Caravan show moves from Hull to Harrogate
The oldest event in the caravan exhibitions calendar is to move to a new location in September next year as the Caravan show moved from Hull to Harrogate. After 44 years in the grounds of the University of Hull at The Lawns in Cottingham, the trade and public exhibitions featuring the majority of the industry’s manufacturers will in future be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre, home of the enormous Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. Next year’s public show – the Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Expo 2020 – will be held over three days, rather than the traditional two, from Friday to Sunday 11th to 13th September, followed by the trade show on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 14th-16th September. The exhibition is run by a group of Yorkshire-based caravan manufacturers, HERCMA – which, along with many other companies in the industry, uses the annual event to launch its new season’s models. A spokesman for the group said the move to the much larger site would enable many more exhibitors to be accommodated as well as increase the scope of the show with, in particular, plenty of room for motorhomes. “We see this change as a tremendous and exciting opportunity to make the event even bigger and better within the extensive and attractive grounds of the Yorkshire Event Centre,” he said. “We wanted the event to remain in Yorkshire and the move to a more central position in the country opens up a whole new catchment area, with over six million people living within an hour’s drive. “We are certain we’ll attract a substantial new audience to what will be a fantastic show in a spectacular and iconic location which is already well-known to vast numbers of people. The Great Yorkshire Show actually attracts more than 135,000 people over its three days.” More information is on www.holidayhomeexpo.com. Photo: Jane Davis
Pitchup.com sees boom in UK bookings
In the wake of Spain’s flood warnings and thousands of passengers set to potentially be stranded abroad, global accommodation provider Pitchup.com has seen a surge in UK bookings this week, with figures showing a year-on-year increase of 77% over the last week* – rising to 129% yesterday. Pitchup.com founder Dan Yates comments: “Unsurprisingly, the biggest driver for our UK bookings tends to be weather – and we’ve got forecasts this weekend for sun and 26 degrees, compared to a rainy Spain. That said, these growth rates do seem high even compared to previous weather-related surges, which does make me wonder whether there is something else at play here.” The reality is the majority of UK papers today lead with reports about the potential demise of Thomas Cook – one of the biggest household names in travel. Perhaps this, combined not just with bad weather but flood warnings throughout Europe, and even hurricane warnings further afield, plus significant uncertainty around Brexit and what that could mean for international travel, may well just be a bit too much for even the generally stoic British traveller. It could mean that 2020 will be a very big year for UK travel. Speaking to our editor Victoria Galligan at an event in Wales, Pitchup representatives highlighted the fact that Wales had recently become the area with the most campsites available in the UK – there are now 313 Wlesh sites available to choose from on Pitchup.com, overtaking Devon and Cornwall which combined have 284 campsites and had previoulsy dominated the market for some time. Scotland has also seen a significant rise in the number of camping and glamping sites being set up, with landowners capitalising on the boom in UK staycationing. To register your site on Pitchup.com – which allows visitors to find camping and caravanning pitches, teepees, yurts, pods and lodges and caravans for hire – see pitchup.com/join
Millennials could turn the tide for seaside resorts
The National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) has worked with market research consultancy BVA BDRC to identify the specific intentions and motivations of British holidaymakers to the coast to help address key challenges facing seaside resorts; the findings are published in a comprehensive Holiday Trends 2019 report. It finds that Millennials, the important 22 to 37-year old age group, are the least likely age cohort to visit the coast, seeing it as ‘old-fashioned’ but whilst being reluctant to take a seaside break, this age group is the most likely to holiday in the UK, highlighting an urgent need for coastal resorts to target this sector to reverse their perceptions. Nevertheless, the report brings positive news for addressing one of the coast’s biggest challenges – seasonality; of the 1,000 polled, 28% believe some activities are at their best in winter with 51% saying the coast offers activities year-round. Breaks most likely to provide winter appeal include learning a new skill, volunteering, food and drink and history and culture, these are followed by an interest in wellness, nature and wildlife escapes. Notably, Millennials show a particular interest in these activities, suggesting that coastal destinations that provide them may offer a gateway to attracting this generation. “This latest report backs up last year’s research which shows young people are missing out on huge opportunities to holiday on the coast because of lack of awareness, but they don’t dismiss a break to the seaside out of hand,” says NCTA Academy Director Samantha Richardson. “It’s crucial that coastal resorts attract this age group if they are to thrive as successful tourist destinations long-term. They have grown up with low-cost airfares and budget accommodation plus a strong desire to travel globally without knowing what is right on their door-step. “Unless they discover the English coast’s beauty, the rugged cliff-tops and castles of Northumberland and Yorkshire, seal-spotting and nature on the east coast to the water sports and cultural towns in the south and south west, this will be a lost generation.” The report says all types of domestic breaks have increased in popularity since 2017 but seaside breaks have seen the biggest overall jump. Jon Young, Research Director from BVA BDRC adds, “The millennial age cohort tends to be open to new ideas, and so negative perceptions of the coast can be easily turned around. This age group tends to be drawn to unique, immersive, shared and transformational experiences, with Instagrammable opportunities a must. The English coast can provide these experiences in spades (although the bucket may be a bit too old-fashioned these days).” You can download the report at www.holidaytrends2019.com
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.
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.
The Caravan industry trade benefits from Brexit boost
The caravan industry is thriving, contributing more than £6 billion per year to the UK economy, according to the NCC. In the wake of all the uncertainty around Brexit, people in the UK are opting for a traditional caravan break – with 39% of UK adults taking a caravan or camping holiday in the last three years. With caravanning so popular, a brand-new study has investigated the best countries in Europe for caravan enthusiasts and found that the UK ranks first – championing over Sweden and France. Chart: Safeguard Insurance Why is caravanning so popular? The caravan holiday is quintessentially British. Rain or shine, the experience of a few days in the countryside or by the sea is soothing for the soul. Holiday parks do a great job of catering to everyone – a requirement as many multigenerational groups of family holiday together, opting for rented accommodation. The most popular type of caravan break is one in a touring caravan, with Brits spending 19.2 million nights in a touring caravan, motorhome or campervan. Static caravans were the second most popular type of break, with 18 million nights. Tents were in third place with 14.7 million nights. Brits are certainly putting their money where their mouth is. With 1,489 camping and caravan sites in the UK, there is plenty of choice for a family-friendly, affordable break. What can the industry do? For the caravan park industry, the most important thing you can do is ensure that your site appeals to all audiences. With the weather here so interchangeable, you should have plenty of indoor and outdoor activities. Offering various types of accommodation options can help too – according to Sanderson Weatherall, static holiday parks are seeing a strong level of demand, whilst glamping is also on the rise, with 1.3 million nights spent in alternative accommodation (e.g. teepees and eco-pods) in 2017. Where else in Europe is popular? The study discovered that France is also a nation of caravan fans, thanks to the amount of camping/caravanning sites in the country – an astonishing 8,853. The French were also big spenders, spending just over 2 million on renting sites for a holiday. Sweden ranked second on the index score despite only having 550 camping and caravan sites. The Swedish favour exploring their own terrain, taking over 1.6 million domestic trips in 2017. The country also had the highest number of new motor caravan registrations, showing that the country is investing in new caravan ownership. UK holiday parks can take advantage of this opportunity by marketing to Sweden and the rest of Europe – showing them what we have to offer as a destination for caravans. There is evidence that the caravan industry in the UK is thriving more than other countries in Europe. With the uncertainty of Brexit still looming over us, caravan parks can promote their facilities and locations to the rest of the UK and beyond to ensure that the industry stays strong. The study mentioned in this article was conducted by Safeguard Insurance.
It’s no fun in this sun if your cooling systems fail
Hottest day of the year results in 85% increase in commercial air conditioning and refrigeration emergency callouts for failing cooling systems. With forecasters predicting record Summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees this year, the UK could be looking forward to a glorious summer. This is great news for holiday parks and those holidaymakers who choose to staycation this year. But, some holiday parks are about to enter the season of failing cooling systems and refrigeration systems, with this, potentially suffer frustrated guests, damaged reputation, spoiled food and drink stock and profit losses as a result. As we’ve seen over the weekend, the mercury can rise rapidly causing ambient air temperatures to increase beyond comfortable levels. This puts extreme pressure on air conditioning units and refrigeration systems which, if they haven’t been serviced and maintained, can result in unexpected failures, and unpredictable costs. Unfortunately, when this occurs to one business, it often happens to many others simultaneously. “On 26 July last year, temperatures reached their seasonal peak at 35.5 degrees in the UK,” comments Tod Harrison, CEO at Flowrite Services Ltd. “On this day alone, we received 379 emergency callouts to repair broken air conditioning units and refrigeration systems. This marked an 85% increase compared to the same day the week before.” Flowrite runs a 24/7 helpdesk, directing a mobile service team of over 100 engineers across the UK, so help is never far away. “Despite this, and although our engineers always want to help ASAP, the reality is there can be a waiting period during the Summer months when demand is incredibly high,” continues Harrison. With air conditioning now regarded more as a necessity than a luxury, and walk-in fridges/freezers, cellar cooling systems and ice machines being crucial to any restaurants you have on site, any unexpected equipment downtime can cause frustration of sweltering customers, damage to reputation, unhappy staff, spoiled stock and, ultimately, loss of revenue. “If they are well maintained, commercial air conditioning units and refrigeration systems rarely fail,” Harrison continues. “The question holiday park managers need to ask themselves is what is the cost to their business when equipment does fail unexpectedly. We are advising our customers to book a Summer Check-Up before things really heat up, as the cost of an emergency callout and resultant repair works – in addition to the potential cost to their business – is always more than any planned maintenance works.” In addition to preparing for Summer, holiday park managers also need to be aware of the F-Gas regulations and how it will affect their business. Many air conditioning and refrigeration systems use HFC refrigerants, for example R-404A, which have a very high global warming impact if released into the atmosphere. As of 1 January 2020, of most impact to holiday parks will be the ban on using these in the servicing of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. During a Summer Check-Up, Flowrite can review existing equipment and advise what businesses need to do to be compliant with the F-Gas regulations. “Many holiday parks still have outdated cooling systems in operation, which use gasses that are soon to be banned,” adds Harrison. “Come January, servicing older equipment which use these banned gasses will not be possible. If this is the last Summer your outdated air con units and refrigeration systems are going to be operational and legal, it’s a sensible business decision to update them now to avoid potential emergency callouts and repairs over the Summer on equipment which will have to be replaced in January regardless. Newer equipment is also far more energy efficient, so will actually save you money on running costs too.” Flowrite can help holiday parks be ready for what lies ahead with a Summer Check-Up. The service ensures that air conditioning and refrigeration systems are in optimum condition and will withstand the increased demands put on them during the peak Summer months. For more information or to book a Summer Check-Up, please contact the Flowrite team on 0845 603 4040 enquiries@flowriteservices.co.uk or visit www.flowriteservicesltd.co.uk.
How Club Campers Celebrated 100 Years Of The Caravan
From coffee mornings to colouring competitions – how Club campers celebrated 100 years of the caravan during National Camping and Caravanning Week Inspired by Julia Bradbury’s night on the first floating campsite on the Thames in central London last month, and a party she hosted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of caravan manufacturing in the UK, Camping and Caravanning Club sites across the UK undertook their own celebrations during National Camping and Caravanning Week (27 May to 2 June). The most creative activity was by the staff at the ‘Alton, the Star’ Camping and Caravanning Club site in Staffordshire who made a replica Eccles caravan from 1919 – the year commercial production of caravans started in the UK. They also hosted a party with caravan-themed bunting decorated by families staying on the site during half-term. In Crowborough, East Sussex, the managers at the Club site organised a children’s colouring competition. Each child completed an outline drawing of a caravan holiday scene, and the best six from different age categories won a WHSmith voucher. And in the Midlands, the Club’s Clent Hills site near Birmingham organised a ‘100 years of caravanning’ coffee morning and raised money for the local air ambulance charity. At the same time, The Camping and Caravanning Club also encouraged campers to share photos of their caravan holidays on social media using the hashtag #lovemycaravan and to enter a competition to win an awning package worth over £1,100. These, and many other activities at other Club sites across the UK, show how caravans have become such an important part of so many people’s lives, and the UK’s economy, and why The Camping and Caravanning Club celebrates National Camping and Caravanning Week each year. “National Camping and Caravanning Week is all about inspiring the nation to get outdoors whether that’s through caravanning, motorhoming or traditional tent camping. And we’re all more aware than ever that getting into the great outdoors is good for our mental health and well as being great fun,” said Julia Bradbury, TV presenter and President of The Camping and Caravanning Club. Paul Jones, the Marketing and Communications Director at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “It is brilliant that so many of our Club sites joined the celebration of 100 years of the caravan during this year’s National Camping and Caravanning Week. We’re really grateful that our President, Julia Bradbury, launched National Camping and Caravanning Week 2019 in such a fun way and brought the 100th anniversary of the caravan to the attention of the whole country.”
Willerby invites customers to launch of 2020 collection
Willerby, the UK’s largest manufacturer of holiday homes and lodges, is inviting its customers to an exclusive preview of its 2020 collection at its showground in Hull from 25th June to 26th July. The event will give customers the chance to explore the latest additions and brand new models as well as taking a look at updates to a variety of current products. Holiday homes and lodges such as the Linwood, Skye, Kelston and Acorn will be on show, alongside a brand new model due to launch mid-July. The exciting, new addition is based on an original holiday home by Willerby dating back to 1956, and is designed with elegant, state-of-the-art features to suit its modern audience. Models such as the Grasmere and the Manor which are only available to the trade industry will also be available to view. Chance to visit the Willerby factory Not only can customers view the stunning holiday homes and lodges, but there will be a chance to tour the factory in full, visiting various departments, to fully understand and experience the manufacturing process. Kirsten Bolton, Willerby Marketing Director, said: “This exclusive event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our 2020 collection and offer insights into our latest innovations. “Select models from our Park Homes by Willerby range will also be available to view and visitors will be able to explore the models at their own leisure and ask any questions they may have.” To find out more please visit the Wllerby website.
