Holiday Parks Management | Nov/Dec 2019

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EAG Preview FOR YOUR ARCADE NEEDS november/december 2019 • Issue 41

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ISSUE 27 l JUNE 2017

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Holiday Parks

Management What’s in this issue?

04 park news 14

Interview with Landal Green Parks

17

EAG Preview

18

New Products

19

Focus on Whalesborough Diversification

Also In this issue: The Great British Glamping Report

Project

22 Wifi Feature 27

Iseki Focus

28 Holiday Park & Resort Review 30 Spatex Preview 31

SALTEX Review

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 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISSUE 41 l NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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PARKNEWS

Landal GreenParks UK scoops four top tourism awards Landal GreenParks UK is celebrating recognition for its unrivalled customer service following a quadruple win at a top tourism event.

Elite Dynamics new solution includes partnership with Hoseasons Elite Dynamics, a leading provider of software solutions for the Holiday Parks industry, has launched an exciting new solution guaranteed to make holiday park customers’ lives a whole lot easier.

The award-winning EliteParks management software has been further developed to fully integrate with Hoseasons – the UK’s leading self-catering accommodation specialists, with more than 31,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings throughout Britain and Europe. In what is a first specifically for the holiday parks industry, EliteParks customers using this new platform can now offer unit to unit shared availability.

This means EliteParks customers have an integrated one-stop solution that can share availability as well as maintaining price parity with Hoseasons via optional dynamic pricing. In addition, the updated solution can automatically capture booking details including any additional requests or special requirements.

This integration between the two systems will not only save customers’ time, but also improve overall efficiency and minimise the risk of double bookings.

The first holiday park customer to take advantage of the most advanced management solution on the market is Landal Piperdam in Dundee in North East Scotland.

Sam Wall, Commercial Director at Landal Piperdam said: “Nowadays it’s all about speed for our customers and if the booking system doesn’t deliver, we risk either losing them or getting off on the wrong foot, which is just as bad. EliteParks provides us with the functionality to ensure the process from booking through to aftersales is seamless for everyone.”

Elite Dynamics uses an Application Programming Interface (API) to connect its EliteParks system with Hoseasons, all with the aim of improving the customer journey.

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Three Landal resorts walked away with awards at Hoseasons’ 14th annual Gala Awards evening, including Landal Darwin Forest, Landal Gwel an Mor and Landal Kielder Waterside – each of which achieved the highest scores in independent, regional customer satisfaction surveys.

Landal Darwin Forest took away two awards on the night and was crowned Winner of Relax & Explore Diamond Award for Heart of England as well as winning the coveted Best in Britain title.

Commenting after the award was presented at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, East Sussex, Lyndsey Grayson, Joint Managing Director of Pine Lodge Holidays, owner of Landal Darwin Forest said: “We are delighted by this latest recognition of the outstanding standards we always deliver at Landal Darwin Forest. Our staff are driven by a passion for excellence and go the extra mile to make sure our guests have a first-rate experience whenever they visit, so it’s nice for the team to get the acknowledgement they deserve.”

Cornwall based Landal Gwel an Mor walked away with Relax & Explore Diamond Award for Cornwall, and Northumberland resort, Landal Kielder Waterside was crowned winner of Relax & Explore Diamond Award for North of England.

Speaking after presenting the award, Simon Altham, Chief Portfolio Officer at Awaze, parent company to Hoseasons, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to hand over these awards to the team at Landal GreenParks UK, who clearly offer a stellar guest experience. We all know the importance that positive reviews can have on bookings and it’s clear from the feedback these three lodge parks have been receiving that they’re doing a fantastic job of looking after our customers. They deserve all the plaudits that come their way and I wish them every success for the year ahead.”

Paul Hardingham, Managing Director, Landal GreenParks UK, said: “It is an honour to receive four prestigious awards across three resorts. Being recognised by guests as we go into our third year of business is a testament to our ongoing efforts to the Landal team across the board and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work ensuring Landal GreenParks UK is a huge success.”

All Landal GreenParks UK resorts are part of Hoseasons’ Go Active Breaks collection, and have set new standards for holidays, helping over 3 million guests a year make the most of their time together, finding the perfect balance between getting away from it all, getting back to nature and enjoying life’s luxuries.

PARKNEWS Cornwall holiday parks celebrate green awards success He added the family owners of the John Fowler group, together with park staff, are providing a VIP welcome both to wildlife and human guests.

He said it was obvious that all of the staff at Tolroy Manor have been working extremely hard to reduce their carbon footprint, and to protect and enhance Cornwall’s wildlife.

Long-time winners of the David Bellamy award, the Killigarth Manor and St Ives parks saw their accolades jump from silver in previous years to the gold standard this year.

Professor Bellamy praised too the park’s support for local charities and other good causes, and its projects to promote environmental awareness among holiday guests.

Widemouth Bay Caravan Park kept hold of their Gold award for another year.

Botanist David Bellamy has named four toprated Cornish holiday parks as being among the greenest places in Britain for families to enjoy a holiday.

All four members of the John Fowler Holiday Parks group have each been presented with Professor Bellamy’s prestigious conservation award at its top gold level.

All three were presented with a special commendation from David Bellamy for the care of their woodlands where many new wildlife habitats have been created.

St Ives, Tolroy Manor and Widemouth Bay also received ‘Honey Bee Friendly’ status.

Celebrating their triumph are Tolroy Manor Holiday Park in Hayle, St Ives Holiday Village, Widemouth Bay Caravan Park, and Killigarth Manor Holiday Park in Polperro.

Meanwhile, Tolroy Manor Holiday Park has retained its gold award for the third year in succession, and also won a woodlands commendation, plus another for its wild flower plantings.

The parks, said David Bellamy, had proved themselves “true friends of the countryside” by their raft of initiatives to protect animals, plants and the natural environment.

The park’s high nectar-bearing flowers, said David Bellamy, are providing vital foraging resources for endangered honey bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Sherwood Hideaway have won the coveted ‘Holiday Park of the Year’ for the third time in a row, at the Nottinghamshire Hospitality Stars Awards 2019.

The park was announced as the winner at a glitzy black-tie event at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham last night (24/10). General Manager of the park Alan Sibthorpe was there with members of his team and the team from Thoresby Estate to collect the award.

The park, which is managed by Bridge Leisure Management, provides luxury lodge accommodation surrounded by the enchanting Sherwood Forest. This month also saw the park awarded a Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award for their ongoing commitment to protecting and preserving the environment.

Alan Sibthorpe said: “We are absolutely thrilled that we have been named holiday park of the year for the third time. We are a small team at Sherwood which includes my wife Lynn who works alongside me as Holiday Sales Manager. Everyone works extremely hard and rolls their sleeves up to pitch in wherever it’s needed.”

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Tolroy Manor managers Gavin and Amy Lewis said: “We are absolutely thrilled to hear that we have yet again been awarded David Bellamy’s gold accolade.

“This year we have been working hard to increase the number of wildlife habitats in the grounds, and to extend the areas given over to honey bee friendly flowers,” said Gavin.

Holiday Park of the Year Hattrick for Sherwood Hideaway

PARKNEWS

Cofton Holidays shortlisted in FIVE categories at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2019 Cofton Holidays, the multi award-winning holiday park near Dawlish, South Devon, has been shortlisted in no-less than five categories in Devon’s most prestigious hospitality and tourism awards.

The family-run business is through to the final rounds of the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2019, having been shortlisted for: Holiday Park of the Year; Self Catering Accommodation of the Year; Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism business of the year; Dog Friendly Business of the Year, and Café and Tea Room of the Year.

Now in its 10th year, the Visit Devon Awards saw a record 240 entries from businesses across Devon, including over 70 from the English Riviera.

Cofton Holidays, which won Gold for Holiday Park of the Year in 2018, and went on to win Gold at the South West Tourism Awards in the same category, will now proceed to the final, with the winners being announced at a glittering ceremony on Thursday 28th November 2019 in Torquay.

This is the second bout of good news that Cofton Holidays has received in the space of one month. Recently, the holiday park was shortlisted in the 2019 UK Pool and Spa Awards. Cofton has made it down to the last three in the Holiday Park Pool of the Year category, fighting off competition from other businesses across the country. Now, the Dawlish holiday park is up against Butlins in Bognor Regis and Plas Coch Coastal and Country Retreat in Wales. Cofton has also been shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category at the Western Morning New Business Awards, which will be announced on 21 November.

Holidays just got greener as caravan park harnesses the power of the sun One of the North Wales coast’s ‘greenest’ caravan parks has just become even more eco-friendly after harnessing the area’s famous sunshine to help power its mobile homes – and save themselves money in the process.

Energy experts Hafod Renewables have just installed an 86panel solar array at the Ty Gwyn Holiday Park, at Towyn, Abergele, where the Owen family have been welcoming visitors since 1938.

The third generation of the family, brother and sister Rhodri and Angharad, have been stepping up their ‘green’ credentials with renewable electricity tariffs and recycling policies and the new £23,000 system will save them over £4,000 a year and pay for itself within six years.

Hafod Renewables Managing Director David Jones is at the UK’s largest holiday park show, the Holiday Park and Resort Innovation 2019, at the NEC in Birmingham this week to bang the drum for renewable energy in the tourism industry and to showcase the Ty Gwyn project.

He said: “We want to try and educate the holiday park sector that there are cleaner, more sustainable and cheaper ways to provide electricity for their sites.

“This makes sense for sites like Ty Gwyn because they’re busy from Easter through to Halloween which are also the sunniest and warmest months of the year.

“Here at Ty Gwyn they also have a number of buildings with roofs suitable for solar panels and so the new system is spread over five different buildings and generates 34.4 kilowatts of electricity which is enough to run eight homes and easily tops up their mains supply.”

It’s a perfect solution for Rhodri who had been faced with rising electricity costs, increasing demand and possible supply issues on the park which is just yards from the beach at Towyn.

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PARKNEWS New Chief Executive for the Family Holiday Association Leading industry charity, the Family Holiday Association, has announced the appointment of Kat Lee as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kat is joining from Girlguiding, the UK’s largest charity for girls and young women.

As Head of Youth Programmes, she has spent the last six years leading the successful transformation of the organisation’s youth offer. With a wealth of experience in service delivery, strategy and impact, Kat has involved more than 50,000 girls and young women in the biggest overhaul in the charity’s 100-year history.

Announcing Kat’s appointment, Philippa Harris, Chair of Trustees for the Family Holiday Association said: “We are delighted that Kat has agreed to join us to drive that

change for the future. Her experience supporting girls to achieve at Girlguiding coupled with her energy and outlook reflects our ambition for the future of the Family Holiday Association.”

Reflecting on her new role, Kat said: “I am delighted to be joining The Family Holiday Association as CEO. The charity has a proud history of supporting the families who need it most to take a break, connect with one another and make memories they can treasure forever. I am looking forward to working with staff and partners to enable many more families to step away from the challenges of daily life and have fun together on a much-needed break.”

Prior to Girlguiding Kat worked in two high profile tourist attractions, The Science

Museum and the Houses of Parliament, for more than a decade where she focussed on enabling young people and families to access and enjoy institutions many feel are not for them.

Cornwall park creates a real buzz in green awards Richard said that the award, made after an inspection by Professor Bellamy’s assessors, was a great inspiration to their work to protect the natural world: “We are looking all the time at ways to benefit the beautiful environment in which we live, and to make the park as welcoming to wildlife as it is to guests,” he said.

“This year we’ve made great strides in banning single-use plastics, and have started selling beach goods donated by guests at the end of their stay in return for a donation to charity.

“In fact, many families choose Tehidy because of its unspoiled tranquil surroundings and are very supportive of what we do to protect our natural heritage,” added Richard.

Honey bees and butterflies have helped a family’s Cornish holiday park to wing its way to victory in a national environmental awards scheme.

The world-famous botanist said that business owners Richard and Julia Barnes were very well-deserving long-time winners of his annual accolade.

Tehidy Holiday Park near Redruth has been declared a winner of the prestigious 2019 David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

The couple bought the park almost 15 years ago, and committed themselves to running it along sustainable lines whilst creating a safe haven for wildlife.

Visitors to Tehidy can bring their own touring caravans, motorhomes or tent, rent a luxury holiday caravan or cottage, or glamp in a fully equipped timber wigwam.

Helping the park win this year’s award are the extensive plantings of wild flowers which provide vital foraging for pollinators such as honey bees and butterflies.

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PARKNEWS Park Holidays UK to host hundreds of free holidays for Thomas Cook staff

the park’s 150-plus holiday homes.

“It means that we welcomed over 600 guests in total for between two and three nights, and hopefully we created a truly memorable experience for everyone.

“I’m sure there were some nostalgic moments, but overall we simply wanted all the Thomas Cook team, and especially the children, to share a very happy time,” added Geoff.

Park Holidays UK invited more than 600 Thomas Cook staff and their families to enjoy a weekend by the seaside so that they could say “a proper goodbye”.

The holiday park group picked up the tab for their accommodation in fully-equipped holiday homes for up to three nights, and laid on free entertainment.

The scene of the huge reunion party was Broadland Sands Holiday Park near Lowestoft which the group is opened especially for the event on 8-11 November.

Park Holidays UK marketing director Geoff Barnes said it was a chance for staff to swap memories and let their hair down after Thomas Cook suddenly went into liquidation in September:

“The immediacy of the announcement meant that there was little time for many staff at Thomas Cooks’ Peterborough headquarters to say a final farewell,” said Geoff.

As well as the free accommodation, guests had use of all of Broadland Sand’s leisure facilities, including a recently opened £1.6 million swimming pool complex.

“As members of the holiday industry ourselves, we were also deeply saddened by the news and wanted to reach out to try and soften the blow in some way.

Charges were also waived on some other activities usually paid for by holiday guests, such as the climbing wall, adventure golf course and Segway Scooters.

“We thought the best way to help would be to open one of our most popular parks, Broadland Sands, for a long weekend and to offer free stays to staff and their partners and children.

In addition, Park Holidays UK laid on a full no-cost entertainments programme in the park’s clubhouse featuring professional family-friendly acts.

“Within one day of making the opportunity known to Thomas Cook staff, we were delighted to have taken bookings for all of

Broadland Sands offered a subsidised food and snack menu to Thomas Cook guests throughout the weekend, and a range of drinks were also discounted.

Partners team up to encourage birds at luxury Shrewsbury resort Two award-winning Shropshire companies are teaming up to create two communal wildlife areas where guests can watch birds.

Love2Stay caravanning and luxury glamping resort in Shrewsbury has partnered with CJ Wildlife at nearby Upton Magna to introduce two bird feeding stations and a new insect habitat for a butterfly and bee garden.

Keen to incorporate wildlife into the resort to provide nature and wildlife experiences and information for customers, Love2Stay

will also be introducing bird and insect identification charts to help people of all ages to observe, learn and engage with nature.

A children’s activity pack will also include information about birds, mammals, butterflies, bees, bugs and pondlife.

The new partnership is tied in with the ethos of Love2Stay, which is to provide families with an escape where they have a digital detox, engage with nature and get children playing outside in the fresh air.

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PARKNEWS Winter is open season for training as Lakes park recruits Sophy Nelson and Lauren Thompson are the latest recruits to the park’s customer service team which is being strengthened after one of its busiest summers to date.

Although the 450-pitch park will shut in late November for its three month winter closure, family business member Henry Wild says it’s an ideal time to take on new staff:

Two keen walkers have taken a step forward in their tourism careers after joining the Lake District’s multi-award winning Skelwith Fold caravan park.

“Unlike some tourism businesses, parks have many different dimensions – and twelve weeks is an ideal period to provide new members with a thorough grounding,” he said.

“As well as conventional admin training, we like getting all staff involved in our

Green turns into gold for Cheshire park and residents

Residents and the family owners of a retirement park in Cheshire are celebrating after winning a top environmental accolade from world-famous botanist David Bellamy.

Riverside Park in Whitegate near Northwich has won the annual David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level – despite this being its first time of entering.

The park also received three extra commendations in the award scheme for protecting honey bees, creating new hedgerow habitats, and planting wild flowers.

Owned by Sam Leigh-Jones and her husband Darren, Riverside was selected for the award following an in-depth audit by

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conservation work at the park which we regard as an extremely important aspect of what we do.

“So I’m sure Sophy and Lauren will also be helping with our winter feeding programme for deer, monitoring our red squirrel population, and creating new wildlife habitats,” added Henry.

The park’s raft of environmental initiatives in its 130-acre grounds has once again won it this year the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Both of Skelwith Fold’s new team members live in Cumbria and have gained hospitality experience at leading Lake District hotels after leaving local schools.

David Bellamy’s wildlife assessors.

and the series of floating bird rafts in the river to provide safe nesting platforms.

The three-acre park, said Professor Bellamy, was fully deserving of the honour thanks to a long list of green initiatives taken by the couple with the support of park residents.

According to Sam, credit for the gold David Bellamy Conservation Award deserves to be shared with everyone who lives on the park:

Riverside provides 27 park homes, all of which have picturepostcard views of the River Weaver which runs alongside the park, and the surrounding Cheshire countryside.

Since taking over the park almost five years ago, Sam and Darren have planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs which have created additional habitats and food resources for wildlife.

Professor Bellamy made special mention of the large areas of wild flower plantings which provide vital foraging for endangered honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

He praised too the couple’s installation of bird and owl boxes throughout the grounds,

“Many of our residents chose Riverside Park as their home because of its unspoiled tranquil surroundings, and everyone here shares a love of the natural world,” she said.

“There’s also great enthusiasm among residents to play their part in helping to safeguard wildlife, so we’re never short of ideas or offers of help and support for our work.

“We consider ourselves very privileged to live and work in such a beautiful corner of Cheshire, and it’s great to know we are being supported by someone like David Bellamy,” added Sam.

PARKNEWS

MP congratulates nature-loving Lincs park and residents Residents and the family owners of The Elms retirement park in Lincolnshire won their MP’s vote of confidence this month for helping to protect the natural world.

Sir Edward Leigh MP visited the Torksey park to congratulate everyone on their success in winning the 2019 David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Sir Edward, who represents the Gainsborough constituency, told park director Tracey Coulson that wildlife and conservation were subjects in which he takes a keen interest.

For that reason, he said, being able to visit The Elms to discover more about what has been achieved was an opportunity he very much welcomed.

Announcing his award, David Bellamy said that The Elms had created “a wildlife wonderland” in its 65-acre grounds, and fully deserved the scheme’s highest honour.

According to Tracey Coulson, the credit for the gold accolade needed to be shared with those who live in the 340 park homes at The Elms: “We are given the most fantastic support from residents for our conservation work, and many make their own important contributions to what we do,” she said.

“From harvesting rainfall in butts for watering plants to putting up bird boxes and feeding stations in their gardens, it all has a positive impact on the environment.

“Many say they chose to live here because of their love of nature and for unspoiled surroundings, so we’re so very lucky to have such an amazing green team working with us!” added Tracey.

Owned by the Kinch family’s for over 35 years, The Elms was selected for the gold award following an in-depth audit by David Bellamy’s wildlife assessors.

Premier Caravan Storage Unveiled to Mark Business Anniversary One of the country’s premier caravan retailers has marked a special anniversary in its history with the first release of three hundred spaces on their newly converted 10 acre storage site adjacent to the current facility.

The late Derek Smith would have reached the grand old age of 90 on 22nd October 2019, and the spaces will be released on that date with a further 500 to follow by the end of the year.

“We are proud of our family heritage and that those ties still run through the business today,” said Jon Goulden Chairman Yorkshire Caravans. “Honouring this special event in our history by extending our business operations and sharing our ongoing success seemed a fitting way to honour Derek and the legacy that he has left.”

Derek joined his father in the business in 1950 and was affectionately known as ‘Mr Smith’. He was also famous for introducing some of the best caravan franchises in the industry and also the old 1980’s TV advertising slogan, ‘Can we ‘ave one Dad?’ “Our business is going from strength to strength and the next step was for us to offer increased storage that fulfilled the requirements of today’s caravan owners,” said Jon. “The new storage spaces, together with our existing storage facility, will make Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry one of the largest caravan and storage facilities in the UK”.

The new secure plots will each offer a generous size of 7m deep and 8ft wide leaving 1.4m between each storage plot plus the welldesigned site will allow easy manoeuvrability with a one-way system. The site has CaSSOA (Caravan Storage Site Owners Association) gold accreditation which is only awarded to sites providing the highest level of security .

Plans for a wash bay and tyre air facility are also in place for 2020 together with the launch of a VIP club offering added benefits including a rewards card, an option to buy online and collect in store, a monthly prize draw and other exclusive member offers.

Among the many highlights mentioned were the large areas of wild flower plantings which provide vital foraging for endangered honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Recently, the park installed three beehives of its own and is learning from a professional beekeeper how to care for them in a natural, chemical-free way.

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LANDAL:

A Green Evolution in Parks One of the UK’s fastest-growing park groups in the UK is actually an import from the Netherlands.

Holiday Parks Management caught up with Paul Hardingham, Managing Director of Landal Green Parks in the UK to find out more about how this successful park formula is growing so rapidly in popularity with holidaymakers in this country.

Landal GreenParks was established at Rabbit Hill Park, Holland, in 1954 and now seen as a leading destination brand not only in the Netherlands but across Europe.

Tell us a little bit about the background of the company?

Landal GreenParks is part of Awaze Europe’s leading managed vacation rentals and holiday resorts business, which also owns self-catering brands cottages.com, Hoseasons, James Villa Holidays and Novasol.

Landal GreenParks has over 90 locations throughout Europe, across 10 countries offering a wide range of parks catering for every holiday experience with units ranging from 50 – 600 across the different locations.

In the UK, Landal GreenParks currently has Landal Piperdam in Scotland, Landal Kielder Waterside in Northumberland, Landal Darwin Forest and Landal Sandybrook in Derbyshire, Landal Kenwick Woods in Lincolnshire and Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall.

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Landal was established in 1954 in the Netherlands and was originally an insurance company which offered employees holidays in nature. A little bit of that ethos still holds true to today as we are still committed to providing holidays in nature to the more than 3 million people who book through us every year.

The group model is franchise operation. The beauty for independent park owners is that they retain their assets while being part of a much bigger international organisation and all the experience that comes with that.

The first two UK Landal parks opened in 2017 and two years on, we are one of the fastest growing park businesses in the country. The reason for this is that we offer unique locations in beautiful natural surroundings, however, guests can be assured of the same standards of quality in all of our parks. This

means quality, comfortable lodges with hot tubs, restaurants on site and spas with indoor pools to extend the season.

Apart from that, we are committed to introducing people to the local area around the parks, rather than trying to keep them on resort all the time – we even provide them with guide books in their lodges. This is what provides such a different experience on each park, it’s also why we have a great deal of brand loyalty among our guests who like to swap between different parks to experience other areas of the country and indeed other countries as well. Our UK parks have received high numbers of overseas Landal fans, who are reassured by the familiar brand that they know from home.

What else makes Landal different?

Every single one of our employees undertakes a course in ‘Hostmanship’ which is a translation of a Dutch term. It basically means empowering the staff to make them feel that they personally have the ability to make a positive difference to peoples’ stays.

This has definitely led us to deliver a better product and that has seen our Reevoo scores move steadily upwards in the UK in the past two years which has also seen us nominated for a raft of awards.

Landal GreenParks also has a green pledge which it shares with its guests. We are constantly striving to improve our green credentials but being a traditional holiday park with features such as hot tubs means this is not always that easy.

We have done away with single-use plastics – for example by supplying canned water rather than plastic bottles.

To support its single-use plastic pledge even further, Landal Kielder Waterside has replaced the need for single-use plastic containers by only using packing from Vegware in its shop and restaurant. Vegware are manufacturers of compostable foodservice packaging, producing plant-based catering disposables which are created from renewable, lower carbon and recycled materials. All of which, unlike plastic, can be composted with food waste.

In addition, we have introduced a number of renewable energy sources to Landal Piperdam including biomass and we also burn forest residue for energy to supply heat and electricity to all the main buildings, leisure facilities Lochside lodges and a further 50% of all lodges on park. We have introduced electric car charging points on our parks, as well as LED lighting to outdoor areas and reduced water flow rates.

We do our best to educate our guests about greener choices, whilst showing them how to reconnect with nature and helping them to make a positive contribution to the local community by getting out and about and spending money.

When guests leave, they often leave unwanted food behind – so wherever possible – we donate this to local food banks.

Apart from that, we have an extensive tree planting programme and we try to give back to the local community by restoring the natural habitats of local wildlife around our parks, this is something we can share with our guests and which inspires them.

How do parks benefit from joining Landal?

We work very closely with our park owners to share insights, knowledge and best practice which has come from our many years of successful operation across many countries. We help owners to get the most out of their parks, for example by streamlining their check-in procedures, or offering them advice on which lodges to invest in. We are able to analyse large amounts of data in order to give them informed advice about the UK sector, combined with international insights.

The key for them is the brand recognition with that comes with a name like Landal and the benefit of shared data and knowledge about the UK sector.

Behind the scenes, we pool ideas and resources and data for the benefit of all our parks and the revenue management and analytics makes a significant difference.

As for the future – we are looking to grow further. We have enjoyed incredible success in the first two years, growing our existing park partners in terms of expansion as well as taking on new parks to work with.

By ensuring the right locations and the right products, we have found the right partners – our current owner base have kept their unique identities while embracing the ethos that is Landal and its luxury holidays in nature.

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NEW LOOK EAG INTERNATIONAL Holds Promise For The Holiday Parks Industry From 14th-16th January, leisure operators from Europe and beyond will be converging on ExCeL London to experience the very latest in out-of-home entertainment and to attend inspirational seminar and educational programmes at the Entertainment, Attractions and Gaming International Expo.

The 2020 show will benefit from a major rebrand which, as EAG Chairman Martin Burlin explains, is more than skin-deep: “EAG was originally created to follow a 70-year tradition of an amusement show in London at the beginning of January. In the eleven years since the show’s launch, however, EAG International has changed dramatically, reflecting seismic shifts in the way people are choosing to spend their leisure time.

“EAG’s visitor profile has shifted and we’re now seeing buyers from the wider leisure community, including FECs, visitor attractions, trampolining, family resorts, bowling and holiday parks. In the last two or three years, we’ve experienced particular interest in immersive entertainment technologies such as AR & VR and in cashless payment technology and business management software. Many of our new exhibitors are now hailing from these sectors,” reveals Martin.

staycation, fuelled by some excellent weather and brexit uncertainties. The smart operators do recognise that these drivers are not permanent and acknowledge that they need to constantly innovate to remain competitive. The show will appeal to small and medium-sized ventures; there will be no roller coasters, no master planners and no people-moving trains, but there will be go karts and children’s electric vehicles and virtual sports arenas. This is a show that features business-building products that may well be transformational, but are within the reach of smaller budgets,” assures Martin.

So, what are the products that the holiday park operator will see at EAG International?

Traditional games rooms are well catered for with offerings such as air hockey, pool tables, juke boxes, skill games and vending. For the larger parks, particularly those with FEC

operations, the list is almost endless. Expect to see the latest 4D immersive video games and high activity sports themed games from leading global manufacturers and distributors. Many holiday parks have now embraced the unique opportunity created by Redemption, where many of the games are particularly oriented to family fun and where tickets or points may be collected throughout the guest’s holiday, putting attractive higher value prizes in reach. For added appeal and collectability, the games themselves and the and prize merchandise on offer will feature licensed entertainment brands that are bangon-trend.

With 60% of UK retail transactions now being cashless, new opportunities abound for the holiday park and leisure operator. Downtime on coin-operated games and equipment can be reduced by around 80% when converted to cashless, and that’s on top of savings on coin handling time and cost, as well as improved security. Data collected improves understanding of customer behaviour and cashless systems are perfect for rewarding guests for their loyalty with flexible pricing and bonuses.

The Entertainment Attractions and Gaming Expo will be bursting with ideas for keeping guests on site and growing that all-important incremental income. The show and its seminars are free to attend, and ExCeL Expo Centre has won awards for its accessibility.

If this sounds attractive, then spend a day or two at EAG International – your business will thank you for it!

EAG International may have not have always been on the radar for holiday parks and resort operators but this is changing, with a substantial number attending last January’s event. Those who made the journey were rewarded with a showcase of products to delight their guests and keep them returning, year after year.

Martin continues, “For the holiday park operator, EAG focuses on amenity, entertainment and new income opportunities. The UK holiday scene in particular has fared well with the rise of the

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N E W

P R O D U C T S

Winter Management A wet autumn followed by a freeze can seriously damage your grass areas and decking surrounds. Salt-based de-icers are a no-no because they will kill vegetation and corrode decking. Polar Products offer non-corrosive plant and animal friendly alternatives that not only prevent freezing but also supply minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium to the soil.

The Correct Products for the Job Polar offer 2 different types of product depending on whether you want to use a granule or a liquid. PolarThaw Ca is a Calcium chloride based granule that works down to -32â—ŚC. Applied at the rate of 20gm/sq meter, it is a fast

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acting and cost effective anti-icing and de-icing agent. Calcium chloride is both hygroscopic (absorbs water) and exothermic (heat generating) whilst at the same time non-corrosive and environmentally friendly.

PolarThaw PG is the liquid alternative based on Propylene glycol again effective down to very low temperatures. The majority of sports pitches generally prefer a granule but for others, a liquid is easier to apply. In addition, for non-sensitive hard standings, pathways and

car parks the company offers PolarThaw Plus, a Sodim, Magnesium and Calcium chloride granule with corrosion inhibitors that reduce corrosion by 80% compared to rock salt. The company also offers a product formulation service for customers with specific requirements.

For further information, call 01608 686626 (Open 8am to 8pm, 7 days per week) or visit www.polarproductseurope.com

Let the children play on a sustainable future To support NBB’s dream of sustainable, ecofriendly play for the future of our children, Farmer Palmers Farm Park in Poole, Dorset has agreed to trial the NBB Buddy Balance Trim Trail.

The trim trail, manufactured by Poole-based NBB Recycled Furniture, is predominantly made from recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the plastic most commonly used to produce milk bottles.

When recycled, HDPE is extremely durable making it ideal for continuous outdoor use. It will not rot, crack or splinter, requires no annual preservation treatment like its wooden equivalents, and can be fully recycled overand-over again. Sandra Palmer-Snellin, co-owner of Farmer Palmers comments: “Our great working relationship with NBB Recycled Furniture began 6 years ago, when we purchased, and they installed, 10 fantastic picnic benches in 2013. They are still in

excellent condition. When NBB approached us to see if we would like to be the first ever installation of their new Buddy Balance trim trail, we felt honoured to be chosen to let our little VIP’s trial it for them, smiled and quickly agreed.

“Our farm park is born from nature, and as such, we aim to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Having sustainable play equipment made from recycled plastic fits perfectly with our ongoing commitment to reduce our environmental impact. We know it will be a huge hit and if a huge hit, we will be asking if we can keep it.”

Installation of the trim trail and independent certification from The Play Inspection Company took place in mid-October, ready for the equipment to take its first proper thrashing over the half term holiday. The Buddy Balance trim trail is the latest addition

to the upcoming range of play equipment from NBB, and the company hopes to continue its relationship with Farmer Palmers to install future ranges for testing at the farm park as they are developed.

Managing Director of NBB Recycled Furniture, Martyn Bright, has been personally overseeing development of the play equipment range and installation of the trim trail at Farmer Palmers.

Martyn tells us: “Here at NBB, we are constantly growing our product portfolio to cater to the diverse needs of our customers. It is really pleasing to see that a wealth of businesses in the UK, including visitor attractions now have environmental issues at the top of their agenda. Being able to provide them with eco-friendly furniture, fencing and play equipment that raise sustainability profiles and create long- term monetary and resource savings is what our organisation has been about since we launched back in 2012.

We are really pleased to have built a rapport with Farmer Palmers over the years, as it’s such a great venue to trial our new products and gain valuable feedback from children and parents alike.”

To view the full range of NBB recycled plastic products, visit www.recycledfurniture.co.uk or call 0800 1777 052.

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Taking delivery in June this year, Chipper Hire South West became the very first UK rental company to add a GreenMech EVO 165D woodchipper to their ever-expanding fleet. With a portfolio that spans tracked, road-tow and pedestrian units, their latest addition has exceeded the expectations, and some, for Owner Col Bachmann.

Having spotted a niche in his geographical area, Col added chippers to his plant hire fleet in 2015 before spinning Chipper Hire South West off as a separate entity in late 2016. “We’ve used GreenMech right from the start” he explains “and now have machines from 4” right through to 8” to satisfy the varied requirements of our client base.” As an ambassador for the GreenMech product, Col gained an insight into the new EVO range throughout its developmental phase. “It was evident from the start that attention was paid to every detail of the chipper and the end result is a well-engineered machine that really performs.”

offers processing power and throw that outperforms competitor machines in its category.” When it comes to the maintenance of the machine, the new centralised greasing points have been another major plus point for Col. “With the tight turnaround we have between hires, the convenience of having all the major grease points in one place saves us so much time – it’s a godsend.”

“The new, larger infeed configuration sees the EVO handling high volumes of timber, including conifer, with ease while the more aggressive torque and heavier flywheel

For Col, the EVO 165D is now the pride of his fleet and sits alongside some further recent additions including an ArbTrak 200, two more 19-28 SAFE-Trak’s and a CS100.

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FEELING CHIPPER! “Because we run such a large fleet, we are fortunate in that we can turn to GreenMech or their comprehensive dealer network for support. When people are relying on our chippers to deliver on projects and contracts, it’s imperative they are well serviced, and the back-up support we receive is second to none.”

Staycationers treated to whale of a time at newly expanded

W Club

Holiday complex Whalesborough Cottages and Spa has just enhanced its visitor experiences by extending leisure facilities at the popular picturesque North Cornwall coastal destination.

Site owner James is the third generation of the Proudfoot family, which established a dairy farm on the 500-acre estate more than 50 years ago but is the first to diversify into leisure.

“My grandfather established the dairy farm in 1963,” James explains, “but by 2004 we had run our course with it and decided to move into holiday cottages. On reflection, 15 years later, I can say that it was certainly the right decision.”

Whalesborough attracts staycationers from across Britain to its 21, 5-star luxury cottages – from as far afield as Scotland and more regionally from Bath and Bristol.

“Our USP is that we are very dog friendly, in contrast to many holiday destinations like ours,” says James. “Guests love roaming across the coastal countryside and can stroll right down to the beach at Widemouth Bay. It’s a delightful setting.”

Several members of the Proudfoot family help run the Bude operation. “My cousin Fraser is the other half of the business and manages the café and bistro,” James explains. “My wife Sharran is office manager, while sons Jake and Tom work here too. Tom has just completed a degree in film and media, so is planning to promote us on the digital platforms.”

Leisure provision plays an increasingly important aspect of Whalesborough’s offering and James reflects on how trends can transform the scale and scope of facilities in this sector.

“We built our first cottages in 2009, with more following in 2013 and 2014 in the off season. All are five-star gold and feature leading-edge interior design, sustainable construction standards, solar panels and wood-pellet boilers.

“At the time, the spa was almost an afterthought, with just two treatment rooms on the second floor.” But regularly rising guest numbers forced a rethink. “Our changing areas were cramped, no longer fit for purpose and couldn’t cope with throughput – typically up to 15 ladies are staying here for spa breaks at any one time while the gym had become congested,” says James.

Having established the W Club as an attractive element of Whalesborough’s accommodation, the Proudfoots knew their next step was to scale up to cater for the huge popularity of spa breaks.

Under a two-phase expansion, the former gym has been converted into an enlarged female changing area, fitted out by specialists Crown Sports Lockers.

A purpose-built two-storey extension houses the fitness provision - double the existing floorspace and refreshed with high-end Technogym equipment and augmented spa facilities.

Alongside is the new function room hosting studio classes for yoga and other disciplines, complementing Whalesborough’s outdoor sports provision and infinity swimming pool.

The Proudfoots chose carefully when selecting a supplier to fit out the changing areas. “We were seeking an upmarket manufacturer and had viewed Saunton Sands Hotel, where Crown had recently installed changing rooms,” James explains.

“They seemed a friendly, family firm, attentive with an eye for detail.”

Throughout the build, Crown project manager Sam Palmer worked closely with James and the family to create bespoke designs for the female changing area and spa fitout.

“Collaborating around the kitchen table was a really relaxing way to talk through the client’s requirements and come up with solutions tailored to guest needs and numbers,” Sam recalls.

The three large new treatment rooms Crown fitted out (one twin capacity) on the first floor feature furniture finished in Egger truffle brown Denver oak with crisp white Corian worktops. On the ground floor, Crown fitted a small bank of matching holdall and clothes lockers with DCL keypad locks.

The expansion allows the W Club to further widen its guest offering. “Our cocoon indulgence is already a firm favourite,” James reports, “as are ever-popular lava shells, hot stones and reflexology.”

Fitting out the newly created female changing room in the former gym saw Crown install 36 clothes lockers with DCL keypad locks, three private change cubicles, towel drop unit, and wet and dry vanity stations.

The Made in Britain manufacturer also fitted out the wet area to include flush compact laminate door systems for the WC and shower cubicles. Two upholstered island stools, finished in a revitalising teal, medium blue-green, fabric to match Whalesborough’s corporate colour, completed the install.

“Our female guests now enjoy a far more spacious, luxurious and private changing environment,” says a delighted James.

Despite the explosion in spa days and breaks, the W Club can claim the North Cornish market for itself, it seems. “There isn’t another spa facility within 20 or 30 miles of us,” James reveals. “With planning permission for another 24 holiday cottages, our long-term future is secure.” www.crownsportslockers.co.uk

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a d v e r t o r i a l

In-Van WiFi Makes Connectivity Faster, Convenient, and Super Easy HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Guests are now dependent on accessing the internet wherever they go, even when they're on holiday at their home from home. The option to use the internet in a remote destination has become a new way of enjoying a holiday, and there is no denying that the world of WiFi has become an integral part of our daily lives.

Whether spending a weekend at a holiday home or planning a summer getaway in nature, more travellers want to know they can access the internet safely and dependably when they're away. Guests want to access online entertainment, streaming their favourite movies or books and keeping their kids connected to their consoles. Guests also value connecting to family, friends and coworkers via Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, Facetime, and remoteworking.

Including WiFi outdoors, in-van and invenue, make it possible for holiday parks, resorts and campsites to keep guests delighted and returning time and time.

The ultimate WiFI experience To meet guest expectations, holiday facilities need to provide the very best WiFi. With the cost of WiFi and networking hardware reducing, advanced internet deployments can be created to connect entire park landscapes, including holiday lodges or homes with speed and robustness these methods include "invan," outdoor "thru the window," and "in the venue" internet.

In-Van WiFi In-van internet access is now the gold standard for providing the 5-star guest internet experience. Holiday goers can set

up their gaming consoles, smart TVs, and laptops using wireless and wired connections. It also helps guests to take advantage of smart-plugs along with WiFienabled gadgets such as Alexa and Google Home. The quality of in-van WiFi for the guest ensures a perfect experience and will keep negative reviews at bay.

of users and also modern foil-backed insulation in modern vans and lodges further reduces the quality of guests experience leading to complaints from users who require a fast and reliable connection in all areas and rooms of their accommodation.

In-Van WiFi and How It Works Outdoor WiFi From swimming pools to walkways and parks, WiFi access can readily be available in all outdoor areas or landscapes. Ensure guests Internet is available from the point of reception directly to the holiday accommodation or venue

Venue WiFi Guests expect free WiFi access within venues, and this can drive footfall to your bars, cafes, arcades and facilities.

I parks have an app, for example, why not extend the functionality further? Parks could include providing customers with the ability to check opening times of facilities, browse local tourist information or book an on-site restaurant.

A good start could also include encouraging more social and communityled engagement. Promoting guest check-ins on Facebook and providing opportunities for social sharing commenting and getting involved in the day-to-day life of the park is how customers go from being guests to becoming proactive marketing advocates.

How Modern Demands Have Changed Holiday Park Connectivity Unfortunately, outdoor "through the window" WiFi broadcasting often struggles to keep up with modern guest demands to produce the seamless connectivity customers expected within their accommodation. The problem with this approach was having multiple caravans share an access point with an everincreasing number of devices. The volume

In-van internet connects each pitch directly.

Each caravan then gets an individual WiFi router for perfect signal throughout the accommodation; safe, secure, simple and just like home. You are providing customers with high-quality internet experience just like their home broadband.

The combination of fibre, ethernet and dedicated WiFi links allows every static or lodge guest to enjoy incredible internet speeds of up to 1Gbs. You can deliver your guests an equivalent experience home from home WiFi and parks can accomplish greater satisfaction from existing and increased interest from potential guests.

Increased revenue is also possible as customers are willing to pay for a premium WiFi-enabled holiday experience, providing it meets their demanding needs.

Practical and Modern Access Methods Enhance the Guest Experience Facility owners are encouraged to consider the multitude of benefits premium WiFi access offers interested parties. Basic access WiFi free of charge and for a limited time helps customers to seek a consistent experience. With in-van WiFi, holiday parks can present optional upgrades to highquality premium internet access at a specified rate. It's a win-win for guests and facility owners.

Custom WiFi solutions and dedicated online networks, including a combination of wired and wireless infrastructure, will continue to transform the future of internet access across holiday parks, campgrounds, and resorts.

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myself and three members of the team, the mower definitely has its work cut out. We have found it incredibly comfortable to use, with well-placed mirrors, great driving position and comfortable seat, even after 8 hours of work.”

Disposal of all the grass waste is easily completed with the 2.1m lift clearance into a container with the impressive 950 litre collector, boosting efficiency for Trevor’s team, alongside the large 54” cutting width deck.

Iseki Makes a Lasting Impression at Cosgrove Park Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty near Buckinghamshire you will find the multi-million-pound Cosgrove Caravan Park, spanning over 190 acres.

Park Foreman, Trevor Bird with the help of his team of three gardeners, carefully manicure the site all year round supported by their trusted ISEKI SF235.

When Trevor started at the park four years ago they were using several outfront mulching mowers from a different manufacturer to maintain the grassed areas which left the grounds looking rather scruffy.

Trevor explained; “I knew in order to raise the standards of the park we had to cut and collect the grass from around the site. With this in mind I contacted our local dealer RT Machinery, explained what I was looking for, and they brought out an ISEKI SF235 on demonstration.

powerful turbine sucks the grass from the deck and blows it via an oscillating chute into the collector, ensuring the collector is filled to its maximum. This brilliant feature means there is no annoying clogging up compared to the previous mowers we have owned.

“Used four days a week throughout the whole of the grass cutting season by

“This is the first ISEKI I have purchased and even the little finishing touches are well thought through. One example is all the hydraulic hoses are tucked neatly away so there is no risk of them being caught whilst out cutting. It’s the quality design touches like this that make the mower stand out from its competitors.

Having known Richard Taylor for many years I can safely say RT Machinery’s service is second to none. The back-up provided from the dealership is great and exactly what you look for when purchasing machinery like this.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the ISEKI SF235, with its large 54” deck, impressive collector and superb finish; what is not to like about this machine.”

“Held on a rather miserable, rainy day I wasn’t expecting much from the demonstration, but the impressive capability of the ISEKI SF235 to cut and collect all the grass clippings with an excellent finish, even despite the awful weather, sold it for me. The

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A Successful

Holiday Park Innovation Show for 2019 and 2020 Plans The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show has closed its doors for another year, but that doesn’t mean it’s over yet...

Facts and Figures From the Show The leisure, hospitality and tourism shows altogether welcomed 17,890 visitors, which was a massive 27 percent increase from last year!

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Within the Holiday Park Innovation Show alone, the visitors comprised of n Holiday Park Director, CEO or Founder: 33% n Business Development Manager/Director: 15% n Campsite Owner: 21% n Leisure Centre Director: 3% n Marketing, Advertising, PR and Social Media Managers: 16%

n Operations, Booking Services and Customer Relations: 5% n Holiday Park Food and Beverage Services: 7% Out of these attendees, 90 percent stated that they are hoping to attend the 2020 show. A total of 70 percent of visitors said meeting exhibitors was the most beneficial element of the event.

When it comes to exhibitors, over 96 percent

have said they are happy with the diversity of the visitors, bringing new business opportunities and leads. In fact, directly after the show, 66 percent of exhibitors confirmed they would be doing business with visitors, and 34 percent were in discussion with potential buyers about future business. Due to this, 85 percent of exhibitors have already re-booked for 2020. n Sutton Hospitality - Alex Sutton: “We’ve had a very successful experience, speaking to landowners and farmers.

Overall, it’s been a great success for us.” n Holiday Let Furnishings Ltd - Rachel Conroy, Director: “We decided to increase the size of our stand this year in a better more central location. It has paid off, as there has hardly been a minute of the show that we haven’t had visitors at our stand. The quality of leads has been very promising. We have already reserved our stand for next year! Thank you to the very helpful Prysm team.” n Fowler Revolution - David Randall, Sales Manager: “Good atmosphere, friendly staff, great footfall!”

n GPT Waste Management - Donna Liebernberg, Waste Solutions: “Lovely show, enjoyed the company of all our visitors.” n EDSB Fire & Security - M. Solomon: “We found the show extremely rewarding, and met some excellent businesses.” n Ecoknit Towels - John Balladon, Sales Director: “Well organised, very helpful and friendly staff, busy - plenty of diverse exhibitors.” n Arleigh International - David Wood, Sales Rep: “Very interesting show, lots to see in a friendly environment.” n Caravan Park Electrical Service Ltd - Ted Waring, Director: “Very impressed with the organisation and general layout of the show. Already re-booked for 2020!” n NCC Benevolent - Melanie Day, Manager: “The HPI show provided a great platform to introduce the NCC Benevolent Fund to the industry; we were thrilled to be a charity partner.”

Plans For Next Year’s Holiday Park Innovation Show In today’s world, the holiday park industry changes every day, so staying up to date with the latest consumer trends is ever-important.

“For next year’s show, we are capping the size, so that we can focus on the exhibitors we have, and on making the whole experience as useful as possible. With this in mind, we have a couple of new ideas up our sleeves, which we hope will make the day even more beneficial for our visitors and exhibitors,” says a show spokesperson.

These include an awards ceremony stage, where nominees and their products and services, will be showcased in front of a live audience. The organisers would also like to put an emphasis on the Panel Debates, which proved to be a very popular fixture, by expanding the range of debates across each show.

For more details contact Email: william.mansfield@prysmgroup.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)117 929 6087

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Why SPATEX 2020 is the Expo for YOU

It’s a fact: Hot tubs, spas and swimming pools are the most sought-after facility when choosing a holiday park. Which is why SPATEX 2020 - the UK’s ONLY dedicated water leisure exhibition bursting with the very latest products and innovations is a must for those in the hospitality business. It offers you the potential to meet over a thousand people from the water leisure industry in one day. Held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th January, it is free to attend, and provides holiday park owners, hoteliers, leisure managers with ALL they need to know about water features, spas, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, enclosures and much more besides.

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Help to develop your ideas - There’s few projects that can’t be enhanced with the addition of water. Whether for artistic effect or leisure, water adds another dimension, both in sound and vision. It literally brings a design to life. SPATEX 2020 promises to show you how it can best be achieved.

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Stay abreast of the Industry’s latest innovations – Whether you’re looking to renovate or dip your toe into the water for the first time, you’re promised a glittering display across all sectors. With 100 plus exhibitors, from home and abroad, all of the Industry’s major manufacturers and suppliers will be showcasing their very latest products.

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Get the green bug - Conscious of climate change, the depletion of the world’s natural resources and the need to reduce the Industry’s dependency on plastic, SPATEX 2020 aims to promote an awareness of the environment. Talks and demonstrations in

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the Show’s free-to-attend, three-day double seminar and workshop programme will, amongst many other subjects, focus on how we can all play our part in becoming more eco-aware. With over a hundred international and domestic exhibitors, there will be lots of new products, including those that support a low energy, low carbon footprint.

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Learn new skills – SPATEX hosts three full days of free seminars and workshops which offer vital information such as new Standards and Guidance that affect all providers of wet leisure facilities. In Arena 1 the esteemed Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) is hosting a series of technical workshops and CPD points and a certificate of attendance are available for all attendees. Here’s a taster: n Tuesday 28th Jan Arena 1 10.15 – 10.35: Health & safety Update for the Pool and Spa Operator

n Wed 29th Jan Arena 1 11.00 - 11.30: Energy savings for your pool

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Tap into a unique pool of free expertise for your projects - SPATEX 2020 is fortunate to count the Industry’s many esteemed associations amongst its supporting partners. There’s no better place to seek advice from an expert, and all for free!

Visit www.spatex.co.uk to see SPATEX’s impressive list of exhibitors, details of the free double seminar and workshop programme and register for the Show’s regular e-newslines. SPATEX 2020 – Tuesday 28th January to Thursday 30th January. The Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE is easy to get to just 500 yards off the M6 and within two hours commuting time of 75 per cent of the population, it offers 2,000 free on-site car parking spaces.

A record-breaking

SALTEX 2019 The word on the show floor was that both visitors and exhibitors felt that SALTEX 2019 was the best one yet.

SALTEX (Sports Amenities Landscaping Exhibition) once again proved to be the industry’s showcase event with over 500 brands on display and a record-breaking 9,104 visitors in attendance.

As soon as the doors opened on the first day of the show there was an electric atmosphere with groundscare enthusiasts swarming into the NEC halls eager to see the latest and most technologically-advanced innovations in grounds management.

The record-breaking 9,104 visitors consisted of those working in or involved with groundscare, sports turf, amenities, estates and green-space management. The show not only attracted visitors from the UK but also a high number of overseas visitors due to the venue’s easy access to national and international transport links.

In fact, SALTEX 2019 saw visitors attending from 49 overseas markets. Many attendees made the journey to the NEC from Europe, Asia, America and Africa – underlining the fact that SALTEX truly is an international event.

One such international visitor was Ebi Ezekiel Egbe, managing director of Monimichelle Sports Construction, who travelled to SALTEX from Nigeria. Ebi explained why the long journey was worthwhile: “The most

important thing for us in Africa is to broaden our knowledge on how to maintain the highest standard of sports pitches and to bring the latest innovations in groundscare to the African market. SALTEX gives us the opportunity to do exactly this. It’s a beautiful show and I’ve had a great time.”

SALTEX is also the perfect platform to inspire the next generation of groundscare practitioners and it was encouraging to see a younger demographic of visitors on the show floor, such as 13-year-old Jack Davies who enjoys gardening and mowing lawns in his spare time and aspires to be a professional landscaper.

“I’ve been wanting to come to SALTEX for the past two or three years and this year I have finally managed to convince my Dad to take me. This is like Christmas for me,” he said.

Spanish footballing giants.

The competition was just a number of show attractions and the new Eco Village indoor demonstration area made a storming debut.

In a dedicated area on the show floor the Eco Village featured a programme of daily product demonstrations which featured cutting-edge sustainable technology by Fleet Line Markers, STIHL UK, Overton UK, Avant Tecno, Cub Cadet, Linddana, Husqvarna, Allett Mowers and Sherriff Amenity in front of a large crowd of show attendees.

The buzz on the show floor was palpable, as recognised by the legendary Keith Kent, former head groundsman at Twickenham Stadium. “The Institute of Groundsmanship has done tremendously well in bringing so many exhibitors and visitors in and it is just a joy to see such a busy show. You cannot walk anywhere without seeing something that catches your attention,” he said.

The SALTEX College Cup competition, sponsored by Toro and Reesink, demonstrated just how well young groundscare students are being academically prepared for careers in the industry. The Myerscough College team saw off competition from four other colleges to win this year’s trophy and can now look forward to a visit to Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium where the winning students will get the opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess, director of grounds and environment for the

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