Holiday Parks Management | December 2018

Holiday Parks Management

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

december 2018 • Issue 36

WINTER

warmth

PARK

improvements

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Hello

and welcome to Hello and welcome to the December issue of Holiday Parks Management magazine. This month’s issue looks at the new development of luxury lodges at Balloch Castle Country Park - a wonderful location with a rich history and most recently known for its fantastic open air concerts. We also bring you some pictures and a report from the Vern Allen Entertainment showcase which we attended at Ladram Bay in Devon. Many thanks to Paul and team for inviting us, we enjoyed a wonderful evening watching the incredible acts and stayed

Holiday Parks

Management overnight on site, waking up to the most beautiful sea views. This month, I was also honoured to be invited to be a judge at the Rural Business Awards and spent a fascinating day reading through the submissions from suppliers of everything from sheepskin rugs, to flavoured gins. It’s a tough job…

Steph Editor

What’s in this issue?

05 news 21 Catering update 23 Smartpark Competition 24 Balloch Castle Country Park 26 Vern Allen Showcase 28 Olicana Cottages 30 Camp Manager 31 New Products 33 VAT Update 34 EAG Show Preview 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 Reporter: William Rusbridge 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 2018. 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 Senior executives from the Caravan and Motorhome Club took a behind-the-scenes look this autumn at a major Lake District holiday park which is meeting new staycation opportunities.

Skelwith Fold in Ambleside was the venue for the visit following a study tour earlier in summer to the Club's Coniston Park Coppice by members of BH&HPA's Cumbria branch.

The delegation was headed by the Club's director general Nick Lomas, and the aim was to see how one of the organisation's commercial counterparts was adapting to an evolving market.

Club chiefs gain Lake District view of growing market

The trend, he believes, is helping to introduce more families to the notion of a British park holiday, especially via "glamping" with its appeal to a very broad spectrum of visitors.

Like the Club, said Henry, parks such as his recognised the importance of keeping quality standards on an ever-rising trajectory to match customer expectations.

Nick Lomas, Caravan and Motorhome Club director general, said: "It's so important that the UK touring industry works together to improve the quality, standards and experiences which our places provide, so we can encourage even more people to enjoy the outdoors!

This year, said Henry, safari tents had been added to the existing glamping options at Skelwith Fold where 450-plus pitches also provide holiday home ownership and touring facilities.

"The growing number of family groups sharing time together is common amongst both Skelwith Fold customers and Caravan and Motorhome Club members," added Nick.

The park's touring guests, he said, include members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, and that the "cross pollination" of visitors benefitted both parks and customers.

Last year, Skelwith Fold – which has been owned by the Wild family for over 20 years – was the winner of the Holiday Park of the Year title from Cumbria Tourism.

Skelwith Fold director Henry Wild, who led the tour of the 130-acre grounds, said there was ample evidence this year that the demand for holidays in the UK was continuing to rise.

Dales caravan park is pitch perfect say tourism chiefs Inspectors from VisitEngland have told a North Yorkshire family that its holiday park is "off the scale" in terms of quality – and has warranted a rare award.

Riverside Caravan Park in High Bentham now boasts the national tourist board's prestigious 2018/9 Gold Award for its outstanding standards of excellence.

Fewer than 50 of England's 3,000-plus holiday parks have been granted the accolade this year, putting Riverside among an elite of top-performing park businesses.

VisitEngland says its gold standard can only be achieved if a park exceeds all of the requirements necessary to gain a top five-star rating during its annual inspection.

Even then, the park must be visited by a "mystery shopper" before the award is officially confirmed.

Owned by the Marshall family for almost 50 years, the park is currently putting the finishing touches to a new development of

luxury holiday lodges and glamping accommodation.

These are based on Riverside's sister-park called Wenningdale Escapes which adjoins the 18-hole Bentham Golf Course, also owned by the park.

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parkNews New log reception building proves a sales hit for Henley-on-Thames holiday park An award-winning Oxfordshire touring and camping park has seen an increase in sales thanks to a new contemporary reception building from Reading-based Norwegian Log Buildings.

Swiss Farm Touring & Camping Park in Henley-on-Thames now boasts a 21st century reception building and shop built from solid log, guaranteeing visitors a warm and efficient welcome. The site has been a stalwart of the Oxfordshire tourism industry since the 1940s when Londoners would holiday in traditional bell tents on its large site near the River Thames.

“We just love it,” says Swiss Farm owner Joseph Borlese. “Shop sales have increased and we can display things so much better.”

The smart Scandi-style reception building boasts a spacious front desk area, two staff offices, store room, camping supplies and grocery shop, small kitchen and toilet facilities. Joseph opted to have the building constructed on-site by Norwegian Log, but it could have been delivered in modular parts and then erected at the entrance to the 20-acre, family-run park – flexible solutions for a busy, commercial premises.

Customers can buy freshly baked bread, local produce and essential groceries in the shop area, as well as specialist accessories for tents, caravans and leisure.

Two double access doors lead from the 15m x 7m log building onto the

surrounding car parking areas. “This new building is just so much more welcoming and easier for everyone,” concludes Joseph.

Nick Forrester of Norwegian Log Buildings, which supplies commercial customers and homeowners, said: “It’s great to see a family business investing in the future and benefitting already from its savvy decision.

As our buildings our built from really high quality, solid log, they last a lifetime, require hardly any maintenance and have low running costs. And we can deliver them in modules meaning minimal disruption on site – all a real win-win for businesses.”

Fair wages help earn global award for Cornish holiday park Mother Ivey's Bay Holiday Park in Padstow, Cornwall, has scooped a top international accolade at this autumn's World Responsible Tourism Awards.

And now the park's owner, Patrick Langmaid, says he will use the honour to shine the spotlight on the principles of ethical employment and the Living Wage.

Family-run Mother Ivey's was named by judges as the silver winner at the glittering award finals held this November at The World Travel Market in London's Excel Centre.

The awards, founded by the Responsible Travel organisation, feature global contenders ranging from the Sri Lanka Wildlife Society to the African Ivory Route and the city of Barcelona.

Mother Ivey's award was in the "Best for Employment"

category which highlights businesses with forward-looking policies across areas such as staff welfare, support and training.

Patrick has been a long-time advocate of the Living Wage, and has been presented with an award by the Living Wage Foundation for his tireless campaigning.

He says he now intends to harness the publicity from his World Responsible Tourism Award to explain the benefits of the Living Wage to other employers: "Becoming Living Wage accredited really is one of the soundest business decisions we've made," said Patrick whose family has owned Mother Ivey's for almost 30 years, "We get a stable, committed and loyal workforce, and we are able to recruit the best people and invest with confidence in their training and development.

"As a result, we are able to deliver to customers a first-class service and a memorable holiday experience which, by

encouraging repeat business, reduces our marketing costs.

"I have absolutely no doubt that almost every business's long-term interests are best served by looking beyond the immediate impact of salaries on the balance sheet.

"That is the message which I hope this award will help me to spread more widely," added Patrick.

The park's international award crowns a list of other recognitions received in recent months

by Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park and its sister park Martha’s Orchard in Constantine Bay. Both were announced in November as winners in a major UK environmental achievements scheme for tourism providers, the David Bellamy Conservation Awards.

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parkNews GreenMech Changes Dealer Cover Europe’s top-selling wood chipper manufacturer GreenMech have announced a rearrangement of their dealer cover in Devon and Somerset. As from 14th November, Andrew Symons Ltd has been handing sales and support for Devon, with dedicated GreenMech specialists operating out of three depots.

Stocking a wide variety of equipment for agricultural, construction, gardening and groundcare applications, familyrun Andrew Symons Ltd have over 30 years of experience offering sales and support for a number of leading brands. The groundcare team headed up by Simon Newsome at the Crediton depot, alongside Lee Hatter at South Molton and Dave Daniel at Holsworthy, will become GreenMech product specialists. Their knowledge, backed up by a fully trained service department, will see the GreenMech product reach a range of customers including holiday parks, golf course, municipal areas and much more.

Commenting on their appointment, Dealer Principle Andrew Symons said, “We are extremely proud to be appointed the new GreenMech dealer for the Devon area. We feel GreenMech offer

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a superb range of products that complement our existing portfolio and will suit both professional and domestic users. We are also pleased to support them as a British Manufacturer, and as a market leader, which will benefit both us and our existing and future customers.”

Completing the rearrangement, existing GreenMech dealer New Forest Farm Machinery, will be extending their territory to cover Somerset. Having picked up the GreenMech franchise in May 2017 for the Hampshire and Dorset areas, they will now offer sales and support for customers in Somerset, operating out of their new dealerpoint in Sparkford, Wincanton.

parkNews Yorkshire Family Farm Opens Lodges With HSBC Funding

New post filled by Caravan Industry Professional Family-owned farm, Winley Hill, has added new luxury holiday lodges, working towards 54 in total, a reception, shop and teahouse to its 320 acre site thanks to a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The expansion, named Angrove Country Park, is located near Great Ayton, and has created over 30 new jobs across the business including hospitality, maintenance, housekeeping and sales roles. They are being supported by local businesses as suppliers and contractors.

The new eco-friendly luxury lodges are available for purchase, holiday letting and investment return opportunities, and the new ‘G and Tea House’ is fully licensed for both guests and the local community to enjoy.

The farm already hosts ten separate ‘glamping’ lodges that were built using HSBC UK funding six years ago. The success of the lodges inspired owners Alan and Lousie Petch to further expand their business, and since opening in May, the lodges have been full to 95% occupancy.

Alan Petch said: “HSBC’s understanding of our business has been fundamental to its success, having worked closely with us to help over the last six years, helping us to turn our growth plans into reality. This is a very exciting time for me and my family, who are all involved in the running of the business.”

David Slane, Area Director for HSBC North East England, said: “We are dedicated to supporting businesses looking to diversify and grow and we encourage farming businesses across the North East to talk to us about their business plans. It’s great to see Winley Hill building on the success of its glamping lodges and we look forward to watching Alan and Louise’s business grow as this newest addition opens to the public.”

The finance was allocated from HSBC UK’s national SME Fund, which aims to actively support UK SMEs. The new £12 billion SME Fund has recently been announced by HSBC UK, with £350 million committed to supporting SMEs in the North East.

The farm is owned by Alan Petch, whose father Mervyn Petch purchased the first part of the farm in 1963. Alan continues to farm the land and lives on the property with his young family.

A newly created post at one of the oldest and largest independent retailers of caravans, awnings and leisure accessories in the UK, Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry, has been successfully filled by an industry professional.

Nicola Hurst, 50, from Mansfield, brings decades of experience in the sector alongside her own personal interest in the popular hobby, and a career that has generated extensive experience in sales, marketing and ecommerce.

“I am thrilled to be joining this successful and well respected business and look forward to working with the team to capitalise on the successes already enjoyed,” said Nicola. “This role is very much about putting systems and procedures in place to ensure we keep doing what we do so well; delivering a great customer journey and supporting them in all elements of that.”

Nicola will assume the role of Business Development Manager and will work in conjunction with the senior management team and colleagues to develop the company’s business plan.

“We extend a very warm welcome to Nicola and look forward to the considerable input that she will have in driving the business forward and enhancing our brand,” said Andrew Whittaker Managing Director Yorkshire Caravans. “As demand continues to grow this will ensure we are well placed to cope with our planned growth strategy, retain our customer base and become the chosen provider for all things associated with caravanning and camping.”

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parkNews "That's when someone had the bright idea of asking a person we knew who ticked both boxes – and he was the owner of Tree Tops!" said Rachel.

Caravan girls pose for cheeky calendar – and a great cause

Andy Walker, who runs the park alongside his parents Maureen and Harry, was known by the group to be a talented amateur photographer whose pictures feature on the park's website.

Andy agreed, and over the following months the courageous caravanners posed with their carefully placed props which ranged from tractors to balls of knitting wool.

Twelve months of bare-it-all bravery by a group of friends at a Flintshire holiday park are set to swell the funds of the charity Breast Cancer Care.

The feisty females are the stripped-off stars of a 2019 calendar shot at Tree Tops Caravan Park, and which has already received advance orders worth over £2,000.

Ranging in age from 30-plus to over 70, the inspiration for putting the fun into fundraising came from two of the group who own holiday homes at the Holywell park.

Rachel Anchors and Wendy Wild said it was back in summer this year when they hit upon the idea of helping a good cause about which they both felt strongly.

"It seemed a bit daft at first, but when we started talking about our plans to others on the park, we soon found ourselves with a growing list of volunteers!" said Rachel.

"Breast cancer is a disease which affects so many women, and Breast Cancer Care does a wonderful job in providing expert information to anyone diagnosed with the illness.

"So after deciding that we'd go for it, we scouted around the park for different locations which we could use for each month of the year – and there were plenty!

The initial print-run of the calendar has already had to be increased due to demand, and – until stocks run out – copies are available for £6.50 each.

The group has a JustGiving page a Facebook page @CaravanGirls providing more information.

"But the big challenge came when we had to decide who would take the photographs as obviously we wanted good quality images, but by somebody trustworthy.

Awards crown Devon park's 75 years of quality holidays Devon's acclaimed Ladram Bay Holiday Park has finished its 75th anniversary year on a high after being declared the West Country's top destination for kids and adults.

The Budleigh Salterton park scooped the top Diamond Award for Family Fun in the Devon,

Somerset and Dorset region in November's prestigious Hoseasons Awards.

It's the eighth year in succession that the park, owned by the Carter family since 1943, has come home from the event with the premier family fun trophy.

The accolade was presented by comedian Paddy McGuinness at Hoseasons' sparkling annual awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor in South Wales.

But the judges hadn't finished with the park, for the family was once again asked to step into the spotlight to receive a second accolade from the major holiday bookings agency.

This time they named Ladram Bay as overall UK winner of the Customer Choice Food Award for the quality and value of its catering.

Both awards are based on the volume of customer satisfaction ratings received by Hoseasons from families who have stayed on the hundreds of parks with which they deal.

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parkNews Windermere park makes splash in green tourism awards Staff at Newby Bridge Caravan Park in Cumbria are celebrating after being told that their wildlife-friendly policies have scooped a major environmental accolade.

The park, located at the southern end of Windermere, has this month received the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Professor Bellamy's honours go each year to tourism businesses making exceptional efforts to protect the natural world and its inhabitants. He highlighted the many areas on the park where high nectar-bearing flowers are encouraged, and which provide valuable foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

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David Bellamy also praised the large number of bird boxes and bug houses in the park's 25 acres of grounds which include mature woodlands that are home to red squirrels and deer.

The award means that Newby Bridge Caravan Park now joins the three other Cumbria parks owned by Lake District Estates which hold the gold David Bellamy Conservation Award.

The park's staff, he said, had proved themselves first-class custodians of its abundant wildlife. Leisure lodges on the park provide many energy and watersaving features, including a holiday home specially adapted for people with limited mobility.

They are Hill of Oaks Caravan Park also on Windermere, Waterfoot Caravan park on Ullswater, and Wood Close Caravan Park at Kirkby Lonsdale.

parkNews Parks "essential" to Scotland's economy says tourism minister Scottish tourism minister Fiona Hyslop MSP paid tribute to Scotland's holiday parks sector in Edinburgh this week (22 November) when she took the platform at the industry's annual conference.

range of subjects. The industry, said Ms Sutton, accounts for 8% of all the revenue produced

by Scotland's tourism economy, and allows the Scottish park sector to support more than 5,600 full-time equivalent jobs.

Fiona Hyslop, who is cabinet secretary for culture, tourism and external affairs, was welcomed to conference by the chairman of BH&HPA (Scotland) Elspeth Sutton.

In her address to delegates, Fiona Hyslop said that her department recognises the important role played by parks in producing visitor income and sustaining employment: "With the number of overseas visitors to Scotland increasing, and the total overnight spend by both domestic and overseas tourists rising to over £5 billion last year, tourism is one of Scotland's most important, vibrant and successful sectors.

The Scottish Government recognises the hard work that the holiday parks sector plays in providing excellent accommodation for all types of visitors. Whether it's families on a staycation or overseas visitors coming for an authentic Scottish experience, holiday parks play an essential role in the success of Scottish tourism," said Fiona Hyslop.

Ms Sutton, who manages Sandgreen Caravan Park in Gatehouse of Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet, said that the association had long worked closely with the Scottish Government across a wide

Fiona Hyslop was speaking at the start of the park conference's busy day-long agenda which also included talks from a range of tourism and other industry specialists.

The minister was the principal guest speaker at the event organised by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland), and held at the city's Our Dynamic Earth. In attendance were the owners and managers of many of Scotland's 200-plus park businesses which generate around £700m of visitor spending each year in the country.

Delegates heard an update on a survey currently being undertaken by independent analysts on the economic impact of holiday parks across Scotland and the rest of the UK. It was delivered by Bob Hill of the Economic Impact Review Group, and Dr Suzanne Hamilton who is associate director of Frontline Consultants, both of whom are helping to lead the study.

Although the full survey has yet to be concluded, the conference was told, it is likely to present an upbeat picture of an industry maintaining its popularity and continuing to develop.

Other speakers addressed a range of matters from further enhancing the customer service provided to consumers to how parks can best protect their businesses from cyber-attacks.

Running parallel to the conference was an exhibition featuring the suppliers of goods and services to Scottish parks, the majority of which are family owned and managed.

Closing the conference, Elspeth Sutton said the industry was delighted with the support it receives from the Scottish Government, and thanked tourism minister Fiona Hyslop for her attendance.

Caravan parks business delighted to win Powys Growth Award A family business, which owns two caravan parks on the outskirts of Llanidloes, added another accolade to its growing list when it collected the Growth Award at the Powys Business Awards.

Clywedog Riverside Holiday Home Park and Red Kite Touring Park collected the award, sponsored the Development Bank of Wales, at the annual awards dinner held at The Hafren, Newtown. The awards are organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group.

The Onions family has owned Clywedog Riverside Holiday Home Park since 1996 and expanded in 2016 to develop Red Kite Touring Park, which has been a great success.

The business, which employs six full-time staff and is planning to take on two more, has a turnover of around £1 million. The holiday park has 108 static caravans which attract tourists from the Midlands and South Wales while the touring park has an adults only policy.

Richard Onions has taken over the running of the business from his parents, having worked on the parks since the age of 16.

He has been joined by his wife, Emily, a Business Management graduate.

have realised what we have created but many local people have not.

“We would like to build on our success now that the touring park is open for 10 months of the year.”

Responding to the award Richard and Emily said: “We are delighted to get local recognition for Red Kite Touring Park which was a long time in the planning process. People from outside the area

The business attributes its success to providing excellent customer service and a first class product, engaging with and supporting local businesses and nurturing and growing staff.

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parkNews

Away Resorts invests £10 million in Sandy Balls Holiday Village Pioneering UK holiday park operator Away Resorts is investing £10 million into creating and landscaping a new development of 108 new accommodation units in its woodland retreat of Sandy Balls Holiday Village in the New Forest, continuing the evolution of this famous UK holiday destination.

The new accommodation will be a combination of cottage-style lodges and new treehouse-inspired accommodation, many of which will have car-charging points, and will be able to sleep up to eight guests.

The development with have landscaping that is native to the New Forest and will also feature new additions such as mini kitchen gardens that could be used for educational purposes.

It is estimated that half of the new development will be ready by Easter next year with the remaining holiday homes welcoming guests by Whitsun.

The new investment comes hot on the heels of a £1 million investment into The Zen, which is exclusive accommodation to Sandy Balls. It is an innovative type of holiday home designed to be calm, relaxing and simply a perfect space to chill out with friends and family in the woodland retreat of Sandy Balls Away Resorts has also made significant investment in facilities at Sandy Balls, spending £400,000 earlier this year on rebranding and re-launching Aubrey's Forest Kitchen, giving it a new look inspired by its forest sitting with restyled seating in the restaurant, a new bar area and a new outdoor dining space and a Starbucks coffee offer. The restaurant's name pays homage to one of the original founders of Sandy Balls, Aubrey Westlake.

The operator has also invested £300,000 on refurbishing some of the existing holiday village accommodation, £100,000 on improvements to the indoor pool and £240,000 on landscaping the village square.

Talking about the new investment, Away Resorts chief executive officer Carl Castledine said: "Sandy Balls really is the jewel in the New Forest's crown when it comes to family and adult accommodation in the region. It has a long-held, well-established reputation of many decades for providing family holidays that create memories that last a lifetime, indeed it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2019.

"We are keen to uphold its reputation as a much-loved New Forest holiday experience, and over the last 20 months since we added Sandy Balls Holiday Village to our portfolio of parks, we have invested nearly £2 million in a wide range of additions to the park, from new homes to improving on-site facilities prior to this £10 million investment. We have been very mindful to design and create spaces that are sympathetic to this unique location.

"We have also focused on introducing new experiences for our guests that locals can also enjoy, including screening live outdoor opera and ballet broadcasts from the Royal Opera House, one of the most prestigious theatres in the world. We have also introduced Starbucks "Proud to Serve" to the park too and were in fact the first UK park to be offered this brand option."

"All of our investment has served to enhance the guest experience as well as provide a much-welcome lift to local businesses, who benefit from the visitor economy. Our new development of 108 new accommodation units will bring a further boost to the local shops, pubs, bars, restaurants and visitor attractions."

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parkNews Pride of place in a new £1.5 million investment at Plassey Holiday Park in Wrexham has gone to a "glampers paradise" of super-luxury guest accommodation.

But when the 250-acre park organised a photo-shoot of its development this autumn, there were no professional models to be seen delighting in the hot tub lodges.

Instead, the two families pictured had been selected from among the scores of customers who responded to Plassey's website appeal to become its shooting stars.

The idea, said park director John Brookshaw, was to put "real people" in the frame – and to capture their genuine reactions to the pampering experience on offer.

The families are shown exploring the glamping lodges and their long list of topend features including a glass balcony and a bubbling hot-tub from which to enjoy distant views.

Sleeping up to six people, the units also provide infra-red underfloor heating, a 40inch flat-screen TV, Bluetooth connectivity, bathroom and contemporary furnishings and decor.

Rather than buy in "off the shelf" glamping units, John Brookshaw said the ten minilodges were the result of a design collaboration between his architects and UK manufacturer Retreat.

"Glamping has made many advances since the trend took off about ten years ago, but we wanted to take the concept up to a whole new level," he said.

Guests become shooting stars for Wales park's glamping launch "In particular, we wanted to cater for guests who enjoy staying throughout the four seasons, and this involved us ensuring that the units remain snug all year round.

Laura and their daughter Olivia from Marford near Wrexham, will now enjoy three-night breaks in the lodges as guests of Plassey.

"Our research also suggests that whilst people love glamping as a concept, they don't want to trade off comforts such as proper showers and cooking facilities, or fullsize beds.

A previous winner of the "Best Place to Stay" accolade in the National Tourism Awards for Wales, Plassey is a former dairy farm which first started welcoming campers over 50 years ago.

"We're delighted that so many people applied to become the models for our photoshoot, and our two families did a fantastic job in showcasing them with real enthusiasm!" said John.

As well as glamping, there are holiday homes to rent and buy, plus touring facilities.

Andrew and Anwen and their sons Jacob and Noah from Wrexham, and Ben and

Plassey's many other attractions include an indoor pool, golf course, games courts, five fishing ponds, beauty salon, and an acclaimed restaurant with regional produce a speciality.

There is a local accent too in the artisan craft village on the park which is home to 25 Wales-based retailers specialising in a wide range of quality gifts, clothing and foods.

For real ale connoisseurs, there is even a highly acclaimed micro-brewery in the grounds.

Meanwhile, says John, the mini-lodges at Plassey are shortly to be joined by four fully equipped safari tents for guests seeking yet another dimension to the glamping scene.

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parkNews Simon joined Tingdene as Business Development Manager North to develop the brand and partner relationships in Scotland and the North of England. He started his career as a successful Sales Advisor at Bourne Leisure back in early 2000, from there he progressed to Parkdean Holidays managing an array of parks in the UK. As Area Sales Manager at Pemberton Park & Leisure Homes he supported a number of parks and groups in Scotland. During his time at Tingdene he plans to develop a greater company and brand presence in his native Scotland working with park home and holiday lodge developments as well as special projects.

Tingdene Makes Three New Appointments to its Board of Directors Tingdene Homes has announced the promotion of three key members of the senior management team to the Board of Directors.

Alan Betts has assumed the position of Production Director. Alan has been with the company since 2004, starting out on the shop floor as a Production Operative and over the years progressing up to Line Manager and most recently Production Manager. In his new appointment as Director, Alan will continue to drive the quality and efficiency of Tingdene manufacturing forward.

Luke Wilkins has been promoted to Operations Director from his previous position of Operations Manager. Luke joined Tingdene in 2005, qualifying to be a Gas Safe engineer and working within the manufacturing facility. He moved onto an office based role where he progressed into management and implemented initiatives which have brought the Company both financial and non-financial benefits. In his new position he will have full responsibility for the supply chain, product development, quality control and customer care.

Jamie Wilkins has been promoted to the position of Commercial Director. He joined the Company in 2005 in the CAD Department progressing to Facilities Manager where he was involved in large projects such as the £3.5m expansion of the manufacturing plant.

During his time at Tingdene, Jamie has demonstrated a commitment to improving systems and processes maximising

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performance in alignment with the Company’s objectives. In his new role, Jamie will continue to grow the Company’s commercial operations.

Tingdene also announced the promotion of Darren Robinson from Finance Manager to Company Secretary in recognition of his financial and administrative efforts within the Company. Darren joined Tingdene in 2012 and has proven himself to be a committed member of the senior management team. His vast experience within finance has helped the Company to flourish over the years.

Over the last few months the Tingdene sales team has also grown exponentially with four new recruits joining the sales team on the road. The additional support means that Tingdene can reach more customers and clients further afield and provide a tailored one-on-one service to each of these. The local knowledge each of the new sales team brings means that Tingdene can continue to develop its understanding and support of holiday and residential parks across the UK. Kerry joined Tingdene as a Sales Representative and was quickly promoted to Business Development Manager; a sign of her fantastic work ethic and determination to succeed in the park home and holiday lodge industry. Kerry is based in Hull and works throughout the North of England and North Wales. Prior to joining Tingdene Kerry worked in the leisure industry for two years at Willerby.

Teresa is based in mid-Devon and is Tingdene’s newest Sales Representative. She started her career in the leisure industry in 2014 and went onto Pathfinder Homes as Head of Processing ensuring that specifications were produced in accordance with the customers’ wishes and complying with technical, buying and CAD departments.

Prior to this she worked in the static caravan dealership as a Sales Administrator and Coordinator providing sales support and managing supplier relationships.

David began his career in the leisure industry in 1990 at BK Blue Bird caravan manufacturers. He went onto Pemberton Leisure Homes in Wigan and then Willerby Holiday Homes where he managed the South and South West working closely with many hire fleet operators. David’s move to Tingdene was as a result of him enjoying the fast paced nature of sales and being ‘on the road’. With his wealth of experience in the leisure industry he looks forward to developing the Tingdene brand across the south of the UK within his role as Business Development Manager. He brings with him a fantastic knowledge of design and product development

parkNews Shorefield Holidays is recognised for its commitment to staff A deep-rooted commitment to its staff has paid dividends for a leading familyrun holiday park company, which is in the running for a host of top business awards.

Shorefield Holidays, which has eight parks across Hampshire and Dorset, is leading the way in the tourism industry by encouraging its employees to take an active role in the growth of the business.

The company’s commitment to its employees – together with its dynamic approach to quality and innovation – has seen it reach the finals in the Company of the Year and Best Company to Work For categories of the Solent Business Awards. It has also been shortlisted for the Brilliance in Business Award for Training and Development, which it has won twice before.

And two employees have been recognised for their achievements within the business.

ICT support technician Georgie Tominey has been shortlisted in the Rising Star – SME category of the national computing Women in IT Excellence Awards.

Georgie, who was given the opportunity to become an IT apprentice after starting at Shorefield Holidays as a receptionist, fought off tough competition from 354 nominees to reach the final shortlist of

13. The results will be announced at the awards ceremony in London in November.

Kaz Mortimer, general manager of all eight holiday parks, also reached the finals of the Champion of Change Left to right: Sue Lilley, Georgie Tominey, Kaz Mortimer. for Women in the Workplace them with an ongoing training category of the Women in Business programme that enables them to Awards run by The Business Magazine. progress as far as they can within the business.

Kaz, who has worked at Shorefield for three years, says: “I am really proud of “Investing in staff is not a new concept the cultural change I’ve helped instigate for us. I myself started as a cleaner more within the company. than 30 years ago aged 19 and was given so many opportunities to grow within the “All members of the team are made to business. feel valued, and they have a voice. We make sure they receive credit for any Meanwhile, Finance Director Sara Bertin ideas they have that are taken up by the has reached the finals of the prestigious management team – for instance, our National Business Women’s Awards training and customer service manual 2018.

Walking on Sunshine was created by one of our younger members of staff who had Shorefield Holidays is a major local the original idea.” employer in Hampshire and Dorset, with just under 250 full-time employees.

Sue Lilley, Shorefield Holidays’ HR Some 95 per cent of staff come from manager, says: “We are incredibly proud within a 10-mile radius of each park. of Kaz, Georgie and all our staff. They are our most important asset and we want to A number of the senior management recognise those who shine. team have been with the business for over 20 years and have progressed from “We set up our Dr Pollock training general roles in the business up through academy three years ago to nurture our to senior manager level. outstanding employees, and reward

New strategy aims to double the number of families helped by 2020

The Family Holiday Association has launched a new strategy and umbrella campaign called TOGETHER with the goal of doubling the number of families offered a break annually by the end of 2020.

The two year TOGETHER campaign includes new initiatives such as Adopt a Caravan –

inviting individuals and organisation to fund one of their owned caravans for a year – and building on existing successes such as their annual Shades Day awareness day in May. As part of the new approach, the charity is also looking to grow the number of donated accommodation, attraction and travel tickets they receive to UK destinations.

Founded in 1975, the Family Holiday Association is the only national charity dedicated to providing short-breaks and day trips for families struggling daily with issues such as severe and long-term illness, bereavement, mental health issues, disability

and domestic violence.

John Kinnear, Head of Programmes added, “We are excited to be launching our new two year TOGETHER campaign.

“We already work with over 100 companies and organisations in travel and tourism, ranging from DMOs to travel agents to attraction and accommodation owners big and small. What they have in common is an understanding that for the families we help, their contribution is priceless.”

FamilyHolidayAssociation.org.uk/Together

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Life's a beach for new owner of Britain's loveliest lodge Major park operators Park Holidays Uk and holiday home manufacturers Prestige have joined forces to create the ultimate fantasy escape at sandhills Holiday Park in dorset.

It takes the form of a high-tech £420,000 bespoke luxury lodge with one of the most picturesque beach-side settings to be found anywhere in Britain.

According to Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish, it was agreed that the breathtaking position warranted the creation of a unique and very special holiday home:

partner Carol can now spend leisure time away from their Salisbury home in surroundings he describes as "simply stunning".

And this autumn, the keys to the holiday home were officially handed over to its extremely proud new owner.

"Only very rarely do pitches become available on Sandhills' front row, and we wanted the new owners to enjoy surroundings that were just as amazing as the views," he said.

John, aged 79, founded his distribution company almost 50 years ago with a single truck, and grew the business to serve both national and international customers.

The visually striking and lavishly equipped lodge is the result of a design collaboration with Prestige which was sparked by Park Holidays UK earlier this year.

It arose when Sandhills had to opportunity to develop a new holiday home on the seafacing front of the park, just a few paces from the sandy beach at Mudeford near Christchurch.

"Together with Prestige, we developed a blueprint which included large areas of glazing to give the outlook star billing from the interior, but maintained a warm and homely feel.

"Natural materials, including timber, are a big feature together with ocean-inspired colours and decoration to evoke the glorious seascape vista," added Tony.

The split-level 40-ft x 20-ft lodge has a large elevated lounge, two spacious bedrooms, modern kitchen and bathrooms, and a 350square foot decking surrounded by infinity glass.

Its new owner is haulage entrepreneur John Dean who, with his

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His love of the sea led him to acquire a 65foot motor cruiser and then, last year, a holiday home at Sandhills Holiday Park with a view of Christchurch Harbour.

Having made new friends at the park and found its relaxed and peaceful atmosphere very much to his liking, John was quick to seize his chance when the sea-front lodge became available.

The impressive manor house at the centre of the landscaped grounds at Sandhills Holiday Park was a favourite holiday retreat of King George III who helped to popularise the area.

Substantial investment in Sandhills by Park Holidays UK has introduced many new modern-day facilities to the park including a country club, gymnasium, and a heated outdoor pool.

For buyers on a more modest budget, holiday homes at the park start from around £150,000 – in an area where wooden beach huts are regularly reported as changing hands for up to £300,000.

advertorial

What holiday parks need to think about wHen researcHing and installing commercial kitcHens Holiday parks are the backbone of the British holiday experience, with their roots dating right back to the early 1900s.

So, where do you go for good advice on installing commercial kitchen equipment in a holiday park?

A preferred choice to the overseas alternative for many holidaymakers, especially in recent years due to the current economic climate, modern holiday parks’ trends vary enormously, from the rural getaway of Center Parcs, to beachside caravan parks and luxurious gated 5-star holiday accommodation. While attracting different audience demographics, many of these holiday parks have one thing in common – they use onsite commercial kitchen equipment to serve food to their guests.

It is best to start with the basics and speak to other operators in the industry to get an insight into their own experiences with the equipment they use, which could open the door to personal recommendations.

The choice and variation of equipment is wide-ranging and each type of holiday park has its own unique trends depending on the type of visitor and their expectations, so kitchen design requirements vary enormously as a result.

Most holiday parks will look to minimise the operating costs of their commercial kitchens while maintaining high standards of quality food service in a consistent manner to meet the large volume of daily customers.

Indeed, equipment selection is reflected in the type and style of cuisine served at each holiday park as well as the number of people being catered for, so it can be hard to pin down and define what equipment is best suited to an industry that covers such a broad spectrum.

by david Pedrette, Managing director of target catering equipment

Commercial kitchen designs have to be flexible as trends constantly change, which is evident in many of the UK’s big high street food outlets, which offer everything from fast food to multi-cultural cuisine. Although, some equipment can rarely see change over a long period of time, such as those used in many fish and chip shops, it is still necessary to use the best equipment available and with real customer care and understanding.

Another straightforward option is to do some research yourself. Find suitable suppliers, visit their facilities, factories and showrooms, as well as any design centres of excellence that can help you.

Try looking to the high street and its successful operators for current trends. From here, you can begin to work on emulating their offer for an audience in the holiday park of choice.

Just remember to pick offers that will suit the individual needs of your desired holidaymakers or they may look elsewhere if they fail to experience what they want or expect.

Variety is the spice of life, especially when on holiday, so choose a kitchen design and food service offering unique to your audience and do not be afraid to experiment to find out what works, as you may be surprised with what you achieve and could even set a trend that others in the industry may start to follow.

Here at Target, we have a demonstration kitchen where operators can trial and test cooking on different equipment to see whether it can meet the needs of their menus.

We also have leading manufacturer equipment on display and can even get equipment brought in to test for those looking to install a commercial kitchen design unique to them.

Our design team is always on hand to discuss the design and planning of kitchens and can organise demonstrations for operators to review the equipment prior to purchase.

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Holiday Parks Management

Directory

in april we will publish our first Holiday Parks Management suppliers’ directory, which will be distributed to over 5,000 readers if you have a product or service for the holiday park sector you can be included for free visit www.holidayparksmanagement.com to sign up for your free listing today

for advertising and enhanced listings from as little as ÂŁ100 contact kath@upgradepublising.com

CAPTiON COMPeTiTiON to win SmartPark Bookings System FREE for a year! smartPark is the all new Holiday booking and Management system that does all the hard work for you.

We say “brand new” – it’s actually been developed over a 5 year period with help from a range of established parks covering all of the accommodation types you’d expect – from caravan letting fleets, private owners and holiday lets to camping, touring, glamping and lodges, plus storagers and seasonal pitches.

So “brand new” to the market, but rigorously tested and in use on live parks since 2014.

But it’s not going to stop there. The development team at SmartPark have some further great ideas up their sleeves to make them the number 1 choice in the industry.

New functionality is added regularly and provided to their customers without additional cost!

But what makes it so different? Surely it’s just another booking system. Well no, nothing could be further from the truth.

SmartPark’s Operations Director Mark Williams commented, “We talked in depth with staff (at all levels) from a number of different parks, all using a range of popular systems, to understand what they liked and disliked about each, and what they really wanted from a system. We really did start with a clean slate."

“From those discussions, we developed a wish list and structure for a state-of-the-art, cloud-based intelligent system that would deliver a user experience not seen before – both from the parks’ point of view, and their

customers’. With mobile devices accounting for over 75% of website traffic for the majority of our customers, we wanted to roll with the “trend” being pushed by Google and deliver the same experience to our users – a mobile responsive booking and management system enabling them to take and update bookings, check in arrivals, and even take payments from anywhere on any device! In fact, the whole system is accessible on desktop, tablet or smartphone, so managers and owners don’t even need to be on park!”

Mark concluded.

If that were not enough, SmartPark creators have built in some really useful functionality to save time and ultimately money. The “Alerts System” acts as a personal assistant, keeping staff up-to-date on what needs doing and when – a clear “to do” list covering daily tasks such as outstanding ground rents to be chased, arrivals and departures for the day (with a single click required to update the booking and not a paper list in sight!) free pitches or linen and cleaning lists, to name just a few.

Drag and drop scheduling has also been introduced to make booking management a breeze. Simply drag a booking to a different pitch or date, and confirm the update – no need to go into individual bookings, job done. SmartPark will confirm the change to the customer in one of its many automated emails and automatically update live numbers on Park.

From a Park Warden’s point of view, there is a fresh new “App” that allows them to check a booking by entering the pitch number, vehicle registration or booking reference while out on park. Additions and updates to the booking (if the customer has forgotten to pay for their awning for instance) can happen there and then – even taking additional payments without needing to return with the customer to the office!

To find out more about SmartPark Bookings and how it is set to revolutionise the industry, you should visit www.smartparkbookings.co.uk As part of the launch, the team at SmartPark are offering a lucky park a FREE year with the system – no set up costs either! Full training and support will be included and even assistance with integrating online booking into the lucky winner’s website if required.

Simply visit www.smartparkbookings.co.uk/WIN to enter the competition by thinking up a creative and innovative caption to their holiday snap. Then sit back and wait for the winner to be announced in our next edition of Holiday Parks Management Magazine in February.

Full terms and conditions can be found on the competition page on the website.

Best of luck!

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BallocH Park

Expands Into Holiday Lodges

balloch Park, loch lomond’s only country park, known for its major music events, has expanded into the holiday lodge sector. balloch, which occupies an impressive 200-acre site, with impressive views over the waters also boasts a castle, walled gardens, nature trails and guided walks.

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This is the first time that residential accommodation has been made available at Balloch. Phase one of the project will feature 16 bespoke lodges, which have been built using sustainable timber.

Once complete, the development, which has Drummond Hill on one side and the banks of the River Tay on the other, will boast 38 properties, priced from £179,000. Estate owner Robin Menzies reports that 10 of these have already been sold.

Although there are standard elements to the design, each lodge can be tailored specifically to the buyer’s tastes with respect to the internal layout and decoration. The homes can be further personalised with the inclusion of features such as a sauna or office.

“It took us four years to get this development through planning because it’s an environmentally sensitive area,” Robin said.

“This used to be a quarry. We had to monitor it for a year with gas testing.

“The good thing about these buildings is they don’t have the standard foundations that you have on normal buildings. We basically bring

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everything out of the ground: drainage, water, gas, electrics, concrete foundations, ready for the builder to come in and then the joiners get to work and put it together.

“The construction is from the ground up.

There’s no messing about with foundations. We go straight into the construction so it’s quite an instant result. A big advantage is that we don’t become restricted with weather. There’s always access into the site.”

“They all had to be timber clad,” Robin told Project Scotland. “They all have Decra roof tiles. The principle design of the buildings is pretty much the same, although we can extend or shorten them a bit, and change the internal layout and window layout. We use Scottish timber that is fairly sustainable. The materials are mostly Scottish. You’ve got natural insulation. The roof material will last a long time. They’re very heat efficient. Everything is off the ground so you’ve got that constant circulation of the air.

“Every one is built bespoke. We’ve got the basic box, if you like. Internally they can be laid out with two or three bedrooms. Generally, the kitchens are open plan. It’s about having

everything where you want it. Little things matter, like having electric sockets exactly where you want them. Then you’ve got the bed configuration, so it’s set out as you want it. The owners get a choice of paint colours, flooring, layout, and kitchen.

They’re all different in that respect.

There’s a lot of space around each one; everybody’s got their own privacy.”

Robin has been hugely encouraged by the popularity of the new lodges so far. Of the ten already sold, eight have been for holiday use while two have been bought as a permanent base for the owners.

“They provide easy living; they’re low maintenance and cheap to run,” Robin added. “This is a very private place to be.

There’s no noise. We do definitely attract the more discerning people. We try to keep everything we do five star.

“Branching out into the residential side of things is something quite different for us.

Downsizing is quite a buzzword. A few years ago a lot of people were downsizing to things that were not as nice as they were in before. That’s definitely a big market. It’s a hard sell because people are making a major lifestyle decision. I think (that side) will grow.”

“The homes will appeal to outdoor-type people who don’t expect to have things laid out for them. It’s a diverse market. We made sure we got consent for not only holiday use, but also to allow people to enjoy them on a more permanent basis. As the development has progressed over the last year-and-a-half, we’ve had quite an equal split of people buying them. I think they feel secure as well because we’ve got a good reputation. We use a good builder; they can see the quality of what we’ve done in the past; they’re not buying into the unknown although it is quite a new concept.”

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that’s Entertainment last month, the Holiday Parks Management team was lucky enough to join park owners and other guests at the recent vern allen entertainment showcase at the award-winning ladram bay holiday park in devon.

On a wet and windy evening, a touch of Las Vegas could be found in Budleigh Salterton, as guests were greeted by be-feathered showgirls at the door of the Three Rocks. Vern Allen has been providing entertainment, technical event services and experiential solutions since 1985 to the holiday park sector, among others.

Nothing creates a sense of atmosphere quite like a live act, which has an incredible effect on food and bar sales as well. Vern Allen can provide everything, from lighting and sound systems, through to tables and chairs, as well, of course as a wide array of world-class acts.

“Our agents work closely with both client and artiste to ensure the ultimate combination of service and performance. Our event services team are highly skilled and experienced. They are passionate about providing only the very best audio visual, staging, sound and lighting solutions. Our aim is to turn your ideas into a technical reality and deliver highly impressive results every time,” says Paul Winteridge, Managing Director.

"Vern Allen Group Ltd, supply 5 major holiday park brands in the UK which includes an exclusive contract with Hoburne Holidays. We also work with a number of privately owned holiday centres, several hotel chains and multiple different entertainment venues both locally and nationally,” adds Paul.

"As well as supplying all kinds of artistes we can also supply resident entertainers who will arrive with training specific to the company we are working with. They will also receive ongoing support and training to ensure that they are working to the highest standard. On top of this we can also get our events team to carry out AV training that relates to the equipment that’s in use in the venue.

"Showcases are an incredibly effective way of procuring bookings for artistes, engaging with existing and prospective clients and getting a chance to show off what we can do as a company within the events sector. This years showcase was no different. We enjoyed two nights of variety and received many positive comments. In particular we felt that band Dave Can’t Dance, vocalist Shelley Smith, speciality act Groovy UV, classical crossover artiste Thomas Cameron and Elton John tribute Garry Dorsey went down well and seemed to get a really good response from the guests."

Vern Allen’s two-day showcase attracted a wide range of guests and we spoke to representatives from golf clubs and hotels as well as holiday parks. Guests were given a sheet, detailing the acts and pens with which to write down their thoughts. The showcase contained a number of bands, singers, tribute acts, magicians and illusionists – all to an incredibly high standard. The evening was ably compered by Noel Brodie.

As well as Holiday Parks Management Magazine, the event was attended by Connected Entertainment, the supplier of the Jigsaw entertainment system. www.vernallen.com

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ONE PUMP, A CAFÉ AND FIVE HOLIDAY LODGES add UP to a ratHer UniQUe installation

susie stewart (pictured) owner of olicana cottages in ilkley commissioned the construction of five, two-bedroom timber built lodges on the banks of the river wharfe. boasting saunas and hot tubs the luxury lodges that take full advantage of the peaceful riverside setting.

Perhaps most interesting is how the lodges and new café bar are heated – by a central ground source heat pump, giving the lodges and café independent control of heating and hot water.

A NIBE 40kW heat pump and a 750l buffer tank forms the basis of the system designed

by NIBE VIP installers, Warmaway, who created this innovative approach to heating multiple units from a central communal unit.

To add to the environmental considerations of the construction of the cottages and café, all the timber was sustainably sourced from sites across the UK. “I was delighted to work for Susie again having installed a ground source heat pump system at her home some years ago,” said John Redgwick at Warmaway. “Due to the complex nature of this particular system we became involved very early in the specification process to ensure maximum efficiencies were achieved from the design.

Due to the geology and layout of the site we ascertained that it would be necessary to install the collector loops in boreholes rather than laterally. The system works by housing the heat pump and tank in a separate plant

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area and then heat is distributed to the lodges and café. Each property has its own Thermal Interface Unit which gives them the autonomy to control individual lodge temperature; it also supplies heat for the hot tubs and saunas featured in each lodge.”

This type of system is quite unique and highlights an alternative way in which heat pumps can be used to support a variety of requirements and demands.

Warmaway conducted a detailed analysis in terms of the performance that the system will realise and have predicted Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments to be in excess of £103,000 over 20 years – the period of return for commercial installations.

The lodges are heated by underfloor heating fed from the NIBE ground source heat pump providing holiday makers with a consistant temperature throughout each room. A NIBE ELK26 electrical back up heater has also been installed to ensure sufficient capacity even during the coldest of winters.

Susie Stewart owner of Olicana Cottages commented: “Seeing the lodges completed

and that our vision for sustainability and efficiency has been fulfilled is most pleasing.

The installation of the heat pump system and the construction of the lodges has not been without its challenges due to the inclement weather we experienced this winter, yet, work has remained pretty much on schedule so that we can receive guests this summer.

“When we were planning the lodges we knew that we wanted to make them as environmentally friendly as possible and future proof them for years to come. John was one of the most professional and pleasant people we have ever commissioned and it seemed the natural choice to contact him once more and see if he could bring our dreams of using a ground source heat pump system for the lodges to fruition. He created a system that would fulfil all our requirements whilst making best use of the technologies available and with installation costs coming in at £80,000 it was imperative that we used a contractor with whom we had complete confidence in. John was able to draw on his expert knowledge of renewable heating systems and we are very much looking forward to the system delivering a return on our investment in the future.”

Holiday Parks

Management

Classifieds

Contact Kath today for details of our classifieds package

t: +44 (0) 7575 408580

e: kath@upgradepublishing.com

insurance

• competitive insurance for your glamping business • Public liability • equipment cover telephone 0117 955 6835 or email marc.loud@parkinsurance.co.uk

www.parkinsurance.co.uk

Holiday Parks Management

IN THE

february G Insurance issue G Planning G Outdoor Play

NEW FULLY-OPERATIONAL PARENT & CHILD OUTLANDER CARS! This also makes them especially suitable for use as a rural Driving School attraction in any venue for children of any age from 8 to 80 years old!

They also have the following exciting benefits: 1) Comfortable side-by-side seating for either two children over 8 years of age or a ‘Parent & Child’ World of Rides have launched their brandnew range of side-by-side seating ‘Parent & Child’ battery operated Off-Road OUTLANDER Big Cars for this season, to allow all their operators to be able to provide a safe, colourful, fully interactive and very profitable new Jungle, Jurassic or Woodland style of attraction for their venues, either indoors or outdoors, or even inside-out!

The large twin seat Off-Road OUTLANDER Big Cars are fitted with a fully working dashboard with ignition key to start, and have fully-operational seat belts, horn, head lights, direction indicators, accelerator and brake pedal with brake lights… as well as having a reverse gear!

2) Battery Operated… For Air Pollution-Free operation 3) Sturdy, long-lasting, glass fibre bodywork in a range of almost any colours 4) Strong metal foot pedals and controls for rugged use by young would-be explorers 5) Agricultural pneumatic tyres for use on short cut grass and flat unmade surfaces 6) The cars can also be run on real or synthetic ice rinks… for Winter holiday promotions

coin, token or remote STOP/START control 8) Fully sprung suspension on all four wheels 9) Full safety barriers around each vehicle, CE tested, and a 12 months back-to-base warranty… along with full H.S.E.-A.D.I.P.S. documentation “Our main purpose is still to edutain children with lots of learning through fun,” said Customer Support Manager Andrew Robinson, “and these new rides, which we can also produce in any of our themed paintwork colour schemes, were produced due to many of our existing park and resort customers asking if we could make them a major new attraction for their customers to enjoy during this year’s main school holiday season and beyond!”

Short delivery lead times mean that operators can have a brand-new attraction up-and-running in around only four weeks! www.worldofrides.com

7) Authentic off-road design, with either

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5 queSTiONS TO ASk when reviewing your booking system this New Year

Out with the old and in with the new!

As the New Year gets underway we recommend that one of your resolutions is to take time out to evaluate your current campsite software and booking procedures; reflecting on what works well and deciding upon what could be improved. Management and booking systems provider CampManager have put together five handy questions to ask yourself when carrying out a review of your campsite booking system.

1. Does your online booking system generate you more bookings?

It is crucial that your booking system provides a simple and easy to use interface for your guests to check availability and book online. Guests should be provided with all the booking options and information on one screen. If the searched for criteria is not available, the system should automatically provide alternative options, reducing the risk of losing a potential booking. Your online booking pages should be mobile responsive, clearly laid out, self-explanatory and intuitive to use otherwise your online customers will get frustrated while navigating through the booking process. The booking pages should be seamlessly integrated into your website design so the user doesn’t feel that they are being taken to a separate, unsecure portal to book, which can lead to lower booking conversions.

2. Does your booking system provide Channel Management?

Many campsites now utilise Online Travel

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Agents (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Airbnb, CampStead.com, Pitchup and Glampsites.com as an additional avenue to generate more bookings. However managing these various booking sources can prove time consuming and if not kept up to date can lead to double bookings. Partnering with a campsite booking provider who offers Channel Management will remove the need for manual data entry as availability and allocation can be synchronised automatically across all your booking sites, reducing the risk of overbooking.

3. Does your booking system provide management information to aid decision making?

Can you easily report on customers’ booking habits, booking source, occupancy rates and booking durations? A good booking system should allow you to quickly access historical data, to spot trends, identify gaps and recognise areas for improvement. Having this information at your fingertips ensures you aren’t making decisions blindly without having analysed all the facts. The information captured can be used to obtain a better understanding of your clients, enabling you to target customers more effectively moving forward.

4. Does your booking system encourage your customers to book again?

Your booking system should automatically send your guests an email asking them to leave a review which can then be displayed on your website to attract new visitors.

Having a system that lets you easily create discounts and promotional codes will encourage guests to book a stay again and having tools such as ‘pick a pitch’ will also enhance customer loyalty as guests can choose their favourite pitch location at the time of booking.

5. Does your booking system save you time?

Your booking system should do the work so you don’t have to, saving you valuable time and effort. The system should automate your time consuming day to day tasks, reducing your manual effort. Booking confirmation emails should be sent automatically, payments should be accepted online and automated emails should be set up to automatically send pre and post stay customer communication.

Start your New Year with CampManager Now is a great time to review your campsite booking software, weighing up the pros and cons of your system, comparing alternative solutions and determining if your system is providing you with everything that you want, not just what you need. If your current campsite booking system is falling short or if you are simply making do with what you have, don’t limit yourself. You could be missing out on potential opportunities to save time, money and to grow your business by generating more bookings.

Make the move to CampManager. Email hello@campmanager.com for a demo.

Refrigeration Experts Go Extra Mile This Christmas

park Improvements combibloc has solution for wiring regulation changes

The 18th Edition wiring regulations state that as of January 2019 ‘electrical sockets on caravan sites need to prevent the socket being live when accessible’ – in other words, power should not go through the socket when it doesn’t have a plug in it. To meet this regulation, all sockets supplying power must include an interlock mechanism.

To meet the new regulations on caravan parks, electrical contractors can install new mechanical interlock sockets. However, most interlocks on the market are larger than standard sockets, so take up a bigger footprint. This could mean the existing distribution board cannot house them and will also need to be replaced.

Whether it’s turkey, chicken or goose, the UK’s largest provider of fridge and freezer trailers has launched a new service specifically for the those in the hospitality industry needing extra storage space for meat ahead of the busy festive period.

Coldtraila has just launched the unique storage service to hotels and restaurants across the whole UK who are in desperate need of extra space to store meats in the build-up to Christmas, whether that be due to their freezers malfunctioning or just running out of space.

Ross Pushman, Managing Director of Coldtraila, said: “This Christmas cracker of a service will really knock the stuffing out of any doubts hotels and restaurants may have on whether they will run out of storage space this winter.

“We respect and appreciate the hospitality industry and want to ensure businesses can not only provide more than adequate space for their turkey and geese ahead of the big day, but also flourish in the trade which we know is so vitally important at this time of year.

GEWISS has the ideal solution to meet the new regulations without overhauling existing equipment - the surface mount COMBIBLOC, a compact, interlocked switched socket. These sockets have a smaller footprint than standard interlocks (approximately 40% of the surface area compared to an equivalent vertical interlock) and it’s the same width as the existing panel mount socket.

The COMBIBLOC range offers new smaller dimensions of just 71mm wide x 122mm high for interlocked switched socket outlets with 16-32A versions in a single size. They can be fixed to a flush mounted box from GEWISS Q DIN distribution board ranges. The vertically-operated lever is easy to use and can be fitted with a safety lock. The tilted socket outlet makes it easy to insert the plug and keeps the power cable at the correct angle for safety. Available in IP44 and IP55 versions. www.gewiss.com

“If a trailer is needed, our new service will ensure it will be delivered and set-up within 24 hours of contacting us. That’s the Coldtraila promise.”

Coldtraila recently acquired two new trailers exclusive to the UK market; the ChillTow and Freeze-Tow. The trailers’ heavy-duty chiller capabilities, which include surplus cooling power and rapid temperature recovery, offer the most cost-effective solution to storing frozen meats.

They also come equipped with a special multifunctional digital display unit that can manage and control the temperature of produce being stored.

Ross added: “By offering this service, we’re helping hotels and restaurants provide the high-quality Christmas meats we all know and love to customers across the whole UK. If that’s not what the festive season is all about, then I don’t know what is!” www.coldtraila.co.uk

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park Improvements LEWDEN HAVE ALL THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS! In compliance with the latest 18th Edition Wiring Regulations coming into effect on January 1st 2019, Lewden’s leading range of Caravan Hook up units has been upgraded to feature switched interlocked sockets that offer additional safety by preventing the socket contacts from being live when accessible.

Lewden’s modular topTER series of distribution boards is the ideal solution to meet this requirement, allowing the possibility to incorporate up to four 16A or 32A switched interlocked sockets within a single unit. The flexible and robust enclosure design of the Caravan Hook up units allows either 16A or 32A switched interlocked sockets to be interchanged on the same fixing flange and wire harness, making it easy to upgrade additional sockets quickly at a later stage.

The interlocking arrangement is achieved mechanically via the socket outlet and an integral AC3-AC23A category isolator switch.

The isolator switch cannot be selected to the

‘ON’ position unless a plug has first been inserted. It is then not possible to withdraw the plug from the outlet unless the isolator has first been selected to ‘OFF’, ensuring safe use of electricity in caravan / camping parks and similar locations.

For maximum safety, these units have an overall 100A 2P main switch protection and use the latest 16A and 32A 2P 30mA Type B 6kA RCBOs compliant to EN 61009.

Allowing safe electrical operation inside a caravan or motor home, these Caravan Hook up units offer many benefits including metered versions with MID certified 45A KWH meters for each socket to ensure accuracy for consumer billing purposes. Constructed from techno-polymer, the enclosure system is weatherproof to IP66/IP67 with a high resistance to UV rays and chemical agents and IK08 impact resistant. The units have smooth undrilled walls that allow custom cable entry position and operating temperatures from -25°C to +50 ° C, with

storage temperature ranging from -30°C to +70 °C. The circuit breaker access window is made from tough transparent polycarbonate and the pad is lockable. www.lewden.com

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT INTRODUCES GPS MOBILE APP The resort provides allweather, year-round free range breaks including a spa, waterpark and wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.

A dedicated app featuring satellite navigation, real-time updates and interactive guides to accommodation and activities has been launched to significantly enhance the guest experience at Bluestone National Park Resort.

The intuitive new ‘Bluestone App’ has been developed by global software and data solutions provider Data Clarity for Bluestone, a luxury short break resort set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

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Guests have been trying the new app for the first time this month, taking advantage of ultraconvenient features such as real time GPS directions - working just like using a satnav - and up-to-the-minute information about events, activities and dining options.

The nifty and easy-to-use app also means a significant reduction in paper guides and maps - fitting with Bluestone’s environmentally conscious ethos.

Yvonne Buckingham, Head of Sales and Marketing, said, “Very few people go out without a mobile phone today and we recognised that the way people look for

information has changed hugely in the 10 years since we opened.

“Our new interactive app is ultra-convenient - with clever features such as satellite navigation, which makes it super easy to find your way around.

“Free Wi-Fi around the key areas of our resort means people can access the app easily and quickly – plus it greatly lessens the need for us to produce printed maps, reducing the impact we have on the environment.”

The new App is easy to download from the iOS App and Google Play stores and provides guests with spoken directions to all attractions.

It will make it easier for Bluestone to communicate guest information, pre-arrival instructions and essential safety notifications. www.dataclarity.uk.com

Making Tax digital HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is the biggest change to VAT in decades and with less than 5 months until the 1 April 2019 deadline, it’s essential that every holiday park business is fully prepared.

I Supplies received - including the time of supply, value of supply and the amount of input tax that will be claimed.

I Summary Data for supplies made including the amount of VAT due and reclaimable as well as any adjustments.

Currently, any VAT registered holiday park has a responsibility to provide information to HMRC by completing a VAT return. This is processed by accessing the HMRC VAT gateway and entering the required information, either directly with HMRC or through an Application Programming Interface (API) via accounting software, such as Xero.

MTD will, for many holiday parks, necessitate the implementation of new software and systems. This can seem daunting but changing accounting systems can bring efficiencies and revolutionise the business.

For those holiday parks that submit direct to HMRC, many still use manual systems to record their accounting information, use spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or do not fully utilise their accounting software .

On the 1st April 2019, this changes for all VAT registered businesses with turnover exceeding the current VAT registration threshold of £85,000. After this date, for those businesses within the scope, the current HMRC portal will be closed and VAT returns will only be able to be submitted via an API. Once MTD is mandatory, businesses will no longer be able to keep manual records.

Digital records must be maintained in what is defined as ‘functional compatible software’ – broadly a system which can connect to HMRC via an API. These required records are as follows:I Designatory Data - such as business name and address, VAT registration details.

I Supplies made - including the time of supply, value of supply and the rate of VAT charged.

The starting point for implementing any new system should be working out what you want to achieve. Is it just about becoming MTD compliant or are there other benefits that can be derived from the new system? This is your opportunity to redefine how you work from the ground up.

Consider the reporting tools that could help you manage your park more effectively and remember that any system should have the flexibility to adapt as your business grows and develops.

Make sure that your employees are committed to what you are trying to achieve. I have seen countless situations where a business owner has a clear plan, only to have it undermined by employees or bookkeepers resistant to the new systems. Remember that people are naturally resistant to change but if they can understand and buy into the change the chances of success are exponentially greater. Find a key employee that can act as a ‘champion of change’ and act as an example to others.

Timing is everything. It can be tempting to plough straight ahead but, waiting until your accounting year end or VAT quarter end may be preferable. Picking a time

by nick Heaney accounting director armstrong watson llP

during the off-season will also give you the time to devote to the development of new processes Also, with many holiday parks having customised and bespoke software providing solutions for the management of the park and the booking systems, a harmonious integration between accounting and management systems can bring real efficiencies to a business through automation.

The three ways to integrate your systems with accounting software like Xero are:I Direct integration. Xero has an open API meaning that other developers can write software that integrates directly.

I Third Party Developers can bring the integrations together in a central hub.

I Custom integration. If you have a reliable and well established, bespoke business system it may be necessary to develop something to integrate between the systems.

There are currently hundreds of apps being developed from Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to debt chasing software. Choosing the right app for the park, which integrates with the accounting software seamlessly will save many hours of manual inputting and will standardise entries.

The digital age for accounting is well and truly here and MTD for VAT is not the end of the story. Other taxes are to follow the MTD route in due course and by adopting and implementing new systems in a timely and controlled manner you will ensure your park is prepared for the future.

Nick.Heaney@armstrongwatson.co.uk

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EAG International and VAE 2019 ratHer more tHan JUst an exPo

when eag international and vae opens its doors on 15-17th January 2019 the show will be celebrating its tenth year of serving the amusements and leisure industries.

The event follows a long tradition of an amusements expo in London in January and in 2009 EAG International started its life as an amusements and coin-op show. The past 10 years, however, have seen a radical transformation as the show has evolved into a multi-faceted event, reflecting the shifts that have taken place in out-of-home leisure.

Four years ago, the show’s natural evolution was formalised with the launch of the cojoined Visitor Attraction Expo (VAE).

edge over its competitors. The visitor to EAG International & VAE will experience the very latest equipment from more than 200 manufacturers, much of which is being showcased in Europe for the first time. There will be new products for holiday parks of every size. Traditionally popular products include go karts, children’s electric vehicles, high activity carnival and sport themed games, arcade games, kiddie rides. prize every time and novelty vending.

Part of EAG International and VAE remains focused on arcades and FECs but today’s show visitor is just as likely to be an owner or operator of holiday parks, cinemas, family attractions, bowling, bingo, indoor and adventure play, and other forms of out-ofhome entertainment.

Even the smallest of holiday parks is catered for with traditional games room products such as pool, air hockey , table football and shuffleboard and also confectionery vending.

Any visitor to EAG International & VAE cannot fail to notice the huge quantity of Redemption games on display. Redemption is already an established genre in several overseas markets and the UK is rapidly catching up, driven in part by the high quality of licensed and generic plush and prize merchandise. For the holiday park, Redemption is particularly interesting as the games have a family focus and guests may collect tickets throughout their stay, redeeming them for higher value prizes at the end of their stay.

Operators of large holiday parks have been loyal visitors to EAG International & VAE, and are well aware of the opportunities for incremental revenues that are showcased at the event, with many employing machines management specialists to ensure that revenues are optimised.

Amusements and games, correctly chosen and sited, also have a high amenity value, keeping visitors on site, increasing dwell times and ultimately, giving the business an

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The amusements sector has embraced digital technology and there are now products

which deliver compelling and exciting experiences, over and above those available from the digital at-home entertainment offering. This is particularly important as visiting families may not only have high entertainment and amusement expectations, but may well bring computers and mobile devices on holiday.

EAG International & VAE 2019 will showcase the very latest digital entertainment technology, including Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences. The new breed of VR arcades, lounges, and entertainment centres currently emerging may hold more synergies with the holiday park environment than might be imagined at first glance. The games occupy little space, can be upgraded, and are cost-effective to operate. Importantly, the park owner can leverage the family and community aspects through the use of multiplayer games, tournaments and competitions.

Technology has also had a transformational effect on many traditional products. Holiday park owners might wish to consider the latest generation of photo booths, for example. Originally the photo booth was just that- a booth for taking photographs. Today web-enabled product that will be on display at the show offers a host of advanced

features enabling the user to be photographed with their favourite characters and in a variety of ‘locations’ via green screen technology. Photos may instantly printed or sent to friends via social media, whilst a whole range of photo-based gift options may be ordered for home delivery.

Exciting new products are the readily apparent stars of the show but there is much more to EAG International & VAE. In its short history, the show has acquired the reputation of being a must-attend event for exchanging ideas and experiences and also for learning.

EAG International & VAE will be celebrating its 10thanniversary with the most comprehensive and forward-looking seminar programme in the show’s history. Finishing touches are currently being put to three days of wide-reaching seminars with contributions from trade association bacha and from industry leaders from around the world.

For the first time, the free-to-attend programme will include a full-day focus on technology- EAG Technology Innovation Seminar, addressing the key elements that are shaping the leisure and entertainment sector. The sessions will include: Digital Technologies Benefits –A review of the factors driving video amusement, videmption and other elements of current tech. play in amusements.

Immersive technology -Looking at what is driving VR /AR and the emergence of XR in the scene and how best to operate this - with presentations from operators and manufacturers of the latest tech.

Invigorating the Millennials - A thoughtprovoking look at the trends and applications that are driving new audiences to the

entertainment venue, and how this needs to be redefined to survive in a changing landscape.

Also new for 2019, the Foundations Entertainment University will be travelling from the USA to deliver a packed educational programme on the final day of the show.

The Foundations Entertainment University runs comprehensive 3-day educational seminar programmes aimed at delivering long-tem success for a wide variety of location-based entertainment businesses.

The programme addresses, market and financial feasibility, planning, design, financing, development, marketing and operational management. To date, Foundations Entertainment University has presented multiple day events in the USA, the UK, Russia, the Ukraine and Dubai.

Foundations entertainment University founder and owner, Frank Seninsky, has over

47 years experience in the leisure entertainment industry, working on more than 750 FEC projects. Frank is President of Alpha-Omega, a group of 12 companies, active in virtually every aspect of the leisure entertainment sector. To-date, Frank has presented well-over 420 seminars and penned more than 1600 articles.

The Foundations Entertainment University one day programme for EAG International & VAE has been purposed with the show’s audience in mind and will be of particular interest to developers and operators of FECs, bowling, laser-tag, indoor and adventure play, edutainment, cinemas, holiday parks and smaller attractions.

EAG International and VAE’s timing, right at the start of the New Year, is perfect for considering options and investment for the forthcoming season. The show’s home, ExCel London is a world-class venue and winner of many awards for its facilities and accessibility.

For the holiday park manager or owner, it would be difficult to imagine a more productive investment in time than a day or two spent at the show. The exhibition floor will feature a huge range of products and services from around the world, so whether you’re looking for wristbands or go karts, kiddie rides or arcade games, vending prizes or facilities management software, it will all be waiting for you. More importantly, so will the advice and guidance on what works well in the holiday park environment.

To make a date with the future of amusements and entertainment- register now for EAG International & VAE 2019 at www.eagexpo.com

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