuts and business failures in the sector. “More than a third of all holiday parks and campsites are required by their planning consent to shut up shop in October – and it’s a moment most of them are dreading,” she said. “After being closed from March until July, they have missed out on months of prime trading time, including bank holidays and half-terms.

SURVIVAL HOPES

“This simply isn’t sustainable for seasonally dependent businesses, and especially the hundreds of smaller family-run parks which make up our membership. “At present, only a quarter of holiday parks and campsites are allowed to remain open all year – and many of the rest will be pinning their survival hopes on keeping going over winter. Although the request by the Westminster Government for local authorities to allow winter opening applies only in England, parks in Scotland are also being supported. BH&HPA, which represents around 2,200 UK holiday parks and campsites, says it is also working with the Welsh Government to achieve similar backing for parks in Wales to remain open over winter.