9 minute read
Industry News
ANTHROPODS CONTINUES TO INNOVATE
In response to customer requests, Anthropods, the North Yorkshire designer and manufacturer of upmarket glamping and micro-dwelling accommodation, is launching a new model. The Anthropod Janus, is based on the popular Bleriot Plus model and features entrances at either end of the pod. It has been designed to provide private, secure living and sleeping accommodation for two persons with a shared wet room and kitchen.
Additional space has been created by widening the pod at either side and enclosing the entrance porch area. In addition, extra side windows have been created to provide more light and maximise views. The Janus can be utilised as additional hotel space or as staff accommodation; the Janus does not sacrifice the luxury and quality finish of the traditional Bleriot models and features a totally sustainable structure and interior employing certificated materials.
The first of the Janus models is destined for an island estate on the West Coast of Scotland.
‘We are excited about this latest manifestation of the Bleriot,’ said Anthropod CEO and chief designer, Rik Currie. ‘It demonstrates the versatility of the original design without compromising the structure and unique look of our mouldbreaking Bleriot models. What makes the Janus special is that it provides all yearround accommodation in style, comfort and warmth whatever the weather. The Janus, like all Anthropod models, is built to last 25 years plus.’
Rik Currie
GLAMPING INNOVATIONS JOINED BY ANTHROPODS
Sara Gladstone, Glamping Innovations MD, and Kerry Roy, founder of Camp Katur and Cerchio Del Desiderio, recently agreed a deal to collaborate for sole distribution rights of Glamping Innovations products in Italy.
Sara Gladstone
Glamping Innovations MD
Kerry will be working with Sara and her brand to market and distribute all product lines under the Glamping Innovations brand alongside running her sites and developing new sites. “I am very excited to collaborate with Glamping Innovations and their range of new innovative products produced by varying manufacturers across the globe. Having established two Glamping sites, Camp Katur in the UK and Cerchio Del Desiderio in Italy, I can see the potential growth for Glamping within Italy, which is why I am also moving into distribution for the wider hospitality sector to offer new innovative and unique accommodation.” said Kerry.
Kerry Roy
Founder of Camp Katur and Cerchio del Desiderio
Since then, innovative North Yorkshire-based Anthropods, designers and manufacturers of the Bleriot range of glamping pods and micro-dwellings, have agreed terms with Glamping Innovations for them to act as UK sales agents for Anthropods.
At the same time, Glamping Innovations has secured exclusive rights to market and sell Anthropods in Italy. In turn, Anthropods will act as UK sales agents for Glamping Innovations’ exciting range of Glamptainers.
“Anthropods fits our product portfolio perfectly,” said Sara. “We specialise in high-end, quality, sustainable products that embody design flair and true innovation. That is the Anthropods ethos.”
Anthropods Executive Chairman, Doug Adamson, said, “We are delighted to work alongside Sara Gladstone, her formidable reputation, energy and experience in the glamping sector will help accelerate Anthropods sales in the UK and reach new markets in Europe during the months ahead. Glamptainers offer a flexible new take on glamping and outdoor leisure accommodation.”
Doug Adamson
Executive Chairman of Anthropods
Glamping Innovations and Anthropods have ambitious plans to grow sales across their respective product ranges in Europe and overseas markets. ‘We are considering the possibility of manufacturing licence deals in certain European countries to ensure our products are easily accessible in the markets we serve. Local manufacturing delivers great design ideas to new markets without prohibitive transportation costs,’ said Sara.
HOW RESORTS ARE IMPROVING GUEST EXPERIENCES AND TURNING A HIGHER PROFIT WITH GREEN ENERGY
Crashing waves, chirping crickets, leaves rustling in the breeze and natural quietude are all parts of the allure of “glamping”, drawing guests away from the commotion of daily life. Wanting to be close to nature is increasingly coupled with the desire to conserve our world’s wonders, great and small, for future generations. For years now, surveys have shown a growing interest in sustainable travel. Most recently, around 70 percent of travelers surveyed by booking.com said that they prefer eco-friendly accommodations – even if they don’t necessarily look for these exclusively. But glamping comes at a price: combining comfort with nature often means that the sound of chirping crickets is drowned out by the humming of a diesel generator.
Lower costs, better supply and greater comfort
But there is a simple solution to what was a big dilemma just a few years ago. Microgrids – self-sufficient power grids built from solar installations and storage systems – have not only become cheaper to operate than diesel generators, they are also quieter and deliver higher performance with greater reliability. In fact, they are powerful enough to supply electricity to resorts, entire villages and even remote islands, so that diesel generators can be relegated to serving as a back-up. Solar-powered microgrids are particularly effective in cutting energy costs in remote areas because they are more efficient than conventional diesel systems and they reduce fuel consumption immensely. DHYBRID’s microgrids also enable encrypted remote monitoring and maintenance in real time.
While earlier versions of these combinations of diesel and solar power were relatively simple, DHYBRID’s microgrids are much more high-tech. Years of experience and knowledge gained have resulted in conventional diesel systems being overtaken, even in terms of grid quality. A special electronics setup, the Universal Power Platform (UPP), monitors and controls the entire system. The UPP can balance out voltage and frequency in the grid within a fraction of a second, even when large consumers such as cooling systems or compressors are switched on, making flickering lights and screens from the switch over to a diesel generator a thing of the past. This also means that solar microgrids are a useful option where power grids exist but are unstable. Since these systems flexibly combine various energy sources based on demand, they are able to cover short-term peaks in consumption even better than a pure diesel system.
Worldwide use
DHYBRID has already set up more than 70 of these self-sufficient microgrids around the world, including on 26 of the Maldivian islands. Another DHYBRID microgrid powers the ecological luxury resort Cheetah Plains in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Three solar installations with a total of 895 photovoltaic modules generate most of the estate’s power. Lithiumion batteries store electricity for the nighttime. The diesel generator is only needed during periods of bad weather or when consumption is particularly high. The batteries and other electronic components are housed in a 20-foot container and the solar modules are mounted atop the roofs of the service buildings and carports. All in all, Cheetah Plains has managed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 320 tons a year and uses 124,000 liters less diesel than before. The resort has also turned to eco-friendly solar power for its safaris, using purpose-built electric vehicles to guide its guests on their journey through the wilderness without the disruptive noise of an engine or pollutive exhaust gas.
www.dhybrid.de
NEW CHARCOAL PRODUCT SHOULD BE FRUITFUL FOR OUTDOOR RETAILERS
WARMA Home Fuels has launched a new fruit lumpwood charcoal product to help retailers, as well as campsite owners with onsite shops, capitalise on the staycation 2021 and the desire for many barbecue fans to upgrade their al fresco dining experience.
The fruit lumpwood charcoal delivers unique flavours to the food whilst cooking and emits a distinct orchard aroma when lit. This is due to the exciting, top-quality product having been produced from tree prunings from a variety of fruit farms. The flavours and aromas infusing food and diffused through the air deliver a delightful sense of place in any outdoor environment.
The mellow chargrilled flavour achievable with this charcoal is distinctly different from the taste created by traditional barbecue charcoal, offering BBQ cooks the chance to serve up barbecued food with a twist. The charcoal takes only 15 minutes to be ready for use and generates low smoke, low ash and consistent high heat – everything the new or experienced barbecue chef could desire.
By enhancing the barbecued food’s natural flavours, regardless of whether that is fish, pork, chicken or beef, the 100 per cent natural charcoal helps provide the ‘diners’ with an amazing outdoor culinary experience and a food talking point.
WARMA Home Fuels trade sales manager, Andrew Walker, says, “We feel this product will suit 2021’s trends to a tee. Products that can be used outdoors and as part of multi-generational, wider family experiences, will tick consumers’ boxes this year and any retailer who can offer something beyond the norm, but still at a very reasonable price, will have something that customers want to buy.
“With low smoke and ash, this charcoal product also caters to the needs of ecofriendly campers and outdoor cooks, yet is uncompromising when it comes to first-class heat output. It offers everything an al fresco lifestyle lover could want.”
Warma BBQ Lumpwood Charcoal
To enquire about stocking Warma BBQ product, available in 6ltr bags (£1.95 ex vat), 17ltr (£3.83 ex VAT) and 12kg (£12.00 ex VAT) bags, please email andrew.walker@logsdirect.co.uk.
ECO STRUCTURES APPOINTS SUTTON HOSPITALIY AS UK AGENT
Eco Structures Australia has appointed Sutton Hospitality Consultants as exclusive UK agents.
“This partnership comes as a natural extension to our work in establishing parks and glamping destinations from scratch, and supplying existing parks looking to extend their offering,” says Sutton Hospitality Consultants MD Andy Sutton. “We are thrilled to be able to offer Eco Structures in the UK. “It’s great news for the UK market to have a high-quality, flexible option in the canvas tent arena.”
Eco Structures Australia Sales and Business Development Manager Tom Butterfield adds, “Choosing the right type of tent is one of the more enjoyable parts of setting up a site, the difficult parts include things like shire approvals, designing your site plan, power, water etc.
“This is why Partnering with Sutton Hospitality was the logical choice for Eco Structures. We bring 3 decades of remote development, design and a system that is unmatched by our competitors and Team Sutton will look after you from Conception to Completion, they will manage some or all, depending on the client’s needs.”
Andy Sutton
Sutton Hospitality Consultants
For more details contact kevin@suttonhospitalityconsultants.co.uk
PAWS AWARD
Paws Holidays, founded two years ago, has won a prestigious award in Luxlife Magazine for best online pet-friendly holiday website.
Karen Bishop from Paws Holidays says, “We are delighted to have received this award as the hard work of our team has clearly paid off – we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
Lockdown was a record-breaking year for families who purchased dogs, a staggering 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association. That means the country now has 17 million pet-owning homes, the association says More families than ever will be searching for dog friendly holiday resorts and destinations, that will have great facilities for all the family to get involved in as well as great walks for the dog.
Paws Holidays
