Industry News

park. The park conform with BS 7671. 1No. 400 amp had worked with and 3 No. 250 amp switches were their existing installed for existing circuits and future mains supply for expansion allowing each circuit to be many years but as protected with overcurrent and earth with all CPES’s leakage protection. Each supply was developments monitored with a meter to analyse they look to individual consumption along with future proof the maximum demand. outgoing circuits, enabling larger With the park’s doors currently closed supplies to be due to Covid restrictions it seemed the CPES STREAMLINED fitted for forthcoming opportune time to undertake this type of project creating less disruption due to the ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS pitch developments electrical supply been isolated. when required. CPES offer a turn-key service from Is your electrical mains unit causing This was achieved by installing a new design, liaising with District Network intermittent faults, needing an upgrade 1600 amp bus bar chamber with a new Operator when required, followed by the in supply or seen better days? Caravan 1250 amp main switch with separate design, installation, test and certification Park Electrical Services Ltd have just outgoing earth leakage devices within the of all their products to the latest electrical successfully completed another Mains ‘design and build’ panel. regulations BS 7671. If you have Room replacement, this time in Devon. electrical works you are looking to A recent requirement in the last few years undertake, contact one of the CPES sales A new Mains Panel was designed, has been the addition of surge protective team members for comprehensive advice, manufactured and installed by CPES to devices within all mains electrical systems to request the most competitive consolidate all the electrical switchgear, where required. Within the panel the quotations or simply place an order. cabling and earthing systems, bringing parks PME and TT earthing systems them together into one location creating were split internally to serve the park a streamlined electrical system for the buildings and pitch supplies separately to To find out more, head over to cpes.co.uk.

Joseph and Lucy at Qorone like to know the provenance of the timber they use to build their structures. Keeping it local is important, as is knowing that the trees are grown sustainably. Building relationships with local tree surgeons allows them to intercept trees that are being felled and would otherwise be destined for the chipper or the logburner. Joseph is currently helping out with some forestry work in Devon, taking freshly felled larch to the local sawmill where he assists with milling the wood.

Taking a tree from standing all the way through to varnishing the finished product is part of the magic of creating the warm welcome you feel in a Qorone. Joseph and Lucy are happy to hear from anyone who might have a tree on their land that has fallen, or someone with ash dieback who would like their tree to live on in the shape of a Qorone.

A photobook can be produced showing each step in the process which makes a really interesting coffee table book for your guests! For attention to detail, Qorone have it down to a tee.

QORONE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLY SOURCED TREES

To find out more, head over to qorone.com.

TIMOTAY PLAYSCAPES ARE CONFIRMED FINALISTS FOR THE APL AWARDS!

Timotay Playscapes have been selected as finalists in two categories for the prestigious APL Awards.

The APL Awards (Association of Professional Landscapers) showcase and select leaders within the landscaping arena, where the design and final project demonstrates quality and superior final project. Both projects deliver outstanding play value, featuring natural wooden playgrounds. The two projects that Timotay Playscapes are nominated for are Stanwick Lakes (Countryside Family Attraction) and Westbrook Hay (Independent School)

BUSHTEC SAFARI

Bushtec Safari take pride in designing and manufacturing quality luxury tents. As part of the Canvas and Tent group, they are the leading tent manufacturer and supplier to well-known safari camps and game reserves, hunting and luxury lodges, villas and resorts within the travel market both locally and internationally.

The brand is renowned globally as they have provided luxury tents to countless projects through their head office, their branch in America, Europe and Botswana as well as their Distributors in the UAE, Australia and Asia.

With over 1000 different tent designs, Bushtec Safari prefer keeping everything they do inhouse – from design, to manufacturing, delivering, and installation.

They have a range of standard designed luxury tents which can be customised according to specified requirements, alternatively they can create a custom design from scratch based on a concept on paper. With their team of in-house designers, they can create almost anything that you can imagine. Bushtec Safari also work closely with the investor’s architect should one be appointed.

Ladysmith, which is in the KwaZuluNatal province in South Africa, houses their state-of-the-art factories, totalling a productive area of 27,500 m2 where more than 300 skilled design, technical and specialist personnel are employed. Here they craft masterpieces with passion and dedication. It is through the incredible skill and dedication within the Timotay Playscapes teams who continue to show tremendous dedication, expertise and hard work! Timotay Playscapes are delighted to be recognised as industry experts and receive this incredible accolade. The awards ceremony will take place in March, where the winners of each category will be announced. Currently, the awards are due to take place virtually.

Stuart Humphrey, Director, said “We are extremely proud to have been selected as finalists for these two projects at the APL awards, and recognised for our hard work, passion and dedication to the landscape industry. Our entire team work tirelessly to deliver inspirational outdoor spaces”.

To find out more, find their website at timotayplayscapes.co.uk.

Bushtec Safari also understand the importance of different environmental elements that have to be taken into consideration when they manufacture luxury tents. In order to accommodate these considerations, they offer different types of steel frames, different combinations of materials, fire-retardant materials, insulated materials and even guarantee that their canvas and flysheets are UV treated, welded and stitched to high standards. They engineer their tent structures in such a way that they can withstand the elements that they are exposed to, enabling the tents to last the investor for more than 10 years, which will be great for your return on investment.

Their tents are eco-friendly, and can blend in with the natural surroundings quite effortlessly. Each tent has a light footprint, and by securing it to a wooden deck that plants into the ground, you can have your luxury tented camp without disrupting the environment at all.

Bushtec Safari – Designed to Impress. Built to Last.

The wood burner has long been a desirable addition to glamping accommodation. Indeed, statistics show that customers are more likely to book places to stay that feature a stove than accommodation that doesn’t

This year Charnwood launch a complete, quick-to-fit fireplace solution designed specifically for glamping accommodation and small space living. Comprising of their ultra efficient Aire 3 log burner and a safe and secure enclosure, the Charnwood Stove Pod is perfect for cabins, yurts, tents, boats and huts. The chamber comprises of a curved steel surround that creates a safe, protected focal point for the room. This space saving feature allows the pod to be safely placed just 50mm away from any combustible material (such as timber or canvas). The Pod can also be placed on any hard, flat surface without the need for an additional hearth. The steel skin is magnetic, and Charnwood offer a number of tools and pots that can be attached with ease whilst the flue support incorporates a handy warming shelf for plates, pots and pans. It is available in a matt black hammered powder coat with the option to add a VLAZE vitreous enamel liner for a stylish, easy to clean finish.

The Stove Pod is designed to take Charnwood’s Aire 3 wood burning stove. This appliance delivers a comfortable 2-5kW of heat to the space with a crystal-clear burn and remarkable controllability. It’s deliberately designed to maximise the view of the fire and is one of the few glamping stoves on the market that meets with Ecodesign 2022. This guarantees very low emissions and high efficiencies; so much so that the stove can burn wood legally and safely even in smoke control areas. The stove is incredibly simple to operate with one single air control and a removable ashpan for easy cleaning. Charnwood also offer an optional cooking plate that provides a valuable addition to the kitchen or living space.

Charnwood are the UK’s oldest stove manufacturer and have been designing and making stoves for nearly 50 years. As with all their products, the Stove Pod and Aire 3 are British built from the best combination of materials and components sourced from the UK. The package comes with a 10-year guarantee giving you peace of mind.

The Charnwood Stove Pod and Aire 3 is available through selected retailers across the UK & Ireland. Visit www.charnwood.com for further information.

The New wood burning Stove Pod package from Charnwood

GLITZCAMP

Glitzcamp is a professional manufacturer of Luxury Glamping Tents with 12 years’ experience in designing, producing and marketing glamping tents. Quality, innovation, and design freedom.

Their mission is to let you experience luxury escapes in glamping tents and unforgettable moments in unique eco safari tents, cottage tents in woods, lakes, mountains and any beautiful spot that you have dreamed of.

Glitzcamp provides affordable solutions to your glamping tent needs from Bell Tents to Wall Tents, from Domes to Safari Tents and from Villa Tents to Lodge Tents. Contact us today for more information.

To find out more about Glitzcamp, you can find their website at www.glitzcamp.com or m.glitzcamp.com on mobile.

UNDERSTANDING THE ADVANTAGES OF A DIRECT INTEGRATION WITH BOOKING.COM

Many owners find that they need to supplement their own bookings from time to time by using Online Travel Agents (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Airbnb, Pitchup, Glampsites.com and others to increase exposure and generate more bookings. This could be because you are a new site and need to spread the word, or an established site and need to maximise occupancy during quieter times.

Undoubtedly, Booking.com has become the largest OTA, with over 29 million listings and 844 million nights booked in 2019. CampManager has been a registered connectivity partner with Booking.com since 2015, and many of our customers have already seen the benefits of using Booking.com.

CampManager connects to Booking.com via a direct Application Programming Interface (API) connection. This means that data flows between Booking.com and CampManager in real-time, without any delays. Once you receive a booking on Booking.com, it will be imported into CampManager straight away. Likewise, as soon as you take a booking yourself, this will be blocked out immediately – so no double bookings!

There are many additional advantages to CampManager’s direct integration with Booking.com. When you receive a booking, the customers data and contact details will be securely imported. You can also manage your allocation simply from within CampManager - removing allocation during peak periods that you know you can fill yourself or adding allocation to fill empty spaces and reduce wasted nights.

Compared to other OTAs, Booking.com does not enforce price parity. This means that you can inflate your prices on Booking.com. CampManager automatically sends your rates to Booking.com, and these can include a percentage increase to cover their commission. These rates will also include your minimum stays, set arrival dates and durations - saving you valuable time and potential mistakes from entering these manually.

CampManager is a cloud-based system which operates in real-time and is trusted by over 550 campsites, holiday parks and glampsites. Its intuitive design makes it simple and easy to use from any device. Contact CampManager today to find out why so many owners are opting to use an established and professional management system.

How to become successful in glamping

Glamping has been continuously growing in popularity throughout the United Kingdom. Demand for this market segment has started to explode, and opportunities to satisfy it awaits for both outdoor hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs alike. Introducing luxury glamping tents to your existing campsites or setting up a completely new glamping site can be more straightforward than you might think.

Take a closer look at jumping on the bandwagon with the extraordinary and fully equipped glamping tents from Outstanding. With years of experience and local team members around the world, their UK advisors James and Suzie King are happy to share some tips on how to get started in glamping.

Make a successful business plan. The success of your glamping business begins with a solid business plan. Important aspects include identifying the target group, the range and quantity of tents, level of service, and of course the business model that works best for your location, capital and timeframe. What is the return on investment? How do you plan to attract your guests? And do you have a sense for the jurisdictional regulations that will influence your business model and timeline? Regulations can vary greatly by region. If you’re curious about how to approach the jurisdiction in your region, or would like help in drawing up a successful business plan, James and Suzie are happy to support you.

Determine your target audience. This is one of the most important steps to creating a successful glamping site. Guest experience is king, and it is important to know what type of tents, facilities and natural of built amenities best suit your target audiences.

OUTSTANDING

Some choices may seem very attractive right now, but will they still be in several years? It is important to develop a long-term vision that takes into account various factors, such as future expansion and cultural trends. Do you have the space to expand? Will your target group change over the years?

To find out more, visit www.outstandingtent.co.uk.

Life has been uncertain for what seems like a long time now. Keep calm and carry on. That’s what everyone is doing, but the stress still builds and it is noticeable how much closer to the tipping point of feeling really fed up everyone is.

It’s amazing how far a hug goes and, while you can’t physically hug your customers, you can provide a feeling of warmth and care by being able to respond quickly and with knowledge and a desire to help.

In every relationship ultimately there are people, and everyone is under pressure. If you can keep your own team ‘hugged’ they will be more able to hug your customers. If your suppliers are being responsive and actively trying to make your life easier your own team are less frustrated and so it ripples down.

GemaPark believe this is the only way to get through these uncertain times and their customers have reconfirmed their belief.

From the start of the pandemic Gemapark have been listening to their customers’ needs and adapting their system to meet the new challenges they faced. Challenges of moving and cancelling bookings, holding over deposits and all the reporting and management that takes. Challenges of hands off delivery of a service, providing information, check-in, and safety for the customer and community. Challenges of increasing or decreasing capacity and handling erratic booking peaks and troughs. Challenges of VAT changes, sudden lockdowns and tiers and, most importantly, challenges of being able to communicate with customers quickly and with knowledge to provide reassurance and that much needed hug.

In return Gemapark’s customers have shared their experience with their peers and Gemapark are now busy helping new referred customers gain the benefit of a bit of care in an uncertain world.

PEOPLE NEED A HUG (OR THE

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION)

LITTLE KITCHENS THAT ARE A BIG HIT WITH GLAMPERS

The rise in popularity of glamping and staycation holidays has provided a huge opportunity for farmers and holiday lets, but in a competitive market the standards and expectations of guests has also increased.

Providing unique experiences and highquality accommodation is essential, but just because a glamping property is small doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish. That’s why park home operators and farmers rely on Elfin Kitchens for pre-built, compact kitchens that are simple, functional and can easily be incorporated into a glamping pod or leisure project from the outset.

Elfin kitchens maximise space and functionality inside glamping accommodation. Available in sizes from 900mm to 1500mm, the Premium range of kitchens incorporates high-quality appliances, including a refrigerator, sink and tap, plus a choice of solo or combination microwave, oven and grill. In addition, Premium models are supplied with soft close drawers and a choice of gas, ceramic, solid and induction hob or none at all.

Every kitchen is manufactured from powder-coated steel and boast stainless steel tops for incredible strength, rigidity and durability. Available in a range of colours, these materials also reduce the need for long-term maintenance, while keeping a property looking in premium condition for longer – which is essential in a leisure environment.

Trevor Richardson, Founder and Managing Director of The Log Pod, explained his reasons for specifying Elfin Kitchens: “When we first designed the pods, we installed wooden kitchen units, but we soon realised that they were simply not durable enough, especially for the rental market. So, we needed something that was manufactured to a high quality and wouldn’t require much maintenance.

“The compact kitchens from Elfin have proven to be absolutely perfect; they are designed to last, look great in the pods and the addition of the new colours opens up more design options for us. The new bronze colour, in particular, offers the perfect colour tones to complement the timber.”

All Elfin kitchens are delivered assembled and ready to plug in for quick and simple installation. A family-run business, the Elfin team are experienced and always available for any questions or advice – call them today and find out more!

Put ‘real time’ integration on your booking system checklist

As glamping business owners are increasingly turning to online booking systems to reduce their admin and increase their bookings, there is one feature that is often cited as being the most important - integration. Owners looking to extend their reach and marketing by connecting with online travel agents (OTAs) like Cool Camping, Glampingly, AirBnB and Booking.com need to ensure that the booking system they select has the best connectivity with the channels they most want to use.

Which OTAs to use?

One of the standout glamping booking platforms of recent years has been Cool Camping, with its high bookings growth reported in the Times, Telegraph and Guardian during 2020, and a reputation for recommending high quality, approved glampsites. Glampingly (glampingly.com) offers a more exclusive alternative for higherend properties, and Cool Places (coolplaces.co.uk) has recently started offering online bookings with their established collection of UK selfcatering and glamping properties. These specialist, curated websites provide a more focussed alternative to the generic global OTAs, where the uniqueness of glamping accommodation can sometimes get lost.

Ask the right questions

Once you have established which OTAs suit your business model, check with your potential booking system provider that they can provide the integration you need with the channels you have selected. In particular, ‘real time’ availability integration is key to avoid double bookings. Pricing integration may also be important for you, if you want to avoid setting up and updating pricing on multiple systems.

Bedful is one example of a booking system that offers real time availability integration with the major UK glamping OTAs. The depth of integration means that, as well as up-todate availability, real-time pricing also feeds through to those websites too, something only Bedful currently offers. Further integrations with Airbnb, Booking.com and other OTAs make Bedful a good choice for those looking for flexibility.

“We’ve made a real point of not only connecting availability to the leading glamping websites,” Lucy Clinch from Bedful commented, “but also connecting pricing, extras, age limits and even photos too, thus avoiding extra work when you want extra bookings.”

THE PROMISING GREEK GLAMPING MARKET

Great early signs from the Greek Glamping Market. Legislation on institutionalising Glamping and recognising it as a tourism niche on its own merit released exactly a year ago, will soon be followed by a Quality Standard, first of its kind globally, that could be coined as a Glamping Quality Assessment Scheme.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels together with Emma Gavala, Founder of Gavala & Co Glamping Consulting have been leading this effort, in a rigorous attempt to make concrete and measurable what ‘quality’ stands for in a Glamping accommodation and experience and thus inform policy making.

Note that Glamping in Greece is reserved for those sites/operators that have already or are able to obtain a hotel or camping site licence of 3* and above, making it really clear that Greece aims high at being a premium only/upscale Glamping destination brand name.

Meanwhile, the Greek Glamping sector is gradually gaining traction with new stakeholders solidifying their presence. Most notably Campsaround.com, the first unique accommodation platform of Greece, was crowned the winner of the country’s prestigious CapsuleT Travel & Hospitality Accelerator. The sector is ready to boom from all directions.

Greece might be a newcomer compared to the UK in Glamping but, as a huge success case globally in terms of destination branding, they surely do know one thing: quality matters. Creating a Glamping Certification/Logo to gauge quality is an interesting, certainly new approach. Even more so, given that in this particular case, quality encapsulates sustainability and ecoconscious principles in a very tangible and measurable way.

Certainly a long way ahead for Greece but nonetheless, a case study worth following given the off-the-beaten track it has chosen to walk in Glamping.

For further advice on the Greek Glamping Market reach out to Emma Gavala (Glamping Consulting & Policy Making).

https://glamping.expert/

recoup some of right for the temporary use of land. their losses. It Under the new rules, these camping encouraged local and glamping sites were allowed to planning stay open for longer, 56 days in fact. authorities to help camping, Of the 28 days extra, only 14 of them glamping and could be used to hold a market or for caravan parks vehicle racing. But the right also TOURISM SECTOR extend their season and not allowed the erection of moveable structures such as stalls, marquees or TO SEE RELAXED attempt planning accommodation. PLANNING RULES enforcement action that As we head into 2021, almost a year on, we are yet again in a lockdown would hinder which has seen the tourism industry Back in July of last year (2020), their abilities to do so. shut its doors. Moving forward there housing minister Robert Jenrick must be similar assurances put in released a planning update for the Owners of camping, glamping and place to see the tourism industry tourism sector in England. In it, there caravan sites whose planning recover from the pandemic. were a number of changes to the rules permission restricted keeping regarding planning for camping, accommodation open longer than the A clear timeline as to when and how glamping and caravan sites to attempt usual summer season were able to the country exits the lockdown is help tourism business owners rebuild apply to see their season extended. integral. Businesses in the tourism after the first coronavirus lockdown. industry need as much notice as Small-scale camping and glamping possible and clear guidelines on the This included temporarily relaxing rules were also extended. Under the criteria that will need to be met to the restrictions on the camping season usual rules, small-scale campsites and safely reopen. On top of this, to assist businesses who had been glampsites were only permitted to continued support for the tourism adversely affected by the lockdown to remain open for 28 days due to the sector will be vital.