Hytte Blinds – Designed in Britain. Inspired By Norway.
For the people of Norway, escaping to a holiday home or HYTTE (pronounced hee-ta) is a way of life. Attention to detail and simple interior design combine to create an atmosphere perfect for relaxing. It was this philosophy that has inspired Worcestershire based Hytte Blinds to create their new, stylish range of window blinds specifically designed for holiday homes, lodges, static caravans and pods. Available in a wide variety of contemporary colours the slim profiles, robust design and innovative Click FitTM technology provide the perfect interior finish to any holiday home with double glazed windows. Purposely manufactured to fit the slim window profiles of holiday homes the new Hytte blinds can either be fitted from new or easily retro fitted, bringing a fresh feel to the interior space and require no tools, no DIY skills and no fuss. Officially launched this month and now ready to order online via the hytteblinds.com website, the moisture resistant, pleated blinds provide a thermal barrier that regulates the temperature whatever the season. Made from durable polyester the new blinds will enhance any holiday home, gently letting light in, whilst offering privacy for the occupants. Hytte Blinds, Sales Manager, Brad Hill said, “Our new Hytte Blinds range has been designed for the holiday home market and offers a stylish alternative to traditional fabric curtains. With a wide choice of colours and an easy, online made to measure, fitting guide. The innovative design and construction allows holiday homeowners to quickly and easily restyle the interior of their home and immediately benefit from the thermal properties of the blinds, cool in summer and warm in winter.” Designed and manufactured to order in the UK, once you have chosen your colour, provided your measurements and placed your order at hytteblinds.com, Hytte blinds normally take two weeks for delivery, are supplied with 12 months warranty and are moisture proof and child safe.
Philips Hue White & Colour Ambience Wireless Lighting Review
Editor Victoria Galligan tried out the Philips Hue smart lighting system – read her review to find out why she’ll never go back to boring bulbs… The lighting revolution is here – and it’s rainbow-coloured! I’d seen the adverts for the Philips Hue smart lightbulbs and always thought they looked like a great idea to create the perfect mood lighting. Setting up the Hue was relatively easy – this pack comes with three bulbs, a Hue ‘Bridge’ device which connects via a wire to your wifi modem, and a dimmer switch which you can stick on a wall. After screwing in two of the bulbs (the types available are B22, E27, GU10 spotlights and E14 for smaller lamps, as well as strip lighting and garden lighting if you’re feeling particularly creative) I installed an app on my phone. After a couple of app updates, I was ready to go. I had to link the Bridge to the app, then name my room and the different lamps. Then the magic began. I experimented with the colours, first choosing from the 16 million – yes that’s right! – different colours available on the Hue colour wheel. The app also has pre-set mood lighting called “Scenes”, so you can choose, for example, a scene called Savannah Sunset where one lamp turns golden and another a rich burnt orange. Colourful lighting with security benefits The time settings allow you to pre-program the lights to turn on and off, and the automatic ‘Out of Home Control’ option switches off lights when you leave. In addition I found a great security hack where, if you buy an outdoor motion sensor (£44.99), your indoor lights can be switched on if someone approaches at night – perfect for putting off burglars. This lighting system is well worth investing in – in addition to creating the perfect ambience, the Hue system is a great security measure for offices, shops and for holiday homes which are left empty for a while. And for outdoor use in a bar or pool area, the possibilities are endless. See meethue.com to order your Philips Hue smart lightbulbs.
The days of the old traditional ‘drain down’ are numbered
What if one of the biggest pitfalls of the UK holiday industry, seasonality, could be tackled using one small plumbing device? Jason Paul, the inventor of the Floë Induratec, believes his four-minute drain down process can do just that… Seasonality and its impact on businesses was highlighted in a recent survey of holiday parks. The UK Caravan and Camping Alliance-commissioned report “Pitching the Value” named it as one of the top six threats to the industry. December average occupancy rates are currently around 12%, reaching a high of 30% in March – for those sites which are actually open. However, with 42% of holiday parks and campsites now opening all year round, is the tide finally turning on the low season? “Pitching the Value” also identifies extending the season as a major opportunity for the holiday park sector – but Jason believes this will take a change in attitude as well as a change in technology. He said: “Waiting too late to drain down in autumn and late-March cold snaps catches residents out all the time, but you can’t blame them for wanting a few more weekends in the season. Our product simply allows them to drain before the weather turns and have peace of mind that they are protected. It also offers them the flexibility to use their property in low season and drain when and as often as they wish, avoiding any risks. We recommend draining down in time for Halloween, then it can be done as often as needed over winter.” “This offers park managers so much more with an extended season – they sell gas and groceries and run events at Christmas and New Year for example, and have the park operating all year round, or at least a few more months.” When a Floë is fitted, the holiday home can be drained down in just four minutes, all from the comfort from inside. Floë also has the benefit of cleansing the boiler as it drains, saving up to 15% on gas. Drain down technology impacts the whole community Jason says Floë is an ideal opportunity for parks to open longer and is in talks with local councils and tourism boards to help make this happen – especially in rural and coastal locations where the holiday season is relied upon as the main source of income. Jason said: “Opening all year round or extending the existing season by just a month or two can really boost site income and that of the local economy – on a typical weekend, think how much is spent per person on things like pub grub, grocery shopping and fuel. “Yes we’re selling a product – but we make a one-off return. However, with being able to extend the season for some residents park managers should be thinking think about what they’ll get in return – more income for the park, happier customers and a bigger benefit for the local community.” The Floë Induratec 868 costs £234.99 RRP, plus £40 if fitting is needed by the site. This is just the price of a couple of paid-for drain downs and if the residents of statics and lodges and the owners of motorhomes and tourers use it over winter, it will more than pay for itself in the first year. Having come up with the idea of the Floë drainage system after a leak in his own brand new static caravan in 2008, Jason now sells Floë in 12 UK, European and Scandinavian countries. He is now also in talks with an American distributor to take Floë across the pond to the home of the RV. He finishes: “Holiday parks can do so much more for the local economy – that’s the crux of what Floë can offer. It’s amazing how one little device can affect a whole community.” See keepfloeing.com for more information.
New modern amenities block opens at award-winning Cornish holiday park
A top-quality new amenities block featuring modern underfloor heating has just opened for campers at Cornwall’s award-winning Pentewan Sands Holiday Park. The block has been specially designed for the resort in Mevagissey Bay by Cornwall-based architects, The Bazeley Partnership, and its design reflects the high standards of the five-star holiday park. Pentewan Sands offers 131 holiday homes in addition to well-maintained grass pitches for camping, caravans and motor homes. Most homes enjoy stunning sea views. Already in use by campers at the park, the new facilities replace an outdated toilet and shower block and are fitted with solar panels to boost the park’s eco-friendly credentials. Natural ventilation and daylight is provided by high-level glazing around the building. Nicole Murray, Marketing and Sales Manager for Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, said: “Our new amenities block is bang up to date with modern facilities as well as being eco-friendly. The underfloor heating will be more comfortable for guests, particularly during the colder months, and the PV solar panels will not only generate renewable energy to help power the toilet block, but will also help to power the park itself. “We hope that our fantastic new amenities space will be welcomed and used by families for years to come.” The changing and amenities facility includes four private family rooms and two accessible family rooms, which are each equipped with a toilet, basin and a walk-in shower, as well as male and female changing areas, each with three large showers, toilet facilities, changing benches and mirrors. There are also two external showers and a washing up area to the rear. The new toilet block joins a number of other high quality amenities blocks situated around the park. Pentewan Sands is also home to top-notch leisure, eating and entertainment facilities, including leisure venue The Seahorse, which includes two swimming pools, soft play zone, a restaurant and an amusement arcade.
Receptional win at UK Digital Experience Awards
Receptional brought home two awards at the prestigious UK Digital Experience Awards 2019 on 12th July. The Bedfordshire digital marketing agency were awarded gold in the Best Digital Marketing Campaign/Project category for their work with UK holiday park operator Away Resorts for ‘The UK’s Most Instagrammable Forest’ campaign. Their second gold award was for Best SEO Strategy in partnership with mobile app development agency, Tappable, which guided a rebrand and site development. Receptional are delighted with the results. Justin Deaville, Managing Director, said: “This is a recognition of the dedication and innovation we’ve demonstrated over the past year, and a chance to celebrate the teamwork that made it possible.“ The UK DXA Awards Presented before an expert panel of judges, Receptional shared their digital stories at Park Plaza Riverbank in London with other business leaders from a wide range of sectors and industries, including LV, Three UK, EE and Sky. Now in its fifth year, the UK Digital Experience Awards offer a unique chance to recognise current innovations in digital customer experience and networking to increase awareness of best practice. About Receptional Founded in 1999, Receptional is an award-winning digital marketing agency at the forefront of search marketing. Consistently delivering outstanding results – more traffic, more sales and better profits for clients – Receptional aim to provide a personalised, flexible service.
New Hex Court Is Set To Revolutionise The Holiday Park Recreation Scene
The HEX Court, the latest invention from Playinnovation™, experts in creating the wow factor through the design and installation of outdoor sports and play equipment, is set to revolutionise holiday park recreation for guests and organisers. This multi-use games area that’s both fun and inclusive has been specifically designed to consist of six ‘pods,’ each providing a different sports activity or target game to create ‘personal pockets’ for children and adults to play. The HEX Court is also great for timetabled activities at caravan and holiday parks because an instructor can take a 360-degree view from the centre of the HEX Court and easily run a number of sessions simultaneously. In addition to encouraging fun and physical activity amongst holiday-goers, it’s also a great facility which promotes positive outcomes via graduated challenges. For example, Playinnovation™ patented games walls can help to develop target skills, hand-to-eye coordination and maths. In one pod, you might find ‘Street Pool,’ then, in the pod next door, a table tennis table or some outdoor gym equipment. The access points can be designed depending on each customer’s requirements, as can a choice of activities. Playinnovation™ founder, Marco Boi said: “I came up with the HEX Court idea in pretty much the same way as I did when designing our rectangular-style, family-inclusive sports areas and educational games walls. “I essentially tried to regress back to my childhood and how I felt about joining in on sports activities while at school and on holiday. Imagine some of the many insecurities children, and adults, have when it comes to participation in sport. There’s a complex and important conversation to be had, linking mental wellbeing, self-esteem and physical activity together, and creating spaces with these ‘pockets’ are a great way to make use of a space that can be maximised by six families or groups all at once.” For more information email marco.boi@playinnovation.co.uk or phone 0203 409 5303.
Minimising the risk of legionella in Caravan & Holiday Parks
As people are becoming far more aware of, legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. It’s actually far more common than was firstly believed, with more and more cases being diagnosed. Caravan and holiday parks can present a particularly high level of risk due to the seasonal nature of their business, the wide range of occupants and the requirement to store and aerate large amounts of water, predominantly via showers, taps, spa pools/Jacuzzis and hoses. However, there also risks associated with swimming pools, water features, irrigation systems. Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling fine, airborne water droplets and anyone can be susceptible to the disease. However, the risk of infection is greatly increased for the following: Those aged 45 and over, particularly males Smokers and heavy drinkers Those with a compromised immune system Those with any respiratory, kidney, lung or heart disease The ideal circumstances for legionella bacteria to multiply are for water to sit still at temperatures between 20-45°C. Even allowing for the varying nature of the british weather, greater monitoring of this is needed during the summer months, where Caravan and Holiday Parks are at their highest occupancy. As an owner or operator of a caravan and holiday park it is your responsibility to do all you can to keep people safe from legionnaires disease. You are, more often than not, the statutory duty holder and failing to keep people safe from illness or worse can result in, as a minimum, severe financial penalties or, at worst, prosecution under corporate manslaughter. Guidance on this can be found in the HSE’s ACOP L8 document (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l8.htm). The three part HSG274 document from the same site will also provide guidance for dutyholders and employers in complying with their health and safety responsibilities. Reading the above can make the dutyholder’s role sound incredibly intimidating. However, as with most compliance matters, there are a number of key, simple tasks, to be performed by a competent person, which can assist in reducing the risks associated with legionella: 1.Have an up to date legionella risk assessment for the site – this assessment will provide an asset register, summarise the overall risk, detail task that can enhance the legionella control and a schematic of the water system on the site. 2.Temperature monitoring– water cyclinders/ calorifiers should have the water stored at 60°C and the hot water should be >50°C at all outlets with cold water <20°C. 3.Monitor, clean and disinfect the cold water storage tanks regularly – these are often large, sometimes positioned outside that need to be inspected regularly, checking the condition of the tank itself (lid, rodent/insect screen, vent pipes & overflows) and the water inside the tank (stagnation, biofilm built up, rust or debris). It is also worth reviewing the size and location of the tank to ensure water is being kept moving as much as possible. 4.Clean and descale all showerheads – this should be done quarterly and should involve the hose, showerhead and any inserts being dismantled, fully clean and descaled. 5.Flushing of little used outlets – any taps or water outlets that are not used on a frequent basis should be flushed through weekly to reduce the stagnation risk. Any new water systems must be flushed and to comply with British Standards and current water regulations. A typical guide is that any little used outlet should be flushed weekly for a minimum of three minutes. 6.Remove any pipework blind ends and dead legs – these are runs of often capped pipework where water is not flowing through and can stagnate. Remove these wherever possible, being particularly aware when refurbishment works are being undertaken. 7.Descale all calorifiers and water cyclinders – this is to ensure the reduction of limescale, debris and biofilm building up within the cylinders. 8.Regular water sampling – this will involve microbiological analysis to ensure that drinking water is safe and that the levels of legionella are within permitted parameters. This will also be particularly applicable to jacuzzies, spa pools, hot tubs and swimming pools on site. 9.Back flow protection – make sure that outlets don’t have the capacity for back flow of water into the system. This is especially associated with long shower hoses (enabling showers to sit in water) and with outside/ bib taps where park visitors can attach their own hoses. Even if all of the above is being done but you are still experiencing issues with legionella, additional measures such as the installation of water softeners or chemical dosing units can be investigated. If you are not doing (or outsourcing) the above the routine maintenance tasks you simply will not know, until it is too late, whether there is an issue with the site water system. A competent person can be in-house or an external provider. If you are going to use a service provider, ensure they are accredited by the Legionella Control Association (www.legionellacontrol.org.uk). The LCA will audit their members and accreditation is evidence of competence. Seek references where possible, ideally the provider will have an understanding of the unique needs and demands of caravan and holiday parks. If you are going to do it yourselves, ensure that those performing the tasks are suitably trained and can prove their competence if needed. There are several City & Guilds accredited training courses and centres that can provide specific legionella training. A word of caution however, if you have a high turnover of staff or the same person is not doing all the routine tasks (for example, cleaning staff my be tasked with the shower cleaning) the constant need for re-training to prove competence can outweigh the costs of using an external provider. It is the dutyholder’s responsibility to ensure staff are suitably trained and are performing the tasks correctly. hsl compliance are accredited by the legionella control association and currently provide legionella compliance services to over 300 caravan and holiday parks across the length and breadth of the UK. They have over 180 field based engineers and have been assisting clients with their legionella control since 1976. They can also provide city &
Keeping Guests Warm Throughout The Winter Months
Summer time sometimes lulls us into a false sense of security – it’s warm enough inside and the heating may not be used for weeks (even months) in vans, holidays homes, pods and glamping tents. But come the autumn and winter – when many owners and visitors would like to extend their use of parks – the temperature has got to be spot on for guests to want to return. Here, we take a look at the different approaches to heating and some of the newest, most innovative heating and ventilation methods on the market. Pods Slades Farm Leisure build hand-crafted pods for a variety of outdoor situations. Its underfloor heating and insulated walls ensures the pods are comfortable even in the harshest of weather. The smaller spaces mean pods heat up quickly and efficiently and energy bills remain low. Glamping tents Flue, chimney and renewable heating products supplier Specflue recently published a guide on how to keep your luxury glamping accommodation warm and cosy. Advice for Glampsite Owners contains suggestions on how to select a competent installer and an example of a how a ‘smart’ pellet boiler is providing heat to a luxury geo-dome in Wales. The high- performance appliance can be fired-up ahead of time via a smartphone, to ensure a welcoming atmosphere on arrival! Lodges Many caravan manufacturers have branched out into the luxury world of lodges, where owners and visitors expect a real home-from-home experience. Willerby’s Mulberry lodge offers the revolutionary Thermowise system, which combines excellent insulation and acoustic technology, making the Mulberry 14% warmer and quieter than current industry standards. It also offers customers real savings on energy bills. Caravans and motorhomes Most caravans are built with central heating but in the winter months, condensation can become a problem. Chris Michael from Meaco, supplier of dehumidifiers and air purifiers, says, “Although vans and motorhomes are ventilated when they are built, this only helps to keep the air moving and to stop the air from becoming stale – it will not help to keep the space dry or to protect the artefacts from moisture damage. “This is where a dehumidifier comes in. It will reduce the level of humidity in the air, by sucking in air from the room at one end, removing the moisture, and then blowing it back out into the room again, adding warmth in the process. Sealing any ventilation gaps in a caravan when using a dehumidifier in the winter will make it work more efficiently.” For more information on all of these heating methods, see our website caravanindustryandparkoperator.co.uk.
Solution From ASL Provides Real-Time Electricity Monitoring
LeisureSmart is a new digital solution from ASL that provides near real-time electricity monitoring for leisure complexes and holiday parks. Using ASL’s trusted technology, LeisureSmart accurately monitors the electricity usage of each pitch, providing management with accurate, near real-time data. How LeisureSmart Works LeisureSmart devices are attached to the electricity hook-up at each pitch and constantly monitor the amount of electricity supplied. The data gathered is then transferred, using GPRS mobile data networks, to a secure cloud- based platform. Each device is self-powered by a built-in battery, meaning that LeisureSmart does not impact on electricity usage. The devices are quick and easy to install, with no additional cables or excavation required. Why Install LeisureSmart? Asset Monitoring – LeisureSmart can monitor amenities (swimming pools, laundries, restaurants etc.) as well as pitches, proving a complete understanding of a site’s electrical requirements. This information can be used to help reduce energy usage and save money. Multi-Site Operations LeisureSmart’s data can be used for benchmarking and comparisons, leading to the implementation of best practice amongst sites and generating significant savings. Increase Employee Efficiency Employees will no longer be required to read individual electricity meters making them free to continue with other tasks they are responsible for around the park. Data Accessibility and Security Stored on a cloud-based portal, data is accessible anywhere and on any device with an internet connection, day or night from anywhere in the world. Why Choose LeisureSmart Developed by ASL, LeisureSmart is an accurate, reliable and secure system that provides park managers with the data required to manage their sites effectively. T: 01604 883880 www.aslh.co.uk
