Camping Sector Growth

Posted on March 7, 2017

The total camping trips taken figure is expected to rise to 17.9 million in 2017 and to over 21 million in 2020.

Camping Sector Growth

Camping is on the up according to a new report by Mintel, which suggests that Great Britain’s camping and caravanning market will be worth over £3.2 billion by 2020.

A total of over 17 million camping and caravanning trips are estimated to have been taken by UK adults in 2016, over 15 million of which were in Great Britain, and include a spectrum of accommodation options from yurts, safari tents and shepherd’s huts to tiny two-berth mini and large luxury caravans, sophisticated motorhomes and holiday lodges.

The total trips taken figure is expected to rise to 17.9 million in 2017 and to over 21 million in 2020. Of those camping in a tent in the last three years, ‘getting away from it all’ is one of the key attractions (42%) as well as ‘connecting with nature’ (41%). Market drivers for camping, caravanning and motorhomes trips in recent years include a reduction in petrol prices and a desire for families to reconnect with their environment.

Record Investment

Posted on March 7, 2017

Record Investment

Parkdean Resorts’ ambitious investment will mean that the new facilities will be completed ahead of the 2017 travel season.

Parkdean Resorts is set to invest a record £50m on accommodation, retail and leisure facilities across its UK parks this year. The operator will be investing £17m into a range of new lodges, caravans and glamping facilities and £4m on refurbishments to existing caravans and lodges. Meanwhile, entertainment and leisure venues, and children’s activity areas will also be refurbished at many of its 73 parks nationwide as part of a significant investment exceeding £5.5m.

The ambitious investment will mean that the new facilities will be completed ahead of the 2017 travel season. Parkdean Resorts Chief Executive John Waterworth said: “It is a truly exciting time for Parkdean Resorts as we gear up for the 2017 season where substantial investment will continue and for what we are confident will be our busiest year yet.

“We are looking forward to introducing these changes which will further enhance our park experience – allowing holidaymakers to create many more amazing memories with family and friends.”

Quality Street

Posted on March 7, 2017

Pathfinder’s clients can select everything from the size, the layout, the external finishing and the internal furnishings of the lodge.

Quality Street

Research has revealed that Brits spend on average, 15 per cent of their income on leisure activities including holidays - totalling a whopping £8.3bn per month. Conducted by YouGov, the survey of 2,061 adults also found that all Brits, irrespective of age and gender, prioritised experiences over material goods.

No wonder then that the drive towards high quality holiday accommodation in the last two decades has seen real innovation in the holiday park sector. For many years the humble caravan dominated the holiday parks market but cabins and lodges continue to grow their market share. Cabins and lodges are known to attract longer let periods than caravans, typically being very popular in the ‘harder to let’ shoulder months outside the peak season.

Whatever your preference, we can all agree that investing in high-value holiday accommodation makes sound business sense for park owners and operators. Because of their extended season appeal, it is imperative that lodges are well-built and insulated. Leading lodge manufacturer, Pathfinder Homes, recently boasted that on average, their lodges are 20 per cent better than the British Standard. Pathfinder’s typical build offers a minimum of 100mm thick insulation to the external walls and the floor with the roof boasting 200mm. This, in hand with a rated appliances, argon gas filled windows, low energy lighting and many other features means the lodge is not only kind to the environment but these changes add up and keep the average running costs down too.

NO COMPROMISE “Unlike a traditional bricks and mortar home, where you would be expected to compromise on at least a few of your desires, choosing a park home or lodge can open doors you never even knew existed – excuse the pun!” comments a spokesperson for Pathfinder. Pathfinder’s clients can select everything from the size, the layout, the external finishing and the internal furnishings of the lodge. Each customer is offered a blank canvas to start with, or they can choose from a preselected, standard design. The design studio presents a tangible design experience – so they can touch and feel the fabrics and virtually walk through the lodge before it is built. Leading lodge and holiday home manufacturer, Victory Leisure Homes has just launched its brand new model for 2017, which allows customers to create their own design, specified to their personal tastes from a list of 10 optional extras.

For nearly 60 years Pathfinder Homes has been a pioneering manufacturer of luxurious residential park homes and holiday lodges.

HOME FROM HOME The Echo comes in four sizes and room configurations – 36ft, two or three bedroom; 33ft, two bedroom, and; 28ft, two bedroom – and boasts a host of standard features, as well as an extensive list of extras including central heating, double glazing and integrated appliances. Standard features include, among others, Sandstone aluminium cladding, lounge electric fire, uPVC single glazed windows, USB sockets to all bedrooms and lounge, panoramic large front windows and Victory’s own design SoCozeee mattresses. The Echo is Victory’s first mid-season launch since 2015 when the company unveiled its popular model, the Sandhurst, to the industry. However last year, the company took a step back from launching a mid-season model, amid rising sales for its existing range.

Peter Nevitt, Managing Director of Victory Leisure Homes said: “In 2015/2016 sales across the range were flying, so we decided not to launch a mid-season model. “But since then we have expanded our manufacturing capacity significantly, meaning we are able to accommodate an extra, midseason model, which is why we’re delighted to be launching the Echo in 2017.”

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Fresh Approach

Posted on March 7, 2017

Fresh Approach

Peter Bull Resorts purchased Newquay View Holiday Park in 2014 and have since invested £2 million in upgrades to the facilities and general appearance of the park.

Purchased as a run-down park with a bad reputation for attracting the wrong sort of crowd to Newquay, Peter Bull Resorts has achieved a complete 180° turnaround at Newquay View Holiday Park in just three seasons. The group purchased the park in 2014 and has invested over £2m to improve the holiday fleet, refurbish and introduce new facilities and completely upgrade the general appearance of the park.

In fact, last year the park welcomed almost 19,000 holidaymakers and there are plans to further expand and enhance the facilities in the next 12 months. “Our ambition is to become a five star park, with all of the modern facilities and activities that guests expect from a resort,” reveals Barry McGregor, Managing Director at Peter Bull Resorts. “Having replaced every single hire fleet caravan since 2015, we now have planning in for a modern fully landscaped touring park with 85 fully serviced pitches and top notch amenities.”

He adds: “Newquay is all about outdoor living and we want to champion Porth as a top class destination.” Newquay View has the benefit of being very close to Newquay and all that it has to offer in the way of restaurants, pubs, clubs, beaches and attractions; but the park is set back in a peaceful valley with beautiful surrounding countryside, allowing our guests to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The park is managed on a day-to-day basis by General Manager Sue Hogg, who has over 30 years’ experience in improving customer experience and sales for top leisure brands

HIRE FLEET : On the park is a hire fleet of 75 caravans, ten glamping pods and over 100 touring and camping pitches. In addition there are over 110 holiday home owners on-site and 60 seasonal tourers. For the 2017 season, the park will be adding two Swift S Pods to its offering as a luxury glamping option. “We now have a strong base of holiday home owners and touring customers, a new holiday fleet and glamping accommodation too.

Situated near the beach at Porth, just outside the main town of Newquay, the park is popular with the outdoor family market,” comments Barry. “Ultimately the most important thing is that people enjoy their holidays with us so that they want to come back year after year. To achieve this it is vital we work well as a team and also listen to our guests to ensure that we are providing them with everything that they need to make their time with us special and memorable.”

CORE TEAM : The park is managed on a day-to-day basis by General Manager Sue Hogg, who has over 30 years’ experience in improving customer experience and sales for top leisure brands including Bourne Leisure and Park Leisure. Sue leads a core team of 25 staff with the support of a Leisure Manager, Operations Manager, Entertainment Manager and Housekeeping Manager. Amenities on the park include a 22m indoor pool, sauna, steam room, an endless elite training pool, café, amusements, a nightclub, two playgrounds, an outdoor heated pool, a convenience store, a fitness facility and specialist sports coaching.

The park boasts an indoor and an outdoor pool, which are popular hotspots for holidaymakers

There’s also an on-site surf school, Blue Surf, which gives lessons at nearby Watergate Bay. The park also supports the local community by making its facilities available to all neighbours. The indoor pool is used for weekly training and lessons by several local schools, the surf rescue services, local swimming clubs and the emergency services. Many Cornish organisations use the Venue Club to host their presentations or awards dinners, theatre productions, weddings and local events. “The bulk of our customers are families during the peak seasons, but we are increasingly seeing a growth in the couples and very young family market during the shoulder seasons and this is something that we are keen to encourage as we are now open all year round,” Barry explains.

He adds: “The biggest challenge that the park faces is providing high quality holidays to increasingly discerning customers, some of whom have never stayed in Cornwall before. Newquay View has required record levels of investment, which is challenging for owner managers, and higher staffing levels to manage facilities that will be flat out.”

New Ownership

Posted on March 7, 2017

Park Leisure has been acquired by Midlothian Capital Partners for £103 million.

New Ownership

Luxury holiday park operator Park Leisure has been sold for £103 million. Private equity firm Midlothian Capital Partners and a consortium of investors have agreed to acquire the business, which was founded by Miles Dewhurst and Gary Molloy 19 years ago.

Upon completion, Gary will exit the business to pursue other avenues and Miles will take up the role of CEO supported by the existing management team as well as MCP. Park Leisure operates ten holiday home parks across the UK with a turnover of £58 million and 350 staff.

Gary Molloy, CEO and co-founder of Park Leisure, added: “After 19 dedicated years I have decided to take a back seat and exit the business over this coming season. The company started from an office in a bedroom in my house and has steadily grown ever since. “I have very much enjoyed working with Andrew and the MCP team, and wish them, as well as Miles and the Park Leisure team the very best for the future.”

Park Faces Fire Safety Failure Fines

Posted on January 16, 2017

The owner of Europa Holiday Park has been fined for safety breaches, following a serious fire at the park in August 2015.

Park Faces Fire Safety Failure Fines

The owner of Europa Holiday Park, in North Devon has been fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £15,500 costs after pleading guilty to six offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Graham Toms, Director of Woolacombe Beach Holiday Park Ltd (operating at Europa Holiday Park), was also given a six-month sentence suspended for two years when he appeared before Exeter Crown Court. On the afternoon of August 3, 2015 a significant fire broke out in the club house at Europa Park Holiday park.

During the course of the fire, two staff members suffered burns and a guest, using the pool with his young son, had to break out of the building by using his bare feet to smash the glass of a locked fire exit with only minutes to spare. The resulting investigations by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service revealed a number of failings including lack of emergency escape lighting and failure to provide adequate safety training for staff. The investigation also found that Mr Toms had failed to act on the findings of a fire risk assessment carried in 2009, which had identified several issues.

Business Safety Manager Paul Bray, of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: “Mr Toms had been in the industry for many years and should have been well aware of what was expected and needed in respect of fire safety at the premises. “He understood the need for a Fire Risk Assessment, yet failed to comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order by ignoring advice from those he had appointed to assist, putting lives at risk as evidenced by the actions and resulting injuries sustained by a guest and staff as a result of a fire on the premises.”

One Stop Shop

Posted on November 7, 2016

Whetting your appetite for the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show this November…

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show returns to Birmingham in November.

Building on the success of its launch in 2015, the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show returns to Birmingham in November and this year the team is pulling out all the stops to make the show bigger and better than before. Taking place on November 9-10 at the NEC, the show is a must for park and land owners looking to diversify their land into a lucrative tourism enterprise, or those looking for new and innovative ways to put their park on the map.

Visitors to the two-day event can get a glimpse of the latest glamping trends and products, as well as a comprehensive lineup of seminars, workshops and suppliers needed to make a holiday park business a success. “Holiday Park & Resort Innovation is an entirely unique event for entrepreneurs striving for success in one of the most vibrant and competitive sectors in British business today,” says event organiser Will Mansfield.

“The show brings together top industry experts, leading suppliers, interactive workshops, live debates and seminars all focused on providing the inspiration, advice and resources holiday park and resort owners need to enhance the performance of their business,” he adds. The show will be expanding into Hall 8 of the NEC this year, with more than 300 suppliers and an estimated 3,500 visitors.Visitors will have the opportunity to learn from the top experts at google, Airbnb and Booking.com and hear from some of the industry’s most successful individuals such as Carl Castledine CEO of Away Resorts, George Bryan Director of Drayton Manor and Bernard Donoghue CEO of ALVA.

“As in 2015, the Holiday Park Innovation Show will again support The Family Holiday Association as its official charity and in addition we’re excited to announce our official trade partnership with the NCC,” says Will. “As the UK trade body for the tourer, motorhome, caravan holiday home and residential park home industries we look forward to working closely with the NCC before, during and after the event this year.” The show runs alongside Rural Entrepreneur Live, incorporating Farm Business Innovation & Country House Innovation in Hall 9, which provides landowners with the inspiration, advice and resources they need to diversify, innovate and make more money from their land and property.

Packed with relative content, this additional show provides visitors to Holiday Park & Resort Innovation with further unique opportunities they might not have previously come across.

Running on the November 9 – 10 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, tickets to attend the show are free. Visitors just need to register via the website www.holidayparkshow.co.uk.

Smart Choice

Energy Controls is a leading supplier of electricity SMART Meters and pre-payment metering systems to holiday parks throughout the UK. The company specialises in providing its customers with fully managed metering solutions including installation and support for prepayment Card Meters, as well as data collection for SMART Meters that can be integrated with PayPoint for greater prepayment flexibility.
If you want to find out more about MID compliance or if you are thinking about installing or upgrading your meters, either to ensure your energy costs are recovered fully or to reduce your billing administration, then visit Stand 1346 where the team will be happy to sit and discuss your requirements with you.

Energy Controls
Tel. 0845 230 4535
www.econtrols.co.uk

Make a Splash

World Leisure UK can deliver the full turnkey option for your water leisure facility.
From initial design through to construction and handover, World Leisure UK can help to deliver your water leisure facility aspirations. The company benefits from close links with a manufacturing facility, which enables them to keep a large part of the manufacturing side of an installation, from moveable floors and filter vessels through to stainless steel handrails close to home. Their experience in the commercial sector ensures that their designs and installations conform to the current legislation, written especially for the swimming pool industry by the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group, Sport England and the Health & Safety Executive.

World Leisure UK
Tel. 01772 284883
www.worldleisureuk.co.uk

Fun For All

For over 45 years, World of Rides has been a leading UK manufacturer of children’s leisure rides in the UK. From its premises in County Durham, the company supplies major shopping centres, retailers, visitor attractions, fun farms, holiday parks, garden centres, family entertainment centres and hospitality centres that include national and single-site operators. Their vast knowledge and experience ensures that every ride they manufacture is rigorously tested both in the factory and onsite before being released for sale.
They maintain a dedicated customer support office which ensures that all their customers receive the very best advice on the profitable and safe operation of their rides.

World Of Rides
Tel. 01914 920 999
www.worldofrides.com

Home from Home

Omar is a leading manufacturer of luxury lodges and park homes with a reputation built upon 50 years of manufacturing experience.
All Omar’s homes and lodges are built to residential standard BS3632:2015. This means they are suitable for residential use throughout the year and are built to last at least 50 years.
Interiors have a choice of intelligent floor layouts to suit individual needs and are right up to date with stunning interior design. All homes come with quality branded furniture, white goods, double-glazing and central heating as standard.
With industry leading design, exceptional build quality and unsurpassed attention to detail, meet the Omar team on stand 1562 to discuss how they can help deliver your dream lodge.

Omar Park Homes
Tel. 01842 810 673
www.omar.co.uk

In The Fast Lane

A world-first in design innovation, itrike easy-to-ride electric vehicles give the leisure market a superb opportunity to offer customers a new and dynamic transportation experience. They also present an excellent ROI opportunity for holiday rentals. Including both e-bikes and e-scooters, itrike’s range of noise-free electric vehicles have been cleverly designed to provide users aged from 14 years + with an exhilarating ride that is both fun and safe. They are propelled by a reliable, long-lasting lithium-ion battery coupled with a Bosch electric motor, providing a maximum speed of 15mph (e-bike version). Visitors will also have the chance to win an itrike at the show!

itrike
Tel. 01743 761107
www.itrike.co.uk

Take a Dip

RotoSpa is the UK’s only spa manufacturer. A family company established 15 years ago, the Midlands-based factory supplies the holiday industry all over the UK. From simple, robust, quality tubs for holiday lets to more complex commercial solutions to solve labour demand and legislative issues. Make RotoSpa your preferred hot tub partner. RotoSpa will be exhibiting a number of exciting holiday park hot tub innovations to enable owners and operators to reap the financial rewards of hot tub provision whilst giving them a newfound peace of mind that they will be able to comply with legislative requirements without undue strain on staff time.

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

Don't Miss Us

As the official media partner of the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show, visitors should make a beeline for Holiday Park Scene magazine on stand 1641. We will be giving away complimentary copies of the magazine and the team will be on hand to discuss your business goals for 2017. Holiday Park Scene is an essential read for anyone involved in holiday park and campsite management. At least 5,000 copies of Holiday Park Scene are distributed six times annually to key personnel in all aspects of the holiday park industry across the UK and Eire. We have a combined online presence of 20,000. Talk to the team to find out more about the editorial, advertising and marketing services that we offer.

Holiday Park Scene
Tel. 01353 666663
www.holidayparkscene.com

In Full Bloom

Posted on May 4, 2016

In Full Bloom

The Beach A 1 Winner of the Wales in Bloom award in 2014 and 2015, The Beach Caravan Park’s well-maintained grounds and exceptional appearance all year round is what really makes the five star park stand out from the crowd.

Located on the North Wales coastline, close to the village of Llanddulas, The Beach’s neatly kept site is complemented by its scenic position overlooking the Irish Sea.

Offering guests a peaceful retreat and the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’, the park appeals to families, young and retired couples, dog owners, water sports and cyclists alike. The owners of 211 holiday homes on the site visit regularly and the park also welcomes nearly 2,500 holidaymakers each year in the hired luxury caravans.

“Excellent customer service and our commitment to continual re-investment in our park and facilities is what sets us apart,” comments park manager Nigel Owen.

“Our biggest challenge is maintaining the high standards we have set from day one and continually looking for ways in which to improve the park and therefore the overall customer experience.”

The Beach Caravan Park is one of seven awardwinning holiday parks in North Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire, operated by Thornley Leisure Parks. Thornley Leisure Parks was founded by William (Bill) Sutcliffe Thornley and his wife Dorothy in 1962. The couple, originally bakers from Cheshire, had holidayed in North Wales for many years and when the opportunity to establish a bakery in Conwy came their way, they decided to relocate with their twin boys to the area they had grown so fond of. Bill and Dorothy soon decided that they wanted to make their hobby their business and leave the long hours and early mornings of the bakery business behind. They purchased Craiglwyd Hall Caravan Park in 1961 and never looked back.

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Top Accolade For Staffs Holiday Park

Posted on April 15, 2016

Top Accolade For Staffs Holiday Park

Oakland A Staffordshire holiday park took centre stage at the county’s annual tourism awards ceremony recently when it gained a top gold accolade.

Oakland Holiday Park, near the village of Brewood, was named as the overall winner in the holiday parks category at the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards, beating all other Staffordshire parks to the title. Stepping up to receive the honour was Adam Breakspeare, whose family has owned Oakland Holiday Park for more than 30 years.

According to Adam Breakspeare, a large share of credit for the park’s success in the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards must go to the company’s staff: “The criteria for these awards place a strong emphasis on the excellence of service provided to customers, and the quality of the welcome and hospitality provided. It is our whole team which delivers the high standards our guests expect.

“We will be continuing to invest in staff training and new facilities in 2016, and hopefully encouraging even more people to holiday in this wonderful part of the country,” added Adam.

Jeanette’s Royal Recognition

Posted on April 15, 2016

Jeanette’s Royal Recognition

Policy director for the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) Scotland, Jeanette Wilson, has been made an MBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List for her highly-valued services to the holiday parks sector.

A well-known figure within the industry, Edinburgh-based Jeanette is best known for her role at BH&HPA Scotland and for the part she plays in helping promote the Best of British group of top rated independent parks.

Jeanette joined BH&HPA in 1993, and has since provided the secretariat to the association in Scotland which comprises more than 200 park businesses. She also represents the parks industry to the Scottish government, Visit Scotland and many other tourism organisations.

Holiday Park Scene Magazine

UK Holiday

Camping Sector Growth