Marquis Leisure reports on high sales at Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Benimar Mileo range proves popular at the NEC

Marquis have reported high sales volumes at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC last month.

With over £5m worth of business taken, the award winning Benimar Mileo products were at the forefront of the sales figures along with the Majestic range continuing to be strong in the market.

Marquis Leisure‘s huge buying power has provided the company with the luxury to be able to draw from their massive stocks and are getting customers on the road as soon as possible for the Spring – something which is sure to have helped with many planning their spring and summer getaways at present. Most vehicles will be ready for Easter delivery, enabling customers the opportunity to enjoy the lifestyle a motorhome or caravan brings sooner than they think.

Sales Director Alan Buckwell commented: “It was encouraging to see a number of new customers coming into the market and we saw a good level of footfall on our busy stand throughout the show. With Easter being so early this year, we are pleased that our pre-ordering early in the season has enabled us to fulfil many orders immediately after the show.”

Julia Bradbury, Camping & Caravanning Club president popped over to the stand to show her appreciation to Marquis managing director Mike Crouch, for Marquis’s support with her new ITV series ‘Best Walks With A View.’ Marquis provided two support vehicles for Julia’s filming of the series last summer which gave her and her crew a place to relax and keep dry in between shoots. Gina Bradbury-Fox, managing director of Outdoor Productions commented “We couldn’t have done the filming without our Bradders Bus! It was fantastic to have a mobile office for all eight shoots. The added lounge space and sleeping areas were great for reading and relaxing at the end of a long day walking.”

The successful sales of the Benimar Mileo at the NEC show comes following the development of three new family models to its line-up for 2016, increasing the range to a total of ten layouts, as reported on CaravanTimes in November.

Hunt launched for the oldest touring caravan still in use

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by Joe Jeffrey

Salop Leisure wants to hear from you if you’ve got a caravan which has lasted the test of time

An award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, is conducting a search of epic proportions to find the customer with the oldest touring caravan still in regular use.

Salop Leisure, which has sales centres in Shrewsbury, Machynlleth and Stourport-on-Severn, is looking for customers with touring caravans which were purchased from the company more than 25 years ago.

The owner of the oldest caravan, which is still being used, will win a weekend break in a luxury caravan holiday home at the award-winning Min-y-Don Holiday Home Park, Harlech.

“It’s a very special year for the company and what better way to celebrate than to track down the oldest touring caravans that are still in use,” said Salop Leisure’s chairman Tony Bywater. “We are really looking forward to seeing these caravans again because we know that the owners will have taken very good care of them.

“It would be lovely to have a display at our headquarters of some of the oldest caravans, which have brought so much enjoyment to the owners and their families over the years.

“Touring caravans give the owners the freedom to go for short breaks and holidays anytime they wish. At Salop Leisure, we don’t just sell a caravan, we sell a way of life that many people dream of.”

Caravan owners wishing to enter the competition are asked to email a photograph of their touring caravan to with a description to Salop Leisure’s assistant marketing manager Ed Glover on ed.glover@salopleisure.co.uk in the first instance. So what are you waiting for? Do you think your trusty old caravan is up for the challenge? Let us know how old your caravan is in the comments section below.

Elddis motorhome ranges scoop eight awards at the 17th Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design Awards 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Prestigious Caravan Club design awards see Elddis take win after win for 2016

Elddis has scooped a total of eight awards for its motorhome ranges at the 2016 Caravan Club Motor Design Awards held at Birmingham’s NEC.

In the Coachbuilts up to £40,000 category, the Elddis Autoquest 115 took first place, winning for the second consecutive year, followed closely behind by the Elddis Accordo 120 which was awarded second place. The Coachbuilts between £45,000 to £50,000 category also saw Elddis scoop a prize, with the Elddis Encore 285 placing third.

Elsewhere during the evening, Elddis‘ special dealer ranges also didn’t fail to impress. The specials, which are built by Elddis, but provided along with bespoke finishes, also had an extremely successful evening, including the Vehicles 4 Leisure Elddis Prestige 115 which took first place in the 2-berth Dealer Specials category. in the 3-4 berth Dealer Specials category, Vehicles 4 Leisure also took home second and third place for the Elddis Prestige 135 and the Elddis Prestige 155 respectively. Meanwhile, the Over 4 berth Dealer Specials category provided Brownhills Motorhomes with a second place prize for the Brownhills Motorhomes Elddis Evolution 180.

The 2016 Caravan Club Motor Design Awards were judged by an independent panel of experts who assessed criteria including electrics and safety, comfort, kitchen/washrooms, air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, technical aspects and stowage.

Grenville Chamberlain, chairman of The Caravan Club, who announced the results said: “Our thanks to the manufacturers for their continued support of this competition. We had an astounding number of vehicles to evaluate, a record 122 entries. Against such an esteemed field of leisure vehicles, the winners should be justly proud of their success.”

Top loo award leaves New Forest park flushed with pride

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by Joe Jeffrey

Green Hill Farm Holiday Park honoured for exemplary hygiene standards and more

Green Hill Farm Holiday Park in the New Forest is officially the best place to “go” in Britain, according to judges of the annual Loo of the Year Awards.

For the business has just been named as the overall 2016 Loo of the Year winner in the holiday parks category of the competition, beating more than 3,000 other UK parks to the title.

The prestigious accolade, whose sponsors include national tourist board VisitEngland, was made to the family-run park after its washroom facilities were “mystery shopped” by inspectors.

Celebrating the news of the award are husband-and-wife team Lorna and Graham Lee who, with their two young daughters, acquired the park seven years ago.

By their own admission, Green Hill Farm Holiday Park was at that time showing signs of neglect, despite occupying a  picturesque location in quiet countryside in the village of Landford near Salisbury.

Over the following years, the couple devoted much time and energy to creating first-class surroundings where guests could enjoy a camping, motorhome or touring caravan holiday.

Their many initiatives included landscaping of the three delightful lakes on the park which act as a magnet for wildlife including deer and an array of different bird species.

Two of the lakes have been stocked for coarse fishing – and Green Hill also lays on a raft of other activities for visiting families to enjoy during their stay.

They include archery tuition, laser clay shooting, a chance to learn the skills of Segway riding on a special course, mini golf, and a host of other games and competitions run during school holidays.

Lorna and Graham have been rewarded for their efforts by a top five-pennant rating from the AA, and a year-on-year increase in visitors from across the UK and mainland Europe.

Green Hill has also been accepted into the Best of British group which comprises only family-run parks which have been audited for their high standards of quality and hospitality.

But the couple know that these successes were not just a flash in the pan because their park’s loos and washrooms have now received the highest chain of honour possible.

The spacious new facilities include large showers and drying areas, private vanity cubicles, a family bathroom, hairdryers, underfloor heating, and full access for people with limited mobility.

According to Lorna, the washroom building simply mirrors what the park itself aspires to. She said: “Green Hill has a very special appeal to people who enjoy away-from-it-all holidays in gorgeous surroundings, and we’ve tried to provide the perfect backdrop for that.” she said.

“Our family feels very privileged to be able to live and work in the beautiful part of the New Forest, and it’s great to have our efforts acknowledged with an award like this,” added Lorna.

The Camping and Caravanning Club launches Preferred Dealer Scheme

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by Joe Jeffrey

Exclusive discounts for Club members at leading leisure vehicle dealers across UK announced

The Camping and Caravanning Club has launched a new scheme to give members exclusive and meaningful discounts at leading caravan and motorhome dealerships across the UK.

The Club Preferred Dealer scheme is a partnership with 20 dealerships, representing nearly 40 individual dealer sites, from Kirkcaldy Caravans in Fife to South Coast Caravans in Hampshire. 

Each dealership will run exclusive offers for Club members, across servicing, accessories, caravan or motorhome sales, and more.

Offers at launch of the scheme include a free protective cover with any motorhome or caravan purchased, a free “Cream tea for two” and £250 worth of accessory shop vouchers when purchasing a new motorhome.

As recognised Club Preferred Dealers, each dealership will display Club-branded window stickers and point of sale literature, helping it to be recognised as a Club Preferred Dealer.

Those dealers invited to join the scheme at launch are all well known, with a strong reputation for high standards, reflecting the Club’s own commitment to the very best in customer service.

Many are already National Caravan Council (NCC) Approved dealers, or working toward this status.

Dealerships signed up to The Camping and Caravanning Club’s scheme at launch include Blackdown Leisure, Broad Lane Leisure, Brownhills Motorhomes, Davan Caravans, Edwards Motors, Glossop Caravans, Kirkcaldy Caravans, the LeisureWorld group, Lowdhams, Marquis, MG Caravans, Preston Caravans, Ropers Caravan World, Salop Leisure, South Coast Caravans, Tyne Valley Motorhomes, United British Caravans, Wandahome, Webbs Motorhomes and White Arches.

Darren Whittington, membership services director at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Club Preferred Dealer Scheme as the latest initiative to help members get better value from their subscription. It will help direct members to trusted and reputable dealers throughout the UK, where they’ll be sure of high quality service and exclusive deals.”

To view a list of all dealer offers, and find out more about the Club Preferred Dealer scheme, click here.

Photo competition aims to capture adventure holidays in Wales

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by Joe Jeffrey

Photography competition announced in conjunction with Wales Tourism Week

An exciting competition to find the digital photographs which best capture adventure holidays in Wales is being launched to celebrate Wales Tourism Week which takes place until 6 March.

Organised by the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA), the competition is open to young photographers aged between 11 and 19 years. The overall winner will receive a fantastic GoPro camera donated by North Wales Tourism and there will be prizes for regional winners for Mid, North, South East and South West Wales as well.

With 2016 being designated the Year of Adventure in Wales, the competition is timed perfectly. Adventure can mean all kinds of different things. For some it might mean a great day out climbing, coasteering or kayaking. For others it might mean exploring and sampling some of the great food, music and history the country has to offer.

With such a huge range of exciting things to see and do in Wales, the WTA is expecting a fantastic array of digital photographs for this competition. The competition is open to young people living within Wales and those from outside the country who have visited for holidays, short breaks and activities.

The regional winners will receive prizes of an exciting activity in the region where they took their digital photograph. The South East Wales regional winner will win gorge walking for two with Adventure Britain based at Seven Sisters, Neath. The South West winner will win a Tree Tops Trail for two at Heatherton World of Activities near Tenby.

The Mid Wales winner will win a half day fully-instructed indoor activity session at Llangorse Multi Activity Centre at Llangorse, near Brecon.

The North Wales winner will win a choice of two outdoor activities for two people for one day at Safe and Sound Outdoor Adventures at Llangollen.

Every photograph must be submitted electronically and accompanied by 100 words of text to explain where and the date it was taken and why it conveys the idea of adventure. A maximum of two photographs for each person is allowed and they must not have been entered in a previous competition.

A panel of experienced judges, including professional photographers, will cast their eyes over the entries and the regional and overall winners will be announced on April 11.

The closing date for entries is 4 April and photographs should be sent as Jpeg images at the highest available resolution as email attachment to photo2016@wta.org.uk. For further details and full terms and conditions click here.

Hexham park a holiday heaven for wildlife, says David Bellamy

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by Joe Jeffrey

Causey Hill Holiday Park bestowed with prestigious conservation accolade

A Northumberland holiday park is flying high after birds, bees and butterflies helped wing it to a top environmental accolade from David Bellamy.

The world-famous botanist this month presented Causey Hill Holiday Park in Hexham with his prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

The family-owned park, enjoying picturesque views over the historic market town, has created a wildlife haven for guests to enjoy, said Professor Bellamy.

Covering just under 20 acres, Causey Hill has been owned for the past ten years by the Daly family, and provides pitches for touring caravans plus luxury caravan holiday homes to own.

David Bellamy said that the park could congratulate itself on having created an environment which provided a VIP welcome for both wildlife and holiday guests.

He praised the park’s planting of hundreds of native trees and shrubs which, along with its private woodland, provide habitats and food resources for many animal and bird species.

Red squirrels are often spotted by holiday guests on nature trails laid out through the grounds, and the park’s wildlife pond is also a magnet for a raft of different water fowl.

In addition, the park has introduced many high nectar-bearing flowers which provide vital food resources for honey bees and a wide range of butterfly species.

Owl and bird nesting boxes have also been placed throughout the park to encourage resident and visiting feathered friends.

Professor Bellamy commended the use at Causey Hill of shielded lighting to minimise light pollution and help guests to enjoy Northumberland’s famous night skies.

He said that his award scheme also looked closely at community involvement, and that the park had recorded great success in raising much-needed funds for local good causes.

In 2016 its nominated charity is to be Northumberland’s Blyth Wildlife Rescue, and a series of events throughout the year are already in preparation.

Park manager Linda Grant said that everyone was thrilled to have had the park’s conservation efforts given the thumbs-up from David Bellamy. She said: “We live and work in a beautiful part of Northumberland, and we are anxious to do all we can to protect the natural environment and wildlife.

“Causey Hill has a special appeal to couples and families who seek a traditional away-from-it-all holiday with gorgeous surroundings and no noisy distractions.

“They too are very supportive of our efforts to safeguard the surroundings here, and to help preserve this area’s very special character,” added Linda.

Nominate now in the Great British Park Off and win a brand new Swift caravan

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by Joe Jeffrey

Towergate Insurance and The Sun team up to offer one lucky caravanner a Swift caravan

The Sun newspaper has teamed up with Towergate Insurance for the second consecutive year to find Britain’s best caravan park in a great competition which could see you winning a brand new caravan.

Towergate and The Sun are calling on caravan lovers across the UK to nominate their favourite park and provide a short explanation of why it is deserving of this years’ crown. Members of the public nominating will automatically be entered into a draw to win a snazzy Swift Lifestyle caravan.

Nominations for the winning park will be whittled down to ten finalists, where the public will then be called upon to vote for their favourite park out of the top ten – voters at this stage will also be entered into the draw to win the caravan.

The entries will be narrowed down to a top ten by Towergate Insurance and then the public will have a chance to vote for their favourite park.

Each of the top ten parks will receive a PR campaign box to encourage votes. Each box will contain: five t-shirts, one vinyl banner, and 500 leaflets.

A judging panel consisting of high profile journalists and caravan experts will also judge the ten finalists and combine this with the public votes before the winning park and two runners up are announced.

To celebrate being awarded this prestigious title, Towergate will provide a celebratory fun day at the winning park including food and games; a plaque and £1,000 to be spent on the park is also part of the winner’s prize package.

Emma Watson from Towergate said: “This competition aims to celebrate the best of a truly great British institution and I am delighted to announce that Towergate is once again running this fantastic competition to find Britain’s best caravan park! We are encouraging Brits to come forward and nominate their favourite British caravan parks.

“We were thrilled by the number of votes we received for the parks last year, and we’re hoping the bar will be raised once again, uncovering the park that is held dearest in the nation’s hearts.”

To nominate and for your chance to win a brand new Swift Lifestyle, click here.

The Camping and Caravanning Club acquires new lease for Powys caravan park

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by Joe Jeffrey

The Camping and Caravanning Club speak on delight of winning tender for caravan park based in Rhayader

A camping and caravan park in mid Powys will enter a new era in the coming months when The Camping and Caravanning Club takes on the management of the facility, the county council has announced.

Powys County Council has reached an agreement which will see The Camping and Caravanning Club take on the lease for the Wyeside Camping and Caravan Park in Rhayader.

Last year the council agreed to market the facility as a business opportunity through a lease agreement in an attempt to attract potential operators.  This was successful with The Camping and Caravanning Club taking over the park later this year.

Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with The Camping and Caravanning Club.  With their pedigree, they will bring a level of experience and expertise that the Wyeside Camping and Caravan Park will benefit from.

“This facility is a very important and popular site which attracts many visitors to Rhayader so it is important to the local tourism economy.

“We were extremely pleased with the interest shown in the park and the quality of tender applications which we considered as part of a rigorous tendering process,” York continued.

“We are happy to reach this agreement with The Camping and Caravanning Club and welcome the substantial capital investment they are planning for the site which will be a huge boost to visitors and the area in general.

“I’m delighted to welcome them to Powys – the green heart of Wales – and look forward to working in close partnership with them over the coming years.”

Bob Hill, sites director at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “We were delighted to win the tender and look forward to operating Wyeside Camping and Caravan Park.

“The site is a fabulous addition to our existing five-strong network of Club Sites in Wales, and will grow our UK offering to 108 Sites. Wyeside’s central location is a key area in which we’re currently under represented. In year one, we will continue to operate the park as is, before rebranding it to a full Club Site for the start of the 2017 season.

“Advance pitch night sales for the coming season are building well at our existing Club Sites in Wales, and we’re confident Club members and other campers will welcome this addition to our portfolio, and in turn boost the local economy.” 

Record-breaking attendance figures announced for Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Record attendance as over 87,000 visitors attend NEC show

A record-breaking 87,589 visitors attended the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show this year, it has been announced. The show, which took place between 23 and 28 February at the NEC Birmingham, featuring over 350 exhibitors across five halls, as well as brands such as Bailey, Coachman, Elddis and Swift, were on display alongside an array of activities, displays and celebrities to keep the public entertained and informed about the leisure vehicle industry.

Visitors were welcomed on opening day by Chris Packham, Matt Baker, and Julia Bradbury, but the star-studded programme didn’t stop there, with sessions from Good Morning Britain‘s Charlotte Hawkins, Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey, Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell, celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, extreme adventurer Sean Conway and many more throughout the week.

Andy Vaughan, managing director of NCC Events said: “We are delighted with the success of the show this year, we have had fantastic feedback from both exhibitors and visitors alike. With the increase of 10.3% in sales and dispatches of new touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday homes in the UK during 2015 the success of the show further reinforces that the industry is going from strength-to-strength.

“We are really looking forward to the rest of 2016 and the Motorhome and Caravan Show which will be taking place back at the NEC Birmingham 11-16 October 2016,” Vaughan continued.

Tom Anderton, marketing manager at Swift commented on the companies’ experience of exhibiting at the show, saying: “We are delighted to have welcomed many visitors to our stand across the week, interested in finding out more about our full product range of touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday homes. There has also been a great deal of interest from first time buyers, looking for advice and information which is great to see and really promising for the continued growth of the industry.”

Marquis releases behind-the-scenes video at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Take a look at behind-the-scenes at the NEC in Marquis Leisure’s new time-lapse video here

Marquis Leisure has released a new video detailing exactly what they’ve been up to all week at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show and what to expect if you’re heading along to the NEC in Birmingham this weekend.

The interesting video which has been produced in a time-lapse format shows just what it takes to set up shop at the NEC, from the moment Marquis Leisure rolls all of their latest vehicles through the NEC’s doors, to the minute the general public flock to see why Marquis’ offerings have proven so popular so far, drawing in the crowds in attendance to take a look at everything Marquis has to offer, including the brand new Mileo range.

With so much more to see and do at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2016 too, if you haven’t been already what are you waiting for? From the vast range of leisure vehicles and camping accessories on display, to celebrity appearances, top tips from culinary experts and dog agility shows taking place all weekend and all under one roof, there really is something for everyone.

To get your tickets for the show now, which continues until 28 February, click here now. We’ll see you there!

Hymer Group acquires US company, Roadtrek

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by Joe Jeffrey

Hymer purchases North America’s number one compact leisure vehicle company in bid to crack American market

German manufacturer, the Erwin Hymer Group, has stepped into the North American recreational vehicle market and acquired established company Roadtrek Motorhomes in a move which will see Hymer enter into the North American recreational vehicle market for the first time.

As part of the acquisition, a new company called Erwin Hymer Group North America Inc. (EHGNA) will be established in a bid to represent both Hymer and Roadtrek’s US and Canadian activities. The new company will be headed up by Roadtrek’s current president and chief executive, Jim Hammill.

Martin Brandt, chairman of the board of Erwin Hymer Group said: “The strategic acquisition of Roadtrek allows Erwin Hymer Group to enter the world’s largest RV market – the U.S. and Canada – as the first European manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans. With the acquisition of Roadtrek, we pursue our sustainable international strategy of growth.

“It is our goal to further extend our leading position in Europe and to become a global supplier of high-quality motorhomes and caravans. This acquisition is characterised by a spirit of partnership. We happily welcome Roadtrek’s employees to Erwin Hymer Group,” Brandt continued.

Canadian company, Roadtrek, is well known for its Class B panel van conversion motorhomes having been founded in the 1970s, and has since gone on to be North America’s leading manufacturer of compact leisure vehicles, recording an annual turnover of $96 million (approximately £68.5 million).

The acquisition will also see the popular HymerCar begin production in Roadtrek’s Kitchener, Ontario production facility, with aims to release the HymerCar in North American for Summer 2016.