holiday parks management issue 15

August 2014 • Issue 15The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks, and Campsites Holiday Parks Management

www.HolidayParksManagement.com

TELEPHONE:01432 263219

S A L T E XSPORTS AMENITIES LANDSCAPING TRADE EXHIBITION

2 – 4 September 2014 Royal Windsor Racecourse

SALTEX - EVERY BRAND

UNDER THE SUN

playgrounds, power and hand

tools, vehicles, sports surfaces,

health and safety, security, seeds,

education, training, free expert advicesoils, treatments, turf, machinery,

The UK’s biggest trade event for all involved

in maintaining campsites, parks & grounds

220+ exhibitors - outdoor demonstrations - free to visit - free parking

www.iogsaltex.com

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Designed and Produced by Print Plus01432 272025 www.printplushereford.co.ukMaggie Media Ltd 7378641 Vat Registration 128 6998 57 © Copyright 2014

Welcome to theAug issue ofHPM.Whilst you havebeen busyrunning yourparks and siteswe have been

pretty busy here at HPM too. We’vewelcomed our new sales person Julieand been working on a completerebuild of the HPMwebsite. Pretty soon wewill be launching a brandnew directory site withfantastic facilities andlots of new companiesand product listings.

We have also beenworking with a growinglist of industry experts who havecontributed some fantastic materialand expert knowledge covering poolsafety, water quality and managementand the second in our series fromAdam Beckett on power bills andrenewable energy. Over time thesearticles will grow into a valuablearchive of knowledge, information andhow to’s. If you have any questionsor subjects you want us to look at,just let us know.

Really looking forward to the SaltexIOG Show at Windsor Racecourse 2-4th September where we willhopefully get to meet with some ofyou – come and see us on stand J05.

Hope you are having a great seasonand speak with you again soon.Nina

NEXT ISSUE FEATURES INCLUDE:

FEATURESaltex IOG Show PreviewFEATURERenewable Energy: Risk vsReward

FEATUREPlay Fair Showcase

ArticlesHow to Keep Your Pools and Spas Healthy.

Step By Step Guide To Pool Safety

Want To Save Up To 50% On Water Bills? Here’s How.

Prepare for Winter

Park Improvements

Open All Year

Holiday ParksManagement WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE

Landscaping Saltex pages 4 - 11

Pool & Spa 12 - 17

Pool Safety 15

Park Operations 18 - 20

Play Equipment / Playfair Show 22 - 25

Glamping 26 - 31

Shows what on 32 - 33

Park News 34

Directory 35 - 38



4 www.HolidayParksManagement.com

It will be co-located withthe PlayFair exhibition,which moved to SALTEX

for the first time last year.PlayFair is the UK's largesttrade event for all thoseinvolved in the selection,purchase, upkeep andreplacement of children'splay equipment.

SALTEX and PlayFair are ideal forholiday park owners and managementteams who are interested in outdoorfacilities such as green spaces, sportsfacilities and play areas. Around 300exhibitors will be present offering allmanner of equipment from machineryto outdoor furniture, horticulture andmore.

SALTEX and PlayFair also providevaluable free information on safety,security, training and educationservices designed to help professionalsdo their jobs as effectively as possible.

Visitors to this year’s show will benefitfrom a wide-ranging educationalprogrammes, including free seminarsand panel sessions.

The British and International GolfGreenkeepers Association (BIGGA) willhost a number of seminars focusing onintegrated turf management and thebenefits of social media.

In addition, a series of paneldiscussions on the challenges of turfmanagement and maintenance,featuring industry experts and leadinggrounds professionals, will add a newdimension to this year's SALTEX.

Held on the IOG Live Stage adjacent tothe IOG Hub in the centre of theshowground on stand F75, the turf-focused debates being stagedthroughout the event will focus onissues that affect every type of playingsurface.

Chaired by regional pitch advisors fromthe Grounds and Natural TurfImprovement Programme - the new

£1.3 million programme funded bynational governing bodies of sports,Sport England and the Institute ofGroundsmanship (IOG) - the panellistswill include groundscare experts fromthe world of cricket, football, tennis andrugby who will be exclusively sharingtheir opinions and providing advice forfree.

This year's SALTEX educationprogramme also feature seminars andforums which will interest every visitor tothe show - including arboriculture,those responsible for outdoor fitnessequipment and amenity pest control,plus the daily Ask the Expert walk-in turfclinics staffed by some of the UK andEurope's leading grounds professionalsincluding IOG Award winners.

Last year, SALTEX attracted8,585 unique visitors who visited260 exhibitors. According to theshow’s audit, 70 per cent of thevisitors attended to source newproducts with around 27 per centvisiting for the first time.

SALTEXThe Sports Amenities Landscaping Trade Exhibition organised by theInstitute of Groundsmanship (IOG) will take place on 2-4 September2014 at Windsor Racecourse, in Berkshire.


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7www.HolidayParksManagement.com

ANGLO AMERICAN OILStand N42

Aspen manufactures alkylatepetrol for the garden and forestindustry – it is the cleanestform of fuel availablespecifically designed for small,hand-held tools. Aspen is theonly fuel that is not classed asdamaging to the aquaticenvironment.E: [email protected]

SALTEX 2014 EXHIBITOR INFORMATIONBAHCO/DW SERVICESStand N35

Bahco Tools/DW Services, willexhibit a range of lopper andhedge shears, secateurs,pruning and pole saws. Axes,bow saws and blades will beshown as well as a range ofprofessional hand tools.

BALI H83

The British Association ofLandscape Industries (BALI) isthe UK’s largest tradeassociation representinglandscape contractors anddesigners, groundsmaintenance contractors, andcompanies supplying industry-related products andservices.E: [email protected]

DJ TURFCARE Stand K55

DJ Turfcare will displaymachines and fertilizersincluding the award-winning MoBacter. The Plugger PL855 ProHD, Bushranger Edger andsecond-generation Atom Edgers,both professional and domestic– with new Mitsubishi engineswill be on the stand.E: [email protected]


Seeing is believing

Greenway House • Sugarswell Business Park • Shenington • Oxon OX15 6HWTel: 01295 680120 • email: [email protected]

www.etesia.co.uk

The Ultra Lithium Battery provides constant power and an operating rangedisplay, which indicates the remaining power level in real time. This provides

between half a day and a full day of work depending on the type of tool used.

Etesia UK @EtesiaUK EtesiaUK

They are extremely lightweight with low noise and vibration levels.

Pellenc ticks all of our boxes. Peter Anderson, Machinery Maintenance Engineer at RHS Wisley”

“

High on Power...Low on Co2

SALTEX 2014 EXHIBITOR INFORMATIONDMMP Stand a40

Exhibiting Maruyama OutdoorPower Equipment with a 5 YearCommercial Warranty and arange of innovations i.e. abrushcutter with no flying debristhat can be used underwater. The EarthWay Flex Selectspreader: world’s most accurate and flexible spreaderdesigned to broadcast materials from high to low outputincluding Beyer Merit Turf through to top dressing and salt. E: [email protected]

Schiller Grounds Care UKStand P05

Schiller Grounds Care UK returnsto Saltex, celebrating the 25thanniversary of its first Mantis Tillersale in the UK, together with newLittle Wonder and Classen outdoorpower equipment. SchillerGrounds Care have developed anew range of professional leaf andlitter vacuums. E: [email protected]

ECOGRIDStand H22

Ecogrid will be demonstrating itsrange of permeable paving andground reinforcement products,including resin bound stone kits,flexible edge system, curve gridsection, green roof modularsystem and 11 plastic permeablepaving grids.E: [email protected]

TUFFTRUK Stand A70

The all-new TRUXTA 4 x 4hydrostatic mini dumper - isdesigned and built to rentalindustry standards by Tufftruk -will pass through a 2’6” doorwayand with 40deg articulatedsteering can manoeuvre in thetightest of places.E: [email protected]


SALTEX 2014 EXHIBITOR INFORMATIONGILLHAMS GRAVEL RAKES Stand H25

The Gillhams Gravel Rakemeans no more weeding, handraking or moss killing - just aperfect gravel surface inminutes. They are hand-finishedand available in either 1 or 2mformats.E: [email protected]

TRACMASTER Stand G62

The company will beshowcasing these new productsat SALTEX alongside its entireBCS and CAMON range,including CAMON log splittersand turf cutters, BCS saltspreaders and snow clearingmachinery, BCS Commandersand two-wheel tractors plus attachments.E: [email protected]

GROUNDSCARE PRODUCTS C35

GroundsCare Products will rundemonstrations of its landscapemaintenance and surveyproducts. The Turf Teq rangeconsists of edger, trencher,power broom, rough-cut mower,surface preparation rake andsnow plough.

HENTON & CHATTELLStand M55

The Cobra range of poweredgarden machinery, launched inMarch 2014 by Henton & Chattell,is already becoming establishedas a major brand in the UK gardenmachinery dealer network.E: [email protected]

IFOR WILLIAMS TRAILERS Stand J50

The company will beshowcasing a variety ofmodels from the many rangeson offer including the popularand improved tipper trailer aswell as commercial anddomestic trailers.E: [email protected]

INFINITE PLAYGROUNDS Stand L55

Infinite Playgrounds is an artist-and education-driven team thatspecialises in climbingstructures, waterplay streams,dens, play landscaping andinteractive elements. It buildsnatural playgrounds thatharmonise with theenvironment.E: [email protected]

KFS SPECIAL VEHICLES Stand N12

KFS Special Vehicles willshow its successful Plant & Govehicle, based on the new FiatDucato, with an even widerrange of optional equipment,and bluetooth now standard onall vehicles.E: [email protected]

SCH Supplies LtdStand G50

The newest addition to the SCH(Supplies) Ltd sports surfacerange is the Artificial SurfacePower Brush. This highlymanoeuvrable, walk behindsweeper provides quick andeffective cleaning wherever it’sneeded.The brush speed andthe quantity of nylon threads makes this machine ideal forartificial and hard surface play areas such as tenniscourts, and can be used all year round.E: [email protected]


SALTEX 2014 EXHIBITOR INFORMATIONLUBBE & SONS Stand M50

Wholesaler of flower bulbs andperennials, Lubbe & Sonssupplies a wide variation ofplants and bulbs, including theBees Mix bulb mixture willprovide nectar and pollen forinsects in spring and earlysummer.E: [email protected]

MAKITA UK K45

Makita’s range of mains,cordless and petrol outdoorpower tools are designed forprofessional landscapers andgroundscare contractors.Makita’s innovative MM4 minifour-stroke technology is at theheart of the petrol range.E: [email protected]

MR BOX Stand K69

Mr Box supplies secure steelstorage containers, vandal-proof accommodation andchemical stores and offers aconversion service wherecontainers can be adapted tospecific needs.E: [email protected]

MIROAD RUBBER INDUSTRIES Stand J25

Miroad Rubber Industries enjoysa worldwide presence in thesupply of recycled rubberproducts for sports and leisurelandscaping. In addition to tilesmade from recycled rubber,Miroad offers EPDM granulate.E: [email protected]

Due to the continuedexpansion of EtesiaUK, Les Malin, who

until recently was generalmanager of the company, hasbeen promoted to operationsdirector – a move which seesthe company’s first UKdirector. The privately ownedcompany is also celebratingits 25th anniversary this year.

Les startedin thefarmingindustry atthe age of16, and nowhas nearly40 yearswithin theagriculturaland turfcare

industry. He is highly respected notjust amongst Etesia’s vast range ofdealers but also across the industryand beyond. Les has gained extensiveexperience in both the retail andmanufacturing sectors of the groundscare industry beginning his career in1993 when he was appointed areamanager at E P Barrus, before joiningEtesia as Area Manager in 2000, andsubsequently appointed generalmanager at Etesia UK in 2006.

Favoured by many of the UK's topcouncils as well as landscapers andgroundsmen, including National Trustgardens, both Etesia has gained areputation for producing equipmentthat is highly reliable with lowmaintenance, making them thenumber one choice for many users.

Etesia became distributor of Pellencbattery-powered tools in 2010, furtherenhancing Etesia’s ‘green’ credentials.

These products can now be seen inevery major UK city, as well as themajority of national trust sites aroundthe country.

Commenting on the promotion, PatrickVives, managing director of Etesia UKsaid: “Les has done an excellent jobfor us in his time at Etesia. Over thepast 14 years he and his team havesignificantly enhanced our reputationwhilst growing our dealer network.

“The Promotion also reinforcesEtesia’s ethos of identifying talent fromwithin the business and providinglong-term career opportunities. I’mabsolutely delighted to see thispromotion and I have total confidencethat Les will take the business forwardeven further in the years to come.”

For further information, please contactEtesia UK on 01295 680120 or visitwww.etesia.co.uk

Les Malin Promoted toOperations Director at Etesia UK

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For quality testing of every swimming pool and spa, the Lovibond® portable testing instruments and reagents offer rapid, reliable and accurate monitoring.

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keen to educate on theimportance of balanced water.It is calculated by a formula(Langelier Index) giving asingle number which indicatesif the sample is corrosive orscale forming. A result of “0”means the water is ‘inbalance’. Ideally a slightlypositive value is required.

For most pools, the water should be inbalance if the pH value is kept withinthe recommended range. However,there are other factors that can have aneffect on the condition of the water.Regular monitoring and maintainingAlkalinity is essential to keep the pHstable. Changes in Calcium Hardness

can also swing the balance equilibrium.

Good measurement and control of thequality of the water are essential notonly to the water’s appearance. Moreimportantly it plays an essential role inthe consideration of bather comfortand safety. Regular and carefulanalysis also helps in the control ofchemicals, keeping costs down, andthe protection of the plant / pool and itsequipment.

Maintaining Balanced Water,however, is simple if youhave the correct solution.The Lovibond® productrange provides a choice forevery water analyst; fromeasy-to-use visual kits to theall-performing PM series ofphotometers. With tried andtrusted

Lovibond® reagents, quality is nevercompromised and Balanced Water hasnever been so easy: download PoolM8– the free Balanced Water Appavailable for iOS and Android.

And remember the 3 Rs: Read Record and React To those results.

Balanced Water for PristinePools & Spas and Peace of Mind


While a swimming pool remains perennially popular withholidaymakers (even if they don’t always get around to usingit during their stay) it seems that the Hot Tub, with its rockstar connotations is just the thing to set your holiday parkapart from the competition.

While there has been a phenomenal growth in the number ofHot Tubs installed in leisure venues in recent years, itappears that not everyone is aware of how to look after themproperly. However, failing to factor in the cost of maintenancefrom the start, can be a costly mistake which could at worstlead to serious infections for the user.

These days, Hot Tubs are now more likely to be made fromacrylic rather than wood. There are a wide number ofdifferent sizes and types available but when picking out adesign, it is essential to consider the daily maintenance costrather than just the initial purchase price. This ‘lifetime cost’of the Hot Tub can vary considerably. If you are picking out aHot Tub for your holiday park, do ensure that you receivegood advice on maintenance and buy from an establishedand respected source.

Another vital source of information on Spa Pools and HotTubs is the updated version of L8 on The Control ofLegionella Bacteria in Water Systems, which is an ApprovedCode of Practise and Guidance available as a hard copy of asa download from HSE.gov.uk. Just published is the TechnicalGuidance reference HSG 274 Part 2 covers The Control ofLegionella Bacteria in Hot & Cold Water Systems and Part 3covers The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Other RiskSystems. This refers to a fairly comprehensive publication,which is currently being updated: Management of Spa Pools- Controlling the Risks of Infection ISBN 0-901144-80-0which is also available as a free download fromwww.hpa.org.uk/publications/2006/spa_pools/default.htm.One thing which is not well covered is Holiday Lodges withHot Tubs, but BISHTA the British & Irish Hot Tub Associationhave their own Guidance on their website www.bishta.co.uk.

When it comes to swimming pools there are also manydifferent types available and some Holiday Parkenvironments may prefer something that has been designedfor serious swimming, while others will be looking for a poolthat has been designed for fun.

Inevitably at some sites it seems that the original criteria willbecome a little lost over time. If this is the case, then areputable swimming pool company should be invited toadvise on how best the pool should be maintained in orderto reflect its actual usage. They will be able to take intoconsideration turnover rates for the pool in order to optimisefiltration for the number of bathers.

It is important not to overload a swimming pool, because allpools rely on filtration to help remove nasty intestinal bugs,such as Cryptosporidium, which is the only one that is notreadily killed by Chlorination.

It is unlikely that any Environmental Health Officers willroutinely take water samples for you, but there is anobligation for monthly routine testing. In recent years,European Standards for all non-domestic swimming poolshave been introduced, which include items such asmaximum grating sizes and a double width top tread onstainless steel ladders.

If your Holiday Park has a swimming pool then at least oneemployee should be trained as a Pool Plant Operator, whichis a three-day course available from organisations such asCIMSPA and ISPE.

While Hot Tubs and swimming pools can be a huge draw foryour holiday park, they also pose a massive risk if they arenot adequately maintained. Make sure that you haveconsidered how they will be used and by whom, from thestart so that your holiday park makes it onto the internetsearch engines for all the right reasons.

Further reading: If you have a pool or spa, make sure you have a copy of Swimming Pool Water(Treatment and Quality Standards for Pools and Spas ISBN 0951700766 -published by PWTAG). There is also much free information on the websitewww.Pwtag.org which covers such delightful points as what to do if there is faecesin your pool or vomit on the poolside. This advice is updated on a regular basis. The Health & Safety Executive is currently updating its book entitled ManagingHealth & Safety in Swimming Pools HSG 179 ISBN 0-7176-2686-5 and this coversthe requirements for supervision arrangements to safeguard pool users as well asgeneral management of Health & Safety, including requirements for a Pool SafetyOperating procedure (PSOP) which consists of a Normal Operating Plan (NOP)and the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

Make the right kind of splashwith your Hot Tubs and Pools

What two words are people mostlikely to enter into a search enginewhen researching a UK holiday

break? Forget scenic views, or even greatfood – what we really, really want it seems is aHot Tub.

Author – Howard C.C. Gosling BSc (Hons), MRSC, CBiol, MIBiol, FRSPH,FWMSoc, FISPE, MIMgt, MCMIDANGEROUS GOODS SAFETY ADVISER

For more information or a brochure please telephone us on Tel: 01444 411411

Email: [email protected] Web: www.archenclosures.co.uk

Putting a pool under cover is a realistic and affordable solution to coping with unpredictable weather in all seasons.

The product is factually better and more advanced than any other on the market; it offers more features and more fl exibility of design.

We offer a fi xed price package: custom design, manufacture, construction and installation by factory engineers.

The buildings have a ten-year factory guarantee.

The logical Solution

14


There are many drivers for taking swimmingpool safety seriously, but for the sake ofbrevity let’s focus on the three key ones:

The first is a simple moral obligation – we careabout each other and we want to make sure no-one gets hurt. Children especially can bevulnerable around pools and that vulnerabilityescalates dramatically when we’re dealing withyoung children and non-swimmers – and there areusually plenty of these on a busy holiday park.

Compliance and `defendability’The second driver is the law. There are a number of laws, regulationsand guidance documents which set out quite clearly what is required interms of pool safety. If we fail to meet those requirements we’ll almostcertainly be breaking the law. Holiday Park Operators can bevulnerable to enforcement action which could include pool closure andultimately prosecution. In the event of a serious incident, legal breacheswill almost certainly inform private legal action. It’s very difficult todefend a private action if we’ve already been found to have broken thelaw.

A Safe Pool is an efficient PoolThe third driver is effectiveness. As a guiding principle, a swimmingpool (or any operational department for that matter) that’s being runsafely is almost certainly going to be efficient and effective – beingproductive, saving money and making a contribution to the bottom line.

Children and VulnerabilityIt’s so easy to get complacent. It may help to reflect for a moment onthe fact that not all drowning’s are fatal. A child being deprived ofoxygen to the brain for anything more than a few moments (it’simpossible to identify a specific amount of time) is likely to experiencesome degree of impairment to brain function. This can extend toserious brain damage and the truly dreadful life-long consequences. So, the five key areas which are absolutely essential for effective anddefendable safety management are:

Step One - Risk Assessment. A systematic documented identification of how people might beharmed, specifically in your pool/s and what controls are in place tominimise these risks to an acceptable level.In terms of supervision the risk assessment will determine whether youshould have Lifeguards, Emergency Responders, Trained Observers ora combination of, or variation on that theme. Key guidance on theissue of supervision can be found in the HSE publication HSG 179`Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools’ page 54 onwards.Available free as a download from the HSE website.

Step Two - Normal Operating Plans. Responding to findings of Risk Assessment and detailing how the pool

operates on a practical day to day basis. Everything from openingtimes, rules, guest communications, water quality checks and cleaningrotas to supervision arrangements, schedules and operation andmaintenance of alarm systems. If written carefully this can also serveas your safe systems of work for employees – a requirement of theHealth and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Step Three - Emergency Action Plan. Itemising the kinds of emergencies which, realistically, could happenand identifying exactly how they would be managed. Who does what,when, where and how.

Step Four - Training. Focussed on meeting capability requirements identified in RiskAssessment and ideally supported by recognised qualifications seerlss.org.gov for more on Lifeguard awards. None of this is rocket science and we’re not necessarily talking aboutlot’s of paperwork. It’s another myth that good risk assessments arebig weighty documents. Brief, concise and accurate is much better.But, you do need to know what you’re doing. And you definitely needto do what you say you’re going to do – so we should be careful aboutwhat our operating plan says. As you write it do two things: one, askyourself does this make sense? or have I gone off into a health andsafety gobbledygook. Simple plain English is always best and two,imagine yourself having to defend it in the witness box – are youconfident that what your saying is authentic and credible? Now makesure that all relevant staff understand the operating plans. This in itselfrequires some thought and engagement. It’s not enough to handsomeone a copy and say “read it”. Full understanding is likely torequire an initial consultation, probably a training session, somepractice and review – then individual sign off.

Step Five – Review. Regularly, periodically, and definitely after an incident, have a look atyour operational systems and procedures, ideally including relevantpersonnel, and ask if they are still fit for purpose.It may help to think of each of these steps as inter-linked and inter-dependent. Each has a relationship with the others. One final tipconcerns originality and creativity. Just because things have beendone a certain way for ages doesn’t mean there isn’t room forimprovement.

TechnologyPotential for improvement lies in the use of technology includingunderwater cameras and drowning prevention systems which can adda highly effective supplement to your supervision arrangements. Winwins can also be found in water safety programmes such as the RLSSUK Rookie Lifeguard Awards which can be an excellent vehicle forsafety messages as well as great fun for children, parents and staff.In closing it may help to consider that for your guests you pool will bean absolutely vital part of their holiday experience and, depending onyour site and the weather they are likely to be spending a great deal oftime in this area – so apart from safety it’s worth getting it right.

5 Essential Steps For Swimming Pool SafetyAn Easy Step by Step Guide To Make Your Pool Fun, Efficient and Safe This Summer

Written byDamian HallBA, IOSH Tech,RLSS UK SeniorConsultant

Telescopic Pool BuildingsTransforming outdoor pools

Chris Elliot – Swimex LimitedPO Box 84OundlePE8 4XA

Tel: 01832 275 333Fax: 01832 275 111

Freephone: 0800 804 [email protected]

16


With water charges continuouslyrising, now is the time to tackleleaks around the holiday park. By

taking control of the situation, you could findthat you save up to 50 per cent on watercosts, which is far from a drop in the ocean!

The importance of auditing water costs cannot beemphasized strongly enough, and yet a vast amount ofbusinesses in the UK simply do not realise that their waterand sewerage charges are draining their profits and some ofthe figures I see are quite staggering.

In my 30 years’ experience in the water-cost reductionindustry, businesses that take control of their waterinfrastructure will quite often make cost reductions ofbetween 20% and 50%, what would that percentage savingmake to your business?

In order to answer that question, you will need to know whatyour total annual costs are. When speaking to a potentialclient, I often hear, “We are on budget year on year and if wehad a leak we would see a sharp increase in volume andcharges.” I am afraid that is simply wrong.

Our water audit experts are identifying water losses that havebeen going on undetected for years, in the case ofunderground water leaks for example, 90% of them do notshow on the surface, as they are hidden below ground. Parkscan also waste vast volumes of water through faulty W.C ballvalves, broken taps and leaking isolation valves. It is wellworth periodic checks to ensure that your above-ground sitewater fittings are well maintained and not leaking.

How to check for potential water leaks.The best time to check your water meters is the early hoursof the morning. If any of the water meters are registering non-stop constant flow, then it is highly likely you are losing water.

Take 15-minute readings from 1am until 4.30am and you cancalculate the constant hourly volume.

The very best investment you can make to identify waterlosses and monitor water flow remotely from the internet, is awater flow data logger. It is a device that is fitted to the watercompany meters and it transmits a pulse from the watermeter to a web-based data platform. The device is set up torecord flow through the water meter every 15 minutes, thisthen produces a graph of daily and overnight water flow.

The prime time to complete a water audit of the flow data isbetween 12am and 5am known in the water audit industry asthe nightline. This data can then be analysed and waterleakage volumes calculated and so the financial impact ofthe water losses can be calculated.

It is a fact that I have never had a situation where a water flowdata logger has been installed to a leisure park and no waterloses identified! So, if you would like to make sure that noneof your profits are simply going down the drain, take controlnow. After all, the next time the charges go up will be April 1,2015, so you would be a fool not to!

Don’t let leaks drainyour profits

Useful tips:If you have a site shower block consider installing low flowshowers at 8 litres per minute flow rate, push down taps whichare the kind of taps you have to depress down to operate asoften taps are left running.Check the levels on the W.C. cisterns and ensure the ball floatinside the cistern is in good working order and not overflowing.

Author – Graham MannWater Audit Expert.

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ting eporR


It has been a great year for staycations inthe UK, thanks to a warm summer andApril’s rise in Airport Duty Tax, which

has kept holiday makers nearer to home.

Holiday parks are often the perfect solution for Britishfamilies looking for greater freedom and value for moneythan a hotel-based break. In fact, holiday parks are nowoffering a wider choice than ever of options for holiday-makers and guests are becoming more discerning andchoosy about what they want from their stay.

It can be difficult for staff to keep up with individual requestsfrom guests, but they do make all the difference when itcomes to making a holiday into something special. It is alltoo easy for staff to take down a booking alteration on ascrap of paper with the best of intentions but for it to thenbecome lost or forgotten before the guests arrive.

In order to avoid disappointment, an automated bookingprocess will ensure that any changes or special requests arenoted on the customers’ file, so nothing gets overlooked.The system works alongside the online booking system toensure that customers get everything they want, while yourstaff are freed up to concentrate on offering guests the bestpossible on-site experience when they arrive.

When customers feel that their needs have been met andtheir requests accommodated, they will go home happy andchances are they will return again.

For more bookings, lower costs and the chance to free yourstaff up from costly admin, contact the sales team atMaxxxton today - the experts in automated booking systemsfor holiday parks.

Call: 0121 222 5125 or email: [email protected]

Automate bookingrequests for happierguests

20 www.HolidayParksManagement.comwww.HolidayParksManagement.com

Risk : renewableenergyAn exercise in risk vs.reward for renewableenergy in caravan parks

“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life,would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for toomany days in a row, I know I need to change something.” - Steve Jobs

Change happenssometimes too slowlyand I've got an

admission to make.

As an energy consultant I'm ashamedthat I haven't yet adopted renewableenergy. At least at home ; I haven'ttaken a moment to switch to 100%green energy for my domestic supplyuntil today. ( OVO here I come ) .

However I'm not here to moralise overwhich energy supplier you choose .

We're considering a much bigger,potentially risky, wider decision for you -the reality of renewable energy for yourholiday parks.

You'll get to read an accurate case studyon Solar panels in a holiday park toillustrate the barebones cost vs. profit ,touching on the intangibles such asmarketing value ( or not ) for your holidaypark, with real life stories drawn from mydaily conversations with uk park owners.

My story Around three years ago I decided thatrenewable energy was the future, eventhough introducing it would cost memoney. I earn my income from annualvolume on energy supply contracts;smaller usage means smaller returns formyself. I still have no idea whether I'll win or losefrom renewable energy. Ultimately it justfeels like the right thing to do. I could see that renewable energy

demand would rocket ( in my opinion ) soI started tracking down reputableinstallers to partner with and also scouredeverywhere for case studies, which at thetime were few and far between.Finally, one incredibly useful report waswritten for me by the very helpful andenthusiastic Rob Williams of TrawsdirTouring & Camping Park in Barmouth.

Here's how the financials stack for theTrawsdir Solar experiment (a smallexcerpt from the full report)

" In terms of costs, the system wasroughly £66,000.Before installing the system in lateOctober 2011, we were paying £1857 permonth to Scottish Power. We reviewedthese figures with Scottish Power inAugust and agreed on a figure of £1005.So the immediate saving was £852 permonth.Our actual annual cost now is£4203 "

If you want to read the full report, I'll emailit to you free contact me atleisureparkenergy.com.Before we get too enthusiastic, I recentlyvisited the NEC Caravan & CampingShow to chat with the majority of parkstand holders there. One gentleman was good enough to politely tell me that both Solar and Biomass boilers wouldn't

Written by Adam BeckettHow to : energy management for leisure parks Part of a series delivered by Adam Beckett of Leisure ParkEnergy for Holiday Parks Management

search term popularitysolar panels 44renewable energy 29biomass 23

Written by Adam BeckettHow to : energy management for leisure parks Part of a series delivered by Adam Beckett of Leisure ParkEnergy for Holiday Parks Management

work at his holiday park ; apparently alack of sufficient south facing roof spacefor solar and nothing substantial to fuelthe burning of biomass . Fair enough.

Overall though. I found the attitudetowards green energy extremely positive- with most parks already using solarand even more either possessing,seriously considering or in process ofinstalling a biomass boiler.

TrendsThere are fairly obvious financial drivershere :- cautious upturn in the economy - access to finance (Carbon Trust /

Siemens & RHI)- lower cost of renewable energy

equipment- increased consensus on climate

change (IPCC) - consumers demanding improved

experience

We'll have a light diversion at this point(if you just want more financials skippast this)

If we're looking at trends directly relatingto renewable energy, here's a snapshot(opposite) of global monthly searchinterest in order of popularity ranking(Google Trends uses a sliding scale of 0- 100)

So, despite the shake up with the ukgovernment feed in tariff payout'adjustment' a few years ago, there's stilla very healthy interest in Solar panels forexample. And the renewable heatincentive is driving technologies such asBiomass into caravan parks

The bottom lineI do not want to appear biased, howeverwhen I speak with one of my holidayparks customers and mention solar orbiomass, there is overwhelming interest .Renewable energy really isn't perceivedas a risky business right now.

Profit opportunitiesHere's the process . Solar and Biomassrenewable energy installations couldallow caravan park and holiday parkowners to 1. cut their existing energy bills

2. get long term index linked FITpayments

3. attract more customers

All this can be financed by Siemens oran alternative provider and money in willvery possibly match or exceed financecost month on month until the finance ispaid off, after which any FIT paymentsare pure profit. Capital allowances onthe purchase cost also offset initialexpense.

Of course no one is promising you theEarth, your site needs to be assessedfirst to determine true potential.

What I've found is thatholiday park owners justwant a decent installercharging a fair price . Theyjust don't know where to go.

CredibilityIf you missed my very firstarticle for Holiday ParksManagement here's anotherexcerpt, this time from a

statement given by Ged Ennis of TheLow Carbon Energy Company :

" Our customers are experiencingreturns in excess of 20% and thisaligned to reduced costs and carbonand the opportunity to marketthemselves as “ green “ is a verypowerful driver for take up . In addition, and through our partnershipwith the Carbon Trust, we offerunsecured off balance sheet finance forsystems and in most cases the benefitsexceed the repayments so no cashleaves the business "

So wherever you go for renewableenergy advice , thank you for readingthis brief glimpse into risk vs. reward forrenewable energy at your holiday park .

Your time is at a premium as you barrelheadlong into the Summer season. Nowhere's the flipside : it takes very little timeto find out what you could be missingout on next Summer .

There is more on energy efficiency andgeneration to come - the important thingis to take action and explore youroptions now.


PlayFair is the UK's trade event for all those

involved in the selection, purchase, upkeep and

replacement of children's play provision. PlayFair is

free to visit, has free parking and is designed to

keep you up to date with the modern demands

affecting our play space today.

PlayFair 2014 will take place during SALTEX, the

Sports, Amenities and Landscaping Trades Exhibition,

at Windsor Racecourse 2-4 September 2014, PlayFair

enjoys a successful and well-established array of

visitors and exhibitors each year.

With a mixture of outdoor play equipment and

networking with industry professionals, the

expression ‘fun in the sun’ has never been more

appropriate. Visitors can network with all the

major outdoor children's play equipment

companies at one time and place.

See latest trends, innovations and thinking.

Follow us on Twitter @playfair_api

LLeeaaddiinngg tthhee wwaayy ttoo bbeetttteerr ppllaayy......

> Register Free today at www.playfairuk.com

PlayFair 2014, 2-4 September, SALTEX, Windsor Racecourse

Playfair 2014:Layout 1 07/03/2014 09:49 Page 1

22


Owned by the Association of Play Industries (API), PlayFair2014 takes place from 2-4 September at Royal WindsorRacecourse, alongside SALTEX. It provides a greatopportunity for holiday park operators to see the latest high-quality play equipment and safety surfacing close-up and toget advice from leading experts.

The API represents manufacturers, installers, designers anddistributors of outdoor and indoor play equipment and safetysurfacing, and campaigns at the highest levels for policyrecognition of the value of play. When planning a playproject, insist on current API membership for peace of mindbecause API member companies: Provide the highest quality, standards and service;Abide by a Professional Code of Conduct;Are rigorously monitored for financial performance.

API members exhibiting at PlayFair and SALTEX include:eibe Play Ltd; Fenland Leisure Products Ltd (t/a OnlinePlaygrounds); Broxap (t/a Hand Made Places); Huck NetsUK Ltd; Kompan UK; PlaySmart UK; Proludic Ltd; PHSGroup (t/a Matta Products (UK) Ltd; South West Play; TheChildren’s Playground Company Ltd; The Play InspectionCompany; Ustigate Waterplay; and Wicksteed Leisure Ltd.

Visit the API at PlayFair 2014 on stand K05 to discuss yourholiday park play project. For free tickets and furtherinformation, visit: www.playfairuk.com

PlayFair 2014 ToShowcase LatestPlay Industry TrendsLooking to transform your children’s play area? Join the fun at PlayFair 2014, the

showcase for the UK play industries.


THE ULTIMATE SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY

Holiday Parks Management

NEWSLETTERS regular news and updates

Join Our Network Now! www.HolidayParksManagement.com

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AZINEGMA

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AZINE

25

August 2014 • Issue 15

The Ultimate Suppliers Guide For Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks, and Campsites

Holiday Parks Management




The Future OfAccommodation

The mobile Log Pod is ideal for owners of campsites,holiday parks, small woods offices, fisheries, zoos,

anywhere that offers accommodation

All of our pods come with their own chassis and electronics and can be movedon the road by a car trailer or around your property by tractor, car or a 4x4.

Fully mobile, Full 4” deep porch for cooking, playing and relaxing. Double glazed door and window with security locks.Full insulation including floor for all year round use.Electric pack as standard • Fire-escape rear window

Wheelchair accessible door • No foundation or crane required

So what is a LogPodConceived as an all-year-round living space, a LogPod is as welcoming in winter as in the heat of

summer , and unlike any tent the Log Pod has beendesigned to have a lifespan of least 25 yrs,

assuming a basic amount of routine maintenance.Almost every component of the Log Pod is either

bio-degradable or recycleable

Telephone : 01269 850005 Email: [email protected]

www.thelogpod.co.uk

Farm Diversification/NewParks

Make the most of your land.Landowners can open a 5cs site without the

landowner obtaining planning permission and areallowed two of the Log Pods On site

See our clients atwww.logpodholidays.co.uk

The Log Pod is a mobile Farm structure

Glamping, luxuriousand boutiquecamping, or

whatever you prefer to callit, can be defined in oneway: it’s all about camping,but it’s also all aboutsmoothing the edges ofroughing it. Now it hasalso become a great way forbusinesses to diversify intothe tourism and leisureindustries.

Many people try camping once or twicebut are put off by the lack of facilities,tired looking accommodation, creepycrawlies or leaking tents, so they returnhome disappointed and devoid ofmotivation to ever return again.But this does not remove the inherentdesire most people have to stay in ourgreat outdoors, soaking up theatmosphere and absorbing the fresh air.

As humans we would not have spreadacross the globe if we hadn’t beencompelled to travel from place to place.As a result, we became travellers,adventurers and campers to survive,and it seems we've held onto thisinherent need and desire.

Added to this is the fact that vacationchoices aren't what they used to be.Terrorist threats, delays and costlyoverheated hotels have becometedious, with very little about theexperience that doesn’t cost the earth...literally.

As a result, glamping has started toattract a completely new customerbase to the hospitality and touristindustry, and it includes those who maynever have visited a campsite before.With this and the associated extensionof the glamping season (due towoodburning stoves and all seasonbeds) this brings more earningpotential to existing and new outdoorbusinesses.

“Farms which havediversified into tourism canachieve extra incomes of

about £21,000 a year.” PhilBicknell, National FarmersUnion

This also means that holidaymakers canget away more frequently with thefamily, for longer stays and without theneed for a perfect weather window. Thisis good for holidaymakers and good forthe outdoor industry, particularly in theUK! As a result glamping is really

catching on for campsites that havenever offered it before, as well as newcampsites opening up.

“Glamping absolutely hasbecome the latest thing forpeople to get into.” Deborah

Meadon, Leisure And RetailSpecialist, Dragons Den

It isn’t just about getting away for a timeto be closer to nature and under thestars, it is also about visiting hospitalityvenues that are equipped to give theirguests a unique, organic and oftenquirky British experience in aninspiringly artisan and homely way.

So, if you are a campsite or holiday parkowner, farmer or private landowner, askyourself this: Are you making the mostof this new glamping trend, which couldhelp you diversify your income andsecure your future? If not, you certainlyshould be.


Glamping forBusinesses

Written by Sarah Riley

Sarah Riley is the Founder ofInspiredCamping.com, Consultant andTrainer. She has recently launched TheUltimate Glamping Business Guide to helpnew and existing businesses make themost of the glamping trend.The Guide offers everything from optionsavailable, the set up process, launch plan,market statistics, business planning,marketing, photography, websiteoptimisation, environmental issues, sitemaintenance and event management. Italso includes an entire social media course,which is essential for creating a buzz aboutyour new project from the beginning. Youcan find out more about the course atwww.inspiredcourses.com/glamping


Introducing THE NEW CHALET POD WITH

BUILT-IN EN-SUITE4.8m x 3.0m

(15’8”ft x 9’8”ft)Don't let guests book intoanother park down the roadWhen you could have one of ourstylish lodge boutique Rooms orour New Chalet Pod (withen-suite) Kitchenette (optional)

• Built to last 15 year Guarantee • Comprising of thehighest Structural Insulated panels (SIPS)• Sleeps a family of four comfortably • Rentalincomes of £65.00 upwards per night• Unit comes fully built with en-suiteand all Electrics• Kitchenette (optional) Oven.2 RingHob.Sink. Fridge/Freezer

An eco-friendly investmentopportunity for business with agreat return potential.OWNER BENEFITS• Relatively low investment with thepotential for an excellent return.• Planning Permissions are veryfavourable with Local PlanningAuthorities as they recognise thatecoPODs encourage sustainabletourism • Rental incomes of en-suite pods £65 upwards pernight will return most of your investment in year one.• Capitalise on all-year-round camping because ofthe high thermal values of our camping ecoPODs.• Generate income due to the latest highspecification of our ecoPODs.

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN

NEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL ROOMS Green Eco Living specialises ineco friendly, energy efficient roomsand have designed a premiumguest space.• Bespoke lodge Roomsstandard 4.8m (15' 8" ft) x 3.0m (9' 8"ft) with en-suite included.• SIPS Panel design (StructuralInsulated Panel) Low energy lightingand UPVC Double Glazed windows.• Introduce a New Leisure

Accommodation attached to your existing Park, Land,Hotel or Pub.• Rental Incomes of £65.00 pounds upwards• Individual sizes and lay-outs available to suit your needs• Delivered and installed by quality professionals,working to achieve maximum customer satisfaction.

The new en-suite boutique rooms createpremium guest Space.

Why let guests book into another parkdown the road when you could have astylish rental building on the grounds ofyour premises?

Eco Green Living installs across theUK and can help you plan and design yourbespoke boutique lodge room or even a new-style, bigger camping pod that comescomplete with kitchenette and en-suitefacilities.

As a leading supplier of outdoor rooms GreenEco Living has developed the most thermally

efficient process in the UK through its unique SIPS Paneldesign (Structural Insulated Panel), an injected foaminsulated 70mm thick wall section - equivalent to twolayers of standard fibreglass loft insulation.

Further insulation is fitted to the roof and floor space andunder floor heating, low energy lighting and lockabledouble-glazed windows and doors create a warm andinviting outdoor space.

T: 01257 453 791F: 01257 453 780E: [email protected]: www.greenecoliving.co.uk

Call Green Eco Living for details on 01257 453 791 or 07894541638or email for our latest brochure and price list.

or visit the website www.greenecoliving.co.ukCOME AND SEE OUR NEW CHALET POD NOW!

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


All Teifi Valley Camping Huts are made to the higheststandards, sourced from sustainable woodlands

INCLUDED IN PODDouble glazed doors Lockable Windows & doors2 internal lights 1 external lightSmoke detector

49% of holidays occur outside of the peak times, giving yourpark all year revenue.

Call 01239 652800info@teifivalleycampingpods.co.ukwww.teifivalleycampingpods.co.uk


Since its first appearance in 2008 thePod has become a well establishedand much enjoyed alternative to the

tent and the holiday home that is now awidely available feature on sites throughoutthe UK and Ireland as well as many countriesin Europe.

The design copyright and branding is owned by Ian Bone aformer civil engineer who established Newfoundland LodgesLtd. back in 2004. The company was originally formed tobuild residential specification lodges using ‘state of the art’materials and incorporating as standard a wet under-floorheating system as well as many other innovations.The Pod started as an ‘aside’. Ian was casually involved withmountain biking and was bemused by the lack of what heterms ‘intermediate accommodation’, particularly in the moreremote parts of the country. “If you have been out all day onthe bike in what can often be arduous conditions,somewhere warm and dry to camp overnight does help setyou up for the next day”. The Pod really was created on ablank piece of paper around the idea of a robust, eco-friendly, highly practical but affordable basicaccommodation. The key to the Pods success is however it’sgood looks. As a long time resident of the Lake District, Ianwas acutely aware of the stringent rules applied by theplanners in the National Park and the one thing that would

matter more than anything else would be the appearance.“I guess I am fortunate in having a flair for design as well as asolid grounding as a construction professional”. “There issome ‘natural science’ incorporated into the design conceptwhich is subtle but underpins the ‘wow’ factor that has madethe Pod so popular”.

After the prototype Pod was built in 2004 the question wasthen what to do with it. Newfoundland were fully occupiedwith lodge manufacturing so the project remained underwraps for 3 years. The big break came when the visionarynew owners of a campsite in Eskdale decided to create aPod ‘village’ as part of their redevelopment. Timing waseverything - there had been some significant changes in theapproach of the National Park planners who were keen toaddress the slow demise of camping in the Park. The Podticked a lot of boxes and LDNPA enabled the commercialuse of the Pod with the decision that it would fall under‘caravan’ legislation for planning purposes.“Initially it was pretty tough ‘selling’ this new concept to siteowners and the Pod is really best suited to sites that cancreate an ‘interesting setting’ and this often has the benefit ofusing ground that may be unsuitable for camping or touringvans”. “Our recent wet summers have tempered the ‘canvasholiday’ to some degree which has certainly been to ouradvantage, plus the Pods are an all year round option andwill see occupancy outside of the traditional campingseason”.

A BRIEF HISTORYOF THE POD


The Pod has evolved over time. The original ‘standard’camping Pod is still popular but has been overtaken withsales of the ‘family’ Pod which was first introduced in 2009 atCotswold View in Oxfordshire. More recently the MegaPodwas developed and, as the name suggests, is a big Pod withthe benefits of a fully fitted ‘lodge’ interior – the ‘S’ versioneven has a luxury ‘wet-room’.This larger unit has proven to be a ‘flexible friend’ and hasseen a number of variants to the interior, right down to beingsupplied just as an ‘empty shell’ camping Pod of generousproportions. “It has been quite a journey bringing the Pod ‘to life’ and Ithink we are at a stage where the concept is pretty wellestablished - we get customer enquiries from all around theworld and while this illustrates the power of the internet, italso demonstrates that this is no ordinary ‘wooden hut’”. “Weare now seeing commitments from larger companies in theleisure industry who see investing in the Pod as a worthwhileand credible extension to their business models”.

In the UK, manufacturing is split between NewfoundlandLodges Ltd. and the North Yorkshire Timber Company.Broadly NYT supply to the east of a line that links Edinburgh,Birmingham and Southampton while Newfoundland suppliesall points west and the Highlands. This has worked well indealing with the seasonal demand aspect of the businessand the cost benefits of regional distribution. “We couldactually do with licensing the manufacture to someone in thesouthwest of England - we do a surprising amount ofbusiness in that corner of the country and cutting downsome of the transport costs is certainly an interestingproposition”.

The market for glamping is healthy and growing with all sortsof weird, wonderful and sometimes not so wonderfulaccommodation ideas becoming available to commercialoperators in recent times. It is no longer just tents, touringvans, statics and lodges. The prospect of competition from,in particular, similar designs must be of matter of concern forNewfoundland. “I am concerned for quality - wemanufactured our lodges to BS.3632 but at present there isno formal regulation or trade association ascribed to this‘intermediate accommodation’ sector.” “I only trust that siteoperators who are looking into glamping style developmentsgive proper consideration to what they are subscribing toand look to the longer term future and viability of theproducts they are considering – it would be a great shame ifthis vibrant niche market is undermined by ‘quick buck’merchants.” “On the whole I think the diversity on offer ishealthy and gives this sector ‘energy’ - we have been herefrom the start and have seen ideas come and go but it doesseem to be the case that you have come to the market withsomething original if you want to survive!”

One unique aspect of Newfoundland’s success with the Podhas been the commitment to promotion in the media and thewww.thepod.info website. The pioneering of the concept hasinvolved a relatively substantial investment in generating bothpublic awareness and the ‘zeitgeist’ of what is regarded bysome as the ‘flagship’ of very ‘cool’ camping.One of the key features on the Pod website is the interactivemap which lists the locations and details of all thecommercial sites with a link to the sites own website. Thishas proven to be a great resource for campers lookingaround to see what is on offer - in fact the stats show well

over 100,000 unique visitors per annum to thepod.info siteand most of these will be looking to book some time in aPod!

Given that the Pod has been around for a few years now andthe range of models and potential uses have be wellexplored there is the question of what the future might holdfor the company and the Pod. “When we set out wereckoned that the UK would happily support around 2,000Pods well distributed through mainly the prime areas foroutdoor activities and tourist hotspots. On the numbers, wehave achieved just over a quarter of that aim so there issome way to go. What wasn’t a factor are the new areas ofinterest and opportunities that are emerging outside thecamping grounds and the growing popularity of theMegaPod.”“Our order book for this year has been very good with anumber of premier sites adding to their numbers of Pods. Wesaw a dip in interest last year but we have ridden out therecession pretty well, all things considered.” “I am regularlytold by our customers that the Pods produce a better returnon investment than any other aspect of their businesses andI think that with the Pods enduring good looks and soundcommercial credentials that we stand to be busy for sometime”.

Newfoundland have undoubtedly gained a lot of experienceover the years and will happily discuss developmentprospects with potential customers. The company worksclosely with architectural services and a planning specialistas well as having useful contacts in the areas of contractrentals, agency and project finance. As well as the Pod theycan offer a range of modular facilities units to aestheticallycomplement Pod developments.

For an information Pack contact:[email protected] or contact IanBone directly on 07776 203490. For the East of England and the Scottish Borderscontact: [email protected] or call01609 751116. www.thepod.info/


SPATEX 2015, the UK’sleading pool and spaExhibition, is returning in

February (Sunday 1st to Tuesday3rd) to Coventry’s Ricoh Arenawith lots of exciting newingredients to make it a must-attend event for anyone who hasor is planning on incorporatingwet leisure facilities.

Now in its 19th year, SPATEX brings togetherall the major players in the wet leisureIndustry, and is a shop window for everythingfrom wet and dry safety flooring, water playfeatures, pool enclosures to energy savingchemical control and heating and ventilationunits. In fact, all the equipment you need in aholiday park! A vast proportion of the manyinnovative new products launched at SPATEXeach year are geared towards commercialoperators.

Each day, the ISPE (Institute of SwimmingPool Engineers) will be running Workshops

with talks from leading Industry experts, givingthe Show an important technical andeducational edge. Topics will include heatpumps, filtration, various aspects of watertreatment, the management of commercialpools, the prevention of cryptosporidium andsessions that will show how to save energyand other resources.

For the first time ever, SPATEX will be hostinga whole day of specialist spa trainingworkshops for both the commercial anddomestic sector on Tuesday February 3rd.The free one-day spa sessions will beinformation packed, covering topics such as;‘Commercial spa management’, and ‘Spas forbusiness use’.

SPATEX Organiser, Michele Bridle says:“Today’s holiday-maker is becoming morediscerning and wet leisure is an important andoften integral part of holiday park provision.By attending SPATEX 2015 you can find waysof satisfying, and potentially surpassing, yourcustomers’ expectations, becoming moreenvironmentally friendly and saving valuabletime and money on running costs.”

The Ricoh Arena’s central location, just 500yards off the M6 and within two hourscommuting time of 75 per cent of thepopulation, ensures easy access and offers2000 free on site car parking spaces. Pre-registration is open: go to www.spatex.co.ukand sign up for the newsletter. For furtherinformation: call Michele or Helen on +44 (0)1264 358558 or [email protected]; [email protected]

SPATEX 2015: The Exhibitionyou can’t afford to miss!


This year’s Caravan ExtravaganzaWeekend at The Lawns in Cottinghamwill be bigger than ever, promise the

organisers.

The Lawns, which takes place on the weekend of the 6th and7th September is one of the UK’s biggest caravan exhibitionsand is organised by The Hull and East Riding of YorkshireCaravan Manufacturers’ Association (HERCMA). It offers thepublic the first chance to view the new season’s models.

Last year, nearly 25,000 people attended the two-day eventfrom all across the UK last year and the organisers areanticipating at least as many coming along this year.

In addition to more than 130 touring caravans, about 160caravan holiday-homes park homes and lodges will be onshow from most of the country’s leading names, many ofthem based in East Yorkshire.

About 40 other companies and organisations will displayproducts and feature services ranging from awnings todecking, verandas and motor movers, plus finance andinsurance, security products and almost every kind ofaccessory associated with caravanning.

“There’s something for everyone, so if you are looking to buya new caravan or just something to use in or outside one, orlooking for great places to stay, this is the place to go,” saida HERCMA spokesman.

In addition to the well-stocked accessory shop run byCatterick Caravans, many dealerships such as KenmoreCaravans, Wandahome Knottingley, Wandahome SouthCave, Yorkshire Coast Caravans and Catterick Caravans willhave their own outdoor stands while representatives frommany other dealers will be available to talk to on the standsof various manufacturers.

To keep the youngsters occupied, there will be a bouncycastle, face painting and balloon modellers, and there will belive music, with both a jazz band and a leading brass bandentertaining the crowds. A free show guide is also given out to all visitors to help themfind their way around the huge showground.

Full details can be found on the website,www.lawnsandbeaulieushows

Bumper Lawns ShowPromises Somethingfor Everyone


Sandhills holiday park in Dorset hasjoined a small elite of British parks tohave been awarded a TripAdvisor

Certificate of Excellence.

The honour made by the world's largest travel websitecelebrates the consistently outstanding reviews given toSandhills by its guests.

It means, says TripAdvisor, that customers have judged theirexperience at the park to have met the highest standards ofhospitality, quality and value.

Owned by Park Holidays UK, Sandhills holiday park has astunning location on the edge of a sandy beach in Mudefordnear Christchurch.

Most of its 140-plus caravan holiday homes and lodges havepanoramic views of the harbour and across the sea to theIsle of Wight.

But just as attractive to holiday home buyers in Dorset is thecost of enjoying a prime position in one of the UK's mostexpensive property hot-spots.

New two and three bedroom holiday homes start fromaround £79,000 – and even the most costly, at just under£200,000, are a fraction of nearby cottage prices.

Tony Clish, director of Park Holidays UK, said that theTripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award is a tribute both tothe park and its staff:

"An important part of any holiday experience, even in such aglorious location such as this, is the atmosphere on the parkand the quality of the welcome and service received.

"We're delighted that so many holiday home owners andrental guests are sufficiently impressed by their stay to wantto share their feeling with others on TripAdvisor," said Tony.

TripAdvisor says that businesses holding it Certificate ofExcellence represent the "upper echelon" of holiday providerson its website.

Selection of winners is made on a range of criteria, includingthe volume of top star ratings given by guests, theirconsistency over a long period, and the positive nature ofcomments.

Congratulating Park Holidays UK on its achievement, thePresident of TripAdvisor for Business, Marc Charron, said thecompany was "a true top-performer".

He added that it had got the recognition it deserved basedentirely on feedback from those who matter most – the park'scustomers.

Sandhills, where facilities include a heated outdoor pool andchildren's activities, is one of 23 parks in Dorset, Devon andalong the south coast owned by Park Holidays UK.

Details of Sandhills and other centres can be foundat www.ParkHolidays.com.

Dorset park through toTripAdvisor premier league


ENTERTAINMENTWORLD OF RIDESFrom our World Of Ridespremises in County Durham wesupply major shopping centres,retailers, visitor attractions, funfarms, holiday parks, gardencentres, family entertainmentcentres with coin operated carsand battery operated cars.T: 0191 49 20 999E: [email protected]

HPM DIRECTORYENTERTAINMENTPARAGON ENTERTAINMENTParagon Entertainment has developeda portfolio of branded attractionconcepts to license to owners andoperators of holiday parks, visitorattractions, family entertainmentcentres (FEC’s) and play centres.Paragon has the pedigree to attract world-class brand partners andthe ability to develop those brands into instantly recognisable anduniversally appealing attraction concepts.T: 01904 608020E: [email protected]

PARK MANAGEMENTOMAR PARK DEVELOPMENT SERVICESOPDS can project manage adevelopment, help with salesand marketing of homes or offerrental advice, in fact we can helpwith any development oroperational issue a holiday orresidential park might face. We can also help own landers, farmerswho would like to site a lodge or residential home on their own landour garden space, we can advise on planning and manage the hardstanding construction and home delivery and siting stages, throughto completion.Contact Richard SigsworthE: [email protected]: 07841 917859www.omarpds.co.uk

PARK MANAGEMENTARRONBROOK LEISURE HOMESArronbrook Leisure Homes is anaward-winning manufacturer ofbespoke holiday homes that areenjoyed by holiday-makers acrossthe UK and Europe. The family-runfirm has been successfully tradingfor more than 25 years and puts itspopularity down to the fact thateach caravan is handmade andcan be created bespoke to acustomer’s taste.

T: 01482 210327E: [email protected]

PARK MANAGEMENTRMS RESERVATION AND ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEMRMS is an Australian softwarecompany producing andsupporting Front Office Systemsto the world’s hospitality industry.RMS has been at the forefront ofdevelopment of propertymanagement and reservations systems for nearly 30 years forthe Caravan Park Industry.

The RMS property management system is now complimented withseamless, real time online booking functionality to receive bookingsfrom a property’s website, the global distribution system and a broadrange of third party travel websites.E: [email protected]

PARK MANAGEMENTMAXXTON BOOKING MANAGEMENT SOFTWAREMaxxton is a multinational softwarecompany which has been providingcutting edge IT solutions and servicessince 1987 to the holiday and tourismmarket. Working in close partnershipwith their clients, They serves a variety of organisations of all sizes:holiday parks, multi-property groups, campsites & RV parks,independent hotels, serviced apartments, tour operators andvacation rental organizations.Maxxton was the first company in Europe to launch a fullyintegrated, cloud based Enterprise Resource Planning systemspecifically for the hospitality industry: Newyse ERP.T: 0121 122 5125E: [email protected]

PARK MANAGEMENTNEWBOOK PMSNewBook is a state-of-the-art newplatform specialized for holidayparks and Caravan Parks. Builtusing more than a decade’s worthof feedback and experience fromexperts, NewBook is browser-based, intuitive, highly responsiveand incredibly flexible. Itstreamlines accommodation andreservation tasks so everything can be managed from one place,whether in the office, at home, on-site or on the move.T: 01732 409 999E: Chris Petty [email protected]

LANDSCAPINGKUBOTAKubota is a market-leadingmanufacturer of groundcare,construction and agriculturalmachinery and equipment.Offering an array of highperformance mowers andRTVs, holiday park managerswill find it straightforward to finda machine to suit their needs. Kubota is proud to offer solutions thathave been manufactured to the highest standards andspecifications. www.kubota.co.uk/product-range/groundcarewww.kubota.co.uk/product-range/utility-vehicles/rtv


LANDSCAPINGTRI COUNTY GOLF CARSTri County Golf Cars Limited has beenformed as an independent distributor forgolf, transportation and utility vehiclesfrom Club Car the world’s largestmanufacturer of these products, offeringSales, Servicing and Parts as well as competitive finance packages.We have the expertise to offer advice and finance solutions for 1 -100 vehicles.

T: 01233 750111 Mobile 07854 389 604E: [email protected]

HPM DIRECTORYLANDSCAPINGTRIMAX MOWING SYSTEMS UKTrimax mowers now groom highlymanicured sports grounds, turf farms,Holiday Parks, golf courses, roughroadsides and those difficult to mowplaces.Trimax is now a market leading brand andwe take pride in knowing and supporting our customers and dealernetworks.T: (sales/admin): +44 (0) 1933 652235T: (parts): +44 (0) 1933 652246E: [email protected]

LANDSCAPINGESTESIA UK Etesia UK is a company thatspecialises in building highquality grass cuttingmachinery for both theprofessional and domesticmarket. Started in 1995 withonly one walk- behind andone ride-on machine EtesiaUK have grown rapidly and now offer a wide range of products thatinclude a variety of walk-behind, ride-on mowers and the awesomeAttila range of brush cutters. T: 01295 680120E: [email protected]

LANDSCAPINGHUSQVARNA GARDEN & LANDSCAPE MACHINERYHusqvarna has been delivering reliablemachines to professional landscape usersaround the globe for more than 50 years. Itall started with ground-breaking chainsawswhich featured smart, unique solutionscombining high productivity with superbergonomics.

These qualities and innovative spirit havebeen retained over time as Husqvarna hascontinued to create a range of ground-breaking commercial landscapingproducts using cutting edge technologys.E: [email protected]/uk/landscape-and-groundcare/home

LANDSCAPINGGRILLOWe have a range of out-frontcollecting mowers which are widelyacknowledged as havingperformance second to non in wet UKconditions. Our machines are hydro 4 wd with Yanmar dieselengines, 12 or 900 ltr hi- tip collection boxes and cutter deck sizes of132 or 155cm depending on model.Grillo machines are used by many park operators and localauthorities.

T: 0773 4497726 | 01889 569149 Steve GadesbyE: [email protected]

LANDSCAPINGTIGER TURFTiger Turf was founded in 2000, theWorcestershire-based manufacturerdesigns and manufactures artificial grassfor sport, landscape and leisureapplications. They select the mostadvanced yarns from leading suppliersand specialist producers to create a fullrange of artificial grass for a wealth ofsports, education, and leisure facilities.

T: (0)1299 253966E: [email protected]/uk

LANDSCAPINGFRONTIER PITTSFrontier Pitts can provide a completerange of services including design,site surveys, manufacture,installation, civil and electricalservices, maintenance, spares,repair or refurbishment and fullproject management. Our productsinclude manual equipment, automatic rising arm barriers, slidinggates, hinged gates, bi-folding speed gates, rising bollards, staticbollards, pedestrian gates and turnstiles.


LANDSCAPINGJACKSONS FENCINGJacksons Fencing is a family run company that has been trading for65 Years. With fencing centres in Ashford, Bath and Chester itenables nationwide coverage, delivery and installation. Jacksons offera comprehensive range of sturdy, decorative and long lasting timberand steel fencing and gates, including bespoke solutions.T: 0800 41 43 43 E: [email protected]


GLAMPINGALBION CANVASAlbion Canvas has pioneereda uniquely designed range ofSafari-style tents with acentral pole, a separate PVCouter flysheet and acomplete canvas inner tent,which gives good thermalinsulation in hot and coldweather, as well as soundproofing, making it useableall year round. The Grand Tsavo, the largest of Albion’s four Tsavomodels, has interior space of 12 metres x 5 metres,T: 01823 665849E: [email protected]

HPM DIRECTORY

GLAMPING CLEAR SKY SAFARITENTS specialise in supplying thevery highest quality safaritents at the lowest possiblecost. Our safari tents aremanufactured to Britishstandards, designed foryear round usage with a lifeof up to 10 years and costfrom as little as £2990 (Exc Vat.)T: 0845 299 6484E: [email protected]

GLAMPINGTEIFI VALLEY CAMPING HUTSTeifi Valley camping Huts | Pods are finishedto the highest standards and are fitted withdouble glazed, lockable windows and doors,2 internal lights, 1 external light, smoke alarmand double socket with hook up point to yoursupply. The wood to manufacture the pods issourced from sustainable woodlands. Pricesstart from around £6,000, purchase financecan be arranged.

T: 01239 652800E:info@teifivalleycampingpods.co.ukwww.teifivalleycampingpods.co.uk

GLAMPINGALFRESCO ARCHHand made and built to meetthe needs of customers, theirimpressive product rangeprovides practical andinnovative shelter, wrapped upin beautiful Gothic Arcs. Ourrange of bespoke GlampingArcs provide a unique campingexperience which provides anadditional selling feature for your camp site.

T: Mark 07860 250 212E: [email protected]

GLAMPINGNEWFOUNDLD LODGESLTDNewfoundland Lodges Ltd.are the company who created thePod camping hut nearly tenyears ago with the first unitsbeing supplied to the Camping &Caravanning Club site in Eskdalein the English Lake District backin 2008.

E: [email protected]

GLAMPING UK HIDEAWAYSA monocoque structurecamping pod is like anaeroplane wing constructionwhere you have a rib structureand an outer skin attached togive an unrivalled strength andthis also means that ourbuildings do not need anyinternal walls in order to support the roof.

T: 0791 727 6061 John BaxterE: [email protected]/?Camping_Pods

LANDSCAPINGINSTARMAC BUILDING PRODUCTSInstarmac is home to the Ultracrete, Ultrascape, Ultra Tile, Ultra Floorand Wondertex brands – all names synonymous with repair andrefurbishment solutions for all Holiday Park and Leisureestablishments. The portfolio of products for pothole repair, car parkmaintenance, paving, tiling, floor levelling, drylining and decorativetexturing are materials that have been proven and successfully usedfor over 35 years by local authorities, contractors and utilitiesnationwide. These products are available for you for your ownmaintenance needs.

T: 01827 871871 E: [email protected].

LANDSCAPINGSURESETSureSet permeable resin boundpaving is the ideal solution forpedestrian and vehicular areas ofany size that require a hard-wearing, low maintenance surfacethat also looks amazing. Offeringan exciting alternative to concrete,tarmac, gravel and paving slabs, SureSet is perfect for car parks,playgrounds, swimming pool surrounds, tree pits and paths.

T: 01985 841195 E: [email protected]


HPM DIRECTORY

OUTSIDEOUTSIDE STRUCTURE Solutions specialise in the supplyof outdoor covered areas to awide range of different sectors.The canopies are as varied asthe applications and can bemounted to buildings or entirelyfree-standing. Our retractablecanopies ensure that you canenjoy the sun’s rays for oneminute and have protection from the rain in the next! All theseretractable canopies are designed to be robust and to meet therigours of our British weather.

Tel 0844 561 7679 E: [email protected]

RESTAURANTMAGRINI – HIGH CHAIRSThe Breeze high chair is the latest addition to the range of commercial childcare products.This stylish, light-weight chair combines classicgood looks with the durability of HDPE material.The high chairs stack up to eight high for easy storage and the front-load stacking design eliminates the need for up and over lifting. The Breeze high chairpushes up to the table to enable your smallest guests to join the meal aswell as conserving valuable aisle space. At Magrini safety is our mainconcern and the Breeze features a permanent T-bar for intrinsic safetyas well as an adjustable, instant-release buckle. The chair is designedand manufactured in the U.K. and is available in a choice of colours.


SWIMMING POOL & SPASARCH ENCLOSURESA Swimming pool is an expensive butvaluable assets, it makes sense to enablethem to be used earlier and later in theseason or throughout the year.The fact that the “Great British Summer”has failed to make an appearance for thelast few years makes putting them undercover them even more important.A pool is undoubtedly the campsites major attraction and is evenmore so if the pool is enclosed. When it comes to booking one of thequestions most often asked of campsites is whether or not they havea covered pool.

T: 01444 411 411 E: [email protected]

WASHROOMS |TOILETSMAGRINI BABYCHANGING UNITA wide range of baby changingunits are on offer, ideally placedto meet all your commercialneeds. Our units are suited forpubs, restaurants, cafes, retailcentres and other commercial areas, and allow an easy and hygienicway of baby changing. Magrini baby changing units combineinnovative design and safety features, which will enhance anywashroom whilst providing the ultimate in durability.


BOOKING AGENTSCAMPSITE FINDER ONLINEAre you suffering from emptypitches?Do you have offers or discounts youwould like to promote?Would you like to Receive the ParkOperators Bi Monthly Magazine free?Why not join our increasing network of parksand sites that are happy with our serviceAdd your Holiday Park, Caravan Park or Campsite Free of charge oropt in to promote your park with a premium listing at a minimal cost


GLAMPING LOG POD ARCH - THE GOTHICPOD!Raising the standard of Camping Hutsand Pods. It's fair to say that manypeople looking at Camping Huts or Podstend to think of an "arched" shape, henceour development of the 2014 Log PodArch or "Gothic Pod".

Tel 07875 620091E: [email protected]

OUTSIDEDEMON INTERNATIONAL POWERWASHERSThe latest version of the Hurricane Combi flatsurface cleaning pressure washer is provingparticular popular and can now been seen inaction in a multitude of companies. Holiday andleisure facilities across the UK are enjoying the benefits of cleaningcommunal areas such as paths, walkways, decked and block paved areasand general facility cleaning and maintenance. They are able to cleanmore areas in less time with greater efficiency with the Hurricane Combi.Tel: 01752 690690 E:[email protected]

GLAMPINGGREEN ECO LIVINGGlamping comes to the Caravan Club!Green Eco Living is proud to welcome the CaravanClub as a customer! Established in 1907, theCaravan Club has been the No. 1 choice for manycampers and caravanners for over a century. Withtheir recent order of 6 of Green Eco Living’s eco-friendly CampingPods, the Caravan Club are providing their customers with anothercamping option to tents and caravans; an option that combines thebest of both. We are certain that the Camping Pods will be verypopular with the Caravan Club’s members and holiday-makers.

T: 01257 453791 E: [email protected]


For full details, contact us direct: hheelllloo@@ssllkkiiddss..ccoo..uukkT: +44 (0) 113 232 1700

wwwwww..ssllkkiiddss..ccoo..uukkA division of Sound Leisure Limitedwww.soundleisure.com

So many companies choose products from SLKids:Stena Line, RBS Bank, BHS, Frankie & Bennys, Greene King Brewery, NHS, McDonalds, Marston’s Inns, Play Concepts,H&M, Whitbread and many, many more...

Would a new internal kids play area further enhance your profile? Our products are bright, colourful, robust, fun,educational, dynamic, cost effective, and different! You can see why so many companies choose a play solution fromSLKids.

ARE YOU IN GREAT COMPANY?

the pool and spa showSPATEX2015ASP

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SPATEX 2015 – The Place To Do Business

EASY TO-GET-TO CENTRAL LOCATION

FREE ON-SITE CAR PARKING

FREE WIFI IN EXHIBITION HALLS

FREE DAILY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

THE TOP DESTINATION FOR THE HOLIDAY PARK INDUSTRYIf you’re involved in the operation of awet leisure facility, SPATEX is the UK’sonly dedicated pool and spa exhibitionwhich features over 100 exhibitorsshowcasing the latest technologicaladvances. For the first time ever,SPATEX 2015 will host a spa trainingworkshop day (free of charge) withspecial interest for the commercialsector on Tuesday February 3rd.

By the Industry, for the Industry

SUNDAY 1ST TO TUESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2015

COVENTRY, WEST MIDLANDS, CV6 6GE, UKFor more information or to pre-register telephone+44 (0) 1264 358558 or visit www.spatex.co.uk

holiday parks management issue 15

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