Elite Dynamics to focus on continued growth of holiday park industry
Elite Dynamics, a leading provider of software solutions to the Holiday Parks industry, will start 2020 with a dedicated focus of supporting Holiday Parks to capitalise on the predicted rise in staycations. The tourism sector is forecast to grow by almost 20 per cent over the next five years* – faster than many other key industries including manufacturing and construction – and presents huge opportunities for forward-thinking Holiday Parks. As market leaders within the industry, Elite Dynamics, which was founded by industry and technology specialists Jamaine Campbell, Jack Vernon, and Nicola Campbell in 2015, plan to unveil new systems and tools to simplify processes for holiday park owners and help improve their bottom line. New product enhancements are being continuously developed to facilitate the ongoing digital transformation of the Holiday Parks industry; from integrated management solutions improving customer communications to providing the functionality to add-on extra revenue streams for on-park activities and events. The company’s rapidly growing customer base, which has tripled in the last three years, is already reaping the benefits of using unique software solutions officially accredited and powered by Microsoft technology. Dean Styger, Finance Director, Talacre Beach Caravan Sales Limited, said: “Implementing our Microsoft Dynamics based park management solution enabled us to strip £250,000 of costs out of the business in the first year.” Jamaine Campbell, co-founder and Commercial Director of Elite Dynamics, said: “We’re committed as a company to being at the forefront of the digitisation of the Holiday Parks industry and to provide innovative, market leading solutions that increase our customers’ efficiency and positively impact their bottom line. “The UK Holiday Park sector accounts for a huge £9.3bn of visitor spend each year and people both stay longer and spend more than any other tourism area. With even more growth forecasted through a continued boom in staycationing, now really is the time for holiday park owners to evolve, grow and capitalise on a strong market. “We understand how technology is changing and what businesses need to give them a competitive edge, so we’ll provide them with the tools and support to successfully manage everything from start to finish.” Throughout 2019, Elite Dynamics has grown its suite of products to include new EliteCRM for Customer Relationship Management and EliteFinance options, as well as launching a new Owners App to strengthen communication between holiday parks and their customers. They have also invested in growing their workforce to a 13 strong team of industry, technology, and IT specialists, which has more than doubled in the last two years. For more information or to arrange a demonstration of our industry focused solutions, visit https://www.elitedynamics.co.uk.
Innovative Inclusive Play Equipment From Huck
Being active is good for you – and that goes especially for children, youngsters, and adults with limited mobility. Huck appreciate the importance of play not only as a means of keeping healthy but also as an aid to improving social and communication skills. Their range of inclusive play equipment is designed to ensure that everyone regardless of age, gender and ability can play together and have an exciting time. On offer is a colourful range of play equipment that is obstacle-free and designed to suit all. The pieces that make up the range includes swings with safety seats, hammocks and trampolines. This Huck series of equipment offers endless swinging and climbing fun, without over-exerting its users. One of the great things about Huck’s inclusive swings is that the large flat and upright seats invite people to get moving. The climbing equipment is low enough for children to enjoy climbing regardless of their mobility level. It also means it is at a safe height should they fall off during play. The fittings on the all-in-one equipment are of exceptionally high quality. The climbing nets are made from Huck Hercules rope (Ø 16 mm, 6-strand, with steel core). Our steel posts come with a 15-year guarantee against rust erosion. The equipment is easy to set up with a twist of the hand – no need for any large tools. The comparatively small sized frames mean you can even set up the equipment in smaller play areas. Trampolines are one of the most inclusive play items you can have in a playground.As well as being fun and an enjoyable way to exercise they are a popular form of rebound therapy providing the benefits of increased movement and improved mobility. Huck’s Rolli trampoline has been designed for wheelchair users. It has sloping edge panels to enable the surface level trampoline to be accessed safely and easily. An accompanying person can stand in direct contact with the wheelchair user if required. Huck have been designing, manufacturing and installing play parks for many years. They recently completed an inclusive playground and picnic area at West Bay in Dorset. The playground includes trampolines, slides, carousels and many other pieces of Huck playground equipment.They worked with the local Bridport Town Council to create a playground where everyone was welcome. It was greatly received by the local community and is used both by residents and holidaymakers who visit the town. Whether you are looking for complete inclusive playground equipment systems or just the components Huck can help. For information on Huck ’s range of play equipment and their supporting design and installation services call 01308 425100 or email sarah.reynolds@hucknetting.co.uk To see the whole range visit www.huck-net.co.uk
Is dog waste an issue on your land? It’s a foul subject…
Dog waste is a problem that we see on private property, public open spaces, parks, communities, beach fronts, woodland and areas of natural beauty. The irony of something that does naturally biodegrade being placed in a single use plastic bag is hugely problematic. To tackle the growing number of dog owners who fall foul of the law, TiksPac are now working with landowners and councils across the UK. A survey of these areas measured a 60% decrease in dog fouling complaints on average and a 50% decrease in in overall littering in the same areas. Supplying 5 countries, 7000 stations across landowners and 26 million 100% biodegradable and fully compostable bags a year, Tikspac is leading the fight to remove single use plastic and protect community space in a positive way. Tikspac solution not only cleans up your land, it gives a positive message to your visitors and is a huge benefit to the environment. The dispensers hold 100 per cent compostable and biodegradable dog waste bags which are free and accessible 24/7. The idea is aimed at those who have forgotten to bring dog bags with them, as well as those who have a sense of community and are willing to clear up in their area. RibbyHall Holiday Park said: “While most dog walkers realise the importance of picking up after their pets, there is a small minority who are giving others a bad name. “The new stations provide free bags for those pet owners that need encouragement to use them. They have proved extremely popular in our holiday park in Blackpool in the 2 years that we have Come and visit us on Stand No H612 to find out more at the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show at the NEC on November 6th and 7th 2019 to find out more. www.tikspac.co.uk dogsolutions@tikspac.co.uk
Wales park brings medical lifeline to local community
Staff and the family owners of a mid Wales park were joined this month by local village residents for a training session in vital life-saving skills. It followed the recent installation on Warren Parc in Powys of a defibrillator, bought by the family-owned business following a series of successful fundraising events. Led by volunteers from the Welsh Hearts charity, the session showed how the new equipment could be used to save the life of a person suffering cardiac arrest.Available to holiday guests and the local community, the fully automated unit provides simple audio instructions which allow its use even by those with no medical experience. Julia Warren-Kyle, co-owner of Warren Parc, said the defibrillator could make a crucial difference, especially in summer when busier roads could delay the arrival of an ambulance. The park was helped in raising the £1000 cost of the equipment by owners of the 100 holiday caravans and lodges who attended the fetes and other special events staged over the past year: “The equipment is, of course, something which we hope will never be needed – but we are mindful of its life-saving potential, especially in a remote rural area,” said Julia, a former nurse. “Sudden cardiac arrest is a major killer in Britain, and a close-at-hand defibrillator on the park could dramatically increase a person’s life chances. “It will be available round-the-clock on the park to anybody living in or visiting the area, and will help to give everyone peace of mind,” she added. Julia is helped in the running of the park by her husband Neil, and it first started welcoming guests over 45 years ago after being established by Julia’s parents Ivan and Elizabeth. Based in the picture-postcard Dovey Valley near the market town of Machynlleth, the ten-acre park is just a short drive from some of Wales’s finest sandy beaches. The family’s care of the natural world has been praised by botanist David Bellamy who once again this year presented the park with his prestigious Conservation Award at its top gold level. Professor Bellamy made special mention of the many wild flowers and other high pollen-rich blooms which provide vital foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Helping to make Warren Parc as welcoming to wildlife as it is to human guests is groundsman Trefor Davies who first joined the park 30 years ago straight from a local school. Trefor’s dedication and hard work were celebrated at the recent medical training session with the presentation to him by the family of an Exceptional Service Award. The award is the highest honour given to outstanding park personnel by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the park industry’s professional body. Trefor lives in the nearby village of Penegoes with his wife Shelly, and is an enthusiastic volunteer with the Corris Vintage Steam Railway, Wales’s oldest narrow gauge railway. There is more information about Warren Parc on its website at www.warrenparc.co.uk
Legislation on air conditioning in sports facilities
Using the facilities at a gym or leisure centre will inevitably lead to sweat, whether through a workout or after a trip to the sauna. In order to avoid overheating, a well-maintained air conditioning unit can help during a rigorous exercise regime in order to improve performance. But what is the optimum temperature for your leisure facility? What legislation is in place to keep clients’ workouts at the optimal temperature? We explore the matter, as well as looking into the risks poor temperature control can pose to gym-goers. Duty of care In regards to the Health and Safety Executive, there are currently no established regulations that target gym or leisure centre temperatures specifically, although the generic health and safety legislation covers the vast majority of other safety requirements at the gym. So despite there being no fixed regulations which apply specifically to indoor leisure spaces, we can base an estimate upon the minimum workplace temperature requirements as an estimate to establish how we can achieve the optimum temperature for these environments. The Approved Code of Practice recommends 16°C as the base level for a workplace, with work requiring “rigorous physical effort” at 13°C. Again, this isn’t a legal requirement, but it gives an idea of what an optimum temperature is for comfortably engaging in physical activity. Take a look at these guidelines on optimum temperatures provided by Sport England, tailored to fitness and exercise spaces: • Fitness Gym – 16°C to 18°C (60°F to 64°F) in the summer, with “comfort cooling” as needed. • Studios – 18°C (64°F), with a slight summer rise acceptable. Risks of high temperatures in the gym When your gym is too hot, you are likely to have worked up a sweat before you even get going on your session. Plus, it’s a risky activity; dehydration and heat stroke are notable risks of working out in an overheated gym. But even just sweating too much can be a problem. We Be Fit notes that while over-sweating can cause gym-goers to notice an extra pound of weight loss at the end of their workout, the weight lost is fluids from sweating and will be negated with a drink. The article suggests that working out in an overheated gym for a long period can result in a 50% less effective workout! All that sweating for nothing. Risks of low temperatures in the gym While it’s unlikely that your gym will be too cold, this does happen sometimes and it is just as problematic as sweltering away in a poorly ventilated gym. My Inner Go produced some conclusions regarding the pros and cons of working out in a cold environment and found that chilly temperatures brought with it a higher risk of injury. This is because muscles tend to seize up in the cold (which is why warming up before physical activity is so important). The website offered a great analogy for cold muscles: consider them like Play-Doh! When Play-Doh gets cold, it goes stiff and doesn’t stretch, it just snaps. But warm Play-Doh is stretchy and flexible. How to keep gym and leisure centre temperatures perfectly regulated To maintain a gym’s temperature, the function of each room and the nature of the activity being carried out should be considered. Investing in an efficient, responsive air conditioning system will help regulate a comfortable temperature within the building. Working out in the most suitable environment will help you to get more out of each session, so keep customers feeling comfortable by monitoring your air conditioning unit and adjust it as necessary. If the gym starts to get a reputation for being freezing cold or too stuffy, gym goers will quickly turn to other establishments. MKM Acquires Leading HVAC Oceanair
WPL wins holiday park wastewater contract
Wastewater treatment specialist WPL has won a contract to provide onsite wastewater treatment at a holiday park in Cornwall. The underground installation at Juliots Well in North Cornwall will replace the existing septic tank and includes a WPL HiPAF (high performance aerated filter) modular treatment plant. Civil engineering specialist Aqua-Tech Consultancy made the initial contact with WPL and together the parties arranged a client visit to see a similar installation at Home Farm Holiday Centre in Somerset. The new 1,230 population equivalent system will process up to 181m3 wastewater per day without impeding on the site’s sweeping views of the Cornish landscape. WPL’s technical director, Andrew Baird, said, “WPL has a strong track record in providing wastewater treatment for sensitive locations where integration with the landscape and the expectations of visitors are top priorities. “We are very pleased with this contract win, which will meet the needs of this stunning site now and into the future as visitor numbers increase. We are already working in close collaboration with the client and consultant to understand the specific needs of Juliots Well and deliver the best value whole-life cost.” Design considerations include ensuring that the stringent Environment Agency effluent discharge permit for biological oxygen demand, suspended solids and ammonia is met. The system will also accommodate variations in load as visitor numbers rise in the peak season and fall in the winter months. Juliots Well Holiday Park is a rural retreat set in 33 acres of countryside near Camelford and is owned by South West Holiday Parks, part of the Worldteam Limited group. Installation of the full treatment system is taking place at the end of the 2019 holiday season. WPL will supply three biological treatment tanks and two final settlement tanks along with a flow measurement chamber with monitoring equipment. A global system for mobile communications (GSM) will be incorporated into a special control panel covering blowers, sludge pumps and a high-level alarm. An extra-large kiosk will house the controls and will feature a flashing alarm beacon. World team Limited’s managing director Josh Donald said, “We are passionate about providing our visitors with a first-class experience, while ensuring that we minimise our impact on the landscape and the environment. “The opportunity to see a similar WPL treatment system in operation has been very helpful in visualising the project. I look forward to seeing the new system in place and serving our customers as we grow.” www.wplinternational.com
High quality Fire and Carbon Monoxide alarms offered from Aico.
Aico, an Ei Company, is the market leader in domestic Fire and Carbon Monoxide protection, pioneering new technologies and offering high quality Fire and Carbon Monoxide alarms. All alarms have been designed, developed and manufactured at the Ei Electronics factory in Shannon, Ireland. Alarms meet UK and European standards and offer a wide range of sensor types to guarantee every home is protected. Each alarm is tested multiple times before leaving the factory ensuring quality in all of our alarms They recently supported Gas Safety Week, as part of their ongoing commitment to raising awareness of gas safety and Carbon Monoxide throughout the UK. While Carbon Monoxide is usually associated with domestic fossil fuel burning appliances, incidents and deaths can also occur in caravans. Faulty gas cookers, boilers, fires or petrol-powered generators can be a source of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Carbon Monoxide has been linked to deaths where people have moved gas and charcoal barbecues into tents and other enclosed spaces. When caravanning or camping, these enclosed spaces can cause Carbon Monoxide to build up to levels that can kill very quickly. Protect yourself by taking a Carbon Monoxide alarm with you. Aico has several educational materials available such as a pocket-sized guide to Carbon Monoxide Awareness and three short animated infographics.These can be found on their website. www.aico.co.uk/technical-support/guides-publications Tel: 01691 664100 Website: www.aico.co.uk Email: enquiries@aico.co.uk
Rhuddlan Holiday park is already good to go!
It’s not very often when a new site becomes available for a holiday park, with planning permission ready to go, in such a desirable area. North Wales is fast becoming the staycation destination of choice for the North West’s growing population. With easier and easier access 2 minutes away to the major road to the coast, the A55, this site is a great opportunity for someone to really make their mark from the ground up. The 4.5 acre (1.8 hectare) site is under 45 minutes from Chester and Snowdonia surrounded by beautiful farmland and a short walk to Rhuddlan Castle and the nature reserve. It has planning permission for 28 touring caravan pitches and 6 chalets with associated drainage and amenities, including buildings. Other attractions close by are the seaside towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl, Offas Dyke Footpath, Snowdonia National Park offering Zip World (the longest zip line in Europe) Surf Snowdonia Wavegarden (an inland surf lagoon) Conwy, with its stunning Castle 20 minutes away, all within easy driving distance of the site. Stuart Askey of Pure Residential and Commercial said; “All Planning, legal and pre commencement conditions have been met so it is now ready for someone to purchase the site and put their ideas into practice for a brand new leisure park facility in a stunning part of North Wales.” The site location is Oakleigh House Waen Road, Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, LL18 5RT. For further information email Stuart.Askey@purecommercial.co.uk or call 07788 145047.
Holiday parks – trendspotting for the 2020 season
As the ever-changing landscape of the tourism sector evolves at pace, editor Victoria Galligan catches up with industry experts to find out what holiday parks should be doing to draw in visitors for the 2020 season… If there was a crystal ball to predict what would be big in tourism in two or three years’ time, then I’m sure many of you would be clamouring after one so you could plan ahead and guarantee a fantastic return on investment. Pouring money into a park’s infrastructure, facilities and providing the entertainment which will prove a draw to customers both new and familiar usually pays off – but thanks to the changes in the economy, technology and standard of living which the UK has experienced over the past decade or so, parks need to be bang on trend to beat the competition in the booking stakes. This is where market research and sharing best practice comes in. Of course, every park is different and what attracts customers to one site may put off the regulars at another. But finding out what your customers want and need could mean the difference between a mediocre season and a great one. And looking around at the competition may give you a steer – even if it’s in a completely different direction! When it comes to the 2019 season Rod Tucker, MD of Hoburne Holidays which operates eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, said when it comes to unit sales both ends of the market are looking healthy. Rod said: “We are currently seeing a lot of activity at the entry level and luxury end of the caravan sales market, with plenty of interest for high quality used caravans and lodges, which we anticipate carrying on into 2020. We expect the UK ‘staycation’ holiday trend to continue in 2020, due to the uncertainty of the economic climate.” Changing demographic of holiday park visitors Thanks to the rise of online booking, holiday prices can be compared quickly and easily – which is having an effect on holiday prices. Rod said: “In holiday rentals, people are becoming continually more price conscious and this is reflected in pressure on holiday prices. However, the recent issues at airports and the weakness of the pound continues to support the demand for UK holidays.” Rod said that although more and more grandparents are footing the bill for family holiday homes, the younger market is increasing too as large group breaks prove popular. He added: “We are seeing a wider range of age groups at our holiday parks across the holiday rental and holiday home sales markets, although the main trend in caravan and lodges sales continues to be grandparents buying holiday homes to share usage with their children and grandchildren. “There are many more younger people looking at our product than ever before and increasing demand for three and four bedroom caravans and lodges, reflecting the trend of extended families holidaying together, as well as groups of friends.” Ready Camp, operated by The Camping and Caravanning Club, have found that since the first appearance of glamping, the industry and accommodation continues to evolve at high speed – becoming more inventive and quirky to suit a range of customer needs. This shows no signs of slowing down, as more and more glamping opportunities surface, offering unique holiday experiences. With that comes an extremely competitive online marketplace. The team there said that continuous product enhancements and exceptional service will lead the way to a successful 2020 season. Meanwhile, Ready Camp’s coastal locations and the north of England continue to exceed on capacity. The most significant change the brand has seen is the number of units required for a single booking, with many customers now booking two or more tents at a time for friends and family. Fun – whatever the weather The demand for family entertainment is clearly growing and this provides the perfect opportunity for parks to offer activities which can rival other parks throughout the year. With a focus on health and wellbeing, many parks are investing in infrastructure to create long-lasting facilities such as running tracks, football pitches and tennis courts which can double up as event spaces. Rod said: “We are investing in more varied types of entertainment such as BMX demonstrations, cinema screenings and ‘party in the park’ events, which can be held outdoors if the weather permits.“ One answer to the ever-changing Great British weather problem is to ensure your indoor provision is top-class, says Rod: “We have been looking to weatherproof our holidays with park facilities so people can holiday with us whatever the weather. We have extended our opening season to 11 months per year to accommodate off-peak business, and owners are subsequently using their units much more and getting more use out of their investment. “Indoor swimming pools, leisure facilities, good entertainment, bars and restaurants all give holidaymakers and owners a great holiday experience all year round.” Some don’t like it hot! It’s not just the poor weather which is affecting park trends – Willerby has noticed a growing demand from customers for air-conditioning in its holiday homes and lodges, which is not surprising given that the UK is experiencing increasingly warmer weather throughout the year. Willerby’s latest model, the Vogue Classique, is the perfect example of the brand’s continued commitment to innovation and listening to its customers’ needs as air-conditioning is proving a key selling point for customers. Karolyn Charles, 49, from Stourbridge, West Mids, was the very first customer to own a Vogue Classique and said it was the air-conditioning facilities that ultimately swayed her decision. She explained that this feature would not only make a huge difference for her and her partner, but also for their 12-year-old Dalmatian who has struggled in previous heatwaves. Not only has Willerby noticed a rise in customers requesting air conditioning, but research carried out last year for Mintel’s Camping & Caravans UK report highlighted a rise in people opting for pet-friendly holidays
