By William Coleman
The Dorset Tourism Awards took place earlier this month and made the staff and family owners of Shamba Holiday near the New Forest extremely happy honouring them for all their hard work and commitment to their guests.
Shamba Holiday Park, which is a five star caravan and camping site near Ringwood, was named by judges as the winner of the silver award in the parks category, in what was a very closely fought competition for the top spot.
The glamorous event where the Shamba site was crowning was announced took place at a ceremony held at The Lighthouse in Poole on 16 November and was attended by hundreds of Dorset tourism businesses.
Anne and Martin Gray stepped up to receive the award on behalf of the park. Anne and Martin’s family have own the park and is managed by their son who has been running it for over 20 years.
The win bring with it more than just a new level of prestige. Those who win the award get fast tracked to the South West Tourism Excellence Awards next February, and could go on to compete in the national VisitEngland finals of April 2018. So this win mean a lot to the park and could lead to a very impressive 2018 for them.
This years award win, which scores of Dorset’s park were eligible for, find itself next to placed next to one of many accolades that the family park has won over the years. Which include a top five pennant accolade from the AA and the DAvid Bellamy Conservation Award at its maximum gold level.
Their success does not stop there. Last summer the company bagged a top platinum accolade, by judges from the Loo of the Year Awards, for their swish amenity building.
However, Andrew Gray said that Shamba’s latest award from Dorset Tourism has a special significance for the business: “These awards put a strong emphasis on the hospitality and quality of service provided for holiday guests, and these has always been high on our list of priorities,” he said.
“Our aim is to provide first-class surroundings for visitors, and to exceed expectations by creating a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere for people to enjoy their stays.
“This is often mentioned in our customer reviews, so naturally we are delighted that the Dorset Tourism judges were also impressed with what they have found here.
“A big share of the credit for this award must go to our team of staff who help us maintain our high standards, and do a great job of making our guests feel at home,” added Andrew
The site is open all year round and provides a wealth of facilities for families venturing to Dorset to make the most of its countryside and beaches. The site also boasts a 40 foot swimming pool with a retractable roof for when the sun in out in all its glory.
Once you’ve spent the day relaxing by the pool you can dance the night away in their modern clubhouse with professional entertainment and year round activities for all ages. Not to mention the bar, cafe-restaurant, shop and relaxation areas.
Shamba is a member of the Best of British group, a consortium of independent parks providing some of the highest quality standards and levels of hospitality in the UK.
There is more information about the park at www.shambaholidays.co.uk
