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
Making the fuel switch to ground source heat pumps
Stephanie Gregory, Director of Marketing, the Kensa Group, on why ground source heat pumps are the future of sustainable heating… Owners and operators of holiday and leisure parks could be saving thousands in energy costs and generating a profitable additional income stream by adopting renewable heating options. With many park sites being without access to mains gas, energy sources are often limited to more expensive and carbon intensive electricity, oil or LPG. However in light of UK Parliament passing a motion declaring an ‘environment and climate emergency’, UK businesses will need to make significant changes to their approach to energy in order to reduce their environmental impact, and help the UK achieve net zero carbon targets by 2050. One quick and easy way to achieve this is by switching from fossil fuels to low carbon heating. The lowest carbon heating solution is ground source heat pumps. By producing three to four times more heat energy than the electricity they consume, and with the growing decarbonisation of the electricity grid owing to increased contributions from wind, solar PV and hydro, ground source heat pumps carbon footprint is continually diminishing. The efficiency of ground source heat pumps provides more than just carbon savings; crucially for businesses it also provides running cost savings, and maintenance savings; energy bills are effectively reduced by a third. It is due to the efficiency and carbon benefits of ground source heat pumps that Government pays the highest tariff for owners of the technology via the Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI); for businesses, this provides a 20 year guaranteed quarterly income – the RHI is in place until 2021. The free and constantly replenished energy extracted from land or water sources by ground source heat pumps can be used to fulfil the heating and cooling requirements from single units to multiple buildings, as well as commercial processes, all year round. Fuelled by ease of planning, many ground source heat pump schemes feature clusters of holiday accommodation. Kensa Heat Pumps, the UK’s dedicated manufacturer – and number one supplier – of ground source heat pumps, has designed the ‘Shoebox Heat Pump’ with smaller dwellings in mind. Perfect for lodges or chalets, the Shoebox is small and quiet, and so can be installed inside the dwelling occupying minimal space. By installing individual ground source heat pumps inside each dwelling connected to communal pipework, rural businesses will receive fixed Non Domestic RHI payments based on deemed energy usage, avoiding the headaches that many with metered biomass systems will be familiar with. Furthermore, the communal pipework, pioneered by Kensa as ‘Shared Ground Loop Arrays’, an advancement in Fifth Generation District Heating, reduces ground work costs. The individual ground source heat pumps can operate independently, receive their own energy bills, and if required, switch energy supplier. Ground source heat pump systems can also be easily integrated with existing electric renewable technologies and battery storage, allowing rural business owners to become more self-sufficient. Many entrepreneurs are also using ground source technology to diversify their businesses, utilising surplus electricity to provide heat energy for new business opportunities. For more information on ground source heat pumps, see www.kensaheatpumps.com
Smart housekeeping saves holiday parks £30k a year
For every park operator there are key stages to generating customer satisfaction. The welcoming reception staff, the immediate availability of the unit and that unit’s spotless presentation are three of them. Get that right and (barring unforeseen disasters!) a five-star rating is on its way. Smart Housekeeping is a new service offered by Godfrey Group Facilities that delivers the latter two of those three key demands by providing high quality cleaning, exceptional hygiene and environmental standards and real time reporting of performance and progress. Maintenance issues are notified every change- over day to allow for remedial work to be quickly instigated so minimising potential delays. Health and Safety compliance issues are recorded with all records being instantly available for inspection. It could save an operators £30,000 per year! Operating in partnership with park operators, Smart Housekeeping provides a designated site manager who ensures that the work of all cleaning staff is checked before handover, that staffing levels reflect weekly operational demands and if required, the smooth transition of staff via fully compliant Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. Pricing includes a Time-Stamped Reporting System, all cleaning staff costs including wages, pension liability, sick pay, holiday entitlement and employer’s liability insurance. All PPE, uniforms, equipment, material, radios, recruitment and training, HSE requirements and personnel management issues are also included. Having saved that substantial overhead cost, Smart Housekeeping then looks to ensure that it makes a contribution to the park operator’s own brand standing. The risks of cross contamination ruining a customer’s holiday experience are reduced by the rigorous application of colour-coded cloths. All cleaning products are safe for use with septic tanks and water consumption is reduced by the use of smart mop systems.– Of course only commercial grade cleaning equipment is used ensuring thorough cleaning, fewer breakdowns and the essential perception of overall professional service that reflects holiday parks’ own standing. Costs are transparent – ranging from £32.00 for a two-bed caravan to £129.00 for a six-bed, two-storey lodge. These charges need to be taken in the context of the potential savings from the costs of the existing cleaning provision. The operator has no capital expenditure requirement on cleaning equipment, no material costs, a much reduced HR and payroll requirement and, perhaps most importantly, they are not incurring excessive and inefficient levels of staff costs in the inevitable low-demand periods. Given the difficulties in recruiting reliable cleaning operatives, retaining good staff on an annual basis is completely understandable. However, those staffing levels are designed to meet the demands of maximum occupancy. They are wholly unnecessary and very expensive when occupancy is low. Matching staff required to occupancy levels is something that a nationally operating business such as Smart Housekeeping can cope with much more easily and the subsequent savings are passed back to the operator in the charging annual system. The average annual saving across our existing customer base has been calculated as being an astonishing £30,000 per annum. Does it work? Well the comments for two of our industry’s leading operators suggest they at least they are convinced: “Godfrey Group Smart Housekeeping has worked in partnership with Darwin Escapes consistently over the last 5 years.” Drew Campbell, Darwin Escapes “Godfrey Group are our preferred choice for Housekeeping.” Gary Molloy, Leisure Resorts Now remember we spoke of a welcoming reception on arrival. Well the following quote shows that Smart Housekeeping might be able to help there too! “They have taken so much of the repetitive, time-consuming work from my desk I feel I can really get down to improving the park’s customer offer and profile. Which is what I really want to do.” LC, Leisure Resorts For more information, please contact Godfreygrp.co.uk Photo: Godfrey Group Facilities’ Jo-Anne Stubbs (Finance Manager), Andrew Godfrey (MD) and Dave Saxon (Business Manager)
Endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont tows a caravan…with his bicycle!
Endurance athlete Mark Beaumont demonstrated how fast he can tow a caravan with a bicycle at the Horiba Mira test track in Nuneaton, ahead of the Motorhome and Caravan Show, which starts from October 15th at the NEC Birmingham. Beaumont reached a speed of 11.093 km/h using an Orbea Gravel bike and a custom-made towing device to ensure that the bike supported the weight of the Freedom Jetstream First Class caravan. Mark Beaumont has become a household name through his documentaries about ultra-endurance and adventure. Having smashed the circumnavigation cycling World Record twice in his career, he now holds this 18,000-mile title in a time of 78 days and 14 hours, averaging 240 miles a day. His epic documentaries have taken viewers to over 100 countries, into the Arctic, the high mountains and around the Commonwealth, also surviving capsize in the mid-Atlantic. Mark will be at the 2019 Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham on the opening day, 15th October and will be outside Hall 16 demonstrating to visitors and press how to tow a caravan with his bicycle. Mark will also appear at the Freedom to Go theatre at 11:30am and will give a talk about his epic adventures. The Motorhome and Caravan Show promises a great day out for the whole family. Set over 11 halls, the Motorhome and Caravan Show will welcome around 100,000 visitors across six days. With the largest display of leisure vehicles and accessories all under one roof, the show is a must-visit for those looking to get into a leisure vehicle lifestyle and seasoned caravanners alike, offering endless inspiration and exclusive offers that won’t be found anywhere else. Visitors will get a first look at new-for-2020 product launches and the latest gadgets and innovations. They will also benefit from expert advice and top tips, free towing, motorhome manoeuvring and campervan test drives, exclusive show offers and details of the latest holiday sites and destination trends. Free entry to the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2019 is available for children 15 and under and advance tickets are available priced from £8.50* at www.mcshow.co.uk Further information is available at www.mcshow.co.uk where the latest exhibitors, celebrities and features will be updated regularly.
Wigwam® Holidays Working in Tandem with Cycling Business
Wigwam® Holidays is proud to announce its first glamping site in Suffolk, working in ‘tandem’ with renowned cycling business, Maglia Rosso which is set to open on 28th October 2019. Six luxury Running Water Deluxe Wigwam® Cabins are now in place at the site, which is located in a peaceful meadow next to the Maglia Rosso cycle centre and country café in the pretty village of Hawstead. Father and son business partners, Barry and Matt Denny, said: “We are delighted to launch our new glamping concept opening next month. “We’ve had a lot of preparation work for our glamping accommodation and we are very pleased as the cabins are now in place ready for the autumn season. “Our site is ideal for families and if they also have an interest in cycling, then we’re the perfect site! “However we are keen to stress that we are the perfect site for a staycation in this lovely part of Suffolk.” Wigwam® Holidays Maglia Rosso is close to the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds, rich with historical connections and home to Suffolk’s only cathedral. The site is also close the beautiful villages of Lavenham, Long Melford and Clare. Nearby attractions include Kentwell Hall and Nowton Park with Newmarket and Cambridge also within easy driving distance. Maglia Rosso operates from the former Arms public house, with key focus on cycling for leisure and sport. The site has access to a variety of loops to suit all cycling abilities, along with servicing and a fleet of bikes to hire. Barry said: “For us the most important aspect of the development of the glamping accommodation is to welcome cyclists and non-cyclists alike. While we are passionate about the sport, we are also keen to attract glamping guests to this lovely part of Suffolk.”
Bridge Leisure Parks – Don’t let the rain stop play when holidaying in the UK
Bridge Leisure Parks are giving camping and touring customers the chance to protect their holidays from being ruined by wet weather by offering an innovative ‘Rainy Day Plan’. For just £20 extra, customers will have the flexibility to change their holiday dates if the weather forecast is looking very wet and rainy during their upcoming stay. If within 48 hours of their holiday the forecast is for heavy rain, they can change their holiday start dates within a 2-week window if they have taken out the ‘Rainy Day Plan.’ Rachel Mabbs, Head of Marketing and Holiday Sales said: “We all know how miserable camping and touring can be in wet weather. Muddy touring pitches and damp tents can really ruin people’s holiday, so rather than having to cancel it and lose money we wanted to give our customers an alternative option. They simply contact the park within 48 hours of their holiday start date, and we will work with the customer to find an alternative date within the next 2-weeks at the same park.” “The great British weather can be very unpredictable and at the end of the day we want people who book with us to have a fantastic holiday. This is our way of giving our camping and touring customers the best possible chance of having a lovely stay when they book with us.” Bridge Leisure Parks are trialling the new ‘Rainy Day Plan’ at five of their UK holiday parks; Ashbourne Heights in Derbyshire, Trevella near Newquay, Hedley Wood on the Devon and Cornwall boarder, Silver Sands in Lossiemouth Scotland and Sand le Mere on the East Yorkshire Coast. It applies to new camping and touring bookings with a holiday start date from the 16th September until the end of the 2019 season. Full terms and conditions can be found on each of the holiday parks websites. https://www.trevella.co.uk/special-offers/touring-rainy-day-plan/ https://www.hedleywood.co.uk/special-offers/touring-rainy-day-plan/ https://www.ashbourne-heights.co.uk/special-offers/touring-rainy-day-plan/ https://silver-sands.co.uk/special-offers/touring-rainy-day-plan/ https://sand-le-mere.co.uk/special-offers/touring-rainy-day-plan/
Away Resorts Unveils Plans For Outdoor Heated Pool
Get ready for a dip! Away Resorts unveils plans for stunning outdoor heated pool. The luxury pool will complete £7 million expansion and renovation plan at Tattersall Lakes Country Park holiday development Lincolnshire holidaymakers and owners will soon be able to enjoy some luxury fresh air swimming – after plans were unveiled for a stunning new outdoor heated pool at Tattershall Lakes Country Park. Work will begin soon on the £1.5+ million pool which will offer guests even more opportunities to relax and unwind from next year. The plans are the latest in a series of upgrades to take place at the popular holiday park. Earlier last month (September) parent company, Away Resorts, unveiled £5.5 million of new attractions and facilities, including an indoor Splashzone, private beach, lakeside sky bar, as well as additional spacious, contemporary Safari Tents and Camping Pods with private hot tubs. Boasting three bars, outdoor cinema sessions, mini golf, archery, a high ropes course, handy camp shop and seven lakes – including great spots for fishing and watersports – Tattershall Lakes Country Parkprides itself on being able to offer something for everyone. For younger children, supervised play sessions provide a wide range of arts, crafts and outdoor activities, while 8-12-year-olds will love trying their hand at more physical challenges with snorkelling, body zorbing and laser tag all available on the ‘My Active’ programme. Well-behaved dogs are welcome too. Just 40 minutes’ drive away from Skegness and 30 minutes’ from historic Lincoln, Tattershall Lakes is a great location for a romantic break, friends’ getaway or holiday with the family. Speaking about the multi-million pound investment, Away Resort Holiday’s Chief Executive, Carl Castledine, said it was an exciting time for the company and the region. He said: “Tattershall Lakes Country Park is one of our most popular resorts and our customers love holidaying in this wonderful part of the world. We are really proud to offer guests improved and exciting facilities. The new pool is going to be the icing on the cake and we can’t wait to be able to get it up and running. Get ready to enjoy floating entertainment and some cracking pool parties!’
Oderase reveals that a damp smell is the biggest turn off for caravan owners
When asked which caravan smell was the worst, 37 per cent stated that a damp and musty smell was the least pleasant, closely followed by the body odour of their fellow caravaners (28 per cent). Other smells causing distress include: Sweaty feet (14 per cent) Wet Dog (10 per cent) Farm smells (9 per cent) Cooking smells (2 per cent) The proximity of the toilet facilities to the living areas in close-quarters can also be a concern for mobile or static caravans and holiday homes. The survey* was conducted by national data firm PanelBase, which polled more than 1500 people from across the UK for Cambridge-based Aqdot, the company behind Oderase Oderase Open Plan Living Spray and Oderase Bathroom Spray are new fragrance-free air fresheners, endorsed by Allergy UK. Oderase is different from other air fresheners because it is so effective at erasing bad odours that it does not need to contain any masking fragrances that can smell really strong and overpowering in close-quarters, and could potentially cause allergies. Oderase Open Plan Living Spray is effective in the air and on fabrics. It’s ideal for removing lingering cooking smells, sweaty body smells, and of course those unpleasant damp and musty smells. The technology used in Oderase is patented. The bad odour molecules in the air are quickly attracted to the Oderase odour eliminator, which in turn captures the bad odours and erases them from the air. Mark Wrighton, Marketing Leader at said: “Caravan holidays are a beloved part of British holiday culture and millions of families create wonderful memories every year. However, when a group of people are together in such close quarters for an extended period of time, it’s not long before smells can start to become an issue. Oderase Bathroom Spray and Oderase Open-Plan Spray offer a great solution for these enclosed spaces as they remove the unpleasant smells without masking them with heavy fragrances which is important in a small area, both from a comfort and health perspective. The small pump action sprays should be an integral part of every caravanners survival pack!” www.oderase.co.uk
