HOLIDAY PARKS MANAGEMENT : GLAMPING BUSINESS MAGAZINE

February 2016 • Issue 21Telephone: 01432 263219

www.HolidayParksManagement.com

www. holidayparksmanagement.com 00www. holidayparksmanagement.com 3

Published by: Maggie Media Ltd, 2 Withypool, Hereford HR2 7PW UK t: 01432 263219 w: www.holidayparksmanagement.comEditor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: 07887 928819 e: [email protected] Publisher: Nina Blanchard t: 01432 263219 e: [email protected]: Kathryn Kelly t: + 44 (0) 7575 408580 e: [email protected]: Dean Coulter, Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk Subscriptions: Register Free at www.holidayparksmanagement.com or e: [email protected] Parks Management magazine is free and is published four times a year.© Maggie Media Ltd 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced nor stored in a retrieval system by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

04 Industry newsThe latest news and productsfrom the world of HolidayParks.

15 Redemption Machines Bring a little retail magic toyour amusement offeringwith this family favourite.

24 European Amusement and Gaming Expo Report The leading exhibition forcoin-operated games andrides.

27 Weed control In the never-ending battleagainst weeds, groundsmenand landscapers have neverhad such an effectivearmoury of chemical weedcontrol options as they havetoday.

29 Allergens and how you cantrain your staff to deal withthem You will need to be aware ofthe Food InformationRegulations 2014.

The team atHoliday ParksManagementcontinues to growwith the additionof a newmember of thesales team;Kathryn Kelly.Kath has worked

for a number of years in the amusementmachine industry and this month webring you a feature on the phenomenonthat is redemption. Redemption machines are perfect forfamily friendly locations such as holidayparks because they are suitable for eventhe smallest children and everyone canwalk away with a prize after playing – orsave their tickets for something reallyspecial at the end oftheir stay. We askeda number of expertsto give us advice onwhich machines andprizes to choose andwe also bring you areport on the EAGshow where all thelatest video games,entertainmentsystems and relatedproducts were shown in January. As well as entertainment, this monthwe highlight some practical issuesaround the park, including weed controland allergen legislation. This is a greattime of year to start planning additionaltraining for your staff. We hope you enjoy the issue in itsprinted format and look forward torolling out the next issue of GlampingBusiness which is within these pages asa separate printed publication in April.

Nina

Holiday Parks

Management

Next issue! Cash Handling Feature With the pound coin about to

change what do you need to do

to prepare?

! Adventure Play Areas Keep the kids and their parents

happy with a special play area.

We look at the best around for

all budgets.

Proud Member ofthe Association

feature! include:

What’s inthis issue?

Photo courtesy of The English Shepherd Huts Co.

Park News

MBE for holiday parks champion Jeanette WilsonHeartfelt congratulations from holiday parks across the UK were received this winter by Jeanette Wilson after she was made an MBE inthe 2016 New Year Honours Lists. A well-known figure within the industry, Jeanette’s award celebrates her long and highly valuedservices to the holiday parks sector over a period of more than 20 years.

Edinburgh-based Jeanette is best known for her role as policy director for BH&HPA Scotland, and for the part she plays in helpingpromote the Best of British group of top-rated independent parks.

Jeanette joined BH&HPA in 1993, and has since provided the secretariat to the association in Scotland which comprises more than 200park businesses. She also represents the parks industry to the Scottish government, Visit Scotland and many other tourismorganisations as well as serving as an advisor and mentor to Scottish parks.

Chairman and director of BH&HPA Scotland, Colin Fraser, was amongst the many who paid tribute to Jeanette’s commitment anddedication to the parks industry. He remarked that Jeanette works withefficiency, charm and such kindness that she has become much loved byowners and managers of park businesses across Scotland.

Congratulations were also received from many owners of the 50-plus parks inmembership of the Best of British group for which Jeanette works in a seniormarketing consultancy position. Her involvement with the consortium spans 14years, and its chair Claire Jeavons said that Jeanette has played a massive andimportant role in raising the profile of the organisation.

Jeanette confesses to have been “completely taken aback” by her MBE award,and says she feels very humbled by the honour and the many congratulationsit triggered.

Cornish park's visitors providedouble charity boost

4 www. holidayparksmanagement.com

Two Cornish charities each received a four-figure fillip to their fundraising efforts inFebruary, thanks to an enterprising Padstowholiday park's visitor giving scheme.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust and WadebridgeFoodbank have both been handed chequesfor £1,700 from Mother Ivey's Bay HolidayPark at Trevose Head.

The much-needed sums were raised byguests who donated £1.00 on top of theirholiday costs when booking a stay at themulti-award winning park.

The total amount was then doubled byMother Ivey's Bay owner Patrick Langmaid tocreate the £3,400 windfall which was sharedby the charities.

On top of another £800.00 donation made toeach cause last March from the scheme, itmeans that the park has raised £5,000 for thetwo organisations over the past 12 months.

Mother Ivey's Bay's commitment to corporateand social responsibility saw it featured in theCaring Company category of the 2015 CornishGuardian Community awards last year.

Left to right: Serena Pettigrew-Jolly of CornwallWildlife Trust; Jacqui White of WadebridgeFoodbank; Patrick Langmaid, park director, andSimon Sexton, reception worker

Cornish holiday park facility splashes outwith a double gold!Oasis Fun Pools at Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay,Cornwall, has achieved a Gold award at national levelfor Holiday Park Pool of the Year and also a Gold awardin the Energy Efficiency category at the prestigious UKPool & Spa Awards.

Hendra fought off stiff competition from other companies across the UK in bothcategories at the awards which took place at the new Resorts World in Birmingham.Over sixty businesses were recognised for their superior products, knowledge andintegrity across 25 awards categories earlier this week. Now in their seventh year,the UK Pool & Spa Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of the country’sleading companies and organisations that are involved in the multi-million provisionof water leisure, both at home and across a variety of public sectors from hotels andhealth clubs to schools and public pools.

Jon Hyatt, Hendra Director said “We are of course delighted to have been awardedGold in two categories; it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of poolmanager Petra Van Splunter and the team in the Oasis Fun Pools and ourcommitment to making sure that the facility is the very best it can be bothcommercially and environmentally. We were in competition with some amazingvenues and the judges unanimously expressed their praise for the high standard ofswimming pools in this category.”

The Oasis Fun Pools at Hendra Holiday Park provides one of the biggest facilities of itskind in the South West and is open to the public from Easter until the end of October.The venue is also a training centre for lifeguards and, as part of one of Cornwallspremier holiday parks, has also won awards for environmental sustainability.

Enterprising family members behind a long-established Perthshire holiday parks grouphave been celebrated in a major regionalbusiness competition.

The Wood family saw off many othersuccessful enterprises from the area to becrowned Family Business of the Year at theannual Courier Business Awards.

The competition highlights families whosededication to business excellence has wonthem acclaim from customers, and helpedbolster the regional economy.

The Wood family stepped up to receive theiroverall accolade at the November finals of thecompetition which were held in St Andrews.

The business, now known as Wood Leisure,started life 30 years ago when husband andwife Colin and Margaret Wood acquiredBlairgowrie Holiday Park in Perthshire.

The couple invested much time, effort andresources to create what is now one ofScotland’s most highly regarded and multi-award winning holiday parks.

Building on their success, Colin and Margaretthen went on to develop four other parksusing the same business formula of combininghigh quality surroundings with excellentcustomer service.

Their other parks are Corriefodly Holiday Parkin Perthshire, Deeside Holiday Park nearAberdeen, Lomond Woods Holiday Park inBallock, and Balgair Castle Holiday Park nearStirling.

Last year, the family welcomed Scottishtourism minister Fergus Ewing to two of theirparks where he praised the “tremendousachievements” the family has made. Theminister heard how the Wood’s five parkstogether help inject millions of pounds each

year into the regional economy through thespending of visitors.

Wood Leisure is still run by Colin and Margaretwith the help of their three daughters: Kirsty,Rachel and Sarah. They were congratulated atthe Courier Business Awards by judges and bysponsors Thornton’s Solicitors and The Apprenticestar Nick Hewer who compered the event.

Sarah Wood MacGregor, marketing and salesmanager of Wood Leisure, said: “We are allabsolutely ecstatic to have won the FamilyBusiness of the Year Award. “We want to thankour wonderful staff team and, of course, ourmany loyal customers,” she added.

Perthshire parks family wins award

Barclays choosesworld of rides

Barclays Bank Plc. have chosen World ofRides, the long established North East basedmanufacturers and distributors of static andbattery operated children’s rides, tospearhead their latest marketing campaign toencourage more businesses to use theirInternational Banking facilities for currencytrading and transactions.

As long-time importers and exporters, Worldof Rides have been trading through BarclaysBank for more than fifty years, and as a resultthey were a natural choice for the bank touse as being representative of a successfulinternational business.

World of Rides UK General Manager DavidRobinson can currently be heard explainingwhy they have remained loyal to BarclaysBank Plc. on their radio adverts beingbroadcast on CLASSIC FM, LBC and GOLD, andBarclays Bank Plc. will also be adding asection about World of Rides to their website,

as well as extending theirbroadcasting

coverage ofDavid’s interviewto other localradio stationsnationally.



The 70th SALTEX exhibition exceeded allexpectations after an independent auditconfirmed the exhibition as the largest turfmanagement event in the UK with a total of8,714 unique individuals attending. Now, thevisitor surveys have been flooding in –revealing a fascinating and in-depth insightinto the visitor profile of the show.

With visitors traveling from every corner ofthe UK as well as every continent around theworld it was encouraging to see that over70% of the visitors rated their overall SALTEXexperience as being good, very good orexcellent.

Over 65% of visitors said that they attendedSALTEX to source new products, services orsuppliers, while 20% wanted to make themost of the free educational LEARNING LIVEseminars and to receive one-to-one advicethrough the IOG’s Ask the Expert feature.With so much on offer at SALTEX, there wassomething for everyone and over 80% saidthat they were successful or very successfulin meeting their objectives.

With such a large number of visitorsattending SALTEX to source new products andservices; they certainly came to the rightplace. The exhibition is a great way to launchand showcase new products and over 70%

of visitors said that there was an excellentmix of products on display.

Exhibitors at SALTEX 2015 reported hugesuccess at the show, suggesting that thevisitors were a very powerful group ofbuyers. With deals being done there andthen on the show floor, it’s no surprise to seethat over 80% had purchasing responsibility.As you can see from the table below, over75% of all SALTEX visitors also had the abilityto sign off purchases of up to £100,000.Visitors also found the more central locationof the NEC to be more accessible with 70%stating that the new location was eithergood or excellent. Within the halls of theNEC, visitors favoured the more compactsetting with over 70% rating the layout ofthe event either good or excellent.

Overall the visitor survey has demonstratedjust how good the quality of attendees was –further enhancing SALTEX as the must attendevent of the year.SALTEX 2016 will be held atthe NEC, Birmingham on 2 and 3 November2016. For more information visitwww.iogsaltex.com

RESULTS OF SALTEX VISITOR SURVEY REVEALED

Kubota’s B1620 compact tractor has been putto work at Waveney Sailability in Suffolk inorder to speed up the time it takes to launchand recover the sailing and rescue craft at theactivity centre.

The 16HP tractor was fitted with turf tyres toprovide a stable grip on wet and muddysurfaces, whilst the inclusion of a front ballhitch and electric winch help the teammaintain control when getting the rigidinflatable boat in and out of the water.

Malcolm Brown, Assistant Sailing Instructor atWaveney Sailability, commented: “Since thearrival of the B1620 tractor, the tasks that wehave to carry out following a busy day ofsailing with very few volunteers has beenmade significantly easier and safer.

“We use the tractor to manoeuvre, launch andrecover our sailing boats and rescue craft,which was previously very difficult due to theweight of the equipment. The tractor has beenwell received with the team at Waveney

Sailability as it helps to speed up the time ittakes to bring the boats back to land when theteam have been out sailing.”

Equipped with Kubota’s E-TCVS diesel enginefor increased power, cleaner emissions andlow noise levels, the B1620 offers an increasedtravel speed to allow the team at Waveney totravel between destinations quicker. The

inclusion of 4-wheel drive prevents the tyresslipping and the Rollover Protection Systemprovides safety when using the tractor on aninclined surface.

Waveney Sailability, who specialise inproviding sailing classes to individuals withdisabilities, was presented with the compacttractor following a grant by Sports England.

For more information on Kubota and itsextensive range of solutions for the groundcareand agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.ukor call 01844 268000.

Park Newscontinued

Easy sailing for staff at Waveney Sailabilityfollowing purchase of Kubota tractorEasy sailing for staff at Waveney Sailabilityfollowing purchase of Kubota tractor


Grass Reinforcement mesh

safety 'low-slip' surface

suitable for overflow carparks,caravan bays, pathways, etc

Treadstone Products, Ash Road,Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham, N. Wales, LL13 9JT

Tel: +44 (0) 1978 668162

Web: www.treadstoneproducts.com

supplied on a 2x 20metre reel

LAUNCHES AS A SOLO

TITLE IN APRIL

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT

KATHRYN KELLY ON

+ 44 (0) 7575 408580

DON’TMISS OUT SUBSCRIBE

NOW

lGBUSINESSmping


Park Newscontinued

Rowcroft Hospice, whose purpose is tosupport patients and families living withlife-limiting illnesses in South Devon tomake the most of every day they havetogether, has been named as PathfinderHomes’ Charity of the Year. The UK’s leadingResidential and Holiday Lodge Manufacturerwill fundraise for the Charity with the aimof raising as much as possible for thecharity and are off to a tremendous start.

Having just donated £2,765 to fund a teamof seven Pathfinder Homes’ employees tojump in the Santa Skydive, they have really

committed to taking fundraising to newheights! The team as individuals havealready raised almost £600 in sponsorshipfor their adventure. Rhys Kniveton, one ofPathfinder Homes’ Carpenters stated “I’mtaking part in the skydive for RowcroftHospice because I really believe in theircause, they make a real difference to thelives of the families they work with andfeel privileged that Pathfinder havesupported my jump; although going to15,000ft and jumping from a plane seemsinsane, it’s definitely worth it.”

Money raised will go towards fundingRowcroft Hospices’ vital work to serve thepeople of South Devon by providingspecialist care to patients with progressive,life limiting illnesses and their loved ones;helping to make every day the best daypossible. Hayley Norrish, CommunityFundraising Manager, said “We aredelighted and proud to have been chosenas Pathfinder Homes’ Charity of the Year for2016. We are really excited to work withthe team and build our partnership.”

PATHFINDER HOMES ANNOUNCES CHARITY OF THE YEARRecord fundraising and firstDiamond Partner announcedat Party for PerennialOver £34,000 was raised at the Party forPerennial and the charity announced theWorshipful Company of Gardeners as the firstDiamond Partner in its corporate membershipscheme.

Almost 300 people gathered at the Skyloft inLondon on Friday 15 January for Perennial’sannual evening of networking andfundraising. The amount raised at the event,which includes income from the newPartners, tops the total from any previousevents and reflects the growing industrysupport for the charity.The new Diamond level in Perennial’s Partnerscheme was launched at the party andallows supporters to sign up for an annualdonation of £5,000. The first to sign up to theDiamond level, The Worshipful Company ofGardeners is an ancient livery company,which can trace its origins back to 1345.

Four more farm parks have recentlyintroduced wet play attractions fromadventure attractions specialist InnovativeLeisure to add an exciting cool downelement this summer.

Spring Barn Farm in East Sussex and FinkleyDown Farm inHampshirebring theever-growingnumber offarm venuesoperatingInflatableWater Warssystems up tofifteen. Theballoon battlegame ispopularworldwide

and its inflatable incarnation has beenparticularly favoured within the farm sectorowing to its affordability, earning potentialand easy set up. Both sites have opted fordouble Water Wars units, comprising fourbattle stations armed with balloon catapults,ensuring maximum capacity.

Fishers Farm Park in West Sussex and CrealyAdventure Park in Cornwall have opted forthe new Downpour Derby attraction whichputs four participants into a race to fill waterbuckets above their opponent’s head bycranking a handle. The slowest to crank hastheir bucket tipped on them and is drenched.The victor is unlikely to get away dry,however, as the defeated player continues tocrank in revenge!

The attraction is a welcome addition to wetplay areas at both parks with Fishersopening 'The Splash Shack' this year. Crealy

has operated an aluminium based WaterWars system for many years and has nowadded Downpour Derby to complement thecrowd pleasing balloon battle attraction.

Commenting on the attraction at Cornwall’sCrealy Great Adventure Park, the park’sSimon Townsend said: “We’ve spent sometime watching guests enjoy the newDownpour Derby and it’s clearly proving agreat addition. It really complements ourWater Wars game, which remains as popularas ever, and the two work very welltogether. In fact they’ve created a mini soakzone which we hope to expand on as guestsare enjoying it so much.”

Splash Hits for Four More Parks


Wessex are launching an all-new, high-end luxury lodge, the Harbour, at the Caravan,Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC.

The Harbour Luxury Lodge (55’ x 22’) is a sophisticated and stylish lodge withindividuality and character that takes luxury lodge living to a whole new level.

Clad in Canexel (clad in A Grade Cedar wood as standard), the striking monopitchroof with extended soffit and extensive feature glazing is the first thing you notice.Two sets of folding doors to either side of the front of the lodge and a further to thelounge on the side elevation, expand the living space outside; further glazing framesthe feature double front door and tall slender glazed panels finish off the look. This is

a lodge perfectly designedfor a view!

The spacious accommodationwithin comprises of anentrance hall, large livingspace with lounge, diningand kitchen areas, an opulentmaster bedroom with largewalk-in dressing room andindulgent en-suite, twofurther bedrooms and aluxury shower room

In the entrance hall is asuper stylish Revival HolbornBureau Chest providingplenty of practical storage,and an elegant LoughtonChair. Double doors in walnutwith glass panels then openup into the living space.

Park Newscontinued

Wessex to launch theHarbour Luxury Lodge

Dorset’s South Lytchett Manor has been named by the AA as the bestcaravan and campsite in the UK, earning it the overall title of the AA’sCampsite of The Year.

The family-run business, near to Poole and Bournemouth, beat morethan 900 other camping parks across Britain to take the prestigiouspole place. The accolade is awarded every year following a rigorousassessment by AA inspectors of parks’ standards of customer care,quality, and cleanliness. Also under scrutiny are the range ofamenities on offer, the size and layout of the pitches, and the qualityof park grounds and their landscaping. The South Lytchett Manor AAinspection report earned an impressive five pennants – the maximumpossible – and a 96% approval rating.

Highlighted were some of the site’s recent improvements includingthe introduction of additional fully-serviced pitches which now bringsthe total of these up to 85. In addition, the report headlined SouthLytchette’s new cycle hire facility with new top quality bikes for allages, and that fact that free Wi-Fi now extends across the entiregrounds. There was mention too of the park’s attractive new website

and video, and its stunning new hand-painted Romany caravan forhire, soon to be joined by others.

An AA spokesperson said: “South Lytchett continues to get better eachyear, and has now become one of that very select group of top parksin the country which has achieved our highest rating. “It is very mucha family-run operation, and David, Joanne, and Matthew Bridgen andtheir dedicated team have developed the park to its current superbstandard.“All facilities are well thought out, modern, and spotlesslyclean, and pitches are spacious and varied with many being fullyserviced.

dorset campsite is pitch perfect says AA

Etesia launchthree newbattery powered pedestrianmodelsEtesia has launched three new battery-poweredpedestrian rotary mowers – the PACS push and PACTSsingle speed 46cm models and the NACS push 41cmmodel. All new models are now also available withthe new rear roller kit for easy, effortless striping.

The three new models offer extreme versatility withthe ability to cut, collect and mulch without the needfor an accessory. Users will be capable of mowingwith or without collection in all conditions as well asundertake high-quality mulching, and with the newrear roller kit now stripe for presentation.

API welcomesgovernment’sphysical activitystrategyThe Association of PlayIndustries (API) welcomesgovernment recognition of thevital need to create positive early childhood experiences of physical activitythat go beyond traditional and competitive sport.

The new Sporting Future strategy was published on 17th December and theAPI was pleased to see some encouraging new measures to get the nationmoving. It particularly welcomes:

! Recognition of the need for a new, more joined-up strategy for deliveryand funding of sport and physical activity, with formal progress reporting onthat strategy;! The creation of a Sport Cabinet and working group to share best practicefor sport and physical activity across all UK nations;! The broadening of Sport England’s remit beyond traditional sport to coverwider physical activity; ! Continued funding for the Sport Premium for schools and support forschools to open their physical activity facilities for local communities;! Co-location of physical activity facilities with other public services such aslibraries and GP surgeries.

API Chair Mark Hardy says: “Research proves that for some children,participation in sport can be a negative experience which can discouragethem from taking part in physical activity altogether. Physically inactivechildren are more likely to become sedentary adults with all the associatedhealth risks and costs that brings. Providing support for wide-ranging physicalactivities like dance, walking and cycling is a hugely positive step toencourage as many children as possible to be active.”

The association awaits publication of the government’s new national obesityframework – due in early 2016.

Mark Hardy adds: “We hope the national obesity framework will introducebold measures that effect significant behavioural and attitudinal changeamongst children and parents. Children need high quality spaces andfacilities, time and parental/family encouragement to play actively outdoorsand we urge the government to ensure play is well-represented in andsupported by the strategy. The development, health and wellbeing benefitsof play are far-reaching, not just for children but for the local communitiesthey live in.”

The association campaigns at the highest levels for policy recognition for playand is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and HealthyChildhood, Children’s Play Policy Forum and Federation of Sports and PlayAssociations. Recent API research showed that over half (56%) of parentsare unhappy at the lack of high quality play facilities in their local area, whilenearly four in ten (38%) worried their local playground will close down.

For further information about the Association of Play Industries, contact:Deborah Holt, API Association Manager, tel: 024 7641 4999 or email [email protected]


HOLIDAYS IN STOCKINGS SET TO TREND, SAYS PARKS GROUP

Holiday vouchers tucked into Christmas stockingswere the trending present last year among fun-loving families, says Park Holidays UK.

The group says its vouchers are the ideal solutionfor anyone searching for a gift idea which reallyhas the “wow!” factor

The prospect of a stay at Park Holidays UK couldnever disappoint – and it’s a guaranteed one-size-fits-all present which adjusts perfectly to the luckyrecipient.

That’s because the vouchers can be used at anytime throughout 2016, on any of the company’s25 holiday parks in Devon and Southern England,and for any type of holiday.

With values of £10, £20, £50 and £100 the givercan choose to give enough to fund an entireholiday, or provide the relative or friend with ajuicy discount on a stay.

And with three or four day short breaks in 2016starting at just £69.00 for a family of up to sixpeople, there will be absolutely no belt-tighteningto worry about.

The cost of the holiday will also include free use ofall the holiday park’s facilities, such as swimmingpools and children’s clubs, plus the acclaimednightly entertainment.

“This is one gift that definitely won’t be forgottenminutes after it’s given,” said a spokesman forPark Holidays UK. “It’s the promise of great timesand many happy memories to come.

“These vouchers will create a fantastic sense ofanticipation, plus all the fun of deciding when andwhere to go – as well as the holiday itself!” sheadded.

For those who splashed out on a £100 voucher,Park Holiday UK also sent out a free cuddly versionof the parks’ popular mascot Loopy - a great bonusfor youngsters on the receiving end.

But the vouchers aren’t just for giving. They canalso be a thrifty way for families to save for aholiday by adding to their voucher collectionthroughout the year as their budget allows.


Park Newscontinued

Beverley Holidays and sister site WhitehillCountry Park in Paignton are cracking open thechampagne following a hat trick of tourismhonours at the Devon Tourism Awards 2015.

The family-run holiday parks overcame toughcompetition from a record 174 entries to winthree prestigious awards at the glitteringceremony in Plymouth in November.

The celebrations started early on in the nightwhen Beverley Holidays took the first much-coveted gold of the evening in the Holiday Park& Holiday Village category.

Shortly after, Whitehill Country Park took to thestage to collect a silver award for Dog FriendlyAccommodation, followed by a bronze in theCamping & Caravanning category.

Held in association with tourism body VisitDevon, the sixth annual Devon Tourism Awardswere attended by many leading figures fromthe region’s top tourism businesses.

Marketing director of Beverley Holidays andWhitehill Park, Claire Jeavons, said: “We areabsolutely thrilled with our award hat trickwhich is the result of a great deal of hard workand dedication from the Beverley and Whitehillteams.

“We are honoured to be recognised in such aprestigious competition, and our gold, silverand bronze accolades are proof that theinvestments we have made in ouraccommodation and facilities mean we aredelivering the best holiday experiencepossible.”

Victoria Hatfield, chair of Visit Devon, said: “Thequality of the visitor offering that Devondelivers increases year on year, and this istestament to the dedication, commitment andinvestment from the businesses nominated inthe Devon Tourism Awards.”

PAIGNTON PARKS MARK TRIPLETRIUMPH AT DEVON AWARDS

Thornley Park portfolio grows with North Yorkshire acquisition

North Wales based holiday parksgroup Thornley Leisure has announcedits acquisition of Gallaber Park inNorth Yorkshire, one of the county’smost highly regarded holiday retreats.

The deal was signed in November,and brings to eight the number ofparks now in the group.

Based near Settle in the Ribble Valley,65-acre Gallaber boasts a five-startourist board rating, and the DavidBellamy Conservation Award at its topgold level.

Sympathetically developed over the past 15 years by its previous owners,Gallaber Park provides privately owned caravan holiday homes and timberlodges, and touring pitches.

Now it is set to benefit from even further investment in its facilities fromThornley Leisure which owns seven other holiday parks in North Wales andCheshire.

The Thornley family’s business, established over 50 years ago, has itself achieveda raft of honours for the quality of its parks and the many initiatives taken toprotect the natural environment.

For this reason, says managing director David Thornley, Gallaber Park representsa perfect fit for the company’s existing parks portfolio:

“One of Gallaber’s greatest strengths is its appeal to people who want a holidaylocation where the main attractions are the tranquillity and the beautifulsurroundings,” he said.

“The park has always been conscious of this, and has focussed on developingand safeguarding its many natural features including a wildlife lake, woodlandtrails and butterfly meadow.

“Just as importantly, Gallaber also enjoys a high level of loyalty from customers –and finds, as we do, that most guests are either repeat visitors or come as aresult of a personal recommendation.

“We are now keen to continue moving the park forward, and to raise the qualitybar even higher for the benefit of both touring holidaymakers and the owners ofholiday homes,” said David.

Open for 10.5 months of the year, Gallaber Park is likely to see the siting ofadditional luxury holiday homes in 2016, and further upgrades to guest facilities.


Providers of “fresh air holidays” in Scotlandmet in Edinburgh in December to heartourism minister Fergus Ewing praise theirinvaluable support of rural economies.

Mr Ewing was speaking at the annualconference of the British Holiday & HomeParks Association (Scotland) attended bymany senior members of BH&HPA Scotland’s200-plus park businesses.

Held at Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth, theevent brought together the managers andowners of businesses credited withgenerating just over £700m of visitorspending annually.

Mr Ewing said that by consistently providingboth value and quality, Scottish holiday parkswere writing their own success story.

But the benefits, he pointed out, were feltright across the largely rural areas in whichparks operate, thanks to the millions spent byvisitors in other businesses in the regions:

“The holiday park sector offers good qualityaccommodation for all types of visitors, andhelps to sustain employment in some ofScotland’s most remote and rural areas,” saidMr Ewing.

“In this it is a great success story. With the

2016 Year of Innovation,Architecture and Design just aroundthe corner, there are even morereasons to organise a holiday orshort break in Scotland, and I haveno doubt that the sector will takefull advantage of this excellentopportunity,” he added.

Mr Ewing also noted that parks hadalso helped contribute to increasing overseasvisitor numbers which were up by 4%compared with last year, and their spendingup by 10%.

Delegates to the conference were welcomedby Colin Fraser, chairman of the BritishHoliday & Home Parks Association (Scotland).

Mr Fraser introduced a succession of specialistspeakers on a range of subjects affectingparks across Scotland.

They included Gill Brittle of Respitality, aninitiative of Shared Care Scotland which seeksto link local organisations which supportunpaid carers, and local hospitality providerssuch as parks.

Solicitor Paul Kelly of park industry specialistsTozers outlined the powerful new rightsintroduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015which affects all businesses.

The conference also heard from Ruth Badgerwho became one of Sir Alan Sugar’sfavourites when she took part in BBCtelevision’s The Apprentice.

An entertaining and highly informativeinsight to the mindset of today’s media-savvyyouth was provided by Dr Paul Redmondwho is director of student life at theuniversity of Manchester.

Other speakers included BH&HPA nationalchairman Henry Wild who provided anupdate on forthcoming changes to UK and EUlaws and regulations which will affect parkbusinesses.

It found not only that visitors to Scottish parksspent £700m each year in mainly smallerfamily-run businesses, but that the sectorsupported more than 5,600 full-timeequivalent jobs.

minister says scottish parks play vital economic role

Devon park’s wildlife pond makes splash in eco-awardsWorld-famous botanist David Bellamy has congratulated the familyowners of a North Devon holiday park after they scooped his mostprestigious environmental accolade.

Noteworthy Caravan and Campsite in Holsworthy is among just 14 ofBritain’s 3000-plus parks to achieve a special distinction on top of itsDavid Bellamy Conservation Award.

Julieann and Mark Snook-Bevis, whose park is based on their Angoragoat farm, gained the extra accolade for the creation this year of athriving wildlife pond.

They were also presented with the highest possible award, a gold, inProfessor Bellamy’s annual honours for parks making exceptionalefforts to protect the natural environment.

The couple, who have three young children, also have nine pitches forluxury caravan holiday homes and five pitches for the owners oftouring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

Julieann and Mark’s carefulmanagement of the park’snatural surroundings, saidProfessor Bellamy, showedperfectly how a businesscould exist in total harmonywith its environment.

There was praise too for the park’sinvolvement with the local community,including visits by children from nearby schools to discover moreabout the natural world.

Earning the special distinction in the award scheme, however, wasJulieann and Mark’s creation of a new wildlife pond of just under oneacre in size.

The pond is already a magnet for dragonflies, kingfishers, newts and araft of other aquatic species – and attracts many different types ofresident and visiting birds.

Fergus Ewing (second from right) at the conference

For a holiday park, a redemption counter isthe perfect way to encourage repeat playwithin the arcade, as children can save theirtickets up over the duration of their stay inorder to achieve a more significant prize.There is also a feeling of achievement thatcomes from earning tickets through skill-based play, which in itself is more rewarding– particularly for smaller children – than othertypes of pay per play amusement.

“The beauty of redemption games is thatthey appeal to families and customers of allages,” says John Jennings of JNC, a supplier ofnew and used machines. “The experience ofhaving a bundle of tickets spilling out to themachines is a fantastic feeling and provides areal buzz in the amusement arcade. With therecent introduction of coin pushers thatpayout tickets as well as coins, this adds tothe popularity of the ticket redemptionconcept.”

“Redemption is primarily aimed at familiesand holiday parks are family focusedbusinesses, therefore it is natural that thetwo should dovetail perfectly,” says JustinBurke, General Manager of SegaAmusements International. ‘What’s morefamilies now expect redemption within theamusement arcade environment,” he adds.

“Holiday Parks should think of redemption asa great player loyalty scheme. Players cansave their tickets throughout the year orspend them on the same visit,” asserts JohnCrompton, Regional Sales Manager atBANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Ltd.,which is involved in all levels of the businessfrom the design and development of thegames to the running and operation oflocations.

Redemption was traditionally more successfulin the US than in the UK but over the pastdecade, operators in this country haveembraced the concept because the rewardscan be high. The main barrier to acceptanceused to be the perception that it created a lotmore work for the site.

This is a misconception according to IanEason, Managing Director of InstanceAutomatics. “Setting up for redemptiondoesn't take much more work or expense atall. Showcases need to be fitted and a prizebooth area created. However, most smalleroperators only open the prize booth at certaintimes of the day keeping staffing costs low.”

Dean Harding, Managing Director of CrownDirect believes it also requires a differentmindset. “The operator needs to in effect alsobecome a retailer. The quality of the prizes onoffer and the display of them are very mucha retail offer,” he warns.

With retail comes a certain amount of stockcontrol as well. However, this is probablysomething that a Holiday Park is alreadyaccustomed to.

“Compared to prize payout machines, there isnot a great deal of differencewhen it comes to loading a ticket payoutmachine,” says Kevin Weir, BusinessDevelopment Manager of Electrocoin,another machine supplier. “Themerchandising and ticket management arean additional task but the flexibility andrange of prizes are so great that the benefitsare truly rewarding to all concerned.”

Kevin suggests that operators might considera good ticket management system in orderto minimize the work involved. “Theoverheads generated have to be balancedagainst the income and revenue generatedby the machines and the margins made on


Redemption may havean ‘end of the world’sound to it but thereality from anamusement arcadeperspective is that youprovide a number ofmachines that dispensetickets during play whichcan then be swapped bythe player for a selectionof prizes.

Redemptionand a" it retail!

the prizes. The Galileo point of sale systemhas been successful at helping our customersmanage the prize shop and stock,” he says.

“I think it’s a must having at least one ticketeater machine - this will destroy the ticketsas well as printing out a receipt for thecustomer - it speeds up the ticket to prizefacility which is really important for keepingstaffing efficient in the middle of a busyseason,” advises Instance’s Ian Eason.

BANDAI NAMCO’s Steve Short agrees, “Thereare a lot of great labour-saving options onthe market for those wanting to operateredemption such as the Embed stockmanagement system and Deltronic ticket

eaters. We alsoadvise customers toinvest in goodquality tickets asthis results in fewerjams, miscountsand fraud.”

As for the returnson your investment– they can besignificant. “Wewould expect that aredemptionmachine would payfor itself within oneseason,” says

Sega’s Justin Burke. “Considering that aredemption machine can stay on site for upto ten years, that’s not a bad return.”

“Although the return on investment variesfrom site to site, it is clear to see that thereturns are far better on redemptionmachines than they are on other categoriesof machines such as video,” agrees JohnJennings from JNC. “The redemptionmachines drive customer loyalty as well,which ultimately improves the revenue levelsof the sites.”

As with any business you will have to updatea certain amount of machines each year tokeep the interest strong. It is useful if youhave more than one site as you can swap themachines around from site to site, to avoidfurther expense in buying new pieces.

For those starting out with redemptiongames, our experts have a number of tips.“You need a good mix and I would start withmechanical interactive games,” says Crown’sMD Dean Harding. “You should always havesomething new every season for holidaymakers to play. Many come back to the Parkevery year, so you need to keep the offerfresh. New games for 2016 that would fit thisstyle would be “Minion 3 In A Row” and“Quick Drop”.”

Ian Eason suggests, “You need a couple ofgood 'hook' machines, some smaller goodearners and then a few fillers. I wouldsuggest around half new and half goodquality used machines, that way you cankeep initial investment to a minimum. OurPirate's Hook, Safari Ranger and Duo Drivehave been terrific income wise through 2015and so they would certainly have myrecommendation.”

John Jennings agrees that variety is key. “Forsites that are just starting out it is best tostart off with a varied range of equipmentthat provides choice to customers. Usedequipment would also be recommended asyou will get better value for money thaninvesting in new products. The prices of usedmachines start from as little as £795. Slam aWinner and Wheel Deal are two of manyproven favourites that can achieve very goodreturns,” he says.

Keep in mind that you will need to servicethe products and find parts from time totime. “Obviously many of the games are“physical games” and not video games it isreally important to have a good supply ofparts and service for the products. BrentElectronic one of the divisions of BNAE areable to offer cost effective solutions for this,”says Steve Short.

Electrocoin recommends, “Big Bass Wheel,Down the Clown and Monsterdrop as theirtop investments. “It's like any game, a goodone will last years, a not so good game willneed moving on sooner, but as they arenormally mechanical and skill based, theylast longer as the graphics do not date,” saysKevin Weir.

And once you are up and running the sky’sthe limit. “Experienced operators enjoysuccess with loyalty schemes which add evenmore to the business rewards,” says Sega’sJustin Burke. “It all goes back to retail, gettingthe right prizes which in turn adds to thegreat experience offered by the locations.”

www. holidayparksmanagement.com 0017

Redemption continuedand a" it retail!

www. holidayparksmanagement.com

Eyes on the prizeThe unique aspect of redemption on holidayparks is the repeat custom, with many parkshaving owners or regular holidaymakersreturning to the site who will purposefullycollect their tickets over the season toredeem at the end of the year. This meansthey often look or even intend to save forsomething of higher value, whereas a day-tripper to a coastal arcade might not.

“A prize counter in a holiday park with TVs orelectronic items, large remote-controlvehicles, cooking utensils or even whitegoods for example would not be out of place!These items do very well as people cancollect for, redeem, then conveniently usethe items straight away on site,” says MaxineDavison, Sales Executive, Sega Prize Division.

A variety of prizes is always recommended,whether for a coastal arcade or holiday park –from low-ticket value items such as sweetsall the way up to high value prizes such aselectronics, or as mentioned, white goodsand more. The range on offer also needsregular turnover, especially with returningowners or holiday makers – people need tosee something different or new from time totime, to keep things fresh and to prove tothem that playing for and saving their ticketsis really worth doing.

“There is no best prize as all customers aredifferent and you need to offer a variety tosatisfy all genres and ages,” says DarrellSimmonds EMEA Sales Manager BANDAINACMO Prize Division. Where customers are generally on a park fora week or so they will save their tickets forbigger and better prizes, so a variety of wow-factor prizes are needed to entice them tokeep playing machines to get closer to theirchosen prize or prizes. For the younger ones,a good selection of lower ticket value alwayshelps - as they usually want to redeem assoon as they get tickets and they don’t like towait for their prize.”

Whether it is on-trend Tech, the latest film-related merchandise or simply somethingpractical to use, choice is key. Also,something that can be perceived as anexclusive deal to the holiday park can also bea great way to encourage players - perhaps aspecial ticket discount offer or specially madeprize-packs – again, something different thatthey simply can’t get anywhere else thatcreates a unique appeal.


BANDAI NAMCO Prize DivisionBANDAI NAMCO has the licence for DC plush andwith Batman Vs Superman and the Suicide Squadfilms coming out this year this is going to be bignews for operators.

BANDAI NAMCO also has a good selectionof Star Wars gifts, which are proving to beextremely popular. Other branded giftsinclude My Little Pony, Shaun the Sheepand the company’s own brand PAC-MAN. There is also a wide range of new andexciting must-have electronic products anda large selection of confectionary.

Instance AutomaticsInstance has a massive range of small value prizes,gobstoppers, Chupa Chups, Tattoos and somegreat licensed capsules and softballs. Theirstock is always changing, keeping up withthe latest film releases and trends. The latestlicensed prizes always do well, at themoment these include Minions and StarWars – which are great sellers.The company invests in a lot of initial testingbefore actually deciding to sell a product.The testing includes redemption prizes aswell as the machines and Instance arespecialists in Amusement, Redemption andVending, all of which is key to maximizing incomefrom coin-operated machines.

Sega Amusements International Prize DivisionThe Tokio Technology range is successful in bridging thegap between the low and high value ticket items onredemption. The Tokio Tablet Plus is doing very well, sothe upcoming, re-branded and brightly packaged productsincluding the Tokio Phablet Smartphone and Tokio RCRange of micro radio-controlled toys, including a MiniDrone & Spy tank amongst others, would give operatorsan alternative option.

These could workwell alongside otheritems currentlyavailable, such as theHello Kitty SequinBags, which continueto shine and lookgreat on display inPrize counters.

What’s new in 2016:

Redemption continuedand a" it retail!

DarrellSimmonds

THE COMPLETE RANGE OF GAMES FOR YOUR ARCADE OR GAMES ROOM

PLEASE CALL NOW FOR PRE-EASTER DELIVERY


Unit 1 CCT Building, Chittening, Avonmouth, Bristol, BS11 0YBTel: 01179 382552 Email: [email protected]

www.jnc-sales.co.uk

Speed of Light£3,995

Wheel Deal /Gold Zone 3pl

£1,995

Slam a winner £2,995

DanceStage

Euromix£995

Klobber the

Robber£2,995

Balloon Buster £2,595

Sega UFO

Catcher£795

Fast Track Air Hockey £1,195

Dolphin Star£2,795

(2 for £4,995)

After BurnerClimax Super

DLX £2,795

Fast N Furious Twin

(with NewLCD’s) £1,995

Wheel a win£1,995

Nationwide suppliers and installers of playground surfaces

VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.PLAYBARK.COM BUY ONLINE OR OPEN A 30 DAY ACCOUNTTEL: 01538 755422 EMAIL: [email protected]

" BONDED RUBBERSURFACES

" ARTIFICIAL GRASS" RUBBER CHIPPINGS" TRADITIONAL PLAY

BARK, PLAY WOOD CHIP.

FREE SITE VISITS ALWAYS AVAILABLE!

WE OFFER LOOSE LOADS &

BAGGED LOADS.

DELIVERIES TO ALL UK

LOCATIONS.

History:BANDAI NAMCO is one of the biggestamusement machine companies in the worldand the creator of the legendary PAC-MANcharacter.

In 1955 Masaya Nakamura was operatingchildren’s rides on the roof of a departmentstore in Yokohama. The NakamuraAmusement Machine ManufacturingCompany, as it was then called, formed theacronym "NAMCO”. It grew into a huge multi-national game developer and was mergedwith toy and video game giant Bandai in2005 to create BANDAI NAMCO.

As well as PAC-MAN, which is believed to bethe most popular and widely recognisedvideo game of all time, NAMCO has createdmany legendary arcade titles over the years,such as Galaga, Tekken, Time Crisis and moreStar Wars Battle Pod. We also distributesome of the strongest titles in the coin-operated games market at this time such asJurassic Park from Raw Thrills.

Diversity:BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Ltd isinvolved in all levels of the amusementarcade business from the design anddevelopment of the machines to the runningand operation of locations, servicing andspare parts and even the supply of prizes forredemption and cranes.

Therefore, the company is able to tailor itsofferings to suit all types of sites andoperator requirements; from the outrightpurchasing of products to a turnkey solutionwhere BANDAI NAMCO designs and lays outthe locations and then manages them on anincome-share basis.

Games:BANDAI NAMCO is a coin operated machinesspecialist with a massive range of its owntitles and a selection of the very best thirdparty machines sourced from all over theworld. The range includes products of allshapes and sizes, from small kiddies rides tolarge scale video game attractions, sportsgames (air hockey / basketball games etc.)

photo machines and ticket redemptiongames.

Many of the titles on offer have strongcharacter licenses that appeal to a widedemographic of players, including CrossyRoad ticket redemption (based on the appgame kids know and love), Star Wars, JurassicPark and MotoGP, as well as our own PAC-MAN branded range of games.

In short there is something suitable for alllocations to boost their revenue from coinoperated products.

Support & PeripheralProducts:We hold a full range of spare parts and offercomprehensive after sales support from ourteam in-house technical staff who have awealth of knowledge. Our range of redemption-related productsinclude a stock management system andredemption ticket eaters, as well as a rangeof high quality tickets which can be brandedto the individual location.

Prizes:Our in-house prizedivision stocks a widerange of products frombranded confectioneryto electronic productsincluding tabletcomputers andeverything in between.

Our latest range of retail quality licensedplush includes license products from the likesof Shaun the Sheep, DC Comics Heroes suchas Superman / Batman, DreamWorks Homeand PAC-MAN in various sizes and pricepoints.

Services:BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe Services(BNAES) has grown from supplying KiddieRides, in Children’s Play Centres andSupermarkets, to perhaps the foremostsupplier of amusement games in the wholeof the UK.

They are contracted to supply companiesembracing a wide spectrum of leisureenvironments, notably, The Original BowlingCompany (incorporating both HollywoodBowl and AMF Bowling), Tenpin Bowling,Bourne Leisure on Butlins and Haven HolidayParks, among their prestigious clientstogether with many independent FamilyEntertainment Centres, seaside arcades,children’s play centres, Holiday Parks andlocal authority outlets.

BNAES offer a comprehensive service thatcan be tailored to your needs.

A nationwide team of dedicated and skilledengineers and collectors ensure that all of ourcustomers’ locations are kept to the verypeak in potential earnings.

Combining a progressive approach tomachine maintenance, management andstrong machine injection levels, BNAES rotatetheir equipment on a regular basis ensuringoptimal levels of income on all typesequipment across ourlocations.

To find out moreabout anyaspect ofBANDAINAMCO’sbusiness andhow it can helpyour location,please contact Tel:0208 324 6101 or visithttp://www.bandainamco-am.co.uk

www. holidayparksmanagement.com 0021

BANDAI NAMCO: the one #o$ sho$ fo% holiday park!

www. holidayparksmanagement.com

a d v e r t o r i a l

EAG

EAG is the pre-eminentUK trade show for theamusement arcadetrade. For the last coupleof years it has been co-located with the VisitorAttraction Expo at theExcel in London’sDocklands. The showwas held in the secondweek of January thisyear and visitor numbersappeared to be strongwith many exhibitorsclaiming that there werefrenzied periods of standactivity, although as tobe expected, it wasquieter first thing and onthe final day.

Whether you buy youramusement and gamingmachine directly fromthe supplier or use anoperator to site them foryou, it is useful to knowwhat is on the market.Here we round up thecompanies who werepresent at the EAG andhighlight some of thenew products available.

Fruit machines, or AWPs (short for AmusementsWith Prizes) are still the mainstay of the UK puband adult gaming centre. The jackpot is £100and the maximum stake £1. There are anumber of UK machine operators who will be able to advise holiday parks on the bestperforming models of fruit machine, as there are constantly new machines on the market and itis important to find the best one for your business as it can make a considerable difference tothe cashbox.

Otherwise, there are distribution companies who will be able to supply fruit machines alongwith other types of coin-operated equipment.

At this year’s EAG show, the leading music system suppliers Sound Leisure and NSM showedsome interesting innovations. Sound Leisure returned to its roots with a couple of freestandingjukeboxes with beautiful retro styling – The New Yorker and the Rocket combine the classicgood looks of Sound Leisure’s nostalgia jukeboxes with the latest digital technology expectedby pub retail customers.“Orders were taken from a good cross-section of the industry from independent operatorsthrough to multi-nationals,” says Sound Leisure Managing Director, Chris Black. “Customersunderstand that freestanding jukeboxes take more money due to their increased presence onsite. In addition, contrary to popular belief, they don’t actually take up more space than wallmounted jukebox. In today’s modern venues where screens are in abundance, free-standersare a sure fire way to ensure the jukebox stands out from the crowd – especially when they

look this good!”

NSM showed its range of wall-mounted digitaljukeboxes and also exhibited a new product for thefirst time called NSM Fog. This is an anti theftdevice which has nothing to do with music but fora relatively low-cost, it is a system that can pumpout a safe, opaque mist within seconds todisorientate a thief, limiting damage and increasingthe chance of the thief being caught.

Tony Glanville MD of RLMS: one of theleading suppliers of AWPs and othertypes of equipment

A deal is done on the SoundLeisure/Soundnet stand

the busine& of entertainmentthe busine& of entertainmentAWP suppliers included:! 7's Above ! ACE Gaming ! AMG Sales UK ! AMR Amusements ! Astra Games ! Aztec Coin Equipment! Concept Games ! Crown Leisure / Deith Leisure ! Electrocoin ! ENTNET ! G Squared Games ! Martin Austin Gaming Ltd ! Project Design & Technology! Reflex Gaming ! RLMS Sales ! Wessex Coin

Jukebox/Music systems:! Affordable Leisure UK ! NSM Music ! Sound Leisure ! Soundnet

00 www. holidayparksmanagement.com24 www. holidayparksmanagement.com

Vending machines can be a valuable extra source of income for holiday parks and therewere a number of companies showing capsule vendors at EAG. Many companies such asLaiv, Luca Srl and Interibi are specialists from the Continent and will be able to supplyboth the machine and the capsules. There were a number of other companies whospecialize in plush (cuddly toys) and other types of prizes which are ideal for cranes orredemption counters. Sega and BANDAI NAMCO will be able to supply both theredemption machines and the prizes and will be able to advise on other aspects ofarcade operation. From Minions to DC Comic superheroes – every type of character andlicence is covered in this sector.

Whether you are looking for new or used amusement machines, pooltables, boxer machines, the latest video games or even the latestpinball machine, the copmanies above will have something for everylocation and budget. Companies such as SAM Leisure specialize in cuesports, JNC Sales have a great range of used machines and leading

suppliers such as Sega and BANDAI NAMCO have most product typesunder one roof, as well as being the leading video game specialists.Harry Levy Amusements is the leading supplier of pushers in the UK,while Elaut is also a specialist, based in Belgium.

Kiddie Rides are a must for holiday parks. Whether you choose static rides orcreate an outdoor area for battery operated moving rides, you will create avaluable additional revenue stream as well as keeping children and their parentshappy. For something different, try SB Machines for top quality Italian rides. JollyRoger has a number of rides with interesting educational elements and KiddyRides (also known as Northern Leisure) have someexcellent licensed rides including Spongebob andPeppa Pig. For moving rides, World of Rides has a greatrange for different age groups which areperfect for farm attractions andholiday parks (pictured). Formula Khave Go Kart style rides and Berghad a number of interesting rides atthe show including Go Karts,Wagons and other outdoor playitems.

Vending and prizes ! All Nice Things Vending ! Bandai Namco Prize Division ! Interibi ! International Games Trade / Cool Things! Laiv S.L ! Luca Srl! Noveltoy ! PMS International! Sega Prize International! Syndicate UK ! Vending Sabadell! Whitehouse Leisure

Kiddie rides and outdoor rides! Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) ! Kiddy RidesKupper Automaty ! Berg Toys ! Formula K ! Leisure Engineering ! Recreativo Leon & Expendedora Kalash! SB Machines ! World of Rides

Video and amusements at the show:! BANDAI NAMCO Europe ! Harry Levy/Crown Leisure cranes, video) ! Elaut Sales ! Electrocoin ! Heighway Pinball ! Instance Automatics ! Jakar ! JNC Sales ! Kalkomat BIS Bac ! Magic Play ! Pheonix Darts ! Pro-Games Company! Quibica AMF ! SAM Leisure ! Sega Amusements International ! Sipuls ! The United Distributing Company ! VdW International ! Wik ! Zone Leisure Technology

Cash Handling/Components/Servicing/Systems! AstroSystems ! Cummins Allison ! E-Service! EMBED UK ! GeWeTe ! Hazel Electronics ! Innovative Technology ! JCM Global ! PCS Technology ! Sacoa Playcard System! Sega Total Solutions ! Semnox Solutions Private! Suzo Happ Group ! VMA Systems

While many of these companies supply coinmechanisms and note acceptors, these are likely to beitems that you only get involved with if there is a coinjam! However, some holiday parks are starting toconsider machine management systems so that theydon’t have to think about dealing with cash in theirarcades. Hazel Electronics, Sacoa, EMBED, as well asSega and BANDAI NAMCO will be able to give youadvice about the systems on the market, which ofteninclude online reporting and audits from the machines,as well as loyalty systems.


Spring offensive again# w'd!!

Spring offensive again# w'd!!

Weeds not only look unsightly and competewith desirable plant species but can break uppaving and asphalt, harbour pests, encouragecorrosion of metal and rotting of woodensurfaces and, in dry weather become a firehazard. Some invasive weeds such asHogweed and Japanese Knotweed can be anenvironmental hazard and, in the case ofHogweed, cause very unpleasant injuries.

In the leisure industry projecting the rightimage is essential as, when done well, itallows a company to showcase its facility tothe best advantage. This would not be caseif weeds flourish unchecked and detract fromthe surroundings. Controlling weed growtharound tree bases, along fence lines, aroundbuildings, mobile home and caravan pitches,play areas, pathways and car parks.

The best time to control weeds is either tokill them as they emerge at the start of theyear, or if established when they are activelygrowing.

Chikara is a pre-emergence herbicide with ahigh level of residual activity against bothannual and perennial broad-leaved weeds.Applications can be made to natural surfacesand permeable surfaces overlying soil such asgrave paths and parking areas. Chikara canalso be used in established shrub beds.

When applied before or during early weedemergence, Chikara is absorbed by shoots

and roots and the weeds will be killed withresidual activity against further weedemergence lasting up to five months, withanecdotal evidence suggesting even longer.

Where weeds are already established, aglyphosate herbicide such as Trustee Amenityis an ideal choice as with its systemic activityit will enter the aerial parts of the weed andtranslocate down to the roots to ensure acomplete kill of the plant. Glyphosate will killannual and perennial grasses and mostbroad-leaved weeds and can be used in awide range of situations, including treestump application.

However to kill off established weeds andachieve long term residual benefits againstnew emerging weeds throughout the year,the combination of Chikara and TrusteeAmenity can be tank mixed together andapplied as a single spray.

Both Chikara and Trustee Amenity can beused safely in and around public spaces.

For localized weed control, knapsackapplication is ideal as spray applications canbe accurately targeted to specific areas. Awide range of sprayers are available but arecent entry into the market is Evolution, aknapsack that comes with special nozzlesthat maximize accurate spray application andtherefore effective weed control.


Weeds are oftendefined by landscapersas plants growingwhere they are notwanted. However, inthe never-endingbattle against weeds,groundsmen andlandscapers have neverhad such an effectivearmoury of chemicalweed control optionsas they have today.


OIP Static Caravan ServicesFor all your Static Caravan & Lodge Services

" In-house manufacture of Windows & Doors since 1993

" Registered and Certified by National CaravanCouncil (NCC), Gas Safe & F-Gas

" Supply & Installation of Central Heating & AirConditioning Systems

" Supply & Installation of Specially Designed Slim Line UPVC D/G Window &Door systems

" Supply & Services offered nationwide

Vinyl CladdingUpgrade your home with the removal of the old datedaluminium panels and replace with vinyl cladded panels.Aluminium panels are removed, insulation is repaired, avapour barrier is installed and the entire home is re-cladusing Royal Vinyl which is extruded from polyvinylchloride homopolymer resin and blended with exclusiveDURA technology impact modifiers which form anextremely tough long lasting cladding.

Pitched RoofUpgrade the original standard bow shaped roof byinstalling a 12 degree pitched tiled effect roof usingcoated light weight steel sheets which have been provento last the harshest winters to the hottest summers formany years.

CALL US on 01924 281389For all your Static Caravan & Lodge Servicesoipstaticcaravanservices.co.uk

Central Heating • Air Conditioning • Double Glazing

These regulations apply to all catering andretail businesses that serve or sell loosefoods. In order to comply with the newregulations it is essential that everyone whoprepares or handles food in any context:! Is fully aware of the foods that maytrigger an allergic reaction and! Knows what precautions need to betaken to ensure that customers do not buy afood that they are trying to avoid.

The 14 major allergens that you need to beaware of can be found in many differentforms in many different foods. They are:celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceanssuch as prawns, eggs, fish, molluscs e.g.mussels, lupin, milk, mustard, nuts, peanuts,sesame, soya and sulphur dioxide andsulphites are all now classed as foodhazards.

Allergens can be spread through cross-contamination and also through the air andall these factors must be considered whenpreparing food on your park. You will alsoneed to know the difference between afood allergy and food intolerance and celiacdisease.

North2South Training Consultants havelooked after over one thousand holidayparks across England, Scotland, Wales andNorthern Ireland over the last 10 yearsdelivering their training. Hayley Thompson,Director, has run her own family holiday parkin the Yorkshire Dales for 18 years andunderstands the needs and issues that affectholiday parks and their staff, hence whyNorth2South Training was set up to helpparks across the country to train staff withthe latest legislation.

We are also involved in catering ourselves,so we are up to speed with all of the foodsafety and food allergen regulations.

The CIEH (Chartered Institute ofEnvironmental Health) Level 2 course wasintroduced in December 2014 in line withthe new regulations. It is a half-day coursethat covers 3 sections.

Section 1 - Food Allergy and IntoleranceIn this section we look at the protection ofconsumer health and wellbeing bysafeguarding food from anything that cancause harm. This includes all the practicalmeasures involved in keeping food safefrom production to sale or consumption. We discuss how ‘safe’ food can becontaminated with one of the 14 allergensand cross-contamination, the hazards andrisks that can occur and break it down intowhat is a Food Allergy, symptoms anddiagnosis and if it happens – how to dealwith an Anaphylaxis shock. Because ourtrainers also deliver First Aid we can showyou how an epipen works and what you andthe customer need to do if they have areaction to one of the allergens.

Food Intolerance is becoming increasinglycommon and I myself have them, so this isa subject that I know a lot about. We alsotouch on Lactose intolerance, Coeliac diseaseand how to communicate to our customersthrough food labeling and signs and how todo this correctly since the new regulationswere brought in.

Section 2 - Practical Allergen InformationThis section looks at Risk Assessments andwhat paperwork we now need to completeto make sure all staff and customers areaware of the food we produce and sell andwhat allergens are in them. It looks at whatour staff need to do and know, whether inthe kitchen or serving customers. Howgoods are supplied and delivered andstorage, equipment and utensils, cleaning,preparation, airborne particles, service anddisplay and risk reviews. Section 3 – CommunicationThis to us is the most important factor, asthere is no point doing all the things weneed to do when preparing, making andputting food on display, if thecommunication from the kitchen to the staffto the customer is not all in place andcorrect. We need to know how tocommunicate allergen information tocustomers and how to make sure our staffknow what is in every item we sell.

We can give you all of the relevantpaperwork you need to keep you in linewith the regulations and help you provide abetter service that runs smoothly from thekitchen to the customer.

For more information please [email protected] Or on 07780703890


Allergen Aware?Allergen Aware?Are you Are you If your holiday park has a shop, restaurant, bar or reception thatserves or sells food that has been bought but not already sealed,or is made by yourselves you will need to be aware of the FoodInformation Regulations 2014.

Hayley Thompson, Director,North2South Training Consultants



Holiday Park Wi-Fi SystemsEvery cloud has a Silver Lining!

0333 335 [email protected]

www.silverliningnetworks.co.uk

Simple solutions for technical needs

* Please contact us for more info on our free equipment and installation

Silver Lining Networks specialise in providing Wi-Fi solutionsfor holiday parks and campsites.

We have a number of Wi-Fi network options available:" Site wide public systems " Social hotspots " Free Equipment*

Issue 2 February 2016

Flooding andInsuranceHow to protectyour business

Flooding andInsuranceHow to protectyour business

Show yourbest siteweb design

secrets

Spatexmakes asplash!

Inspiration and Information for Glamping Operators

lGBUSINESSmping

DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR GLAMPING?PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARY NOW!

THE GLAMPING SHOW 2016 22ND – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016NAEC, STONELEIGH PARK, WARWICKSHIRE.

SEE OUTSTANDING PRODUCTS …. LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS….SHARE YOUR DREAMS!

THEGLAMPINGSHOW.COMWHO SHOULD EXHIBIT?" Bell Tents

" Camping Vans

" Camping Wagons

" Consultants and Planners

" Eco Toilets

" Gypsy Caravans

" Landscaping

" Lighting

" Log Cabins

" Magazines and Websites

" Medieval Tents

" Outdoor Garden Offices

" Portable Toilets/Washrooms

" Safari Tents

" Shepherd Huts

" Solar Energy

" Storage Containers

" Tipis

" Tree Houses

" Utilities and Accessories

" Wigwams

" Wooden Tent Structures

" Yurts

WHO IS GOING TO ATTEND?" Adventure Parks

" Architects

" Camping and Caravan Club

" Camping Sites

" Caravan Club

" Caravan Parks

" Country Houses

" English Heritage

" Farmers

" Festival Operators

" Fisheries

" Glamping Sites

" Holiday Park Groups

" Holiday Parks Independent

" Hotel Operators

" National Parks

" National Trusts

" Pre Pitched Tent Operators

" Pubs

" Theme Parks

" Visitor Attractions

" Woodland Managers

" Zoos

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPSExperts will be hosting a full seminarprogramme on all Glamping relatedissues. Assisting to increase revenues,service, profit and guests!

Holiday ParksManagement

Supported by

“The Glamping Show is a fantastic ideaand the timing is exactly right. HPM isfully behind this fascinating and excitingsector.”Nina Blanchard, Managing Director

Contact: Dan Wiseman, Show Manager T: 07958 030 785E: [email protected] W: www.theglampingshow.com

Contact Dan fordetails of how toexhibit:[email protected]

Follow us on Twitter for morenews: @TheGlampingShow

Glamping Ne(

3lGBUSINESSmping

Who can forget the images of thefloods at the beginning of this year?Villages stranded from the rest of thecountry, livestock being moved to

These are exciting times for the team behind Holiday Parks Management as we prepare to pitch our ownindependent camp with the next issue of Glamping Business which will be launched as a separate publicationin April. There is no doubt that the market is ready for a business title which is dedicated to Glamping in all ofits wonderful forms. I have never known an industry as diverse as Glamping. It covers everything fromfarming, handicrafts, environmental issues, tourism through to high end luxury and architecture withthousands of other related accessories and nuances thrown in. Many have tried to define it but to me it is aboutchasing a dream. People dream of many different things - for some the ultimate luxury is peace and quiet andthe simple life. For others, it involves novelty, quirkiness and all of the mod cons. We aim to reflect the widedreamscape of glamping from a business perspective. We will show you what people in the industry are doing,how they are doing it and why it works. It doesn’t matter what your dream of glamping involves, if is donewell, using quality materials, offering the best possible service it counts.

StephGlamping Business Editor

03 Industry news

09 Minimise the effects of flooding

11 Website Building and how to get it right

12 Glamping Pinboard Products and services for

the discerning operator

13 Spatex show report

Contents

Welcome to lGBUSINESSmping

Next issueWe bring you the definitive round-up of glampingstructures for all kinds of locations and all budgets.Whether you are looking for all-out luxury, a simpleaesthetic or a quirky makeover, there will be somethingfor everyone.

Photo courtesy of !e English Shepherd Huts Co.

4 www.theglampingshow.com

Glamping Ne(

A North Wales businessman has set up a company dedicated toexploiting the boom in glamping in the region.

Gareth Jones, head of the CarbonZero Group, which specializes

in solar panels, believesglamping is ready to takeoff in North Wales andhe has set up a newdivision of his companyto build bell tents andeco domes. He will beoffering customers

complete packages,including planning,

design, construction andeven the furnishing.

Gareth, the North Wales President of the Federation of MasterBuilders, said: “We’re expanding our existing offices in St Asaphand opening a new office in Mochdre to allow us to grow andcreate new employment opportunities, so it’s an exciting year andwe’re looking forward to 2016 and beyond. We still see solar as abig part of our business, with other technologies such as batterystorage coming online in the coming months, thanks to the likesof Tesla and its Powerwall.”

“But the biggest part of the growth of the group is the leisurebusiness, and it’s got potential for significant growth. We are theUK’s first dedicated glamping construction company as we will beconcentrating solely on building glamping sites. We’re workingwith existing camping and caravan sites to utilise areas of landthat may not be suitable for existing business but would be perfectfor glamping pods, and domes, which offer a fantastic return as aninvestment.”

First Dedicated Glamping Construction Firm set up in Wales

NEWSlGBUSINESSmping

Chessington World of AdventuresResort has ordered 35 tents fromGlamping specialist Boldscan for theirbrand new “Explorer Glamping” sitewhich opens next May.

Situated next to the exciting Wild Asiasection, home to the colourful lorikeets,the camp will consist of 31 bespoke kakiBell tents and 4 safari style Amboselitents, which blend seamlessly into thelandscape. Subtle Asian themedinteriors will complete the feeling ofbeing explorers in an unknown land.

Greg Martin, Project Manager, said, “Ichose Boldscan for the quality of theproduct, the ease of dealing with a UKbased company and the speed ofproduction.”

Merlin Entertainments, who runChessington, set up Glamping atanother of their sites, Warwick Castle,last season and found it to be verypopular. A prototype of one of the tents

is already in situ at Chessington forguests to view.Bookings have just opened with pricesfor a family of four staying 1 nightstarting at £275. For details visithttp://www.chessington.com/glamping/

Boldscan’s products range fromtraditional Safari style tents to ultra-modern Geodesic Domes, plus aClubhouse to use as shop, bar, tearoometc, all hand made at the Somersetfactory using British canvas. In additionto advising on planning permission,green finance, supplying and fitting outthe tents with kitchens, wood burningstoves and even en-suite bathrooms, thecompany offers an after salesmaintenance programme.

Boldscan, has just launched a new range– the innovative and stylish “Etosha”with big picture windows and two deepwooden verandas covered by a canopy,one of which can feature a hot tub.There are two design options: the Safari

and the Contemporary. The Safari is asubtle sand canvas with green roofswhich blends seamlessly into thecountryside. In contrast TheContinental evokes a cool villa on theMed with elegant white walls, slate blueroofs and can have transparent bluewalls surrounding the verandas. Thelow, one level design has been developedwith disabled guests in mind. The Tshaped floorplan can be configured tosleep up to eight including a masterbedroom, guest bedroom plus cabinbeds, with heating provided by a woodburning stove. There is an option to adda wooden pod with a bespoke en-suitebathroom with a roll top bath, deluxeshower and separate proper loo.

Chessington add more Safari Tents to their park

The EnglishShepherds HutCompany haslaunched its ownpop-up glampingventure called“TheEnglampment”.

This consists of ishigh-end bell tentaccommodationwith kingsized beds,crisp white linens anddecorations deliveredand set up at venues,weddings and events. "Ofcourse, bell tent hire is already a tried and testedbusiness across the country, but our unique sellingpoint is that we also provide luxuriously high-end flushtoilets and hot showers, built into our towableShepherds Hut bathroom,” says Craig Nield, Founder."Also to add a 5-star feel to the experience, we supplyfluffy towels, bathrobes, flip flops and even provide a“chill tent” for kids and a brew-tent for refreshments.It’s a totally bespoke package and so far our soft-launchin Norfolk has received a huge number of enquiries.”www.englampment.co.uk

Glamping Ne(

5lGBUSINESSmping

Throw our tourism tradea lifeline, minister urged

Britain's Secretary of State for tourismhas been told that Northern England'svisitor industry could suffer "death bydrowning" if more attention isn't paidto maintaining the region's waterways.

The warning was delivered in Januaryby Lancashire and Cumbria parksoperator Henry Wild at a majorLondon tourism conference at whichcabinet minister John Whittingdalewas among MPs present.

Both Mr Whittingdale and Mr Wildaddressed delegates at the annual conference of the British Holiday &Home Parks Association of which Mr Wild is the UK national chairman.

Held at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, the event drewrepresentatives from many of Britain's 3000-plus park businesses, pluscross-party politicians and UK tourism chiefs.

Mr Wild, whose family business owns Skelwith Fold Caravan Park inAmbleside and Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster, said that thegovernment needed urgently to address the problem of ill-maintainedinland waterways.

He said there needed to be a body appointed with clearly definedresponsibilities for ensuring that waterways were capable of removingsurface water from the land.

The Environment Agency, suggested Mr Wild, was clearly not up to thejob and needed to be given new powers and funding to act on behalf ofcommunities and businesses at risk.

Mr Whittingdale, whose portfolio as Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport includes responsibilities for tourism, undertook torepresent the concerns he had heard to government heads.

He also announced at the conference that prime minister DavidCameron was that day in Cumbria to unveil a £3 million fund to speedup flood repairs and promote the county to visitors.

Mr Wild said that recent events in Cumbria and Lancashire had shownthe potentially devastating impact that flooding could have on thetourism industry.

In the immediate aftermath of December's deluges, he commented,many of Cumbria's 100-plus caravan and camping parks had reported afall-off in bookings for 2016.

However, he added, the threat to Cumbria's £2.4 billion tourismindustry – which included his own park's 450 caravan and holiday homepitches - now seemed to be receding:

"It appears that many holidaymakers have been heeding the message thatthe county is determined to be back on its feet by spring with repairsmade to much of our damaged infrastructure," he said.

Yorkshire Yurts is holding an Open Day at WharfedaleGrange, ideally situated between Leeds and Harrogate.

The event takes place on Saturday 9th and Sunday10th April from 12pm – 4pm. It is free to attend andthere is no need to book.

Yorkshire Yurts will be showing its 42ft yurt, 25ft yurtand the 9x15m petal pole marquee they also have avariety of fantastic wedding industry suppliersshowcasing their work.

For more details email [email protected]

Yorkshire Yurts Open Day

Pop-up glamping venture

launched

Henry Wild

6 www.theglampingshow.com

Glamping Ne(

The future of the 600-acre LoudounCastle estate now lies in the hands of theScottish Government. A long-runningapplication for 450 holiday lodges andglamping pitches, as well as other leisurefacilities has been taken out of the handsof the local authority after they failed tomake a decision.

The plans would also include therestoration of the old castle to a hotel, alake, indoor water park and spa and

retail units, plus a distillery and 300residential dwellings. They will now besubmitted to the Directorate forPlanning and Environmental Appeals(DPEA) in Falkirk for a reporter toexamine all of the evidence.

Ministers stepped in to take theapplication out of the hands of the localauthority in Kilmarnock “in view of thepotential economic benefit of theproposal and the heritage issues relatedto the A-listed Loudoun Castle and itsdesigned landscape”.

Nick Laister, of the RPS Group, onbehalf of Loudoun Woods Homes Ltd,submitted the application, which hasbeen altered and updated several timesover the last few years.

At one stage Loudoun was visited byformer British Open champion andfour-times US Masters runner-up Tom

Weiskopf, when a golf course appearedto be the way forward.

That idea has been dropped, but justeight weeks ago entrepreneur andregeneration specialist Paul Dixon wasput in charge of the ambitious project,which now has an estimated£525million price tag.

The scheme, if given the green light,will transform the old theme park,which closed in 2010, into a holidayand leisure destination along the lines ofa Center Parcs attraction – with theimposing castle, known as The Windsorof the North in its heyday, as thecentrepiece.

It’s anticipated that the project willcreate 1000 jobs during theconstruction process, for at least fiveyears, and an additional 2500 long-termjobs.

£525m Loudoun Leisure and Glamping Application now with Sco!ish Goverment

Blue Forest is pleased to announce a commisssion to produce thedesigns for an exciting and imaginative multi-million poundtreehouse development.

Aptly called ‘Nesting’, the scheme which comprises of 13 naturaltreehouses, 11 timber lodges and 40 glamping tents (for seasonaluse) is being created at the award-winning attraction, Robin HillCountry Park on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom,which is home to the world-renowned Bestival music festival. A planning application has recently been submitted by VectisVentures Ltd for the scheme.

The iconic design for the treehouses was inspired by nature andis based on the curvy and organic form of a Weaver bird’s nest.Consideration has been given as to how ‘Nesting’ can fit withinthe sensitive countryside environment.

Mr Andy Payne , Founder – Blue Forest, said, “Each treehousewill be positioned slightly differently within the woodland,perhaps rotated, sunken down within the valley or lifted up inthe surrounding tree canopy. Like a cluster of fruit, thetreehouses appear similar but not identical. They have beencreated to complement each other and will really come into theirown when viewed collectively, sitting harmoniously within thelandscape”.To ensure a sensitive design approach, Blue Forest is delighted tohave engaged the services of architect’s practice, Tate Harmer,who specialise in sustainable designs that work with nature. By a

careful selection of naturalmaterials, the lodges andtreehouses will blend intotheir natural surroundings,complemented by asensitive landscapingscheme.

The proposed treehouseswill be clad almost entirelyin sustainably sourced,premium grade Cedar shingles, giving an elegant yet naturalfinish. The combination of these neutral colours and textures hasbeen identified as being particularly effective for helping thestructures blend in with their surroundings. The cedar shinglesused for part of the wall cladding will weather in a relativelyshort period of time to a natural silver grey colour.

The development is to be sited in areas of Robin Hill, which arecurrently unused or in need of regeneration. The proposedaccommodation will nestle into the natural landscape of thepark, maximising on the most stunning views across the valleyand providing unique visitor accommodation. Phase One of‘Nesting’ is proposed for opening Spring 2018.

Local Planning Authority to ensure that it is a sympatheticdevelopment in keeping with the natural environment in whichRobin Hill sits.”

Multi-Million Pound Treehouse DevelopmentProposed at Robin Hill Country Park

Glamping Ne(

7lGBUSINESSmping

Warwick Castle createsKnights’ Village with

Woodland LodgesGuests will be able to go back in time thanks to anew themed village, created by Warwick Castle,which is creating 28 timber lodges in its 64 acrewooded estate.

The attractive lodges will feature Mediaeval-themedlight fittings, door handles and crockery, loftyceilings, wooden beams, stonework and green oakwood-styled exteriors and will open in July 2016.

However, behind the façade, guests will be able tofind all mod cons including wet rooms, TV, fridge,coffee maker and central heating!Prices will start at £203 per two-bedroom woodlandlodge per night, including breakfast in thebanqueting hall and two days castle entry.

Geoff Spooner, general manager at Warwick Castle,says: “This is a new chapter for Warwick Castle asfrom July 1, we’ll offer guests year-round lodge-styleaccommodation to complement the Castle’s twosumptuous Tower Suites, set within the fourteenthcentury Caesar’s Tower, and our superb seasonalMediaeval Glamping Village."

He adds: “With the 400th anniversary of the death ofWarwickshire’s very own William Shakespeare beingmarked globally in 2016, Warwick Castle – justtwenty minutes from Stratford upon Avon – is theideal place to stay to discover over 1,100 years ofEnglish history.“We’re also very proud of our links to CapabilityBrown, who designed parts of the our grounds in theeighteenth century and whose genius will becelebrated nationwide throughout 2016.”

Holidaymakers looking for a five star, luxurious, unusual and verydiscreet getaway are in for a treat in 2016 with the launch of The SecretBus project in Devon.

A double decker bus, transformed to the very highest specifications, willbe located in an as yet undisclosed location somewhere deep in theSouth Hams countryside near the coast.

Sleeping seven people, with two double beds, one twin and one single,the bus will have a luxurious full size bathroom and shower, its ownkitchen and dining room, lounge, sun terrace and log burner.

The bus will be static in a fixed location for each week,rotating field locations during the Spring, Summerand Autumn. Each site will have a stunning viewand be within walking or cycling distance of abeach or estuary.

The Secret Bus will also have an outside shower,a barbecue and pull-out kitchen, electric bikesand a selection of outdoor games such as giantJenga, badminton, swing ball and croquet.

The secret bus project launches

A 14th Century mansion inPreston, Lancashire has beengiven the go-ahead to build anew hut hamletdevelopment.

The scheme will see 28shepherd huts, a tree houseand extended play area builton land at the 700-year-oldGrade I listed buildingSamlesbury Hall

Trustees of the Hall believe the development is key to raising funds inorder to sustain the Hall. “We’re absolutely delighted,” said SharonJones, hall director. “We’re hoping to do 10 huts this year and the restnext year, then the tree house the year after.”

She added, “Our main income is weddings and that helps keep the hallmaintained but it doesn’t provide enough income for things such as anew roof which we’ll need over the next 15 years.”

The huts and tree house are being made by Kirkham-based Pete Fryerand have been inspired by visits to look at other schemes in the countryincluding glamping at Warwick Castle and a tree house at AlnwickCastle.

The huts will be built on existing golf club course grounds which havebecome unsustainable. Each solar-powered unit sleeps three people andwill include washing facilities. Catering facilities would be provided inthe treehouse and in the Hall.

Shepherd Huts wi" su#ain Samlesbury Ha"

Floods can arise from a number ofcircumstances and sources. Businessesshould consider their susceptibility toinundation from rivers, seas, lakes andreservoirs to name but a few. What stepscan be taken to ensure your business hasprotection measures in place?

Impact a flood can have ona businessBusinesses rely on consistent income toenable them to function effectively. Alarge flood may have the capacity todamage a business by rendering anyincome potential non-existent anddamage it’s functionality beyond repair.Over a third of SMEs do not have abusiness continuity plan in place in theevent of a flood. This could be essentialgiven that 69% of SME revenues havebeen affected by poor weather in the last12 months, an increase of 46% on theprevious year (based on research carriedout by Towergate Insurance on 1,000SMEs).

How to protect the propertyProper planning is the most essential partof ensuring that the best possibleprecautions have been considered toprotect your business. This can rangefrom simple ideas such as storing valuableitems in high up locations to the morecomplex implementation of flooddefences. Whilst the latter could befinancially costly in the short term, itcould prove vital to an enterprise asupwards of 1.3 million properties since2013 have reaped the benefit.The UK government have released aflood plan template for camping andcaravan sites. It is important to considerthe specifics of your business when usingthis template as a guideline. For example,keep emergency contacts readily availablei.e. plumbers, managing agents and localauthorities. In addition, liaising withlocal emergency services (police and fireservice) can give an indication of whattheir emergency management plans are.

It is sensible to supportyour flood plan with asite plan detailingimportant aspects ofyour businesspremises specifically.Within this, it isimportant to considerthe following:

" isolation pointsfor services, such asgas and electricity, sothat you can turn them

off

" evacuation route(s)avoiding areas that could

flood; but make sure theroute is accessible for those

with disabilities

" traffic management plans

" assembly points, including a ‘crisiscentre’ which may be at an off-sitelocation

" location of life-rings

A flood plan template and additionalguidance on how to safely recover yourbusiness after a flood can be found on theHSE website. This is for not onlyminimising future risks, but also assessingelectrical safety, drying the premises,cleaning up and the hazards associatedwith such a task. Visithttp://www.hse.gov.uk for more details

How to protect individualstructuresAs well as implementing procedures toprotect the property as a whole, businessowners should also consider precautionsto protect individual structures.

Although it may seem a simple notion tosituate caravans and glamping structureson higher ground, it could proveinvaluable for protecting your business’assets from a flood. If this is not apossibility, there are other options toconsider. Axle stands could raisestructures above ground level byapproximately 0.5 metres. This wouldallow for that extra bit of leeway if

Flooding is the UK’s most common and widespreadnatural disaster. Although a fire may seem immediatelymore fearsome, studies have shown that on average smallto medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are more likely tohave their businesses destroyed by a flood than a fire.

How can you minimisethe effects of floodingon your business?

8

Fl)ding and insurance

www.theglampingshow.com

inundation from nearby water sourceswere to impact your site. Floatationdevices and anchors could also serve toreduce damage to the structuresthemselves in such an event.

Insurance considerationsA study carried out by Towergate showedthat 3 in 5 SMEs are not insured againstthe elements. It is vital for any business tohave a continuity plan in place. Insurancecan play an essential part in that plan somake sure you have the correct cover inforce. As an addition to indemnifyingyourself against material damage to yourassets caused by major perils, businessowners should give close consideration toimplementing Business Interruption (BI)cover. BI cover could serve to ensure thatyour business continues to functionwhilst the relevant repair and recovery isbeing carried out. This is achieved bycovering the revenue that would be lost asa direct consequence of an insured perilsuch as a flood. When arranging insurance, businessowners should consider all eventualitiesand systematically weigh up what coverswould be necessary for their business tocarry on functioning should the worstoccur. Commercial insurance is designedby insurers as a support forenterprises throughout the highsand lows of trading so makesure you discuss yourthoughts and concernswith yourbroker/underwriter.

Launched in 1997, Towergate is the UK’s largest independently ownedinsurance intermediary, generating more than £3 billion of pro forma grosswritten premiums across its companies and employing c. 4,400 people across100 UK offices.

Towergate is an important distribution channel for a significant range ofinsurance products and a key strategic partner for the UK’s largest insurers. Towergate’s scales, customer insight and distribution relationships make it aunique business and a leader in the markets in which it operates. Thecombination of distribution and underwriting gives it unparalleled consumerdata and market insight.

Fl)ding and insurance

9lGBUSINESSmping

10

Website building

Creating a website for your Glamping siteis a great way to get the information outto a larger group of people. And ofcourse, the better your website, the morelikely a reader is to become a customer.Jonathan Knight, owner of CoolCamping, suggests that the more onlinepresence you have, the better, “Like anybusiness, you need a website! Customersmake most of their travel purchasedecisions by looking online...” By the endof this article, you should have a clearerunderstanding of the information thatneeds to be included on your website andhow to lay it out attractively. A websitecan be confusing, if not infuriating, tocreate but at its heart it is in fact a verysimple tool that allows you to pitch yoursite to potential customers.

Website ContentThe information on your website needsto be clear and easy to read. Researchingother Glamping websites is a good way tofind out what works and what doesn’t. Ifyou are not confident in your writingstyle then a copywriter can be used,Knight suggests, “Possibly, but what’simportant here is to really sell all thereasons to come to your particular slice ofglamping paradise – but not to exaggerateor over-sell. You need to be honest andclear about what you’re offering,especially the level of luxury customerscan expect.”

When thinking about what informationto include on your website, it isimportant to remember that there arecertain things that have to be mentioned

so that the reader has all the informationthey need to decide whether to make abooking.

PitchesThe reader wants to know what kind ofaccommodation is available, and howmany pitches your site offers. A great wayof getting around having large sections ofdescriptive text is to include pictures aswell. A picture, or ideally two or three,will give the reader an instantunderstanding of what you are offering.It is also worth noting the position ofyour pitches within the site, as largergroups may want to stay close together.

Who’s welcomeThis decision is up to you and dependson the type of customer you are lookingfor. A good example would be to say thatyou welcome families, couples childrenand small groups but to maintain apeaceful environment at the site, you donot accept large groups. It is also worthnoting whether you accept pets on site,but do not hold back from asking thatthe pets are well behaved and kept onleads in public areas.

On-site facilitiesThis would include shower blocks,toilets, washing up and launderingfacilities and any cooking facilities thatare available. There is no need to go intotoo much detail here, a short list thatinforms the reader is more thanacceptable. It is in this section that thereader will get a better understanding ofyour site as a whole so if you have largeopen areas set aside for sports or achildren’s playground area make sure tomention it.

Food and drink If your site offers any food or perhaps hasa small shop it is important to let thecustomers know, especially if your site isoff the beaten track with no local shopsor restaurants. A short description of theservices you offer will go a long way, andit is always worth noting the prices. A listof restaurants or local shops is also worthhaving, especially if you do not offer any

on site. A short list with a smalldescription of each place is ideal here andit is always worth including a phonenumber or a link to a website so that thecustomer can get in touch and find outmore.

Opening timesWhile your site may not be open all yearround, your website will be. It isdefinitely worth noting the months thatyou operate so that you don’t get callsfrom customers trying to book a stay on adate that you are not open.

PricesMaking sure that the prices for stays atyour site are visible and easilyunderstandable is very important. Listingthe different types of accommodationthat are available and giving prices pernight is a good way to ensure that thereader will have a clear understanding ofhow much they are going to be paying. Itis also worth noting any optional extrasthat you offer such as fire wood for acampfire or guided hikes.

Things to doHave a number of activities at your site?That’s great, mention them here. Butalways be sure to mention a few things todo in the surrounding area. These couldbe anything from country walks tonearby shopping towns. While the readermay choose to ignore these and explorethe surrounding are by themselves, theyare easy to include, and may help thereader plan their trip.

DirectionsWhile an address may be enough, it isalways good to include a set of directionsboth by road and by public transport.The directions do not have to be in-depth and can be from any local townand for public transport a list of localtrain or bus stations is always welcome.

LayoutThe layout of your website is also a veryimportant. A good website should be niceto look and provide all the informationneeded so that it is easy to locate and

Website Building for a Glamping Business


You could have the bestGlamping site in the world,and yet without the rightmarketing, it could remainrelatively unknown. WilliamRusbridge explores theways in which you canmake the most of youronline presence.

Sho* checkli#

9lGBUSINESSmping

Website building

11lGBUSINESSmping

understand. It is important to avoid large blocksof uninterrupted text as this will often put thereader off. It is far better to have a group ofsmaller sections of text with appropriateheadings. Knight mentions, “The main overviewshould convey all the main points in a conciseway. If that’s enough to get people interested,they will then want to read on in more detail, sohave different sections for information about theaccommodation, the location, and things to doin the area.”

Pictures are also a great way to not only catchthe reader’s eye, but also to easily conveyinformation. While a professional photographeris not required for these pictures, avoidingblurry pictures by using a camera that can takehigh quality pictures is. When asked about theneed for a professional photographer, CoolCamping’s Jonathan Knight says, “It might notbe necessary to use a professional photographeras it’s fairly straightforward these days to takedecent pictures on most cameras or even somephones. But if you are in any doubt as to yourability as a photographer, then it’s probably wiseto get a professional in! Customers will not betempted to spend hundreds of pounds on aholiday if they can’t see exactly what they aregetting first.” It is always good to include a fewphotos of the site and its surrounding landscapeas well as pictures of the accommodation thatyou offer. This includes pictures of both theoutside and the inside of your accommodation.Remember, a sun-soaked clearing filled withcolourful tents is a lot more appealing than adreary field, blanketed in clouds, so make sureyou make the most out of your pictures bytaking them on a day with good weather andusing the light to your advantage.

The Next StepThe next step is to get your website onto theinternet and the best way to do this is to workwith a website designer. When asked about webdesigners, Knight said, “It helps to have aninitial meeting early on, as then the writing andpictures can be crafted to the format of thewebsite. It’s also important to have access to thewebsite, to be able to add and amend your owncontent – so make sure that’s part of yourdiscussion with any web designer. You could alsothink about doing it yourself, using a websitetemplate like squarespace to create your ownslick-looking website.”

An example of interioraccommodation pictures

An example of exterior accommodation images

A goodexample a

wellorganised

text.

An exampleof too muchwriting.

Thanks towww.coolcamping.co.ukfor additional information

Sunshine in a boxPerfect for blackouts and emergencies. Ideal for glamping,

camping, fishing, and a few hours down the shed.

The Little Red Box is charged via the solar panel, which is big

enough to do the job, but small enough to carry in a shoulder

bag. It has a 10m lead.

The Little Red Box itself, has sockets in it. Some for lights,

(3 included) and some for USB devices (2 of these) so you can

run any USB appliance as well as charging pods, pads, phones

and tabs etc......

All light cables are 5M in length which means several rooms

could be lit up at once! Brilliant in black-outs and power-cuts,

Ideal for camping or fishing when away from the grid. The

pefect 'must have' for Glampers who want to stay connected

and have decent quality lighting at night.

The Little Red Box is the 'Must have' for 2016..... It's a

modern day box of candles whilst being very very useful inbetween emergencies

How long does the box last? 1light = 20 hrs, 3 lights = 7 hrs.

Charge time 4 hrs in bright sun,longer in [email protected]

We round up some of the interesting andunusual glamping accessories that havecome to our attention

#

lGBUSINESSmping

PinboardPinboard

12

Glamping Pinboard


Sculptural Artist Andy Gage at The Firepit Company createsbeautiful, sculptured Fireballs, which are spherical firepits. Theywork very well as Patio Heaters for warming up those chillyevenings or as fantastic garden or glamping sculptures, especiallywhen illuminated with electric lights. Our Fireballs reallyenhance your outside space in a unique, beautiful and practicalway, other uses include unique driveway markers or whenincorporating a corporate logo they become great talking pointsaround business premises. Please take a moment to view our

pictures and see somecommissions we havealready completed. Wecan design and make aFireball to yourspecification or if youwould rather hire onefor your event, thenplease get in touch.

[email protected]

Beautiful and Functional Fire Sculpture

Private Cinema Experience The Sol Cinema is a uniquemobile cinema in a caravanpowered entirely by the sun. Anaudience of 8 adults are treatedto red carpet, usherette serviceand popcorn for a uniquecinematic experience.

The Sol Cinema has beenlavished with pride and style. Weuse an LED video projector showing short movies in plush

surroundings. We can also produce your videos.

We use a solar generator to store renewable energy from the

sun. Our 120W photovoltaic panel harness the sunlight, even

as the movies are being shown, so we don't run out of power.

www.thesolcinema.org

ModulogThe moduLog is a unique glamping pod or garden office. EachmoduLog is made in modular form which allows you to design yourown moduLog by adding as many or as few modules as you wish.ModuLog is very green in its approachas we use home grown timber andlocally sourced materials in itsconstruction.

If you want a unique, luxury, eco-friendly, handmade, bespoke pod forglamping, summer house or gardenoffice then the moduLog is it.www.modulog.co.uk

Widely acknowledged as the best edition todate, for three days the Jaguar Exhibition Hallat Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was a vibrantnetworking extravaganza, bursting with hightech stands displaying all the latest wetleisure innovations and products. Every sectorof the wet leisure Industry was representedin all its glory, from saunas, steam rooms,swimming pools to spas and hot tubs andeverything in between. A comprehensivedouble seminar programme was extremelywell attended. Led by a stellar team ofIndustry experts, the seminars offered visitorsa chance to update their professional skill forfree and gain valuable CPD points. In fact, theevent was nothing short of what you would

expect from the UK’s number one wet leisureExhibition with an impressive internationalstanding.

Particularly rewarding was the significantincrease in commercial visitors, many ofthese drawn from the hospitality and holidaysector.

“SPATEX 2016 surpassed all our expectationswith a constant flow of high quality visitorsthroughout the duration of the Show,” saysexhibitor Cath Saunders from CertikinInternational, whose comments are typical ofthose that have flooded into the SPATEXoffice since the Show closed. “We wereparticularly pleased to see a largecommercial representation, particularly fromthe holiday park sector. SPATEX is easily thebest way of accessing all that the UK wetleisure Industry has to offer.”

Delighted SPATEX Organiser, Michele Bridlesays: “We pulled out all the stops to celebrateour 20th anniversary and the Industryhandsomely rewarded us with exhibitorspace sold out some two months early, but

the visitor numbers exceeded even ourexpectations. Visitors flocked from both homeand abroad, representing a huge crosssection of disciplines and facilities - leisurecentres, hotels, councils, schools, holidayparks, spas, animal hydrotherapy pools, toname but a few.”

Michele adds: “Far from resting on ourlaurels, it’s onwards and upwards for SPATEX!This year has proved to be a fantasticplatform upon which to build SPATEX 2017,which we are planning to make even biggerand better. Watch this space for news of ourlandmark 21st.”

Diary Date - Don’t miss SPATEX 2017 -Tuesday January 31st to Thursday February2nd - The Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena,Coventry CV6 6GE.

With a staggering 28 percent year on yearincrease in visitornumbers (many fromthe commercial sector)and well over 120 highquality companiesexhibiting, the recentlyheld 20th anniversarySPATEX 2016 Exhibitiondelivered on all frontsand has been lauded anIndustry success story.

DIARY DATE - Don’t missSPATEX 2017 - TuesdayJanuary 31st to ThursdayFebruary 2nd - The JaguarExhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena,Coventry CV6 6GE.

i! hailed a wate" leisure indu#ry triumphi! hailed a wate" leisure indu#ry triumph

13lGBUSINESSmping

Documents

HOLIDAY PARKS MANAGEMENT : GLAMPING BUSINESS MAGAZINE