Mersea Island - Owners Newsletter - March 2017

issue no 3

Mar 2017

mersea island holiday park presents

park life

what’s happening at mersea island

Jet skis and Vehicles 2017 Team - Who’s who this year Mark Brightman – General Manager

Firstly we would like to welcome you all back to Mersea Island Holiday Park for another great season with us and we hope you are all as excited as us to be back.

This is my second year at Mersea Island and I cannot wait for the the season to start. You will all be pleased to know most of the team is staying the same with a few new additional faces to help with looking after the park. Whether you have been down to the park yet or whether you are due down soon you will notice we have been busy over the winter period making some much needed improvements which I will talk about further on in the newsletter. Please remember our door is always open in Guest Services and whether you need myself or one of our holiday heroes please don’t hesitate to pop in and see us, even if it’s just for a catch up and a chat.

Mark Brightman Housekeeping team Just so you are aware we do offer a spring clean, external caravan and, or decking wash to all our owners....just pop into the office and book it in with Rayleigh or Guest services

Contact details Once again, as we do every year, can we please remind our owners to pop into Guest Services when you are next down on park to check your contact details with us. It might be that you have moved address, changed your telephone number or e-mail address over the winter time and we need to know. Sometimes we need to get messages or updates out to you quickly either by a text message or e-mail so it is important we have the right details so you don’t miss out on relevant park information.

Louise Sanchez – Holiday Home Ownership Manager Dan Stapleton – Maintenance Manager Lorraine Cope – Muddy Duck Manager

Can we please remind all owners that all vehicles brought onto the park must be insured, especially jet skis and boats. All Jet Ski and Boat owners are asked to bring in a copy of their insurance to Guest Services as soon as possible please to ensure that we are all enjoying ourselves safely. Even if it was provided last year we need a copy of it for the new season and you will need to collect your new sticker number for the 2017 season.

Rayleigh Donovan – House Keeping Manager Emily Batson – Guest Services Manager Sarah – Guest Services Holiday Hero Piotr – Maintenance Holiday Hero Martin - Maintenance Holiday Hero Tom - Maintenance Holiday Hero Victoria – Accommodation Holiday Hero Jamie – Accommodation Holiday Hero David – Accommodation Holiday Hero

Park Improvements for 2017

Whats New..!!

Holiday Home Ownership Showground – Make sure when you’re next on park you pop in and have a look at our new and exciting Holiday Home Ownership showground. Louise and the team will have the kettle on for you whilst you look around our exciting range of new and used holiday homes.

Roads – You will be pleased to know we have continued with the next stage of tarmacking the roads. This is outside the main entrance, plus we will be moving the barrier closer to Guest Services and also improving the road from WW8 to WW33 Indoor Pool – We are very pleased to let you know we have started with the first part of the development by the clubhouse area by putting a nice new glass dome shaped roof over the swimming pool to make it indoor now. This will help us keep the facilities open for longer and we hope to be unveiling this around mid March time to all our owners, so watch this space for opening times.

Site specific improvements will be on going throughout the year and as these happen we will let you know.

Owners Passes Great news, our owners 2017 passes will be staying in the same format as 2016. All you need to do is drop your old passes into Guest Services so they can be changed over to the new 2017 cards. Guest Services will just change the photos over and relaminate them for you. If you need any new or additional photo passes then again please pop in your passport size photos and Guest Services will get them all ready for you. Every owner and family member must have a photo ID card, especially for the clubhouse and swimming pool, as the staff have been told no passes no entry. This is to stop outsiders from trying to use our facilities as they are only for our owners and holidaymakers, and please bare in mind that with new seasonal staff in the complex it takes them a little while to get to know you all.

Piped Gas We are still continuing to work our way round the park connecting owners up to the piped gas on the park. For those who haven’t done it yet you can continue to book in your connections at Guest Services.

Our aim is to get most of our owners connected by the end of this season.

Connections are £110 (inc vat) per caravan and the price of gas is £2.55 per unit

Health & safety Any owner that requires contractors to visit them on Park will need to be authorised by Mark Brightman. Please call Guests service to obtain the necessary paperwork and to find out more.

Welcome back owners party Saturday 8th April 7pm – Late Time to get dressed to impress and get the new season started with a bang. With great entertainment in the form of “Re-Vive” an Abba tribute act, delicious food and drinks.

This is definitely not a party to be missed and all the team cannot wait to welcome you all back.

See overpage for more events throughout the year

Like us on facebook

facebook.com/ AwayResortsHolidays

Life made easy Don't forget you can find out about owners events and pay your bills online on your owners account.

You should have had the login details for this, if not please pop into Guest Services and ask.

Keep in touch with Away Resorts Latest with our NEWs online experience ‘Goodtimes’

www.goodtimes.awayresorts.co.uk

Calling all owners

we need your holiday home!

Opening Times

Helping you earn

from your holiday home

During Peak times the Muddy Duck will be open 11am -11pm daily* Outside peak times the Muddy Duck will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 11am – 11pm*

Let us show you how our Managed Letting Service enables many Owners to earn income to contribute towards their running costs.

Can this holiday caper get any better?

In addition we are adding regular quiz or games nights.

All opening times will also be displayed in Guest Services and on the board outside the clubhouse.

Don’t forget that we do teas and coffees whilst clubhouse and pool is open. *times subject to changes depending on pool opening times

Maintenance team No job too small.....sounds like an advert, however it’s true! If you would like us to quote on any maintenance issues or one of those “ill do that job later..??” scenarios, we’ll be only too pleased to help. Pop into Guest Services to find out more.

Council Tax Bills and Insurance We hate to keep going on about it but it is coming up to that time of year again and it is so important. Every owner must provide us with a copy of their new 2017 Council Tax bill and a recent utility bill dated within the last 3 months, along with an up to date insurance certificate. You need to bring these to Guest Services so that we can photocopy and keep it on your file. So as soon as they come through the post please pop them in as soon as possible. If your local Council provide it by e-mail please e-mail it to Guest Services on mersea. island@away-resorts.com along with your name and pitch number on it.

Another thing we would like to ask all owners to do is please take some time to read through and refresh yourselves with your Pitch license and the park rules. It is imperative that all owners adhere to their pitch license and our site license which stipulates that you cannot live on, go to work from or take children to school from Mersea Island Holiday park. The result of this would mean you are in a breach of your pitch license, which puts your License in jeopardy. This is why Council Tax’s bills and utility bills are required to help support any visit from the Local enforcement officer.

Many of our Holiday Home Owners let their holiday homes when they are not using them. It provides Holiday Home Owners with extra income that can help cover running costs. Obviously, the amount you can earn will depend on how often your home is available to let, but this is entirely at your discretion. Whatever suits you can be accommodated. Our managed letting service is dead easy to use and only requires a couple of forms to get started.

Rest assured that our discounting decisions are made with very careful consideration of your best interests.

After all, it is in yours and our interests that the park be a popular destination choice. When it comes to holiday letting, your success is our success. Something to keep in mind is that most people enjoy holidays over bank holiday weekends, during school holidays and throughout July and August. If you can use your holiday home at other times and keep these peak periods free for letting, we increase our chances of your success.

Earning Potential

Holiday Administration

So how much can you earn? Well we can’t give you a definite figure but we can promise that we can try to get the highest letting income possible.

As you know, everyone loves a bargain and the competition for holiday dollars is fierce so there are times when we have to run promotional discounts via advertising and direct mail campaigns.

The best part of the service is that we manage all bookings. Nothing for you to worry about. At the end of the year, we add up your bookings and subtract a commission of 19% to cover marketing and administration. You receive the rest.

All holiday homes must have up to date health and safety certificates.

Managed Letting

IF YOU WO U LD LI KE S OM E MORE IN F ORMATION CONTACT LOU IS E OR TH E LETTING T EAM IN GU EST S ERVIC ES W HO WILL BE ON LY TOO HAPPY TO DISCUSS Y OU R SU B LE T OPTIONS T H RO U G H WITH YOU .

Do you fancy a holiday on one of our other

beautiful locations?

EI

VE

T UN O C N E IS D OW % 10 RS

C RE

MILL RYTHE

Holiday Village

t inmen Sparkling events & enterta

Join us for...

Fri 7 Apr

As an Away Resorts owner you will receive a 10% discount at any of our six locations.

Cockney Knees Up! 2 nights | £109 | Half Board

There are just a few rules; All discounts are subject to availability, holidays need to be booked by calling 01442 50 88 50 and selecting your park. You, our lovely owner, must be present on holiday. Your owners account number must be given at time of booking and ownership photo ID passes must be shown at check in.

Come and have a butcher’s at what we’ve got on this weekend - a ‘proper’ cockney night out with The Gents cockney double act, Viv the Spiv, Carradine Cockney and Cockney Pride. Plus comedy from Jeff Innocent and a David Beckham look-alike!

What you waiting for?

With ₁⁄₂ price drinks for one night

Visit www.awayresorts.co.uk and see what takes your fancy

call 01442 50 88 50 to book

3 nts £178

Mersea Island

owners events

Join us for...

Sat 13th may Casino Night 7pm – Late Put on your lucky pants and try your hand at some nail biting fun. Have you got what it takes to clear the table and win the big bucks? Nibbles and drinks will be provided to get you into the spirit. Prizes to be won!

Sat 17th June 70’s/80’s/90’s Party 7pm – Late A party of the decades to get you up and dancing the night away.

Dig out your platform shoes, mini skirts, flares, peace signs and groovy shirts! Travel back in time and enjoy some of your favourite songs from the last 40 years, guaranteed to bring back some fantastic memories.

Sat 29th July Hawaiian themed pool party 7pm – Late

Annual Wine, Beer & Cheese tasting 6pm – 8pm

Wear a grass skirts if you dare or a crazy shirts we don’t care!

Think sunshine, fruity drinks, delicious BBQ food and a whole heap of summer fun. Aloha!

You are invited to join us for some great wines and tasty beers from around the world complemented with a range of delicious cheeses, crackers and chutney.

Sat 12th aug Superhero Party 6pm – Late Calling all superheroes, get here in a flash! It’s time to take a leaf from Rodney and Del Boy and dig our your trusty Batman & Robin outfits. WOW, POW, BAM!

More about the Events at Mersea Island

Cancellations

If you are unable to attend, we request that you inform us not less than 7 days before the event.

Other great family events Football Coaching Monday 22nd May Are you a goalie, a striker, a defender or just a spectator! Either way Bend it like Beckham with our fantastic Football Coaching session. Kids and grown-ups can enjoy learning football tricks and skills from our professional coaches or play just for fun!

Sat 16th sept

Colour festival Saturday 22nd July A lively colourful weekend featuring our brightest Saturday of 2017. Inspired by the famous Indian ’Holi Festival of Colours’, a programme of family events daytime centred around colour throwing powder. Daytime will feature ‘colour gathering’ events; there will be a fun colour run for adults and children

Sat 28th OCT Halloween Spooktacular 7pm till Late Get your freak on! Not for the faint hearted! Party with ghouls and ghosts and all manner of scary creatures at our frightful bash. Eat, drink and be scary!

Sat 18th NOV Last Blow Out - A Night at the Movies 7pm till Late Our last party of the season, join us for a glamorous black tie event to finish off the year with a bang. With some posh nibbles and your flashiest out-out party wear it’ll be all the glitz you could wish for.

To make a booking: For bookings please call Guest Services. All events are ticketed and on a strictly first come first served basis so please book early.

Event locations All events are held in The Muddy Duck unless otherwise stated.

Sometimes if the weather is particularly nice we might just take things outside but we will let you know if we do. There are a number of other events taking place throughout the year which we will let you know about nearer the time. Make sure to pop into Guest Services to see if there is anything on that tickles your fancy.

where guests can run the track whilst being covered from head to toe in a rainbow of colours. You can choose to run, walk, skip or dance your way around the course. There will be an awesome mix of DJs, MCs, the famous ‘Colour Throws’ and plenty of ‘Colour Crazy’ give-aways. Presented outside.

Cameras at the ready, this weekend is as fun to watch as it is to take part.

Cream Pie Fight Sunday 27th August

Foodstock, Festival of flavour Friday 11th August

The annual tradition that is the ‘Cream Pie Fight’ returns. Our largest gathering of guests, armed with cream pie plates, have the biggest, messiest fun fight of the year.

A weekend featuring the very best locally sourced food and ale, plus some international favourites. Inspired by a traditional street food market, there will be an amazing range of gastronomic

delights to suit every palette. Picture giant paella, Jamaican jerk chicken or fresh local seafood. To add to the atmosphere, there will be some acoustic music and a family friendly vibe. All guests and owners are welcome to attend.

CREAM PIE FIGHT 2017

issue no 3

Mar 2017

mersea island holiday park presents

only

INTRODUCING THE TRIBECA

£39,995

2017 abi summer breeze deluxe

36ft x 12ft 2 Bedroom Fantastic for subletting Double glazing and central heating Perfect layout for all the family

only

£54,995

2017 Abi Elan

38ft x 12ft 3 Bedroom Front opening doors Stunning kitchen and dining area A must see holiday home that

Brand New

only

£53,995

• Exclusive to Away Resorts

for 2017

2016 willerby lyndhurst 38ft x 12ft 3 Bedroom

Stunning country style kitchen French outlook doors A real home from home

• Arriving very soon • Book your viewing today and be the very first to see here in Essex

Definitely must be viewed!

only

£19,995

Fancy £500, £750 or £1000 off your pitch fees?

2004 BK Parkstone

36ft x 12ft 2 Bedroom huge lounge for all the kids to play A Master bedroom with en-suite toilet Perfect first holiday home

a secret

Don’t keep it only

£84,995

2017 abi beaumont

42ft x 14ft 2 Bedroom alk in wardrobe leading to W ensuite bathroom Free standing furniture

A great many of the Holiday Home Owners here at Mersea Island have joined us because they were recommended to the park by their friends or family members. You can’t keep a good thing secret for long!

When only the very best will do!

Love is… a holiday home!

If you find yourself falling in love with Mersea Island and always counting down the minutes until you next visit, then you may also find yourself telling your nearest and dearest about it too.

Whether you want to enjoy holidays with family or friends or you just want them to have as much fun as you do, don’t hide the light under a bushel. For a start, the bushel might spontaneously combust from your excitement.

Secondly, it’s nice to share.

How about £1,000 in Pitch Fee Credits?

Do we have a deal for you? You bet!

If you recommend a friend who becomes a Holiday Home Owner here at Mersea Island then you get some additional benefits.

Not only can you enjoy holidays together, we will give you an account credit of £500 once they have taken

over their holiday home. The second person you refer will earn you £750 and the third is worth a whopping £1,000.

Bring your friends and help save on your pitch fees. For referrals to escalate, all sales must be complete within a 12 month period.

only

£39,995

No hard sell promise Yuck, don’t you hate a hard sell? We do too. It’s not our way. We think we have a great offering which doesn’t need a hard-ball pitch because you don’t need a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

We promise that we will treat your referrals with absolute respect and courtesy and that includes giving them the option to say ‘no thanks’. No pressure.

35ft x 12ft 2 Bedroom

Brand new for 2017 Very modern design and layout Ideal for subletting

How it works All you have to do is complete an owner referral form and send it in to us and let us do the rest. Alternatively you can bring them along or even call to make an appointment for them. Simple!

2017 carnaby ASHDALE

t a e r G R

E EASTE R F F O

upgrade your holiday home before 20th April and receive a FREE starter pack Starter Pack Includes: Everything you need to start enjoying holidays inc; Duvets, pillows, pots, pans, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, microwave and a 32 inch TV**

2017 pitch FEES ARE NOW INCLUDED ON SELECTED MODELS AND WE HAVE SOME OF OUR BEST EVER PART-EXCHANGE DEALS AVAILABLE. WE ALSO HAVE SOME NEW PITCHES AVAILABLE TO CHOOSE FROM

pop into the sales office to find out more | open 7 days a week