Kids That Play, Stay

Posted on February 6, 2018

Kids That Play, Stay

ABOVE: Wear out the youngsters with fun play opportunities such as this one from Brean Play.

The UK’s notoriously unpredictable weather means that indoor play and amusement facilities can provide an essential ‘get out of a jail’ card for holiday parks. From soft play zones to amusement arcades, parks that offer exciting indoor entertainment are sure to stand out from the crowd. “For our commercial customers we have, for many years, had a mantra ‘kids that play, stay’ because when kids enjoy the play offering, the parents will stay longer and come back more frequently,” advises Mike Black SLKids – a division of Sound Leisure Ltd. “Where you increase the dwell time, you increase the pro rata spend per head,” he adds. David Robinson of World of Leisure agrees but cautions: “The price of play is very important in holiday parks, as a captive audience, who have to pay over and over again during their holiday, will choose to leave the park each day to fi nd their amusement and fun elsewhere, especially if park prices are seen as being too high. “Three to twelve year old children are still the biggest influence on a family holiday destination, and if holiday parks cater for this age group by giving them exciting and fully interactive rides, then they will always enjoy being fully booked,” David continues. “If the weather is inclement, then all our rides can be operated either indoors or outdoors, so no disappointed younger children, whatever the weather.”

ABOVE: A sure fire winner is this driving school by SLkids.

ABOVE: A sure fire winner is this driving school by World of Rides

World of Rides has been involved with the delivery of battery operated parent and child rides since 1969. “Always buy the best rides and play equipment that you can afford, as cheap equipment will always breakdown during your busiest periods,” advises David Robinson of World of Rides.

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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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Just a Penny More…

Posted on March 7, 2017

Just a Penny More...

A holiday experience wouldn’t be complete without trying your luck on the prize crane or the coin tipping machine. In fact, the arcade has been a staple attraction of the Great British seaside holiday since the early 1900’s. Part of the Bourne Leisure group, Haven currently operates 37 arcades at its parks across the UK and has seen a shift from traditional arcades moving to all-encompassing family entertainment centres. “Our guest feedback indicates that arcades are a valued part of the holiday offering.

I wouldn’t suggest that anyone books a holiday based purely on the arcade offering, as we have seen a focus towards our Nature Rockz activities, but it is a very wellused facility and part of the overall holiday experience,” says Kevin Scott, Head of Arcades at Bourne Leisure. “The arcades are now environments where families can play together and often we include other family products such as soft play.” Redemption games, where the player is rewarded proportionally to their score, are Haven’s most popular arcade games, closely followed by cranes and coin pushers.

“We have expanded the redemption and prize offers at the expense of the gaming element of the business. A very high proportion of our games offer has a prize element which is very well received by both the holiday makers and our owners,” reveals Kevin. He adds: “Arcades have long been and are still very much part of the seaside family holiday and there is no indication to suggest that this will change in the near future.” Before investing in arcade games and equipment, it is advisable to seek advice from a reputable dealer or manufacturer, who offers a warranty and will give you fast and efficient after-sales care and service for the entire life of the equipment.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL “Too many park owners become totally disillusioned by a particular attraction that has failed in the past and this fazes their judgement for ever buying anything similar ever again - all because they were badly advised in the very beginning,” comments David Robinson of World of Rides. He continues: “Never buy any rides or equipment based on the lowest price, as every month we receive at least one sad story of cheap failed equipment at peak times of the season, which has resulted in lost income, and more importantly, disappointment and lost customer satisfaction.”

World of Rides is a leading UK manufacturer of battery operated land and water-based leisure rides. The company’s three biggest selling rides for 2017 so far are the fully operational Driving School Car, which has all the same controls as any normal road car, the glow in the dark Future Bike, which has under-LED lighting, and the new Baby Beetle Car for smaller children. “Our entire 12v/24v range of rides are becoming very much more popular with holiday park owners, partly due to the fact that they are nearly all able to carry either two children or a parent and child, but also because they all run without any noise, air or water pollution,” says David. “With trade prices starting at only £2,750 each, they still remain the highest earning children’s rides, due to them being fully directional and interactive with the riders.” According to David, really good rides and amusements will normally achieve full return on investment a number of times over in any one season, providing that they are operated correctly and looked after.

LIFE SPAN “All modern EEC and UK made rides have a long life expectancy, but in order to keep guests and visitors coming back every year, and incomes retained at their maximum, the rides should ideally be run on a rolling five-year-plan, with at least one new ride attraction being added to the park every year,” says David. “After that, each ride should be subsequently downgraded or replaced after year five, depending on its continued income potential and key position in the park,” he adds. For holiday parks that choose to hire their arcade equipment, it is advisable to work with fully vetted and experienced operators who use up-to-date rides that are tested and documented using H.S.E.-ADIPS safety testing every year. It is also important to check that the operator can show documentary evidence of themselves being fully insured for Public Liability for a minimum £10,000,000, in the event of any incident.

INSURANCE MATTERS Another key consideration is to ensure that your arcade equipment is covered by a suitable insurance policy. According to Compass Insurance, the key message when it comes to rides and machines - whether they are relatively simple coin-operated equipment or larger, more complex facilities - is to have a conversation with your insurer or broker before you go ahead and sign a hire agreement or make a purchase. “Park owners and managers should be aware that your insurer or broker may decline cover,” advises Chris Jones, Retail Underwriting Manager at Thistle Insurance Services. “An increase in premium could otherwise apply – and in the worst case scenario this could make the rides or machines commercially unviable. It’s always best to have the conversation up front.”

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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

Playing It Safe

Posted on May 4, 2016

Playing It Safe

Pic: RSS (Playground Inspection Maintenance)

A state-of-the-art outdoor playground may look the part, but keeping it in tip-top condition is sometimes overlooked.

From ropes and wooden frames to nuts and bolts, there are a large number of components on play equipment that require routine checks and an annual inspection.

A leading supplier of outdoor play equipment is urging holiday park operators to show duty of care towards their play equipment. RSS (Playground Inspection and Maintenance) stresses the importance of ongoing compliance to EN1176, even with newly purchased equipment, by inspecting the equipment on a regular basis.

Andy Readman, director of RSS comments: “In the unfortunate event of an accident you must be able demonstrate compliance to avoid expensive litigation and bad publicity. When purchasing a new playground you can specify equipment that is certified for compliance to EN1176, the European Playground safety standard.

“But what do you do when your equipment is many years old, was never certified for compliance when manufactured and the original equipment manufacturer is no longer trading?” says Andy.

“Well, you still have the same obligations regarding safety of the users but it is unlikely that an item of equipment that wasn’t designed to comply can be successfully modified to comply,” he explains.

RSS (Playground Inspection and Maintenance) have worked with holiday parks and visitor attractions for many years and can offer independent advice backed up by over 25 years’ experience in this specialised field.

Andy adds: “Remember, if you inspect regularly and repair defects your play area will continue to provide years of safe and trouble free use.”

Following a successful refurbishment of the playground equipment in 2013 to address non-compliances and extend the life of the equipment, Cosgrove Park in Milton Keynes has implemented a seasonal inspection regime based on the opening schedule for the park.

RSS have worked with Cosgrove Park to ensure that the regime reduces the number of inspections but ensures the park is inspected more frequently during the periods of highest use.

How often outdoor play equipment should be changed or updated all depends on the warranties of the equipment and its usage. The more the equipment is used, the quicker it may suffer from wear and tear. You can expect at least ten years use from any play area - and a lot more if it is well maintained. Sovereign Play Equipment has installed in excess of 10,000 play areas nationwide over the last 22 years.

Sovereign Play Equipment

In terms of price points, Justin Mottaz of Sovereign advises that a modest adventure trail could start from as little as £2,500 and an adventure tower with safer surfacing from around £5,000. “I would suggest that a sensible amount, to get a reasonable sized play area from the start, would be in the region of £10,000,” he says. “Remember that the cheaper option is often that way for a reason.”

Dominique Lloyd-Roberts of Playforce agrees: “When designing a playground, health and safety and durability should also be a priority. Look carefully at your quotations, guarantees, aftersales service and the longevity of the proposed designs – think about getting the best value for money, rather than just the lowest price.”

Playforce is a long-standing member of the API, all equipment complies with BS EN1176 and 1177 and is RoSPA tested. The company provides a full maintenance service with advice on routine maintenance, post installation, yearly and three yearly packages that include full reports, training and consultation sessions.

The Fun Factor

Posted on March 29, 2016

The Fun Factor

For many holidaymakers, the lure of an arcade is an essential item on the wish list, providing hours of entertainment for the whole family.

For the park operator, selecting the right balance of amusements, games and gaming machines can be a precarious balancing act between customer satisfaction and maximum return on investment while still delivering the fun factor that keeps the visitors coming back time and time again. Historically, the first popular arcade attractions were early games such as shooting galleries, ball toss games and early coin-operated machines, such as fortune tellers and strength testers. More modern gaming has been led by the popularity of online games and casino games. Penny fall coin pushers have been Crown Direct’s bestselling lines in recent years and 2015 was no exception with The Simpsons-themed Donut Daze machine, which was the company’s the most popular product of the year.

“It’s not a case of games having a fixed shelf life, but you should always have something new every season for holiday makers to play, advises Dean Harding, managing director at Crown Direct. Many come back to the park every year, so you need to keep the offer fresh.”

Crown Direct is a leading UK supplier of all types of coin operated equipment, as well as operating third party arcades and owning a number of their own. The Wigan-based company supplies equipment to holiday parks and family amusement arcades across the UK and Eire. Supply can be by way of outright purchase, rental or they can operate your arcade for you on an income share basis.

“There is merit in both rental and purchase and it really comes down to the holiday parks view on capital expenditure and appetite,” explains Dean. “We have large and small holiday park customers that are complete opposites in their approach to their amusement requirements. Some buy, some hire, and some lease the arcade space to an operator. Also, if customers thinking of buying there are some good second hand games available offering great value for money.”

Dean stresses the importance of keeping all arcade equipment in full working order and advises his customers to consult their suppliers if anything goes wrong: “Arcade games can go wrong and break down - coins get into all sort of places in a machine. Seeking technical expertise is essential as maintenance and repairs are a skill.”

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Spotlight On International Business

Posted on January 13, 2016

Spotlight On International Business

A leading UK distributor of battery operated children’s rides to the holiday park sector has been selected by Barclays Bank to spearhead its latest marketing campaign to encourage more businesses to use international banking facilities for currency trading and transactions.

North East-based World of Rides has been selected to represent
international business, as part of a Barclays Bank marketing campaign.

As long-time importers and exporters, North East-based World of Rides have been trading through Barclays Bank for more than five decades and as a result they were a natural choice for the bank to use to represent a successful international business.
World of Rides’ general manager David Robinson commented: “We have remained loyal to Barclays for over 50 years and we are delighted to be part of the international marketing campaign.”
An interview with David features on Barclays’ radio adverts, which are being broadcast nationally on Classic FM, LBC and Gold and Barclays will also be adding a section about World of Rides to its website.

It’s Show Time!

Posted on October 30, 2015

It's Show Time!

The countdown is on to the launch of the new Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show, which descends on Birmingham NEC this month.

Taking place on November 11 and 12 2015, the show is a must for park and land owners looking for new and innovative ways to put their business on the map. Visitors to the inaugural 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 incredible new exhibition and conference that is entirely dedicated to Britain’s holiday park industry, exclusively attended by park owners and operators,” explains event manager Will Mansfield.

“With the rise of the staycation and the ever-increasing influx of affluent overseas visitors, now is the time for UK Holiday Parks to expand and innovate, opening their doors to new markets and capitalising on the extensive opportunities available.”

Will continues: “The show is an entirely unique event for entrepreneurs striving for success in one of the most vibrant and competitive sectors in British business today, and we’ve assembled the most exciting new products, services and ideas as well as the best industry leading experts around to put visitors on the right path towards a successful holiday business.”

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show also runs alongside Farm & Country House Business Innovation, a leading trade show that provides farmers, landowners and estate and country house owners 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 have previously not come across.

Be sure to pop by and say hello to the Holiday Park Scene team on stand 1140. Pick up your latest copy of the magazine and find out how we can help you not just meet but exceed your business goals for 2016. Holiday Park & Resort Innovation is free to attend – visitors need to register via the website www.holidayparkshow.co.uk.

Instant Access
Join Alex Brown, Business Development Manager at Dial An Exchange, as he leads a seminar highlighting the many benefits that offering a holiday exchange system can bring. Advantages include offering the best possible service to existing owners, assisting with new lodge sales and increasing product value. All parks regardless of size, standard of accommodation and on site rules can benefit from an affiliation.
See Alex in Theatre 1 at 11am on Wednesday November 11, to find out how your park can implement a remarkable holiday exchange system.
Dial An Exchange Stand 1342
Tel. 01756 749966
www.dialanexchange.com

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Play Days
Visitors to the Wicksteed Playgrounds stand 932 will be able to view the extensive range of outdoor play and gym equipment that is ideally suited to the leisure and holiday park sector. Wicksteed uses advanced 3D printing technology to create complete play and fitness areas in perfectly formed 1:10 scale to offer a true visual interpretation of plans and ideas to its customers. The play experiences can be themed with bespoke elements to reflect the individual site and its surroundings.
Wicksteed Playgrounds Stand 932
Tel. 01536 517028
www.wicksteed.co.uk

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Got it Covered
Somerset based glamping specialist Boldscan has a range of tents from safari style to ultra-modern, plus the unique and flexible Clubhouse. The company has recently added the innovative and stylish Etosha model to its range of quality tents. Boldscan can advise on planning, finance, positioning, as well as assembling and maintaining. Meet us at the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show at Stand number 1032.
Boldscan Ltd Stand 1032
Tel. 01823 665 849
www.albioncanvas.co.uk

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Time To Play
We are committed to making the world a better place by offering innovative aquatic play solutions to the global community. Our full suite of products includes play features designed to splash and spray, activity centres, waterslides, and architecturally-inspired urban features. Whether you’re building an aquatic play pad complete with a water management system or refurbishing an existing facility, our goal is to deliver an end-result that pushes play outside the bounds of everyday fun and into a world of discovery.
Waterplay Solutions Corp. Stand 1356
Tel. 001 (250) 712 3393
www.waterplay.com

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Nature Calls
Our toilets use no water, require no sewage systems and create no waste. Simple to use, easy to maintain, odourless and chemical free. A completely natural solution, for all camping and glamping sites. Waterless toilets, an old concept brought bang up to date for modern living and water saving. We are introducing the Water from Households Aboveground Living Ecosystem (WHALE). Grey water is piped from the dwelling through a series of gravel and reed planted troughs then recycled for showers and washing machines.
Ecotoilets Stand 474
Tel. 01327844442
www.eco-toilets.co.uk

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One Stop Pool Shop
Your one-stop-shop for swimming pool and water play advice, World Leisure provides a complete range of design, technical and installation services in the water leisure industry. With expertise in pool and plant design and installation, we undertake both domestic and large commercial projects with energy conservation at the forefront of the design. As well as pool finishes, other core areas of expertise include water treatment plants, wave machines, water features, water slides, moveable floors, wellbeing controlled environments, and all other aspects of swimming pools that most developments require.
World Leisure (UK) Stand 1484
Tel. 01772 284883
www.worldleisureuk.co.uk

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Peace of Mind
Using our extensive knowledge of the holiday and residential park sector, we are able to offer parks a competitively priced insurance solution tailored to your specific needs. Lorica’s holiday parks policy includes not just the usual array of buildings, contents and liability cover but also specific extensions for caravans, lodges, chalets, holiday homes and park homes whilst on park, in transit, in storage, whilst being sited and unsited and whilst being worked upon, sales stock and rental fleets.
Lorica Insurance Brokers Stand 864
Tel. 0333 4000 707
www.loricainsurance.com

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Room With a View
We are a successful garden room manufacturer and installer and are taking our expertise into the build and design of glamping pods. All pods are built in our workshops by our skilled carpenters and are delivered to the site as a complete unit. Each unit is built to order and can be installed on-site, ready to use within six weeks of placing your order. Visit the Future Rooms team on stand 1234 to discuss the options and designs available for your park.
Future Rooms Stand 1234
Tel. 01452 501455
www.futurerooms.co.uk

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Pool Expertise
Having built their first holiday park swimming pool in 1989, Cresta Leisure are recognised as being one of the leading swimming pool designers and contractors in the holiday park sector. Their extensive portfolio of pools, as well as lazy rivers and water leisure, is testament to their understanding of the particular design and financial requirements in this sector. Their mission is to provide attractive swimming and water leisure facilities able to cope with the rigorous demands of holidaymakers at prices that are not prohibitive. All Cresta commercial swimming pools are designed to European standards to maintain top water quality.
Cresta Leisure Stand 1394
Tel. 01305 259 253
www.cresta-leisure.co.uk

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Play With A Twist
Hippo offers a range of play features that will bring a twist to the pool or poolside of any holiday park. Working closely with children has contributed to the success of Hippo’s product design and developments. Hippo’s play equipment is extremely versatile and can be expanded and updated gradually to spread costs and keep features fresh and appealing to customers that return to holiday parks year upon year. Hippo can work with any budget, pool shape and size to create a customised water play zone.
Hippo Leisure Stand 1460
Tel. 01752 771740
www.hippoleisure.com

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All In One
Maxxton was the first company in Europe to launch a fully integrated, cloud based, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution specifically for the holiday park sector. Working hand-in-hand with our customers, the software has been developed alongside Europe’s top holiday parks. We offer a complete management and marketing solution that saves you time, helps you to increase your bookings and allows you to focus on your guests. To find out more about our solutions come and visit us at stand 1244 or get in touch via our details below to discuss your needs directly.
Maxxton Stand 1244
Tel. 0121 222 5125
www.maxxton.com

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Hooked Up
Visit the Rollins Marine & Caravan Services (RMCS) team on stand 740 at the exhibition. Rollins Caravan Services has over 25 years industry experience and are fully conversant with all the latest electrical and water regulations throughout Europe. Our range of products are competitively priced and manufactured from products that are tried and trusted in the industry. As well as supply, we have a team of dedicated professionals, offering a bespoke design and installation service. RMCS can satisfy all marina and caravan site requirements and can produce over 300 different specifications of service pedestals and hook up units.
Rollins Marine & Caravan Services Stand 740
Tel. 01945 871412
www.rmcs.co.uk

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Joy Riders
For over 45 years, World of Rides has been the leading UK manufacturer of children’s leisure rides in the UK. Our vast knowledge and experience ensures that every ride we manufacture is rigorously tested both in the factory and on-site before being released for sale. We maintain a dedicated customer support office, which ensures that all our customers receive the very best advice on the profitable and safe operation of their rides. How long do they last? Almost all of the rides we have ever made are still in daily use!
World of Rides Stand 952
Tel. 0191 49 20 999
www.worldofrides.com

Winning Odds

Posted on February 6, 2014

Winning Odds

Coin-operated air hockey, football tables and pool tables are coming back into fashion, now that the video side is being overtaken by home based consoles.

Choosing the right combination of amusements, games and machines can be a precarious balancing act between customer satisfaction and maximum pay back.
The right combination can enhance the guest experience and help create that elusive fun factor that keeps them coming back year after year.
But with a plethora of choice available, selecting the winning formula can be a tricky recipe to perfect.
JS Classics provide retro arcade machines to both the home market and corporate sector. Over the years the company has grown and now deals with all aspects of gaming throughout the corporate sector.
Jonathan Thompson of JS Classics advises: “The key to a successful games room or arcade is variety - there must be something to appeal to kids, parents and grandparents alike.
“There are also certain arcade games that will always big revenue earners. So-called ‘legacy’ games such as Pac-Man and anything Star Wars related have always been and continue to be popular. Air Hockey tables also remain a favourite among all age groups.”
Jonathan continues: “Eventually video arcade machines will become out of date and will need to be changed, but as long as you buy right and choose popular titles their earning potential can last for years. On the whole, kids will enjoy playing on the games they are presented within a closed holiday park environment.”

MAXIMISING PROFIT

Air hockey tables remain a favourite among gamers of all ages.

Arcade machines come in a huge range of sizes from what’s known as a single player upright machine through to multiplayer games held in small cinemas. In general, the larger screened machines are known as ‘deluxe’ models and the more conservative sized machines are known as ‘standard’ cabinets.
Jamie Stanford managing director of Liberty Games says: “Much of the UK market revolves around refurbished machines because of the rather hefty price tag of a new machine. Prices range from good second hand machines at around £2500 right through to the latest Sega full motion machines stretching in to the hundreds of thousands.
“The payback of a machine is directly related to how well the machine is purchased in the first place. I would advise reducing your capital input by buying second hand – these machines depreciate at quite a rate in the first few years so bargains are out there. In most cases we see machines paying for themselves in the first 3 months and the owners enjoying profits from that point onwards,” he adds.
Liberty Games sell a comprehensive choice of both new and refurbished arcade machines covering a wide range of genres, from dance, driving and quiz machines, to prize redemption machines such as grabbers and cranes.
Jamie continues: “Currently our most popular products are the Galaxy and Cosmic range of machines. The cabinets hold up to 350 games and give the user a much richer experience than a single game.
“Apart from that, we find that the arcade machines that have not been well replicated on home based consoles are still very popular. Shooting games for example have not yet been replicated to any high standard in the home environment so consequently can still pull in the crowds at the arcades.”
Outside of the games room, larger scale games and rides such as bumper cars, dodgems and go-karts are also a firm favourite among families. Specialising in coin-operated family games and rides, World of Rides’ most popular range is their ‘Mini Moto’ pollution-free battery operated cars, which run on a hardstanding oval track.
David Robinson, general manager of World of Rides comments: “Battery rides are always a win-win investment as financially they are hardly ever viewed as an expense by operators, as they have such a rapid pay-back period.
“Our battery operated cars have remained virtually recessionproof over our past forty years of production. Parents and children love them as they are such fun, and operators and local authorities love them as they are pollution-free, and contribute to lowering their carbon footprint.”
David continues: “Incomes for such rides will vary at differing times of year, but our customers tell us that an average income, at a normal price of £1.00 per three minute ride, is normally around £100.00 per vehicle per day, which increases further at peak holiday periods.”

Company Contacts

JS Classics
Tel. 0800 112 33 41
www.jsclassics.net

Liberty Games
Tel. +44 (0)1372 736470
www.libertygames.co.uk

World of Rides
Tel. +44 (0)191 49 20 999
www.worldofrides.com

EMBED International
Tel. +44 (0)1225 311323
www.embedcard.com

Pure Novelty
Email. sales@purenovelty.co.uk
www.purenovelty.co.uk

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