holiday parks management issue 13

Issue 13

The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks, Campsites and the Leisure Industry

Holiday Parks Management

www.holidayparksmanagement.com

Features In This issueAPI Advisory“Tempt Family HolidaymakersWith High-Quality Play Areas”

Glamping“A pod is a pod is a caravan!”

Mobile AppsHow To Make your Company Viral

Designed and Produced by Print Plus 01432 272025 www.printplushereford.co.ukMaggie Media Ltd 7378641 Vat Registration 128 6998 57 © Copyright 2014

3

Holiday Parks ManagementMaggie Media Ltd is an energeticbusiness offering a website andmagazine called Holiday ParksManagement , to clients throughoutthe UK and Europe.

The company, which is located inHerefordshire, was set up in 2010realising the demand for HolidayParks and Caravan Parks to have amedium in one place to purchaseproducts and services for theirbusinesses.The owner has been in the LeisureIndustry for over 14 years and hasmuch experience in this market place.

The professional staff, website andmagazine help clients source suppliesand products for their Parks & Sitesthroughout the year, offering fourseasonal magazines. Winter -February, Spring - May, Summer-August, Autumn - November.

These services are designed toimprove performance and help withHoliday Park & Caravan ParkManagement.

The magazine has a growing networkof advertisers and clients such as‘Cartoon Network’, ‘Proludic, SoundLeisure,’ ‘Pattersons,’ ‘Tri County Golf,’‘Frontier Pitts,’ ‘Re-bound’ etc TheCompany is owned and run by NinaBlanchard who also ownswww.campsitefinderonline.com

This website has such park groups asPark Holidays UK, Park Resorts andindependents parks like‘Holgate’s Caravan Parks’ and ‘Best ofBritish’ to name but a few. In 2012 theysecured the Caravan Club as one oftheir major clients. Adding 200 parksto the 3500 database of clients.


Next IssueMayFeatures Include:

Flood Management

Landscaping

Lodges and Lodge

Parks

Entertainment.

Whats In Th is I ssueFeaturesGlamping Pods and Luxurious Camping 4 – 11

How Mobile Apps Can Make Your Company Viral 13

API Advisory – What Steps To Take When Installing A Play Area 16

Park Landscape Update 20-25

NewsAssociation News 15

Park News 26

Digital EditionRead the digital edition online at


››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

4

A pod is a pod is a pod is a caravan that’s the long andshort of it, when you ask about planning it’s a caravan.There could be a good argument for a wooden tent butin my opinion it wouldn’t stand up. It has been clearlystated since they first appeared in England (Cumbria2007) that pods should be defined as a caravan (as setout in section 29(1) of the Caravan Sites & Control ofDevelopment Act 1960 (amended 1968)). But whywould anyone want to re-classify the pod as a tent ?That’s easy to answer ….there are no rules on spacing, there are for caravans. So lets move on and all agreea pod is a caravan.

You will need planning, and how successful you will bewill all depend on where you are in the country. Someauthorities welcome them, some are sceptical. Westarted working with a site near York more than twomonths ago and although I am sure they will besuccessful, it will be a long job to convince them. At thesame time we were approached by a site in Scotlandfronting onto a loch, that site was given permissionthree weeks ago.

For those of you that are considering it, the next step iswhat will the planners say. Even in National Parkswhere the number of caravans has been restricted orthere is an outright NO to any new caravandevelopments, you can still obtain permission relativelyeasily as the National (NPPF) & core strategy (CS24)policies support high quality (I don’t think that means ashed) environmentally sensitive developments.

If you are in a ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area)which let’s face it you may as well be in a NationalPark. It may be considered appropriate if you preservethe openness of the area, but be aware in the words ofone local authority

“Off the shelf wooden pods are classed as ‘alien’ in aGreen Belt woodland environment. Think about thedesign of the accommodation/facilities and how youcan link to the landscape – watercourses, vantagepoints etc “

I must say at this point that I have never had a plannerwho was totally unreasonable, but as I said it will alldepend on where you are. In the early dayspermissions were curbed by not allowing an electricitysupply, these days it is considered normal. It was anobvious next step as long as there was an alreadyexisting caravan hook up point. These days you canfind pods with all the comforts of home with kitchens &shower rooms. The days of charging 35-40 quid a nightto sleep on the floor will be coming to an end beforevery long as the novelty wears off and campers turninto weekenders wanting short affordable getawayswith more comfort. The most popular building wemanufacture is just short of 13m3 fully fitted out withbeds, sink, fridge and hob.

cont. page 6

Glamping Pods and Luxurious Camping


Invercoe Highland Holidays

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

››

5

Now more often than not shower rooms are regularlyasked for. Is it still a pod? No its not, but its still acaravan. Maybe the planners saw this coming, I don’tknow but what started out as a pod in a field with noelectric or water will soon become fully fitted out lodgetype buildings 20m long and 6.8 metres wide. Wealready build mini lodges and they will only get biggerand bigger.

Now comes the question, the most common question Ihave been asked for the past 18 months or so and it’sa killer question. “Can I put a pod on a touring pitch?”Over the next few years there are going to be battlesover this, and to be honest I cannot give you adefinitive answer. On one side you already haveplanning for the hook up, all pods have to have a hookup if they are to keep their classification as a caravan.You have talked to the planners and they say that inprinciple they have no objections to pods or youalready have pods on site and want to move them, butthen the killer question. Some wonder how you had thenerve to ask such a thing. They may just say “but it’snot a tourer so how can you replace it with a pod ?”and to be honest they have a point. A touring caravancomes and goes a pod is static, never moves off site(and don’t even think about the 28 day rule). Either wayit is happening mostly without consent but in somecases with and it’s going to happen more and moreuntil either the planners put their foot down or have aserious look at the situation and negotiate . Anotherquestion is can I replace a pod on a static pitch. Thisone is a lot easier the planners will probably snap yourhand off with that offer which should give youbargaining power. Personally I wouldn’t settle for lessthan two pods for one static and if you cannot get thatwalk away, they will be on the phone to you eventually ifthey have any sense.

A question that will be cropping up in the next fewyears is “can I replace my pod with another ?” Somesites may want to carry on with pods after theirs has,

how shall we say this ….come to the end of itsserviceable life or good idea bad investment let’s buy aproper one. Planners are very careful about this whenyou have already be given planning for a pod you willfind somewhere in your paper work a stipulation thatreads something like this

“ None of the camping pods hereby permitted shall bereplaced by any other structure(s) or caravan(s)differing from the approved details, unless and untildetails of the size, design and colour of suchreplacements have first been approved in writing by theLocal Planning Authority.”So although you won’t have to jump through hoops likeyou did when you first applied for planning you willhave to show designs, sizes and colours etc, to getapproval for a replacement.

One last thing I would like to say and I’m not meaningto knock the industry I work in but what’s so eco-friendly about pods? Most of them and I will not namethem are made from pine that is ALL imported fromScandinavia, Russia or Poland. Roof materials fromNew Zealand , Cedar from North America and the listgoes on. If you have been looking at all the differentmanufacturers out there you must admit that eco-friendly stands for economy not ecologically friendly.There are a lot of expensive sheds out there so buyerbeware.

Further reading :A briefing note oncamping pods PDFdownloadPractice guidance:Camping pods PDFdownloadBoth are from thelakedistrict.gov.ukweb site althoughthey may not belocal to you I wouldthink that mostareas have thesame guide linesand its worth a readalthough a little outof date.

Many Thanks to UK Hideaways LTD for this Article

Glamping Pods and Luxurious Camping

www.holidayparksmanagement.com6

Atlantic Surf Pods Holiday Park

UK Hideaways Ltd

7www.holidayparksmanagement.com

Safari Tented Lodges by BOND make it possible forholiday makers to enjoy the excitement, glamour andromance of living under canvas without foregoingthose little luxuries we value on holiday. For campsiteand holiday park owners alike, our Safari TentedLodges offer a competitively priced form ofaccommodation which in turn commands a significantrental premium and an extended holiday season forcampers. The lodges are spacious, comfortable,provide a unique, relaxed camping experience andhave huge appeal to both couples and families.

The lodges are all made in the UK with high qualityperformance materials including galvanised steel oraluminium frames, impermeable PVC roofs andbreathable canvas walls, our lodges are finished to avery high standard providing year roundaccommodation with the luxury and comfort that‘glamping’ customers expect. Our popular standardlodge sleeps 6 – 8 people comfortably, and our largerluxury lodge is available with an internal bathroomoption.

At BOND we work closely with our customers and cantailor the lodges to your requirements or size, providingas much or as little of the interior fittings andfurnishings as you wish such as wood burning stovesand cooking ranges, handmade double cabin-bedsand a locally crafted Belfast sink unit. We have a widerange of satisfied customers who are reaping thebenefits of offering such unique holidays to theircustomers. Please call us for more information or todiscuss your own needs or ideas and take a steptowards joining the growing market of luxury camping.

T: 01453 767171E: [email protected]: www.tentedholidaylodges.co.uk

Bond Fabrications

UK Hideaways have the largest size range of woodenCamping huts in the UK. Bespoke wooden Podsdesigned in different sizes suitable for a back gardenor a campsite or Glamping Park.

Because of our Monocoque building system we canbuild literally to any size needed A monocoquestructure is like an aeroplane wing construction whereyou have a rib structure and an outer skin attached togive an unrivalled strength and this also means that ourbuildings do not need any internal walls in order tosupport the roof.

Our Pods can be designed and built to any size. Theyare so versatile that they can be used for any purposefrom a garden Hideaway at the bottom of the garden,to a Granny annex with kitchen, bathrooms andbedrooms. They are fabulous looking and verypractical that can cater for any need’s you may havenow and I the future. The only limits they have are yourimagination! All of our buildings are manufactured byus to order so you can be assured that you are gettingexactly what you want to the specifications that youwant. They can be fitted out to whatever standard youwish. If needed we can supply our Hideaways withinternal walls and services routed to point of use sothat you can either complete the fit-out yourselves oruse outside contractors the choice is yours. They areall delivered complete or in sections for the largerHideaways and not built up on site.We endeavour tosource our materials from UK manufacturers wheneverpossible.

T: 015395 52111E : [email protected] W: www.ukhideawaysltd.co.uk

UK Hideaways Ltd


Yurts for Life are now the leading yurt makers in the UKand specialise in offering eco-friendly, luxury yurts forsale and hire. Whatever your interest, we offer a yurtthat meets your requirements and fulfills all of yourexpectations.

• Durable structures made from traditional materials. • Exceptional after sales service• Able to supply multiple yurts in a given time and

happy to export.• First class design & ongoing product development.• A range of glamping furniture, including Chief Chairs• Kirgiz yurts, Mongolian Gers, Iranian Alachighs &

Geodesic Domes for sale.

Made with love & care in Sunny Devon. Yurts for lifeproduce a wide range of sizes of yurts and geodomes.Our standard yurt is a Kyrgiz yurt but we makeMongolian Gers too. We are based in the UK but canalso export as required. We also sell yurt kits, yurtaccessories and yurt furnitiure. All of our yurts aremade to your specification and will be customisedinexpensively to suit you. Our materials are locally-sourced ash and high grade canvas which will last formany years. If you wish to buy a yurt, a luxury ger or ageodome, talk to us for friendly service and advice.

Included in the price of each yurt is: Hardwood doorframe12oz/15 0z rot proof, waterproof and fire retardant cottoncanvas coverRoof cap with a circular transparent acetate panel Fitted groundsheet with curved edges to keep out the weatherHand crafted ash pegs, guy ropes and canvas carry bagWritten instructions on erection, safe use and maintenanceadvice All frames carry a 6 year guarantee

T : 01803 762370 / 07967 005715E : [email protected] : www.yurtsforlife.com

Yurts For Life

Since 2007 we have been supplying pods throughoutthe British Isles. Our pods are built locally on theshores of Strangford Lough, County Down by expertcraftsmen.

All our materials come fully guaranteed and we ensurethat all our timber requirements are sourced fromsustainable forests.

Podcamping Ireland offer the opportunity to add thatbit of luxury to a camping break by supplying fully fittedout pods, fully insulated in floors, walls and gables,designed and built to your own personal specification,delivered to site, ready to walk into with minimumongoing maintenance.

There are finished pods available to view at severalsites (contact for details of your nearest location) aswell as here at our manufacturing plant, please feel freeto pay us a visit.

We have an ex display Pod on offer. The Pod is brandnew, unused, fully insulated and is fully fitted out with,decking area, 2 x single beds, 1 x double bed, electricheater, microwave, fridge and wardrobe. The idealsolution for an office at home, a man cave!, ateenagers garden den or a rentable camping unit foryour site. It is wired and ready to plug in. We canarrange transportation anywhere in GB or Ireland ifrequired or we will load if you want to collect. Call Jimfor more information.

T : (0)28 9754 2102 / 07871 912210E: [email protected]: www.podcampingireland.com

Pod Camping Ireland

www.holidayparksmanagement.com 9

Green Eco Living are leading camping podmanufacturer and suppliers to camp sites and caravanparks throughout the UK. Camping pods are becominga popular, environmentally friendly alternative tocamping in a tent or caravan. They are even moresecure than camping as they have lockable windowsand doors. The roof is designed to deal with extremelybad wind and down pours. The pod walls, floor androof are insulated using the very latest insulatingmethods. The Glamping pods have plenty ofheadroom and vary in size although most canaccommodate two adults and two children. Youbasically need to bring the same thing you would needfor camping, except the tent.

• Typically installed without planning permission within 4-6 weeks.

• Comprising the highest thermal insulation standards with unique injected Insulation panels

• Personalised sizes and lay-outs available to suit your needs.

• Installed by Quality professionals, working to achieve maximum customer satisfaction with minimal disruption.

WHY ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?Green Eco living P0ds and offices have developed themost thermally efficient process in the UK. We havedeveloped a wall specification that produces an energyefficient product like no other on the market.This process creates a SIPS Panel (Structural InsulatedPanel), which enables our product to be one of the bestenergy efficient products on the market. A typical podwill be more than paid off after 2 years on site on busiercaravan or camping sites in less than 12 months.

T : 01257 453791E : [email protected] :www.greenecoliving.co.uk

Green Eco Living

Hand built by local craftsmen, the traditional Shepherd'shut will blend into gardens, fields and woodland alike,making it a wonderfully romantic alternative toconventional garden structures.

The solid wooden frame, cast iron wheels, solid steelaxles and formed corrugated roof are true to the originaldesign, but to increase stability and ease of access, wehave lowered the height and for greater strength ofbuild we have used marine grade ply panels for theouter skin.

There are four designs currently available which can beput to a range of uses - Garden Office, Painter's Studio,Summer House, Children's Playroom, Fishing Hut orHideaway, just to mention a few - we are always happyto discuss customer’s personal requirements.

History Of the Shepherd HutThe shepherd's hut was a kitchen, dining room,bedroom, sitting room and storeroom all rolled into one.The designs vary but all were constructed to provide theshepherd with practical and durable accommodation.The old huts had a stove in one corner for warmth andcooking, and a window on each side so the shepherdcould see the flock. A hinged stable door, which wasalways positioned away from the prevailing wind,enabled him to hear the flock, and strong axles withcast iron wheels were used to withstand the constantmovement from field to field.

The durability of these huts is evident today with manyfine examples still being used by farmers, mainly asstorerooms, and can often be seen parked upalongside fields. Many more have been consigned toagricultural museums giving testament to days gone by.

T : (01822) 612 720 David CherringtonE : [email protected] W : www.shepherd-hut.co.uk

The Shepherd's Hut Co


Our camping pods are finished to the higheststandards and are fitted with double glazed, lockablewindows and doors, 2 internal lights, 1 external light,smoke alarm and double socket with hook up point toyour supply. The wood to manufacture the pods issourced from sustainable woodlands.

Stats show that 49% of camping trips occur outside theJune-August peak period; therefore a camping podwould be perfect for those considering a camping tripoutside the normal season.

Hikers and cyclist are the typical target group, but nowthe trends are changing, anyone who is out to primarilyenjoy the countryside on a smaller budget would belikely to consider a pod holiday. These people are the‘new style campers’ who want an eco style holidayoutside the normal season with a touch of glamour.

One third of the total number of campers are agedbetween 25 and 44 and are usually a family withchildren between 2 and 16. The pods cater perfectly forthis demographic and will allow you to increase youroccupancy rates during the low season.

Our prices start from around £6,000, purchase financecan be arranged.

T : 01239 652800E : [email protected] : www.teifivalleycampingpods.co.uk

Teifi Valley camping pods

Albion Canvas Co has been at the forefront of theglamping trend. The company’s unique designs fromtraditional safari style tents to ultra-modern geodesicdomes, plus yurts and club houses have beensupplied to leading names in the leisure industry. Inaddition to manufacturing the tents at their Somersetfactory, Albion advise on planning and siting as well asequipping the interiors and offering on-goingmaintenance.

Bourne leisure, operators of Butlins and Haven Leisureholiday parks, has ordered further safari style tentsfrom Albion after trialling glamping alongside theirtraditional holiday accommodation last year. Inaddition, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has ordered a canvasClub House and the Oxford Yurt Company has orderedtheir first Geodesic Dome and a sky shade.

Managing Director, Steve Hansford, commented“Landowners were quick to spot the potential forGlamping. Now holiday parks and tourist attractionsare realising that adding glamorous camping will enticecustomers looking for a fun new accommodationexperience.”

The return on investment is certainly attractive. Set upcosts start at around £9,000 for a fully equipped tentand rates at some Glampsites are currently over £1,000per week in high season.

The Albion Canvas Co stand at the first Farm BusinessInnovation Show showed many farmers keen to viewthe company’s geodesic dome and ask pertinentquestions. Whilst Glamping has proved particularlypopular with landowners in the South West, Hansfordfeels that there are still many untouched pockets of theUK, which have great potential for Glamping sites.T : +44 (0) 1823 665849E : [email protected] : www.albioncanvas.co.uk

Albion Canvas


With new customers of all types and sizes coming onboard every day, including holiday park industryleaders such as Haven Holidays, Away Resortsand John Fowler Holidays, Glamping Sites wishing toexpand, to farmers setting up for the first time such asKnightstone Farm and Manor Farm, we are quicklybecoming the 'go to' company for safari tents and belltents.

It is an amazing endorsement that such major namesin the UK holiday industry, having carefully weighedup all the options, have chosen us!

But it isn't too hard to see why, our tents are of thehighest quality to comply with British Standards, theyare made for year round usage with a lifespan ofaround 10 years. The options, designs and flexibilityour tents offer, mean they can be adapted to suit allrequirements - and really importantly our prices are 30-40% cheaper than our competitors. With prices from£2990 (ex VAT) for a safari tent and total set-up costsfrom just £6000 including the base and furnishings, thereturn on investment opportunity is excellent.

The Clear Sky team can advise you on any aspect ofyour Glamping needs, as well as having over 20 yearsexperience in the UK Holiday industry, we also own andrun our own Glamping Site in Kent. From planningpermission and choosing the right tent to marketingand building a website, we have done it all and we'rehappy to share our knowledge! For friendly advice give us a call on

T : 0845 299 6484 E : [email protected] : www.safaritents.net

Clear Sky Safari Tents

Ashwood Shepherd Huts has been manufacturing forthe holiday industry from 2000, specialising in ShepherdHuts since 2009.

With more and more people looking to go on glampingholidays, the addition of a fully functional Ashwood Hutdesigned to your specification could open up a newopportunity for your business to grow.

Shepherd Huts add beautiful and rustic accommodationto holiday parks. They can be used all year round - fullyfitted wood-burning stoves keep huts cosy eventhroughout the quiet months of Winter. Ashwood Hutsare also fully mobile, making them easy to move arounda site.

Some manufacturers focus on creating fully authentichuts. However, they are often expensive and impracticalfor customers. Ashwood Shepherd Huts offers more. Wemaintain the heritage and superb craftsmanship of ourhuts, whilst also providing a service that directly tailorsto the exact requirements of what you, and yourcustomers, need. This could include toilets, showers,wood burners and the right number of beds.

We also pride ourselves on being the best value formoney craftsmen in the industry. Our workshop workhard to produce beautiful timber huts for the best pricepossible.

We are located in Taunton, Somerset but can supplyshepherd huts throughout Great Britain. Our family-runteam will guide you through every step of the process. Ifyou are interested in finding out more about how anAshwood Hut could be perfect for your business, do nothesitate to get in touch.

T : 01823 461638E : [email protected] W : www.ashwoodshepherdhuts.co.uk

Ashwood Shepherd Huts

Management of campsites, timeshares, holiday parks

Interactive park maps

Unlimited number of users and private settings

Automated access barriers and turnstiles

Administration of owners: Finance, Contracts

Point of sales: restaurants, activities, etc.

Maintenance and housekeeping

Automated payment, accounting and reconciliation integrated

Newyse ERP: Cloud-based,integrated Enterprise Resource Planning

Innovative Technology for campsites and vacation rentals organizations

Property management

Interactive websites

Integrated booking engine

Multi-channel distribution in real time

Yield and revenue management, promos, benchmarking

Direct connection with booking.com, and main tour operators

Customer interface and loyalty programs

Multi Currency and multilingual

Experts in hospitality innovation

Tired of your existing systems?

a demo and proposal

Telephone: 0121 222 5125 Email: [email protected]

Central Reservation & E-commerce Reporting

and marketing

Contact our Birmingham o�ce for

www.maxxton.co.uk

Management of campsites, timeshares, holiday parks

Interactive park maps

Unlimited number of users and private settings

Automated access barriers and turnstiles

Administration of owners: Finance, Contracts

Point of sales: restaurants, activities, etc.

Maintenance and housekeeping

Automated payment, accounting and reconciliation integrated

Newyse ERP: Cloud-based,integrated Enterprise Resource Planning

Innovative Technology for campsites and vacation rentals organizations

Property management

Interactive websites

Integrated booking engine

Multi-channel distribution in real time

Yield and revenue management, promos, benchmarking

Direct connection with booking.com, and main tour operators

Customer interface and loyalty programs

Multi Currency and multilingual

Experts in hospitality innovation

Tired of your existing systems?

a demo and proposal

Telephone: 0121 222 5125 Email: [email protected]

Central Reservation & E-commerce

and marketing

www.maxxton.co.uk

ting eporR

12


A mobile APP lets youcommunicate directly withcustomers and prospects in away that makes them feelvalued, increases your sales andlowers your costs?

We are talking about a dedicated mobile APP for yourpark -customers will demand it.

You already know that mobile devices, smartphonesand tablets, are in use everywhere. Mobiles devicesalso have special characteristics in that they are verypersonal to their users, never more than a metre away.So much happens on them be it email, web browsing,buying things, photograph, updating social media andeven as a phone!

Your customers want information about your business,such as restaurant times and menu, pool times,parking, facilities, routes to attractions and the list goeson. How are you providing this information today?

Well most likely using printed materials in roomcompendiums, brochures, public areas, your website,although that’s often not up to date and hard to readon a mobile. Does this meet the needs of yourcustomers these days? Probably not, although it’s theway it’s always been done?

Consider if all the information your customers needwas in their mobile. Yes that would be brilliant,customers would love that. What about if the couponsor tickets they needed for local attractions, the pool orparking were also on their mobile. You wouldn’t have toprint them, your customers wouldn’t have to collectthem and carry them about either.

Can you imagine customers making a restaurantreservation, or ordering room service or a drinks orderfrom the bar direct from their mobile whilst they arerelaxing? What about directions to local restaurants orcommonly asked for attractions, your customers coulduse the built in GPS to take them there. It’s going tohappen in 2014 and most successful Parks will bedoing this by 2015

We are talking about a dedicatedmobile APP for your Park.

This is a serious commercial opportunity for parkoperators.

Thanks to Almeria and John King for this Article

How Mobile Apps Can Make Your Company ViralIN 2 YEARS MOST SUCCESSFUL PARKS WILL HAVE ONE


With a dedicated Mobile APP you can put all yourparks’s information on your customers mobile, you canuse an APP’s ability to interact with the hardware to dothings you have never imagined like ticketing orcoupons where redemption, can be as simple asscanning a QR code.

Money off voucher and, loyalty schemes all nowbecome possible, with practically no production cost.This type of application can save thousands of poundsover a year.

Not to mention the linking opportunity for other localbusinesses such as recommended restaurants andattractions many of which will pay you for links andreferrals.

But above all, is customer service

The customer interaction youcan achieve is deep, and since anAPP can use pushnotifications, you can sendmessages and get the attentionof your customers in a waythat you simply cannot do withemail or even social media.Imagine being able to communicate directly with yourcustomers after they have left to encourage repeatbookings. With push notification you get high levels ofengagement, which can be as much as 87% of peoplereading these messages. This means you have a wayto get your message heard and get those repeatbookings.

Using Guest Folder lets you build and update your APPquickly and with minimal initial outlay.

You can simply rent the app on a monthby month basis. Incredible!

You can contact Almeira at [email protected] or call 0800 612 9699

Thanks to Almeria and John Kingfor this Article

360 Play Leicester hosts BALPPA Meeting for family entertainment centre members.

360 Play’s Leicester children’s entertainment centreplayed host to a meeting of fellow play centreoperators from around the UK on February 6 when theFECA members of the British Association of LeisureParks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) attended ameeting at the venue.

The day-long meeting at 360 Play on Meridian LeisurePark was attended by over 60 members who werewelcomed by 360 Play Managing Director DuncanPhillips, who provided some background details on thedevelopment of 360 Play and sister company DPAssociates.

Attendees also heard from speakers on a variety ofsubjects, among them BALPPA Chief Executive PaulKelly who touched on several key issues for members,including government discussions over changes toschool holiday times and, more recently, a suggestionfor longer school days, both of which would impacthugely on the play centre and attractions sectors. Healso provided details of various forthcoming BALPPAevents of relevance to the FECA members, such asseminars and other FECA regional meetings.

A presentation on marketing strategies and PR wasprovided by David Leon of Partners Leisure Ltd.,followed after lunch by an open forum which saw

discussion and debate on a wide range of subjectsand challenges relating to the operation of children’sand family entertainment centres, including the resultsof a benchmarking survey, social media, businessexpansion and pricing. Attendees were also given atour of the 360 Play site, both indoors and outdoors.

Duncan Phillips commented: “We were delighted withthe attendance on the day and felt it was a veryworthwhile meeting for all concerned. A number of keytopics were discussed and it was a great opportunityfor those in the industry to hear how their peers dothings and how they deal with the many differentchallenges that arise from day to day. All in all I felt itwas an extremely successful event.”

Innovative Leisure wins ‘best supplier’ awardat NFAN annual conference

Adventure attractions specialist Innovative Leisure ispleased to announce it has won the award for 'BestTrade Supplier' in the annual awards of the NationalFarm Attractions Network (NFAN).

The awards, presented during the association's annualconference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, recognise theachievements of the organisation’s park and trademembers. In a fantastic 2013 for Innovative Leisure, thecompany installed Sky Trail and Sky Tykes ropescourses at the UK farm attraction Mead Open Farm inBedfordshire, while also introducing its new InflatableWater Wars attraction to a number of sites, includingAdventure Valley, Durham, Cantref Adventure Farm inthe Brecon Beacons and Dalscone Farm in Dumfries.

While the company's achievements in introducing newadventure attractions to the sector will have undoubtedly

contributed to the award, its overall customer serviceand after sales support was also a key factor towardsthe decision.

On receiving the award, Innovative Leisure MD PhilPickersgill said: “We’ve been involved with the NFANand its members for a number of years now and havebuilt up some excellent relationships among the farmpark operators. It’s fair to say we’ve put a lot of time andeffort into the sector and are delighted with the successwe are now seeing. To be independently recognised as‘Best Trade Supplier’ is very rewarding and I feel reflectsall the work our office team and manufacturers put intowhat we do.”

Innovative Leisure aims to continue its work with UKfarm attractions in the future with more great projects,two of which have already been agreed.


Association’s & Network’s News

If you’re looking to attract more families this summer, awell-designed outdoor play area is a great solution.

For advice, look no further than professional tradebody the Association of Play Industries (API) whichrepresents manufacturers, installers, designers anddistributors of outdoor and indoor play equipment andsafety surfacing. Its members operate to the higheststandards, abide by a strict Professional Code ofConduct and are credit-checked and monitoredregularly for financial stability and security.

They install high-quality play equipment usingcertificated products and you can be sure thatwherever you see the API current member badge, youwill get expert advice from a reputable company basedon many years’ experience. Your play companyconsultant will work closely with you and providerecommendations on design, equipment, materialsand safety surfacing that meet your brief and budgetand will explain inspection, maintenance and repair.

When planning a play area, there are some keyconsiderations to bear in mind: • Capacity: the number of children likely to be playingin a play area at any one time is key. Play equipmentstandards are based on minimum user numbers ratherthan a large number of children playing at the sametime, so the design of your play area should be basedon peak, high-season numbers. There is no setformula for this but your play company will factor thisinto the design.

• Surfacing: safety surfacing absorbs impact soprotects children against critical head injury if they fallwhile playing. Your play supplier will advise you on thebest surfacing options for your site.

• Location: consider the safety and accessibility of theproposed site for your play area. Think about howchildren will get to it and consider any traffic hazards,busy thoroughfares, blind spots, deep or lying waterand overhead cables. Use fencing only if required forsafety reasons, for instance, as additional security for atoddler play area.

• Comfort: plan to create a comfortable experience forchildren and families. Remember to include seating orpicnic facilities, shade and shelter and litter bins.

• Age-appropriate: make your play area as appealingas possible by providing a range of equipment toattract different age ranges. Separate toddler playareas from older children’s equipment to minimise therisk of accidents.

• Risk: children enjoy a degree of risk when playingand actively benefit from it so provide somechallenging play equipment for added excitement andfun. Risk assessments needn’t restrict children’senjoyment so consider installing equipment thatprovides a real sense of adventure.

Before opening your new play area, a Post-InstallationInspection should take place. This is undertaken by aregistered and certificated Register of Play InspectorsInternational (RPII) annual outdoor inspector and iscommissioned by the play company or park operator.

Once this Inspection is complete and satisfactory,responsibility for safety passes to the park operator toput in place a rigorous inspection regime, as set out inBS EN 1176, the standard for play equipment.

API Advisory On What Steps To Take WhenInstalling A Play Area

Tempt Family Holidaymakers with High-Quality Play Areas

16 www.holidayparksmanagement.com

17

According to the RPII, best practice is to adopt a three-tier inspection regime incorporating RPII training forstaff which covers:

1. Routine visual inspectionObservation of the play space by a trained staffmember looking for obvious hazards like missing orbroken parts, broken glass or vandalism. This shouldtake place weekly in low season and daily in highseason.

2. Operational inspectionA more detailed structural examination of wear, tearand stability of equipment by a trained staff member.This should take place every three months in lowseason and once a month in high season.

3. Annual main inspectionAn annual inspection by a qualified external RPIIannual outdoor inspector to ensure compliance withstandards and overall safety.

Adding a well-designed, well-maintained, fun play areawith top quality equipment will ensure that familiesreturn to your site year after year. By using an APImember, you can rest assured that you are workingwith a reputable play company that you can trust.

For further information about the benefits of using anAPI member and how the API can help holiday parkand campsite operators, contact:

Deborah HoltT: 024 7641 4999 ext. 208,E: [email protected]: www.api-play.org@api-play



New play and activity zones can help holiday parks tomeet increasing demand, as the trend for morefamilies choosing to ‘staycation’ in the UK continues.

The provision of high quality play facilities is one of thekey decision-making factors for parents when they areresearching and booking a family holiday. This isparticularly true for families with children under 12.

However, studies demonstrate that a well thought outoutdoor playground will not only attract bookings andimprove the customer experience of a park, but willalso drive up revenue around bars, restaurants andother paid for facilities. Better play facilities encouragefamilies to spend more time on-site at holiday parks,and to spend more money while they are there.

A high-impact playground, using signature pieces ofplay equipment to stand out and deliver the ‘wow’factor, can also become significant in encouragingrepeat visits to parks, demonstrating the impact of‘pester power’ on parents. Having an exciting and

dynamic play area for children can create amemorable, positive experience for families, makingthem more likely to return to holiday sites time-after-time. Michael Hoenigmann, Managing Director of Proludicand Chair of the Association of Play Industries,comments:

“We know that play areas are at the heart of theholiday experience for families. Play is always a crucialactivity for children, and ‘staycation’ holidays in the UKoffer the perfect opportunity for families to spend timetogether and have fun outdoors.

“We have also found that when successful play areasare located near to cafes and restaurants in holidayparks, clients can see double-digit revenue growth inthose outlets. This creates real opportunities forbusinesses to maximise the return on investment intheir play facilities.”

www.proludic.co.uk

Play equipment helps holiday parks to meet‘staycation’ demand

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

www.proludic.co.uk

19


Camping with quality & styleFor one or more - ready for next seasonAll sizes available - (from 10ft - 33ft diameter)

Contact us at www.yurtsforlife.com Or telephone: 01803 762370

Yurts for Life....... Yurts for Living

East Yorkshire-based Hodgson Sealants, one of thelargest sealant manufacturers in the UK, has launcheda brand new range of adhesive sealants thatencompass the latest in polymer technology. Therange, named Hodgson Hybrid, offers manufacturersand construction professionals a faster curing, highquality sealant that also has the high bond strength ofan adhesive, providing two products in one.

There are four products in the Hodgson Hybrid rangeincluding HS20, HS30, HS40 and HS45, all of whichare isocynate and solvent free. All are paintable andhave fast curing times allowing for greater productivity.The products were developed by the company’s in-house R&D teamand took 12 monthsto refine. The Hybridrange makes use ofnew technology thatallows the productsto retain the positiveaspects of asealant, i.e. flexibilityand elasticity,coupled with thestrength of anadhesive.

Rachael Best,CommercialManager forHodgson Sealants,comments: “We aredelighted with thefeedback we’ve received from our customers inresponse to the Hybrid range. The products took us ayear to perfect, but they were certainly worth the wait.We developed the hybrid range to offer our customersan alternative to the traditional sealant products on themarket. Technology is always advancing in thisindustry, so we are constantly looking for ways we canhelp to improve our customers’ processes andproductivity.”

The launch of the Hybrid range coincides with thecompletion of Hodgson Sealants’ new laboratory,which is used to complete technical audits for clients todetermine which products are right for theirapplications.

Rachael concludes: “It’s an exciting time for HodgsonSealants, because not only are we unveiling our Hybrid

range, but we are also starting to make use of ourbrand new, state-of-the-art laboratory. We feel ourpersonal service sets us apart from the competition,which is why we offer our customers the opportunity totest their substrates in our lab to determine whichproducts are best for them. We can then create amade-to-measure product that suits their needsperfectly, rather than trying to make an off the shelfproduct fit their requirements.”

The four products in the Hodgson Hybrid rangeperform well across a variety of applications. HS20 is acost effective, high modulus, moisture curing adhesivesealant. It is ideal for sealing and bonding common

building materialssuch as glass, timber,metals, brickwork,plastics andconcrete. HS30 is alow modulus, elasticsealant, suitable forsealing a wide rangeof joints. The productremains permanentlyflexible and creates aweather andwatertight seal.

HS40 is a highmodulus, highstrength elasticadhesive and sealant,which is suitable forbonding wood,

plasterboard, metals and plastics without the need formechanical fixings. HS45 is a high green strengthadhesive with exceptional initial grab which will bond tovirtually anything, including un-primed metals, steel,wood and plastics.

Hodgson Sealants was established in 1968 and catersfor a wide range of market sectors, including caravan,leisure and transportation, modular building, generalconstruction, industrial roofing and cladding, glass,glazing and joinery. The company prides itself onconsistent product quality and its ability to tailorsolutions to its customers’ needs.

Hodgson Sealants

Hodgson Sealants Launches Hybrid Range andunveils New Laboratory


For demanding daily use, Kubota offers a powerful and versatile choice.

2 YEARWARRANTYAS STANDARD*

*Conditions apply to 2nd year - see dealer for details.

For further information or to find your local dealer: www.kubota.co.uk Tel: 01844 268 000

The Kubota range of groundcare machinery delivers outstanding performance, simple operation and legendary reliability. From powerful and versatile tractors to high performance mowers, find out why Kubota is the practical choice for professionals.

Contact your local dealer to book a test drive today.

F80 OUT FRONT MOWER AT WORK

Versatility at work

G SERIES MOWERSZD ZERO TURN MOWERM60 SERIES TRACTORS

NEW 100” Cutting

Deck available F3680

model only

!"#$%&'(%)*'+%,'-./0.12345536788'''. -9:./:-/.9'''/;<4;


Storing grit and salt, in readiness for a sudden turnin the weather, calls for safe and easily accessiblecontainment. The management of ice and snowconditions will get a great boost with these Grit Binsfrom Wessex. Built in tough and durablepolyethylene they are designed to withstand theharshest winter conditions and come UV stabilised,completely waterproof and lightweight. The WessexCB-1 Grit Bin is ideal for roadsides, offers 200 litrecapacity and is fitted with a hinged lid. Forcontaining larger quantities the Wessex CB-2provides a 450 litre capacity and is built with thesame durable materials. If you want to transport gritto different locations the WGB-1 is the idealcontainer offering a 75 litre capacity and it comescomplete with wheels and a lockable lid. Withincreasing Health and Safety legislation makingdemands on ice and snow control, the Wessex GritBins are designed to become an integral part ofyour winter management system.

Broadwood International Ltd

More True Grit


Tractor and groundcare machinery specialists Kubotahas re-introduced its spring cashback offer on anumber of its market leading and high performanceride-on mowers.

Available until June 30th 2014, purchasers of theKubota GR2120 or the GR2120s can get £300cashback, whilst £200 is being offered on the T1880,GR1600-II and the GR1600-ID ride on mowers.

All of the Kubota machines offer power and precision;along with exceptional fuel efficiency to ensure you can

work faster and for longer. Thanks toHST transmissions, which makethem easy to use, and one dial cut-height adjustment that ensuresoptimum precision from your mower,keeping large lawns in top conditionhas never been simpler.

Kubota’s GR2120 and GR2120sride-on mowers also boastperformance-enhancing features,including Kubota’s revolutionaryGlide Steer system enabling greatermaneuverability, whilst the 4WDdrive makes accessing difficult areaseasy.

The GRI600-II and the GRI600-IDoffer the fuel efficiency and toughdurability of Kubota diesel power,with the GRI600-ID also featuringKubota’s 3-in-1-infinity mower deckthat can be easily adapted to mulch,collect, or simply discharge grass.

The Kubota T1880 petrol ride-on mower offers an OHVair-cooled petrol engine to deliver class-leadingreliability by combining functionality with comfort.

All models are available nationwide from Kubotastockists.

For more information visit www.kubota.co.uk orcall 01844 268000.

Kubota reintroduce its spring cashback offer

Like Us on facebook and Enter the Draw


Specialist UK transport engineering systemsmanufacturer Severn Lamb has introduced two brandnew products to its range of people moving transportsolutions.

Among the latest additions is an electrically powered,authentically hand-crafted, double deck trolley. The firstexample of this has been delivered to Vialand inInstanbul, Turkey, a new theme park which openedduring 2013. The trolley operates as a transit system inan outdoor shopping mall which is part of the new parkand covers an area of 600,000sq.m. It runs, on rails,around a large, 800m kidney-shaped route through theshopping mall complex, providing visitors with a uniqueexperience.The trolley seats up to 50 passengers, 32on the lower deck and 18 on the outward-facing topdeck. This particular vehicle has been designed andmanufactured on standard gauge track – 4ft.8.5ins/1,435mm – although Severn Lamb can alsobuild to 36 and 24 inch gauge track. Custom themingand styling is available on the trolley while it can alsobe adapted to individual operational requirements.

Severn Lamb has also recently introduced the SL MiniMover, a modern, ‘green,’ economical and costeffective people mover. With seating capacities rangingfrom 8 to 29 passengers and ranges from 50km to80km, the Mini Mover is electrically powered and isavailable in open or enclosed models with either rightor left hand drive.

Made of fibreglass, the vehicles are lightweight, have arange of optional extras that can be added and areparticularly suitable as car park shuttles, tour vehicles,transit systems, VIP carriers and more. The Mini Moverprovides easy access to its bench style seats for bothpassengers and driver, while wheelchair access canalso be built into some models.

“We are very pleased to add the Trolley and Mini Moverto our ever expanding product range,” said SevernLamb Managing Director Patrick Lamb. “We have agrowing client base throughout the world in a variety ofmarket sectors which necessitates the need for us toprovide a host of different transport solutions. We areseeing demand for an assortment of vehicles to caterto all sorts of situations and requirements, so theselatest additions to our portfolio have enabled us toextend the choice we can offer customers evenfurther.”

Severn Lamb adds to product range with new trackedTrolley and electric Mini Mover vehicles

Park seeds plan to fight "sudden death" oak threat .Guests of an Ambleside holiday park are being senthome with acorns as part of plans to counter the threatfrom the disease known as "sudden oak death".Skelwith Fold Caravan Park hopes that the acorns willbe planted by holidaymakers to provide healthy newsaplings if the fungus-like invader hits Cumbria.

The acorns are currently being gathered from some ofthe many mature oaks, including scores of ancientspecimens, which populate the 130-acre wooded park.Last month, business owner Henry Wild called in thegovernment's Food and Environment ResearchAgency, FERA, to look for signs of the disease, knownalso as "Ramorum blight". Following analysis ofsamples, scientists gave the park the all-clear - eventhough the blight has already claimed many thousandsof trees in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall. ButHenry has decided not to take any chances, anddescribes the issuing of acorns to guests as "aninsurance policy which we hope we'll never have tocash in".

Despite its name, "sudden oak death" - which can kill ina single season - is a lethal scourge on many types oftree, including larch, sycamore, beech and horsechestnut.

Henry, whose park this autumn won the David BellamyConservation Award for its initiatives to protect floraand fauna, said his real fear was the knock-on effect ofthe disease. He points out that it would have adevastating impact on the many types of wildlife,

including birds and red squirrels, to which SkelwithFold plays host. If the worst should happen, the parksays it will offer holiday guests who planted the acornsa free two-night stay if they return with the sapling. But,says Henry, even if Skelwith Fold does remain a blight-free zone, the acorns he is sending out will benefit theenvironment in other ways: "It's been estimated thatduring its lifetime, an oak tree will remove between sixto eight tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,"he said. "That equals over six thousand miles of carbonemissions from an average car - so every acornplanted by guests would effectively make all their visitshere carbon neutral," added Henry. Henry says he isunconcerned that the project will deplete SkelwithFold's acorn stock as each of its trees produces up toa quarter of a million acorns each year.

Skelwith Fold's acorn stock


Don’t miss the UK’s leading show for Leisure Lodges &Residential Park Homes. With around 40 homes ondisplay from most of the Major Manufactures alongwith a wide range of related products and servicesfrom industry suppliers. The show provides visitors withthe opportunity to see the latest models, ideas andinnovations.

Set in the beautiful grounds of Stoneleigh Park, theshow offers a ‘One Stop Shop’ for all those working inthe Leisure Home Industry or those looking to enjoy theleisure lifestyle. Open from Friday 6th to Sunday 8thJune with a dedicated TRADE DAY on Thursday 5thJune. ENTRY & PARKING are FREE.

Visit www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk

The World of Park &Leisure Homes Show

27

Featured Suppliers Directory LinkOur Safari Tents are manufactured toBritish standards, designed for yearround usage with a...Follow :www.holidayparksmanagement.com/clear-sky-safari-tents-glamping

Take The Hard Work Out OfMaintaining and Managing YourHoliday Park With Kubota...Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/kubota-grass-care-machinery-rtvs-suppliers

A typical pod will be more than paidoff after 2 years on site on...Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/green-eco-living-glamping-pods

Paragon Entertainment is an AIMListed attractions company offering awide range of integrated services...Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/paragon-entertainment-soft-play-equipment

UK Hideaways Ltd have the largestsize range of Camping huts in the UK.Because of...Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/paragon-entertainment-soft-play-equipment

BOND Tented Holiday Lodges SafariTents make it possible for holidaymakers to…. Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/safari-tents-bond-fabrication-glamping

Since 2007 we have been supplyingpods throughout the British Isles. Ourpods are built locally on the shores ofStrangford Lough, County Down byexpert craftsmen…Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/pod-camping-ireland-glamping

RMS is an Australian softwarecompany producing and supportingFront Office Systems to the world’shospitality industry… Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/rms-reservation-booking-software

Maxxton is a multinational softwarecompany which has been providingcutting edge IT solutions and servicessince 1987… Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/maxxton-multinational-reservation-management-booking-software

Outside Structure Solutions specialisein the supply of outdoor coveredareas to a wide range of differentsectors… Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/outside-structure-solutions-covered-walkways-canopies-cabins

As manufacturers of rope and nettingfor over 40 years our nets and ropeshave long been a popular feature…. Follow:http://www.holidayparksmanagement.com/huck-nets-playground-equipment-play-manufacturers/

In its thirteen year history, Leicesterbased adventure attractions companyInnovative Leisure has supplied itsproducts to many different sectors.Follow:www.holidayparksmanagement.com/outdoor-adventure-play-equipment-innovative-leisure-ltd

The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks, Campsites and the Leisure Industry

Holiday Parks Management

[email protected]

Tel : 01432 263219

holiday parks management issue 13

Documents

parks sitesthroughout

caravan club

caravan thats

park news

hanging5nit4a pod

park landscape update

clients throughoutthe

park groups aspark holidays