Holiday Parks Management June 2018

Holiday Parks Management

tHe UltiMate sUPPliers gUide for Holiday Parks, caravan Parks and caMPsites

June 2018 • Issue 33

Interview with Patrick Langmaid OF MOTHER IVEY’S BAY

indoor PLAY UK-wide Survey OF HOLIDAY PARKS LAUNCHED

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Hello

and welcome to Congratulations to Patrick Langmaid and family on the 30th anniversary of Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall. We feature an interview with Patrick in this issue and I was struck how – from the very beginning – the family went the extra mile to do things the best possible way. Good enough was never good enough, if they could manage something better, be it traditional Cornish stone walling between pitches – or ensuring that their staff are paid above the Real Living Wage.

Recently, we organised the first Global Glamping Summit in Denver, Colorado and I interviewed a gentleman called David Leventhal during one of the delegate sessions.

What’s in this issue?

Holiday Parks

Management He is the founder of an inspirational and hugely successful eco resort in Mexico called Playa Viva.

He talked about ‘Whole Systems Thinking’ which involves ensuring that your business not only exists within its own community, it feeds back into it, creating jobs, providing educational support to local kids, buying local produce and more.

This is what many holiday parks such as Mother Ivey’s Bay do so well. So now you know what they call it in the US!

Steph Editor

Top cover photo Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park and this photo Martha’s Orchard courtesy of Patrick Langmaid

05 news 14 Environment News 17 Interview: Patrick Langmaid 21 Indoor play: BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe

23 Indoor play: RLMS and G-Squared Games 25 Indoor play: Connected Entertainment and Poppleston Allen

30 Indoor play: Bourne Leisure Goes Cashless 32 National Survey into Holiday Parks 35 Outdoor furniture/New products 37 World of Park and Leisure Homes Show Published by: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. t: 07887 928819. Registered Business: 47 Oliver Close, London, W4 3RL Other Publications: International Glamping Business - www.glampingbusiness.com Publisher: Upgrade Publishing Ltd. Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: 07887 928819 e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: + 44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Design: Dean Coulter, Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk www.holididayparksmanagement.com Other Events: The Glamping Show - www.glampingshow.com © Upgrade Publishing 2017. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

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parkNews An "adults only" holiday park in the New Forest which promises tranquil stays in a child-free environment is celebrating a clutch of national awards.

Back of Beyond park near Ringwood, owned by a husband-and-wife team, can now boast four accolades for the excellence of its grown-up surroundings.

holiday parks by the readers of topselling Practical Caravan magazine.

The honours have provided "a fantastic start" to the 2018 holiday season according to Martin Bowrey who runs Back of Beyond with his wife Vicki.

Awards in abundance for "adults only" Dorset park

They include a top conservation award from botanist David Bellamy, a gold pennant from the AA, and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for its consistently glowing reviews.

It was just over four years ago that the couple sold their successful London photography business and took a gamble on their future in rural Dorset.

Back of Beyond was also voted as being among the top 100 of Britain's 3000-plus

The aim, said Martin, was to run an ecofriendly holiday park for nature-loving

guests in a part of the country where they, as a family, often went camping.

It was decided to place an 18-plus age requirement on guests so that adults could enjoy stays guaranteed free from the patter of tiny feet.

The park, said Martin, appeals especially to people who spend their working lives with children – such as teachers and child-care professionals – and to more mature guests.

New Managing Director Adds New Dimension to Leading Yorkshire Business

A Managing Director has been appointed at Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry, South Yorkshire, the oldest and largest independent retailer of caravans, awnings and outdoor leisure accessories in the UK. Andrew Whittaker, 48, (left) from Doncaster joined the company five years ago and has become a very popular and highly respected member of the team. At his recent appraisal he was rewarded for his commitment to the company with the offer of Managing Director, a role he was delighted to accept. It is the first time in the company’s 87-year history that the role will be held by a non-family member since Jon Goulden (right) became Chairman in 2016, leaving the post vacant.

“Andrew has really proven himself, particularly since taking over the position of General Manager two years ago, and as the business continues to expand it became clear that he was the ideal person to take over the role and in effect become my deputy,” said Jon Goulden Chairman Yorkshire Caravans. “I will be retaining overall responsibility for the business and will continue to oversee the day to day

strategic side of the company with the help of my management team. Whilst Andrew may not be strictly family, he is certainly part of the Yorkshire Caravans family and we know that he will continue to embrace the ethos of the business and the growth plans that we have.”

service and this latest promotion will only serve to reinforce this vision. Knowledgeable, trained staff assist in a professional manner and with the best quality products on offer customers continue to be highly complementary.

During his time at the Doncaster site Andrew has shown great passion and dedication to the business and as well as forming new relationships with industry-leading companies he has developed the online sales side of the operation, which has ensured the overall growth of the business positioning it as one of the premium caravan retailers in the North of England. Working together with Chris Brown who has recently joined the team as Financial Controller and Operations Manager, Pete Simpson, who with his immense product knowledge and expertise, ensures greater depth and resilience to the management team.

A personalised dedicated handover bay and secure storage with CaSSOA (Caravans Storage Site Owners Association) Gold Award - which is the highest accreditation given by CaSSOA – along with a fantastic in-house outdoor leisure shop, awnings showroom, parts and aftersales departments, all contributes to an outstanding customer experience of which the team is very proud.

Andrew commented; “This was a fantastic surprise and I am very excited about my new position. The company has already undergone major investment over the last 24 months and I shall look forward to developing the role and the business further and to working closely with Jon to develop the future strategy and its implementation.”

Yorkshire Caravans remain committed to delivering the highest levels of customer

Jon concluded; “The appointment of Andrew adds another depth to the senior management team and he will support me in my vision to develop the business further whilst remaining at the very top of our game. We remain the envy of other caravan dealerships and this is attributed to our fantastic team and superb customer experience. Exciting times are ahead and I am very much looking forward to steering the business through its next phase of growth and development and to ongoing success.”

Yorkshire Caravans is proud to be a member of Bawtry Retail Association and to participating in local and nationwide charity and community events.

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parkNews Leading Park Home Operator launches own Charity Wyldecrest Parks is delighted to announce the launch of its own, dedicated charity.

“Wyldecrest Parks Charitable Trust is part of our effort to give back to society and to help build meaningful relationships between our parks, our residents and the wider communities in which they are situated. By focussing on the very young and the elderly who are facing life threatening health conditions, we hope to bring support to the most vulnerable when they need it most,” explained Alfie Best, the successful Romany Gypsy entrepreneur and Wyldecrest Parks’ Chairman.

time together and make great memories away from the strains and pressures of everyday life, looking after a sick loved one.

The recently created institution will soon be unveiling the details and details of fundraising events but it’s already encouraging and assisting the Wyldecrest Parks’ residents and customers to organise their own fundraising events and collections throughout the company’s over 50 residential and holiday parks in the UK, and to get involved in their communities by helping place them with volunteering opportunities.

Working with other charitable partners, the Wyldecrest Parks Charitable Trust hopes to deliver family support, equipment and health care to the very young and the elderly who are facing life-threatening health conditions.

“As a company, we are really excited about this development and our staff is also enthusiastic to get involved. We feel it’s our duty as a successful, growing company, to make a positive contribution to worthy causes and this is our expression of that deeply held commitment,” said Alfie Best.

The charity will also be supporting holiday breaks, so that families can spend quality

The charity’s first pledge campaign is now underway with the goal of raising money for

Wyldecrest Parks’ Chairman Alfie Best (left) and Stuart Round, Charity’s Manager (right) essential equipment for Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, which treats thousands of children every year from all across the North of England and Wales. The money from this campaign will help to pay for a retinal scanner which is specifically designed for paediatric use and will help to successfully treat a number of conditions, including a rare form of childhood cancer.

For more information on Wyldecrest Parks Charitable Trust please visit www.wyldecrestparkscharity.org.uk

School makes Wales Tourism Week visit to picturesque holiday home park Owners of a picturesque Welsh border caravan holiday home park invited children and teachers from the local primary school to pay a visit during Wales Tourism Week.

Pupils of Brynhafren Primary School, Crew Green, between Welshpool and Shrewsbury, spent the morning at Seven Oaks Holiday Home Park where they were given a guided tour before enjoying a picnic in May sunshine.

The 119-pitch park is owned by caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure and the company’s managing director Mark Bebb and marketing manager Ed Glover joined park managers Ron and Margaret Brace in welcoming the school party.

Staff and pupils of Brynhafren Primary School with Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb, marketing manager Ed Glover and Seven Oak Holiday Home Park manager Ron Brace during their visit.

Mr Bebb spoke to the children about the aims of Wales Tourism Week and the importance of tourism to the Welsh economy.

He explained that the five-star park is popular with people living in the West Midlands who like to escape from urban areas to relax in the beautiful countryside of Mid Wales.

Mr Bebb said: “Tourism is one of the major employment sectors in Wales and it’s absolutely vital that we engage with young

people and make them aware of the exciting career opportunities that are available within the industry.

“It’s great to welcome a group of such inquisitive and well behaved young people to the park during Wales Tourism Week.”

Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb gives pupils of Brynhafren Primary School a guided tour of Seven Oak Holiday Home Park.

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parkNews Thursfields helps family’s £1.5m purchase of seaside holiday park Thursfields Solicitors has helped a Midlands business couple to realise their dream of owning and running a holiday park by the seaside.

That local knowledge came from associate solicitor Katie Williams, of Thursfields’ Commercial Property team, who advised on the purchase of the site itself.

The leading Midlands law firm acted for Joanne and Warren Dixon’s £1.5m purchase of Calloose Caravan and Camping Park, near St Ives in Cornwall, and on the set up of a new trading company to run and develop the business.

Ms Williams said: “The Dixons are already successful business people in Redditch and were looking for a new venture in the holiday park sector.

The Dixons, based in Redditch, were already owners of two local exhibitions and events companies, but had long desired to move into a more rural leisure business.

Joanne Dixon, aged 36, said: “We’ve been running successful local businesses for years but have always dreamed of doing something different, and having a lifestyle change at the same time.

“Once we found the Calloose site we knew it was just what we wanted – an award-winning, family-owned site with customers going back up to 40 years. We’ve been really impressed with how Thursfields have quickly helped us to realise our dream of acquiring this business.”

Thursfields’ Worcester office handled the project with Gareth Burge, director of the Corporate & Commercial team, leading the business transaction, assisted by senior associate solicitor Tim Edwards. Michelle O’Hara, director of the employment team, advised on the employment side.

Warren Dixon, aged 48, said: “It really was a team operation from Thursfields, with a huge amount of experienced advice and a great extra input of local knowledge.”

“It was great to be involved with their exciting plans, particularly as I had grown up in Cornwall just ten miles away from the site itself and therefore have a detailed local knowledge of the area, market and property issues.”

The Calloose site, which has 25 static units and 108 electric pitches for campers and caravanners, is now being fully refurbished before reopening in May. The Dixons, who between them have four children aged between 11 and 27, are selling their Redditch home to move down to Cornwall to be close to the new business.

As a result, they are restructuring their existing local firms, Abbey Display and Inside Out Events, to be managed in their absence.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something completely different,” added Mrs Dixon, “and with Thursfields’ help we feel really confident about the future.”

Calloose Caravan Park Ltd has two other shareholders, Jonathan and Alison Cox, who are already based in Cornwall as the site’s management team.

The business currently employs three people full-time and up to 20 seasonal workers, although Mrs Dixon said they hoped to increase staff numbers once the business is fully developed.

Caravan Guard up for national insurance award Insurance specialist Caravan Guard is thrilled to be a finalist in the 2018 British Insurance Awards for UK Insurance Broker of the Year.

It will go head-to-head with four other UK insurance intermediaries at a prestigious national awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London in July, where the industry’s top performing and innovative companies will also be headlining.

The Halifax-based company, made the shortlist after showcasing its continued efforts to deliver brilliant customer service and how it has continued to invest heavily in staff training and mentoring.

The Insurance Broker of the Year award commends companies that demonstrate innovation, profitable growth, customer retention, staff progression and promotion of professionalism.

Director, Chris Nettleton, said he was thrilled the family company had made the shortlist for this national award.

“We pride ourselves on delivering the best possible service and top rated, specialist caravan, motorhome and holiday home insurance products for our customers,” he said. “We’ve also worked hard to strengthen relations with our holiday park partners and dealerships and making the finals is a great accolade.”

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parkNews Latest phase of Hoburne’s £8.5 million investment programme completed in time to meet rising demand.

Hoburne has completed its latest investment programme for 2018, across a number of its seven holiday parks in the South and South West of England, in preparation for what looks set to be an even busier season than last year.

Some of the new facilities on offer across the Hoburne Holiday Parks in 2018 include: I Private hot tubs at selected luxury caravans and lodges at the parks in Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and the Cotswolds.

I A day spa and treatment rooms, called Beauty h at Hoburne Bashley in the New Forest I Adventure Golf courses at Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and the Cotswolds I Brand new multi-use games areas at the parks in Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and the Cotswolds.

Managing Director of Hoburne, Rod Tucker said, “The huge investment we continue to make in our parks enables all of owners and holiday guests to have a wonderful experience with Hoburne.

This is part of an ongoing programme of enhancing the customer experience making their time with Hoburne even better. Every year we

increased interest from both first-time customers and returning customers to our parks, and with even better facilities in 2018 across the parks we expect that to continue.”

Three developments within the UK-based family-run holiday group in Hampshire and Gloucester are also proving particularly successful with people who are looking to buy their own holiday home this year.

I At Hoburne Naish in Hampshire, Mudeford Mews is an exclusive development of 26 luxury holiday caravans and lodges set in a soughtafter location near the clifftop.

I Hoburne Bashley on the edge of the New Forest has 17 luxury holiday caravans and lodges in its Aspen development. This is a stunning location offering both a coastal and country location.

I At Hoburne Cotswold, the Meadows is a development of 34 luxury holiday caravans. Set in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park this is the ideal escape with 150 lakes to explore and a man-made beach nearby.

“We have seen more people choosing to purchase their own holiday home to benefit from the location and facilities on offer at our parks.

Unlike buying a holiday property, purchasing a holiday home with Hoburne doesn’t require a mortgage or additional fees such as stamp duty,” commented Rod Tucker.

Major Clacton park now flies Park Holidays UK banner Essex's "sunshine coast" is set to have an even brighter outlook following May's announcement that Park Holidays UK has expanded its presence in the region.

Long-established Martello Holiday Park in Clacton has now been acquired by the group, and joins the three other parks

which it operates in and around the seaside town.

It means that holiday guests and holiday home buyers now have four major park options in the Clacton area, all under the banner of one of Britain's fastest-growing leisure firms.

Martello Holiday Park adjoins the group's St Osyth Beach and Seawick holiday parks, both of which have benefitted from substantial investment in guest facilities over recent years.

Park Holidays UK says that Martello, St Osyth's Beach and Seawick will comprise Clacton's largest holiday park development under single corporate ownership.

The other holiday park in the area owned

by Park Holidays UK, which was founded just over 25 years ago, is Oaklands Holiday Park just north of the other three near the village of St Osyth.

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parkNews Celtic Escapes Launch During Wales Tourism Week More than 20 events were arranged to celebrate Wales Tourism Week 2018 last month.

network and the continued roll out of superfast broadband, particularly to our most rural of areas in Wales.

These included the launch of ‘Celtic Escapes’ at Celtic Holiday Parks on the May 15, Dan-yrOgof Charity Train launch and the official opening of the WILD Centre at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay, both on May 17.

“There has been a remarkable improvement in the quality of our visitor offer over the last 20 years and I would argue that it matches anything globally. We need to ensure this continues to keep up with consumers’ everchanging needs and the latest visitor trends.

We can only do this through partnership at all levels.

First Minister Carwyn Jones attended the event at Dan-yr-Ogof while Culture, Tourism and Sport Minister Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas attended each of the other events, as well as a Wales Tourism Week evening reception at the Senedd, Cardiff on May 15.

The reception was hosted by Suzy Davies, AM, chair of the National Assembly for Wales’ Tourism Cross Party Group and sponsored by the Caravan & Motorhome Club.

Themed ‘Co-operating to Compete’, Wales Tourism Week is co-ordinated by the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) and is designed to be a ‘celebration of the country’s tourism industry’.

The week aims to raise the industry’s profile and highlight its huge revenue generating value and job and career opportunities.

The WTA, along with its partners, has called on tourism organisations and businesses across the country to organise events during the week that promote the value of partnership and raise awareness of the industry’s importance to the Welsh economy.

Adrian Barsby, WTA chair, said: “In this difficult political era we need to see increased cooperation between the public and private sectors if we are going to compete effectively and efficiently.

“Co-operation is essential if we are to ensure key tourism infrastructure investment is undertaken, including a reliable transport

“We have seen remarkable growth in the hotel trade in our major cities in Wales, as well as the growing importance of the self-catering sector, particularly in our rural areas, be it with static caravans, cottages or lodges.”

Lord Elis-Thomas, always a strong supporter of sustainable tourism in Wales, emphasised the important role that the industry plays as a cornerstone of the Welsh economy.

“The impression I’ve had since taking up this important role is of an industry full of commitment and enthusiasm and a determination to push ahead,” he said. “I believe that by working in partnership we can build on our success, particularly over recent years, of getting Wales increasingly recognised both across the UK and internationally.

“Tourism is a valuable export industry, we must not lose sight of the overseas visitor, whatever global events throw at us. Once again thanks to the WTA and the Caravan & Motorhome Club for Wales Tourism Week and I wish the industry a busy and prosperous summer season.”

Huw Pendleton, Managing Director of Celtic Holiday Parks, pictured with Lord Elis-Thomas during the event, said, “We were extremely proud to be part of Wales Tourism Week – it was a fantastic day.”

Cornwall park among cream of English holiday providers Family and staff at a Cornwall holiday park are celebrating after it was named this spring as one of England's top three destinations for caravan and camping guests.

Polmanter Touring Park in St Ives took the Bronze accolade in the holiday parks category of April's VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2018.

It completes a hat-trick of honours received

by Polmanter which is this year marking its 50th anniversary of providing holidays at its stunning seaside location.

In winter, the park was the overall category winner in the Cornwall Tourism Awards, going on to strike gold again in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

The two honours propelled Polmanter into the England for Excellence finals where judges declared that its high quality standards deserved a pole position in the awards.

Stepping up to receive their trophy from TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp at the Bath Assembly Rooms were husband-and-wife park owners Phil and Becki Osborne.

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environmental News Buzz of excitement as Lancaster park's new guests y in Their thriving future at Moss Wood, says the park's Henry Wild, is almost a certainty thanks to the large number of high nectar-bearing blooms in its grounds.

In preparation for its new pollen-loving guests, Henry said that the park last year put aside land to sow a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness.

The family owners of a Lancaster holiday park are welcoming thousands of extra guests this year – and they'll not be paying a penny for their food and lodging.

That's because Moss Wood Caravan Park in Cockerham is now a safe haven for honey bees, which have been dropping dramatically in number over recent years.

The wildlife-friendly park took delivery in May of three traditional timber hives which, in the summer months, could become the home for more than 100,000 honey bees.

It's now providing valuable foraging for the honey bees which, according to nature experts, are in decline due to agricultural chemicals affecting Britain's native blooms.

The insects are sharing their food source with a wide range of butterflies and other pollinators which, says Henry, are providing a delightful spectacle for guests.

Honey will be harvested from the hive and sold in the park's shop after the bees become established.

Cumbria park staff rooting for trees take a bough Half-a-million years of tree-life have now taken root at south Cumbria's Silverdale Holiday Park, thanks to a massive conservation project aided by staff.

Hundreds of native species have been planted this spring in the grounds, including oaks and yews which can live for up to seven centuries..

It's been estimated that around 500,000 years of newly planted hardwoods are now ready to branch out, creating homes, food and breeding habitats for a raft of wildlife.

But according to business owner Michael Holgate, the project required very careful planning to ensure the best chance of survival for the saplings.

Experts were brought in, he said, to plot locations around the 100-acre coastal park where the trees would be best protected from the salt-laden winds:

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"An easier option for us would have been non-native trees which flourish more readily, but these don't provide the same benefits to birds, animals and insects," said Michael.

"We are especially keen to create homes and food sources for red squirrels which, with the help of local nature groups, we hope will soon be staging a come-back here.

"Our staff got right behind the project as we had a May deadline for the optimum planting period, and they are now able to

watch their adopted trees set out on their long life," he added.

Last year, Silverdale was one of just 15 holiday parks, from around 3,000 in Britain, to gain a special honour from botanist Professor Bellamy in his annual conservation awards.

It celebrated over eight miles of new hedgerows planted in 2017 by the park to create a "wildlife corridor" to help sustain species from dormice and hedgehogs to butterflies and bees.

landscaping News Arborist Fits the Bill Wiltshire Countryside Services has become the latest company to purchase an Arb 150p from GreenMech. For Owner Adam Lonsdale, his decision was swayed not only by the build quality and back-up service available from GreenMech compared to the alternatives available in the current market, but also by the superior performance of this petrol version.

Founded in 2014, Wiltshire Countryside Services provide a variety of arboricultural and forestry services to domestic and commercial customers alike. “We were getting more and more problems with our previous chipper and ended up spending out more than what the machine was worth!” explains Adam. When his local dealer GA Groundcare took on the GreenMech franchise last year, Adam went with his wish-list and was excited to see what was available. “I told Ashley at GA

Groundcare what I wanted, and the budget, and was pleased to see that the GreenMech machines satisfied more of my needs and wants than other manufacturers could.”

“We’d had a demo of both the diesel and petrol Arborist 130 machines, when Ashley mentioned that a 38hp petrol model was then about to launch. After seeing the Arborist 150p at the Arb Show I knew that was the one I wanted and bought it without even having a demo.” In addition to the significant cost saving over the diesel equivalent, Adam was particularly impressed with the output performance achieved whilst still keeping the unit under 750kg. “The sub 750kg weight means my colleague or anyone else can tow it without a special licence. Also, because the majority of our work is domestic tree surgery, it can be towed by a Land Rover, quadbike or alternative right to the spot where it’s required, leaving a minimal footprint on lawns and gardens.” new one-piece frame providing improved chassis stiffness and automotive levels of refinement, with a redesigned interior to provide more storage and capability. The RANGER also has a tighter turning radius and more precise steering.

More rugged.

More refined.

More Ranger.

Polaris recently celebrated rolling the onemillionth RANGER machine off the production line – 2018 will mark two decades since the utility vehicle was introduced to the side-byside line-up.

Developed with over one hundred-user inspired improvements, the all-new Ranger XP 1000 sets a new standard for what a utility side-by-side can do. The model boasts class leading power (82hp) and torque (61lb-ft), industry-leading towing (over 1100kg) and ground clearance (330mm) – making it the hardest working, smoothest riding side-byside built.

Featuring the proven ProStar 1000 Twin Cylinder engine, the Ranger XP 1000 features a

Bold and aggressive new styling on the outside, developments continue on the inside of the cab too. Dual-Sweep analogue dials and a 4” LCD Rider Information Centre provide comprehensive information to the driver, while thicker seat foam provides better comfort.

Practicality is boosted too with 51 litres of secure in-cab storage including a flip-up passenger seat and double glove box.

Rene Basei, Polaris EMEA Vice President, commented, “Polaris is constantly innovating and looking for ways to improve customer experience. A big part of the development process comes from listening to and integrating customer feedback into new products – the new RANGER XP 1000 is a fantastic example of this. Feedback from those who have tested it has been extremely positive and we’re sure our customers are going to think the same.”

Polaris Engineered accessories are available for the XP 1000 and with over 200 available, owners can be sure that there are parts and accessories to enable them to work longer or rider further.

The superior build quality was another box ticked for Adam. “Some chippers we’ve looked at have fibreglass bonnets – in this industry things get bumped and dropped and a fibreglass bonnet is asking for trouble.

The GreenMech machines seem to consist of more strong, hardwearing metal components. It’s easy to use, simple to maintain and all backed up with reliable back up support from GreenMech and their dealer network.”

Hunts Engineering celebrating double milestone Hunts Engineering Ltd is celebrating a double milestone this year after reaching its 10th anniversary in business and its first year working in partnership with Kubota UK. To celebrate these key milestones, the Midlands-based tractor and groundcare dealer recently held a special two-day event at its premises in Shipton-on-Stour, welcoming over 250 customers through its doors.

Visitors to the open days had the opportunity to see Kubota’s complete range of market leading groundcare solutions, with machinery experts from Hunts Engineering and Kubota UK on-hand to help and answer any questions and queries. A number of live demonstrations also took place across the two-day event, giving visitors the chance to see the machines in action.

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Pay it Forward: The Philosophy Behind Mother Ivey’s Bay Success The family-run park, which is now managed

by Patrick Langmaid and his wife Margaret, was bought by his parents and offers traditional Cornish beach holidays in peaceful, stunning, coastal surroundings. But it is not just the location of the park that sets it apart, it is the family’s ethos of sustainability, both environmental and in terms of community.

Patrick’s mother, in particular, wanted to make the park into the kind of place she would have looked to holiday at with her own children. “She had no prior experience in holiday parks, in fact she had worked in TV as a production assistant and then hadn’t worked for a long time before we bought the park. But she fell in love with Mother Ivey’s Bay. She engaged an architect, which was unusual at the time, to create traditional Cornish stone hedging between the pitches and she used her green fingers to plant the most wonderful gardens,” says Patrick. “In fact, she spent most of her first year’s marketing budget planting flowers – as she said that if the park was beautiful, the guests would love it. They certainly did and they still do,” he adds.

A staggering 90 per cent of the guests at Mother Ivey’s Bay are repeat business or have found the park directly as a result of recommendations.

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park does not have a club house or kids’ facilities. “My mother said, ‘No bars, no clubs, no discos,’ says Patrick.

“Our selling point is probably the things we do not have! We make a promise to the families who stay with us that the park will be quiet after 11pm. What we do offer is a traditional bucket and spade, seaside holiday.”

Mother ivey’s Bay Holiday Park just west of Padstow, celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.

Patrick is a qualified surveyor and had completed an MBA and a post graduate Marketing Diploma when he joined the family business full time in 1996. In 2012, the family bought a very small operation close to Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, which was basically a house with 1.3 acres in Constantine Bay. Now they have turned it into two holiday homes and 7 lodges, called Martha’s Orchard. “It is a boutique operation, which attracts guests all year round. It is very dog friendly and we have six units with hot tubs,” he says.

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, which has a fleet of 61 caravans, boasts an incredible occupancy rate of 26.5 weeks a year on average, out of a season of 30 weeks. This year, bookings are already fantastic, with 25 weeks fully booked and 15% of guests booking multiple times.

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It’s not only the guests who adore the parks, the staff love them too. Mother Ivey’s Bay employs 25 people and all of the seasonal workers have requested to come back again this summer. For Patrick, having good, reliable staff is as important an attraction for guests as the beach itself.

minimum.”

Patrick is a keen campaigner for the Living Wage. In 2015, he won the Living Wage Leadership Award for the South West region – the same year that Mother Ivey's became the first holiday park to gain accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation and to join its UK-wide register of supporting organisations, who all choose to pay more to offer their staff a fairer deal.

“I go to conferences and I see park owners and senior managers attending sessions about marketing but they are not the ones who will be dealing with the guests day-today. That’s what my staff do. People say to me that our selling point is our beach, but there are many businesses around here with access to beaches. What sets us apart from the competition is our take on social corporate responsibility. We pay above the Real Living Wage – not the minimum or national living wage – we pay £9 per hour

"For many businesses, including mine, the Living Wage does represent an additional cost, but I believe there are also tangible savings to be made from managing a happy workforce. I know from our experience that a firm's long-term interests are often best served by looking beyond the immediate impact of salaries on the profit and loss account. Productivity, loyalty and staff retention are just some important factors which can translate into an overall cost benefit for the business," he says.

“In the first year, we had occupancy of over 50% and this is growing all the time.”

“If you want to deliver a great guest experience – the best way is not to focus on profit and the bottom line. Cutting corners will only harm your business in the longer term. I think of wages as an investment and not a cost; in the same way as I buy the best possible hire fleet to meet my needs.”

This is also why Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park is

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a keen participant in the Bellamy Awards.

“We joined in 1998 and in the first year we won a silver award and the following year we won a gold award which we have maintained every year after that,” says Patrick. “Initially, the Bellamy awards were mostly about flora and fauna but increasingly the focus also includes recycling and how businesses are engaging with the local community.”

Patrick feels passionately about supporting his local community. “We were saddened to find out that in St Merryn, our nearest village, there were some children who were not getting to the beach, even though they were living so close to it. Generally, these kids came from poorer families and their parents were working and couldn’t take them. We approached the local primary school to fund beach days, with workshops by the team at Cornwall Wildlife Trust. So, a generation of local kids are all getting to the beach. We have also allowed the local vintage steam rally to use some of our fields to hold their event so that the community can continue to enjoy it, as well as letting the Padstow Lifeboat/RNLI use the beach for fundraisers.”

The park is also an enthusiastic proponent of Visitor Gifting, where guests are encouraged to donate one pound when they book their holiday. “Just over half of our guests donate and this raises about £2,500 for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Mother Ivey’s Bay then matches the visitor donations with an equal donation to Wadebridge Foodbank, supporting local people experiencing hardship. I think that having guests raising money for the local area is a wonderful thing,” says Patrick.

“Another thing we do is to work with a small group locally to run an ambitious community raffle aiming to raise £8,000 for a variety of good causes in the local community. Visitors buying tickets are supporting the local community. If the raffle succeeds and we really do raise £8,000, then hopefully other villages will copy us, as it is a great way for visitors to support the area in which they are holidaying.”

In addition, the park is also a keen supporter of the Family Holiday Association – a wonderful charity that gives holidays to families in need.

For every 100 holidays booked at Mother Ivey’s Bay, the park gives away one week’s holiday away for free.

The fact is that the incredible popularity of Cornwall with tourists is eroding local communities – a problem that Patrick feels should be dealt with at government level. “The single biggest issue I would like to take up with the Government is the second home rating scandal,” he says. “It is decimating the local housing stock – second home owners do not contribute to the local community, do not pay council tax and some even reclassify themselves as businesses and claim small business relief so they don’t pay any tax at all, which is monstrous and inequitable. Yet, if they were to have a heart attack while they were here; they would still expect to use the local A&E.” “I have some understanding of what the Channel Islands have done to protect their local housing stock. A simple solution for us would be to have separate classifications for holiday home and residential home ownership.

When the council approves new home builds, the planners should say if it is for residential or second home use. The approval could be given based on use, to avoid too much tourism,” he adds.

perception on this issue,” says Patrick. “In the past, I wouldn’t have wanted to talk about how we find plastic on our beach for fear of giving a negative impression. But recently, I cleared away an old fishing net and shared it on social media. People know it is a problem affecting everyone, everywhere.”

“We use social media quite a lot – not to sell to people but to talk to them,” he adds. “I don’t see it as something to be afraid of. I don’t worry about negativity, it happens but not often. In fact, it gives us feedback on how people enjoy their holidays with us and what could be better.”

Mother Ivey’s Bay is investing £130,000 this year on upgrading toilet blocks for its guests, thanks to this kind of feedback, despite the fact that it has earmarked several million pounds for brand new bathroom blocks and a new reception area to be built in the next couple of years.

“It’s part of a major reinvestment in Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park to make our pitches bigger, to create state of the art bathroom blocks and a new reception. We also plan to tackle the problem of our poor wifi, which is not very reliable due to our remote location and poor infrastructure. We are very excited about our plans and will be funding the work using retained profits,” he adds.

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park and Martha’s Orchard’s future looks extremely rosy, as well as the earmarked reinvestment, Patrick and Margaret’s daughter Veronika is now also working at the park. As Mother Ivey’s Bay celebrates 30 years, the family can reflect that going the extra mile to offer more to the guests, to the staff and to the local community has been the best investment they ever could have made and given them back not just a profitable business but a great deal of personal satisfaction as well.

Martha’s Orchard

The sheer volume of tourists is an important issue for Cornwall’s physical infrastructure as well. The ‘overtourism’ hashtag is a real thing on Twitter, Patrick says. “Take a place like Port Isaac, where Doc Martin was filmed. It is struggling to cope with the very visitors who flock to it, who shuffle in queues for half an hour to buy a pint.

More people also means more rubbish – a particular concern when it comes to looking after the beach. “Since the David Attenborough TV show Blue Planet highlighted the problem of plastic in our oceans, I feel there has been a real change in public

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The World’s No. 1 AMUSEMENT COMPANY Bandai naMco amusement europe ltd (Bnae) is the exclusive supplier of some of the biggest brands and highest-earning games in the world – offering holiday parks the best choice for their guests.

BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Ltd is one of the biggest brands in the amusement industry worldwide. Namco was founded by Masaya Nakamura in 1955 who operated children’s rides on the roof of a department store in Yokohama, Japan and merged with toy and video game giant Bandai in 2005 to create BANDAI NAMCO. As well as PAC-MAN, which is believed to be the most popular and widely recognised video game of all time, NAMCO has created many legendary arcade titles over the years, such as Galaga, Tekken, Time Crisis and more recently Jurassic Park and Star Wars Battle Pod. These days, as well as creating our own games, we are also the distributors of some of the most respected manufacturers of games in the world, including A.i Solve, Adrenaline Amusements, Andamiro, Apple Industries, Raw Thrills and Triotech.

HOT RIGHT NOW! This summer, the most exciting game for UK holiday parks is Injustice Arcade, the DC Comics themed card-vending arcade game developed and manufactured by Raw Thrills and exclusively available from BNAE. DC Comics characters have featured in a series of movies recently, including Justice League, Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad in 2017 and Aquaman and Shazam are due for release this year. So, kids of all ages want to collect the cards!

Each play of Injustice Arcade vends one of the 200 collectible cards (with more to be released) starring one of the DC Comic Universe characters with famous Heroes including the likes of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, as well as some of the most sinister villains, including The Joker, Harley Quinn and Bane which can then be used to be played in the game.

Players can build a unique team of three in any combination or put characters together that have compatible abilities to unleash a devastating super attack!

Injustice Arcade has been wowing the players at Brean Leisure’s Unity Farm Holiday Park. Mike Childs, Arcade Manager at Unity Farm, commented, “At first, we thought it was a bit of a slow burner, but by the second week on site, it was on fire!”

Other exciting games for 2018 include I Rabbids Hollywood – Huge 120” screen fun shooting game with strong intellectual property.

I Spinner Frenzy – based on the kids fidget spinner craze.

I Despicable Me Jelly Lab – A coin-roll game with collectable card feature I Latest photo booth technology in the Scene Machine 2 from Apple Industries. This offers green screen technology and also online capabilities allowing holiday parks to brand their location on the images I New titles on the WePlayVR Virtual Reality units including Alien Invasion and Clock Tower

yet want the additional revenue and profits coin operated machines can bring, BNAE are able to offer flexible supply solutions and business terms to provide equipment to suit any location.

We have one of the most experienced teams in the industry. As machine manufacturers, distributors and operators, we understand what machines to choose, how to combine them and how best to lay out the arcade.

ONE STOP SHOP BNAE is a one stop shop for holiday park arcades, offering everything from state of the art Virtual Reality and motion ride attractions, through to video and redemption machines and Embed cashless and loyalty card systems. We also supply prizes including trusted confectionary from Jelly Bean, Cadbury and Haribo, retail quality gift and plush lines, including PAC-MAN, DC, My Little Pony and Harry Potter and must-have NAM-GEAR technology, such as projectors, robot hoovers and also supply high quality redemption tickets at low prices.

With a team of highly skilled engineers offering national coverage, BNAE can supply and maintain the latest machines on behalf of the park and offer the necessary support, prizes and peripherals required.

This arrangement the preferred option for many of the leading names in the UK holiday park sector, as well as a number of leading bowling operators.

Call us to find out more: BNAE Office – 0208 324 6101 Sales@bandainamco.co.uk

In addition, BNAE stocks a wide range of used amusement machines which are refurbished to an ‘as new’ standard, meaning that there is something in our range to suit every budget, backed up by our superlative after sales and support.

SUPPLY SOLUTIONS: For those who do not want the capital outlay to open and run their own arcade locations,

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indoor Play The business of fun The new Highway66 is all about fun.

It’s a magnet for customers, and a real money-maker, too. But it’s also a serious investment.

RLMS introduce revenue share option for Bulldog portfolio The Bulldog Games brand of pushers and redemption equipment, which has reported Q1 sales that are 86 percent ahead of pre-launch forecasts, is being made available to operators on a unique revenue share agreement. RLMS Sales, the exclusive distributors for the Bulldog range, has introduced a ground-breaking option that will enable operators to share in the cash box through to the completion of the October half term holidays when they will then be given an option to buy.

Tony Glanville, Managing Director of RLMS Sales, believes the array of purchasing options makes Bulldog a brand that’s accessible to every location and every business type. He explained: “We continue to work very closely with seaside operators and to understand the market dynamics and the contributions that we can make to help maximise profits.

Clearly, the most important component part is the development of outstanding product and I’m delighted at the response that we’ve experienced both at EAG when we launched the brand and in the subsequent order book.

"The second area we have focussed on is making the range available to the widest audience possible. The revenue share option is a sign of the confidence that we have in Bulldog. After operators have sited our products for the season we believe that having experienced the products on site that they will exercise the option to purchase. Whatever the outcome they will be able to add the energy and dynamism of the industry’s newest pusher brand to their operation without having to make any capital expenditure. It’s a win-win situation which we are delighted to be able to offer. The shares option is one of a number that RLMS has created for the industry. Operators can take advantage of a two year rental agreement with an option to purchase, an HP arrangement which is available over a two year term and a straightforward purchase. The key objective is to make Bulldog a brand to be enjoyed by everyone."

The Bulldog brand is manufactured in the UK and is backed by a comprehensive and detailed after sales and technical support which has been developed to keep machine downtime to an absolute minimum.

The new Highway66 has been manufactured and tested to withstand the tough play bowlers can often dish out, and is made using the same robust construction and quality of our traditional bowling solution. Parts last longer.

Maintenance is easier. And you’ll have more money left for other areas of your business.

With premium features like HD scoring, video masking, LED capping lights and more, the new Highway66 lets you absolutely delight your customers with a stunning on-lane experience, encouraging them to stay longer and play more.

Offering nonstop thrills and player interaction Highway66 is an irresistible mini bowling attraction. The new Highway66 HD Scoring system with HD video, gives players the kind of eye-popping digital entertainment they expect and demand.

Setup is easy. Plus, you can control the ticket pay-out depending on player skill, the maximum number of players, time per game, or the maximum number of balls. www.qubicaamf.com

Playgo – A Mobile Payment Solution As this issue of Holiday Parks Management went to press, the Playgo App, created by G-Squared Games was going live in the UK. Playgo allows players to place money securely into a virtual wallet on the App to spend on gaming and amusement machines.

The advantage of the App is that guests at holiday parks will be able to pay to play; even if they don’t have any cash on them. However, the machines will still accept other forms of payment in the normal way – so revenues will be increased.

Guests can also budget for their playing spend while on holiday, as limits can be set and money has to be transferred in advance of play.

The app is free to download and available for both iOS and Android platforms.

Once downloaded, the user can create an account and deposit funds into that account via their debit card. Gaming funds are then transferred by simply scanning the QR code on the machine the user wishes to play. Pressing collect on the machine moves any winnings or residual credit back to the users Playgo account which, in turn, can be withdrawn to their bank account. The App features information on problem gambling and offers the option of self-exclusion in line with Gambling Commission guidelines.

“We are keen to work with forward-thinking holiday park operators who might want to try the App out for themselves,” says Jonathan Powell, Director of GSquared Games. “Efffectively, the App could be used for any kind of coin-operated equipment in order to facilitate payment and minimise the problems associated with handling cash. In holiday parks, where people are moving around from the leisure centre to the arcade – they might not be carrying a wallet – but they will always have their phone on them. Playgo could be the answer.”

www.rlms-sales.com https://playgoapp.com/

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Making The

right call linked Bingo and other forms of low-stakes gambling are popular with holiday park guests. But parks must ensure they abide by the law.

Parkdean resorts were one of the early adopters of a linked Bingo product offering their guests a linked bingo game across all their Parks simultaneously.

FROM THE PARK Martin Lagar is Head of Gaming for Parkdean Resorts, the largest Holiday Park operator in the UK

What difference has it made?

Bingo has the ability to attract both owners and holiday makers to venues who may not otherwise be enticed to use the entertainment venue.

Bingo can be used tactically to drive footfall into a venue at times that suit the business or at a time when it would otherwise be quiet.

Bingo provides a valuable incremental revenue stream to our business in its own right. And bingo also augments other retail spend.

Bingo has certainly become an integral part of the overall entertainment offer.

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What steps have been taken ensure compliance?

Parkdean Resorts use the Jigsaw system from Connected Entertainment and its linked bingo software with mapped tickets from Cowells Arrow. This combination from two key industry suppliers partnering together provides an easy to use system for our entertainment staff. This partnership also facilitates automated post-game reports and financial reporting that we need for our administration processes and annual regulatory returns.

The software automatically announces the rules and clearly displays all the required information on screens throughout the Entertainment Venue.

In the very unlikely event of a disputed claim, we have access to all the information from the software supplier, which is sent to us in a standard report format that we are then able to use to have an informed discussion with the customer and resolve any dispute.

How do you make bingo fun?

Bingo has for generations been associated with a visit to the seaside and is securely cemented within the British psyche. What we and others have done is to work very closely with our bingo suppliers and implement

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30 8 enhancements and improvements to the traditional game so that it now offers enhanced prize money in a modern format that drives ticket sales. At the end of each season we review the bingo offer and work with our entertainment team and suppliers over the winter period to ensure we return the following season with a product that meets customer expectations.

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Nick Arron

FROM THE LAWYER Nick Arron is an experienced lawyer from Poppleston Allen Solicitors in Nottingham and provides legal advice on Gambling and Premises Licences within the Holiday Park Sector. We’ve asked Nick a series of questions that specifically relate to Holiday Parks that play bingo.

What Gaming machines can be placed in the bingo area?

“Within Bingo Licensed Premises, you can have as many Category C and Category D machines as you want. In addition, you can have Category B4 or B3 machines. The number of Category B machines depends on when your licence was granted.

If the Bingo Premises Licence was granted before 13th July 2011, you are entitled to make available 8 Category B gaming machines, or 20% of the total number of machines, whichever is the greater.

If your Bingo premises Licence was granted after 13th July 2011, then you are entitled to have 20% of the total number of gaming machines as Category B. So, if you have 50 machines, to ensure the maximum number of Category B, you would have 40 Category C and D and the 10 Category B. If children are allowed into your bingo premises, and I would expect that within the holiday park children are permitted to enter, then the Category C machines and Category B machines must be maintained within an Adult Area, with a barrier preventing access to under 18’s. You must then ensure that you have policies and procedures in place to take account of the structure and layout of the bingo premises in order to prevent underage gambling on the machines.”

also play in Family Entertainment Centre Arcades, either the Family Entertainment Centre licence where you have both Category D and Category C machines, or under a Family Entertainment Centre Permit where you only have Category D machines.”

When can Children NOT play bingo?

“Children cannot play bingo in a venue which benefits from a Bingo Premises Licence.”

For Prize Bingo, what is the maximum value of the prize?

“The maximum participation fee for any one chance to win a prize is £1, and the maximum prize value is £70, and the maximum aggregate of the prizes is £500.”

When do we have to get one or more of our key staff to hold Personal Management Licence?

“All bingo premises must have a Personal Management Licence Holder who has the oversight of the day to day management of the bingo venue. This may be your Designated Premises Supervisor or another member of management, but they must have day to day management of the bingo and any gaming machines in the venue.”

When does a venue require a Bingo Premises Licence?

“A venue requires a Bingo Premises Licence to play commercial bingo, where the park wishes to take a par fee from the stake. When you hold a Bingo Premises Licence; there is no maximum price of a ticket, no maximum participation fee, no maximum prize value in any game or week.

When can Children play bingo?

“Children can play bingo if you have a Prize Gaming Permit for your venue. Children can

You do though have to ensure that the par fee, participation fee only charges for the

game, is clearly displayed at the entrance to the premises or where tickets are purchased.”

Can a venue play bingo without a bingo premises licence?

“There are other permissions which you can rely upon to permit bingo, albeit they will generally not be commercial in nature, and are low stake and prize. For instance, premises which have an alcohol Premises Licence can have what we call exempt or unlicensed bingo. There is a limit on stakes of £5 per person per game, and there is a maximum limit of £2,000 per week in stakes or prizes. An operator could go over the £2,000 limit, but then they would need to obtain an Operating Licence from the Gambling Commission for bingo. You could also use a Prize Gaming Permit for bingo where you do not have a Bingo Premises Licence.”

What are the basics I should do?

“If you have a Bingo Operating Licence, then you need to comply with the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice attached to the Operating Licence. These are extensive in nature and include the requirement to have Personal Management Licences, require the bingo equipment to comply with the Gambling Commission specifications, require you to provide a summary of the terms and rules of the games provided, you will need to have an Anti-Money Laundering Risk Assessment and your staff will need to understand rules regarding the Gambling Commission’s access to premises.

There are then certain events that must be reported to the Gambling Commission, you need to complete regulatory returns each

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more time on-park with the very people who host our software and also those players who take part in its delivery, than any other business. This means we get to the core of what is required, which is often very different to what is thought at the outset. The current version of Jigsaw’s Bingo is some 4 years in the making, and we’re now looking to release a new version in 2019. Keeping our software fresh is important, and so is making sure that each new season sees something new for both the park’s Entertainment Staff and Players alike.”

year, and you need to have policies and procedures in place to protect children and vulnerable persons, including self-exclusion schemes, age verification, a policy on interacting with customers who may display signs of being problem gamblers, and you must have safe gambling posters and leaflets available for your players. You have to have a complaint and dispute system in place, and you have to have a local risk assessment, in respect of the three licensing objectives.

It is always worth remembering the three licensing objectives, which can be paraphrased as: 1. Prevention of crime and disorder; 2. Fair and open play; and 3. Preventing children and vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Tony Eyre Training for your staff is key to any bingo operation as you need to uphold the three licensing objectives, thus protecting players, children and, potentially, vulnerable adults, as well as protecting your business. The Gambling Commission expects all bingo operators to have regular update training, initial induction training, and you will need to look at your seasonal staff to ensure that they receive the skills and understanding to be able to deliver the bingo games legally.”

What happens if my holiday park plays bingo and I’ve done nothing to attempt to comply with the rules and regulations for playing bingo?

“The ultimate penalties for operating bingo and gambling illegally are fines and, potentially, imprisonment. Illegal bingo could also put your alcohol licence at risk.”

What is the Gambling Commission?

“The Gambling Commission is the statutory body, set up by the Gambling Act 2005, to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain, which they do in partnership with Licensing Authorities.”

How should I manage the suppliers of my gambling machines, gambling software and bingo software?

“Where you have Linked Bingo, with games shared between premises, then the company providing the software must be licensed by the Gambling Commission. When you buy gaming machines, you can only buy them from companies also licensed by the Gambling Commission.”

FROM THE SUPPLIER Tony Eyre is the Commercial Director of Connected Entertainment. As well as music, karaoke and games, their touchscreen entertainment system Jigsaw, also includes a suite of comprehensive bingo software. Its popularity has grown over the last few years resulting it becoming the most installed system of its kind in the UK holiday park sector. Tony Eyre explains the reasons why Jigsaw has seen such explosive interest in Jigsaw and in particularly the bingo software elements.

“When I first embarked on this journey some 8 years, to develop a dedicated bingo software and linked bingo software product for the holiday park sector, seemed a daunting task.

And whilst creating a piece of software that generates a random number doesn’t sound that difficult, I along with a team of software developers would quite happily argue differently.”

“Holiday Park bingo requires a very different offering to traditional high street bingo. Bingo admissions in the high street are typically down year on year, whereas holiday parks are seeing year on year increases in player participation. Our product Jigsaw, is now installed in more holiday parks than any other touchscreen entertainment system, and bingo has been a driving factor for its increased popularity. This places us within the full spectrum of holiday park destinations throughout the UK covering both Corporately and Family owned parks. We strive to spend

“Our biggest challenge has been keeping up with the requirements around compliance.

Jigsaw Bingo now boasts the most comprehensive range of compliant process steps within any bingo software. Ticket mapping is just one of a whole range of ingame features designed and developed to enable the most inexperienced bingo caller to professionally host a game of bingo in a compliant manner. The Bingo Caller can view on their dedicated touchscreen the progression of the game including; tickets in play, winning ticket prompt for greater in-venue vigilance, a structured Claim process, mapped tickets for valid ticket security and on-screen rejection of an invalid claim. Jigsaw bingo software can automatically present the rules of play with an audio video and offers several voice callers to choose from. Post-game reporting has become a valuable additional to the software. These reports provide the Park with all aspects of the game performance from cash taken, par fee deductions, prizes paid and winning ticket serial numbers. These post-game reports have added a strict layer of security when seeking accountability and auditability for this cashbased activity. Jigsaw’s unique Claim Dispute process provides all the information a Park requires to take a Player through the sequence of the game to either verify their claim or provide proof that their claim was invalid.”

“Compliance Authorities work very hard in providing information that enables Holiday Park Management to follow guidelines and processes for operating bingo. After all, Bingo is recognised as a gambling activity. Jigsaw Bingo software is a major component in this process and makes life a lot easier. We are the only touchscreen software supplier that offers free of charge pre-season training to all holiday parks with a Jigsaw system. Our ethos is to ensure that all entertainments staff are fully conversant with their Jigsaw to maximise the Park’s return on investment in what is a key contributor to their entertainment offering.”

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The Cashless Revolution Coming to an Arcade near you! the Uk is now the third most cashless society in the world – with over half of retail payments now carried out using plastic. in fact, Barclaycard said the amount Britons spent using contactless transactions rose 157 per cent in 2017.

It’s not just convenient for customers; businesses are also reaping the benefits of not handling cash. Firstly, there is the time it takes to collect, count and deliver the money to the bank and the associated costs. Then there is the issue of security, when cash has to be left on site overnight.

For holiday parks – cashless systems offer the massive benefit of removing the headaches associated with jams in coin mechanisms that often occur just when the arcade is at its busiest.

Bourne Leisure’s Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth is one of the latest to embrace the benefits of going cashless in their Funworks Arcade. Their guests are issued with cards to pre-load with funds with the exception of the 2p pusher machines, where the smart cards can be used to purchase the coins from the Change machine.

Holiday Park Home Owners are issued with a VIP version of the card and Bourne Leisure can adapt the offers and incentives to all customers to suit the time of day, season or event. The arcade is themed around the iconic PAC-MAN and BANDAI NAMCO Management Solutions has matched up the Smart Touch RFID hardware from Embed to fit in with the look of the arcade, calling it: PACMAN POWERPLAY. “The average spend per card is encouraging and we are confident that this will continue to climb throughout the season,” says Steve Short, General Manager of BANDAI NAMCO Management Solutions, the exclusive distributor of the Embed system in the UK and Ireland. “We are also pleased with the high level of acceptance from both the holiday home owners, seasonal guests and the park employees.”

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power back. We have the facility to react to “There has been a great deal of positivity adverse weather conditions by running from guests and owners alike,” agrees Kevin promotions at the click of a button. I believe Scott, Head of Arcades at Bourne Leisure. the cashless concept is the future for the “Early indications are that, although they industry it’s still early days, but this concept have to take a little time to be guided has so much to offer, it’s down to us as through the concept, the guests are quick to operators to maximise understand it and are its full potential.” more than happy to Genuine Guest Comments embrace the cashless from Bourne Leisure about “Further modules of the technology. By engaging the new system: system are designed for directly with them we redemption have identified changes “I thought the credit on arcade cards management, that we can implement was great! Saved us having to transforming issues which will further constantly find change for kids!” around stock control, enhance the guest automatically updating experience. Also, the inventory and allowing insight we have gained “Love the new play card system! portable scanners to will prove invaluable Perfect for littles to not be using real replace prize books and when reviewing our money to play as this can get lost.” reduce customer waiting proposition across all times. If your holiday Parks and Resorts.”

“The new card system worked well. park would like to Saved us walking around with loads streamline arcade Kevin Young, Bourne of change.” management, cut out Area Manager at NAMCO cash, improve customer UK Ltd, adds, “From an “It was good having a card system service and increase operational perspective revenues, why not give this system is fantastic! It allowed us to budget what we were me a call for more was important that our spending in the arcades.” details?” concludes team bought into the Steve. concept and were “The prepaid cards are a great idea. comfortable using the Stopped my children keep asking for Steve Short can be system, training was more money and helped keep within contacted on essential and has been budget.”

07789 746405 comprehensive. The Embed support network have been very efficient in offering support where required and effective in resolving issues in a timely manner.

“The system is very user-friendly, it simplifies back of house operations, reduces collection times and cash discrepancies, reduces operational costs, enables real time cash reports and more. But one of the most important features is that it gives us some

UK-Wide survey of

HOLIDAY, CARAVAN AND GLAMPING PARKS a major, first-time-ever survey is being undertaken this year to ascertain the value of the holiday-park sector to the Uk economy and all park-owners are being invited to take part by completing an online questionnaire. input from parks of all kinds and all sizes is important in order to ensure that the data collected is robust.

The survey has been commissioned by the Economic Impact Research Group (EIRG), comprising the BH&HPA, the Camping and Caravanning Club, the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the NCC. The report will be published at the end of the year and will provide information on the sector on a UK basis, as well as allowing comparisons to be made between countries and regions.

Breakdowns will also be available by the kind of visitor (self-catering and touring, owners and holiday-makers), by spend, and by length of stay, enabling an in-depth picture to be obtained. The report will be sent to governments, to local authorities, to national parks and to many other organisations which have an interest in this sector.

In 2014, research was undertaken into the economic impact of holiday parks in Scotland. The results were impressive, with gross income being put at £700 million, and

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the information within the report was invaluable, both to park-owners who were able to provide background financial details to support planning and funding applications, and to the Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum in lobbying the Scottish Government, local authorities and other organisations − and to demonstrate the sector’s impressive contribution to the Scottish economy.

The fact that a UK-wide survey has not been done before makes this one especially important; Bob Hill, Sites Director of the Camping and Caravanning Club, and member of the EIRG said: “Our plan is that this survey will not only provide important information on the economic value of the sector across the UK in 2018, but that it will also give us that all-important benchmark for refreshing and updating the statistics in future, perhaps every four or five years”.

By Judith sleigh on behalf of the economic impact research group

The glamping products offered by holiday and caravan parks were, a decade ago, regarded as a fad, which was fuelled to some extent by the downturn in the economy when many holiday-makers decided to stay at home and were looking for new ideas or wanted to try camping but did not have a tent. Now, however, in 2018 the number of parks with glamping options has grown, with a variety of options - yurts, bell tents, pods, shepherd’s huts, wigwams, tipis, ecopods or unidomes, so there is no doubt that glamping is now an established part of the sector – and that is why glamping parks are urged to take part in the survey.

Lots of data in equals good output! The survey will be live until the end of the summer and owners are able to enter information, save, close, and return to the questionnaire, so there is no need to do it all at once.

This is a valuable opportunity for glamping parks to learn more about the national scene.

Much of the information will be available by area, and there is a question in the visitors’ survey which asks if they went glamping as opposed to camping – perhaps the first time that the two kinds of accommodation have been looked at separately If you have already expressed interest through, perhaps, the BH&HPA in completing the online questionnaire, Frontline Consultants, who have been commissioned to carry out the research, will have been in touch with you. If they have not and you want to take part go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk /r/B5G9ZX6 or email Frontline on ukholidayparkimpact2018@ Frontlinemc.com

Input from visitors is also essential and the EIRG will ask participating parks to help publicise the questionnaire to their guests, so please say yes if you are approached.

Bob Hill told us that Readycamp; the Camping and Caravanning Club’s UK-wide glamping product, was launched in 2015 with 50 units at 17 parks across the UK and proved to be so popular that there are now 225 units at 45 parks. He said that “In such a competitive market, it is vital that the sector keeps ahead of the game and we can do that only by knowing what is happening and assessing how we can offer the right product to the market. This survey – should we get enough parks to join with us in taking part – will enable us to do that for glamping as well as for the sector as a whole.”

The Scotland report, carried out in 2014, can be viewed on www.scottishtourismalliance.co.uk

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20% of Uk Holiday Parks now offer glamping

Be Part of the new dawn in staycations, visit

21st - 23rd september 2017 naec, warwickshire

www.theglampingshow.com

product News Generate a profit from district ground source heat pump systems mains gas, owners of holiday accommodation are often limited to more expensive energy sources such as electricity, oil or LPG. UK manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps suggests that owners of holiday accommodation can save themselves thousands of pounds in energy costs and generate a profitable income stream by linking together multiple properties via a district ground source heat pump system.

Whether you own a handful of holiday cottages or an entire holiday park, providing an ample supply of heating and hot water to make your guests comfortable is a must. With many sites based in rural locations without access to

Kensa has created a dedicated online resource showcasing the typical costs associated with the installation of a district ground source heat pump system, and how these can be offset through the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, see www.kensaheatpumps.com/solutioncentre/holiday/multiple-buildings.

Ground source heat pumps harness heat from the ground or water using buried or submerged pipework underground or submerged in water, and convert this to a

higher temperature. They can provide 100% of your accommodation’s heating and hot water needs; including shower facilities, swimming pools and even hot tubs.

For every 1kW of power used to run a ground source heat pump, 3-4kW of heat are produced, reducing energy consumption and your carbon footprint.

Ground source heat pumps are reliable and durable, requiring no annual safety inspection and little ongoing maintenance. Plus, no unsightly fuel tanks or unreliable fuel deliveries!

As a result of their efficiency compared to conventional heating options, ground source heat pumps are capable of reducing heating and hot water costs by over 50% compared to electric heating and around 35% compared to LPG, whilst more than halving CO2 emissions compared to the latter. www.kensaheatpumps.com

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE LeisureBench is one of the country’s leading suppliers of quality commercial outdoor furniture with a huge product range.

Their service extends to help and advice on choosing the right products for you. All their furniture is selected for good quality and strong construction giving a longer lifespan, being able to stand the rigours of the changeable British climate. It also represents excellent value for money.

The product range is extensive, including ‘A’ Frame and round picnic tables, teak benches, hardwood tables and chairs, parasols, rattan furniture, polypropylene lightweight chairs, planters, recycled plastic, table tops, bases and much more.

The range is offered with a two-year commercial guarantee and the new Volume Related Pricing engine on the website will give customers lower pricing for multiple purchases. You can view the savings for each product you are interested in while shopping online and the more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

LeisureBench is constantly on the lookout for new exciting products coming onto the market and keeping a close eye on the latest trends in fashion. New products ranges now in stock include: Carino HPL Table Tops These are extremely tough and resistant to UV, cigarette burns, scratching and high or low temperatures. There are several designs in a modern or

contemporary style. The sleek 12mm thick table tops can be fitted to any of our bases at no extra cost and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Guernsey Picnic Tables The new Guernsey picnic tables are designed to be more user-friendly than traditional ‘A’ Frame picnic tables making it easier to sit on, or alight from them. They come in three sizes and are made from 32mm thick FSC pine. www.leisurebench.co.uk

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The World of Park and Leisure Homes Show 2018 NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

don’t Miss the ‘trade only Preview day’ thursday 7th June (from 10am) or general open days 8th – 10th June

Possibly the biggest collection of Park Homes and Leisure Lodges on show at any one time.

Visit the UK’s leading dedicated show for the Park and Leisure Homes Industry. The ‘Trade Only Preview Day’ provides a unique and exclusive opportunity for Park Owners and Operators along with others in the trade to spend quality time viewing around 60 Leisure Lodges and Park Homes on display and discussing your particular requirements and options directly with the UK’s manufacturers

I Lissett Homes I Manor Park Homes I Oakgrove Lodges & Park Homes I Oakwood Park Homes I Omar Park & Leisure Homes I Pathfinder Homes I Pemberton Park & Leisure Homes I Prestige Homeseeker I Stately Albion I Tingdene Park Homes & Holiday Lodges I Tiny Eco Homes I Wessex Unique Lodges & Park Homes I Willerby Ltd Now that’s how to Compare the Market!

Manufacturers already confirmed for this year are:I ABI I Cambrian Sovereign Park & Leisure Homes I Country Homes Park & Leisure Homes I Kingston Park & Leisure Homes

The ‘Trade Only Preview Day’ provides a perfect environment to do business in privacy and comfort. Plus, it’s a great chance to simply enjoy a day out and catch up with friends and colleagues from across the Industry.

Amongst the many Exhibitors are:- Resitex Coatings, Park Home Assist, Zebra Finance, Park Sure, Park Home Chassis, Furniture Centre, Insulated Homes, Paul Baker Insurance, Caravan Electrical, UK Sundeck and UKGS Ground Screws; Morso Fires, Hydro Aluminum & Complete Spas and Holiday Parks Management Magazine.

If you can’t make the Trade Preview Day, the show is open to the General Public/Trade from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th June and of course, Park Owners and others from the Trade are most welcome to visit on any of these days. Entry and Parking are free plus all visitors receive a complimentary Show Guide Organiser: @parkandleisurehomeshows.co.uk www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk

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