Glamping Business Magazine Issue 2

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Issue 2 February 2016

Flooding and Insurance How to protect your business Show your best site web design secrets

Spatex makes a splash!

Inspiration and Information for Glamping Operators

DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR GLAMPING? PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARY NOW!

THE GLAMPING SHOW 2016 22ND – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2016 NAEC, STONELEIGH PARK, WARWICKSHIRE.

SEE OUTSTANDING PRODUCTS …. LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS….SHARE YOUR DREAMS!

THEGLAMPINGSHOW.COM

WHO SHOULD EXHIBIT?

WHO IS GOING TO ATTEND?

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

● Bell Tents

● Adventure Parks

● Camping Vans

● Architects

● Camping Wagons

● Camping and Caravan Club

Experts will be hosting a full seminar programme on all Glamping related issues. Assisting to increase revenues, service, profit and guests!

● Consultants and Planners

● Camping Sites

● Eco Toilets

● Caravan Club

● Gypsy Caravans

● Caravan Parks

● Landscaping

● Country Houses

● Lighting

● English Heritage

● Log Cabins

● Farmers

● Magazines and Websites

● Festival Operators

● Medieval Tents

● Fisheries

● Outdoor Garden Offices

● Glamping Sites

● Portable Toilets/Washrooms

● Holiday Park Groups

● Safari Tents

● Holiday Parks Independent

● Shepherd Huts

● Hotel Operators

● Solar Energy

● National Parks

● Storage Containers

● National Trusts

● Tipis

● Pre Pitched Tent Operators

● Tree Houses

● Pubs

● Utilities and Accessories

● Theme Parks

● Wigwams

● Visitor Attractions

● Wooden Tent Structures

● Woodland Managers

● Yurts

● Zoos

Contact: Dan Wiseman, Show Manager E: dan.w@theglampingshow.com

Contact Dan for details of how to exhibit: dan.w@theglampingshow.com Follow us on Twitter for more news: @TheGlampingShow

Supported by

Holiday Parks Management

“The Glamping Show is a fantastic idea and the timing is exactly right. HPM is fully behind this fascinating and exciting sector.”

Nina Blanchard, Managing Director

T: 07958 030 785 W: www.theglampingshow.com

Glamping News

Welcome to

l mping G BUSINESS

These are exciting times for the team behind Holiday Parks Management as we prepare to pitch our own independent camp with the next issue of Glamping Business which will be launched as a separate publication in April. There is no doubt that the market is ready for a business title which is dedicated to Glamping in all of its wonderful forms. I have never known an industry as diverse as Glamping. It covers everything from farming, handicrafts, issues, of tourism Who can forgetenvironmental the images thethrough to high end luxury and architecture with thousands of other related accessories and nuances thrown in. Many have tried to define it but to me it is about floods thePeople beginning of different this year? chasing aat dream. dream of many things - for some the ultimate luxury is peace and quiet and the simple life.

For others, from it involves novelty, quirkiness and all of the mod cons. We aim to reflect the wide Villages stranded the rest of the dreamscape of glamping from a business perspective. We will show you what people in the industry are doing, country, being moved how they arelivestock doing it and why it works.

It doesn’tto matter what your dream of glamping involves, if is done well, using quality materials, offering the best possible service it counts.

Steph Glamping Business Editor

Contents 03 09 11 12

Industry news

Minimise the effects of flooding

Website Building and how to get it right

Glamping Pinboard Products and services for the discerning operator

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Photo courtesy of The English Shepherd Huts Co.

Spatex show report

Next issue We bring you the definitive round-up of glamping structures for all kinds of locations and all budgets.

Whether you are looking for all-out luxury, a simple aesthetic or a quirky makeover, there will be something for everyone.

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Glamping News

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First Dedicated Glamping Construction Firm set up in Wales A North Wales businessman has set up a company dedicated to exploiting the boom in glamping in the region.

Gareth Jones, head of the Carbon Zero Group, which specializes in solar panels, believes glamping is ready to take off in North Wales and he has set up a new division of his company to build bell tents and eco domes. He will be offering customers complete packages, including planning, design, construction and even the furnishing.

Gareth, the North Wales President of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “We’re expanding our existing offices in St Asaph and opening a new office in Mochdre to allow us to grow and create new employment opportunities, so it’s an exciting year and we’re looking forward to 2016 and beyond. We still see solar as a big part of our business, with other technologies such as battery storage coming online in the coming months, thanks to the likes of Tesla and its Powerwall.”

“But the biggest part of the growth of the group is the leisure business, and it’s got potential for significant growth. We are the UK’s first dedicated glamping construction company as we will be concentrating solely on building glamping sites. We’re working with existing camping and caravan sites to utilise areas of land that may not be suitable for existing business but would be perfect for glamping pods, and domes, which offer a fantastic return as an investment.”

Chessington add more Safari Tents to their park Chessington World of Adventures Resort has ordered 35 tents from Glamping specialist Boldscan for their brand new “Explorer Glamping” site which opens next May. Situated next to the exciting Wild Asia section, home to the colourful lorikeets, the camp will consist of 31 bespoke kaki Bell tents and 4 safari style Amboseli tents, which blend seamlessly into the landscape. Subtle Asian themed interiors will complete the feeling of being explorers in an unknown land.

Greg Martin, Project Manager, said, “I chose Boldscan for the quality of the product, the ease of dealing with a UK based company and the speed of production.”

Merlin Entertainments, who run Chessington, set up Glamping at another of their sites, Warwick Castle, last season and found it to be very popular. A prototype of one of the tents

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is already in situ at Chessington for guests to view.

Bookings have just opened with prices for a family of four staying 1 night starting at £275. For details visit http://www.chessington.com/glamping/ Boldscan’s products range from traditional Safari style tents to ultramodern Geodesic Domes, plus a Clubhouse to use as shop, bar, tearoom etc, all hand made at the Somerset factory using British canvas. In addition to advising on planning permission, green finance, supplying and fitting out the tents with kitchens, wood burning stoves and even en-suite bathrooms, the company offers an after sales maintenance programme.

Boldscan, has just launched a new range – the innovative and stylish “Etosha” with big picture windows and two deep wooden verandas covered by a canopy, one of which can feature a hot tub.

There are two design options: the Safari

and the Contemporary. The Safari is a subtle sand canvas with green roofs which blends seamlessly into the countryside. In contrast The Continental evokes a cool villa on the Med with elegant white walls, slate blue roofs and can have transparent blue walls surrounding the verandas. The low, one level design has been developed with disabled guests in mind. The T shaped floorplan can be configured to sleep up to eight including a master bedroom, guest bedroom plus cabin beds, with heating provided by a wood burning stove. There is an option to add a wooden pod with a bespoke en-suite bathroom with a roll top bath, deluxe shower and separate proper loo.

Glamping News

Throw our tourism trade a lifeline, minister urged Britain's Secretary of State for tourism has been told that Northern England's visitor industry could suffer "death by drowning" if more attention isn't paid to maintaining the region's waterways.

Henry Wild

The warning was delivered in January

by Lancashire and Cumbria parks operator Henry Wild at a major London tourism conference at which cabinet minister John Whittingdale was among MPs present.

Both Mr Whittingdale and Mr Wild addressed delegates at the annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association of which Mr Wild is the UK national chairman.

Yorkshire Yurts Open Day Yorkshire Yurts is holding an Open Day at Wharfedale Grange, ideally situated between Leeds and Harrogate.

The event takes place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April from 12pm – 4pm. It is free to attend and there is no need to book.

Yorkshire Yurts will be showing its 42ft yurt, 25ft yurt and the 9x15m petal pole marquee they also have a variety of fantastic wedding industry suppliers showcasing their work.

For more details email rosie@yorkshireyurts.co.uk

Held at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, the event drew representatives from many of Britain's 3000-plus park businesses, plus cross-party politicians and UK tourism chiefs.

Mr Wild, whose family business owns Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside and Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster, said that the government needed urgently to address the problem of ill-maintained inland waterways.

He said there needed to be a body appointed with clearly defined responsibilities for ensuring that waterways were capable of removing surface water from the land.

The Environment Agency, suggested Mr Wild, was clearly not up to the job and needed to be given new powers and funding to act on behalf of communities and businesses at risk.

Mr Whittingdale, whose portfolio as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport includes responsibilities for tourism, undertook to represent the concerns he had heard to government heads.

He also announced at the conference that prime minister David Cameron was that day in Cumbria to unveil a £3 million fund to speed up flood repairs and promote the county to visitors.

Mr Wild said that recent events in Cumbria and Lancashire had shown the potentially devastating impact that flooding could have on the tourism industry.

In the immediate aftermath of December's deluges, he commented, many of Cumbria's 100-plus caravan and camping parks had reported a fall-off in bookings for 2016.

However, he added, the threat to Cumbria's £2.4 billion tourism industry – which included his own park's 450 caravan and holiday home pitches - now seemed to be receding: "It appears that many holidaymakers have been heeding the message that the county is determined to be back on its feet by spring with repairs made to much of our damaged infrastructure," he said.

The English Shepherds Hut Company has launched its own pop-up glamping venture called “The Englampment”.

Pop-up glamping venture launched

This consists of is high-end bell tent accommodation with kingsized beds, crisp white linens and decorations delivered and set up at venues, weddings and events. "Of course, bell tent hire is already a tried and tested business across the country, but our unique selling point is that we also provide luxuriously high-end flush toilets and hot showers, built into our towable Shepherds Hut bathroom,” says Craig Nield, Founder.

"Also to add a 5-star feel to the experience, we supply fluffy towels, bathrobes, flip flops and even provide a “chill tent” for kids and a brew-tent for refreshments.

It’s a totally bespoke package and so far our soft-launch in Norfolk has received a huge number of enquiries.” www.englampment.co.uk

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Glamping News

£525m Loudoun Leisure and Glamping Application now with Sco!ish Goverment retail units, plus a distillery and 300 residential dwellings. They will now be submitted to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in Falkirk for a reporter to examine all of the evidence.

The future of the 600-acre Loudoun Castle estate now lies in the hands of the Scottish Government. A long-running application for 450 holiday lodges and glamping pitches, as well as other leisure facilities has been taken out of the hands of the local authority after they failed to make a decision.

The plans would also include the restoration of the old castle to a hotel, a lake, indoor water park and spa and

Ministers stepped in to take the application out of the hands of the local authority in Kilmarnock “in view of the potential economic benefit of the proposal and the heritage issues related to the A-listed Loudoun Castle and its designed landscape”.

Nick Laister, of the RPS Group, on behalf of Loudoun Woods Homes Ltd, submitted the application, which has been altered and updated several times over the last few years.

At one stage Loudoun was visited by former British Open champion and four-times US Masters runner-up Tom

Weiskopf, when a golf course appeared to be the way forward.

That idea has been dropped, but just eight weeks ago entrepreneur and regeneration specialist Paul Dixon was put in charge of the ambitious project, which now has an estimated £525million price tag.

The scheme, if given the green light, will transform the old theme park, which closed in 2010, into a holiday and leisure destination along the lines of a Center Parcs attraction – with the imposing castle, known as The Windsor of the North in its heyday, as the centrepiece.

It’s anticipated that the project will create 1000 jobs during the construction process, for at least five years, and an additional 2500 long-term jobs.

Multi-Million Pound Treehouse Development Proposed at Robin Hill Country Park Blue Forest is pleased to announce a commisssion to produce the designs for an exciting and imaginative multi-million pound treehouse development.

Aptly called ‘Nesting’, the scheme which comprises of 13 natural treehouses, 11 timber lodges and 40 glamping tents (for seasonal use) is being created at the award-winning attraction, Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, which is home to the world-renowned Bestival music festival.

A planning application has recently been submitted by Vectis Ventures Ltd for the scheme.

The iconic design for the treehouses was inspired by nature and is based on the curvy and organic form of a Weaver bird’s nest.

Consideration has been given as to how ‘Nesting’ can fit within the sensitive countryside environment.

Mr Andy Payne , Founder – Blue Forest, said, “Each treehouse will be positioned slightly differently within the woodland, perhaps rotated, sunken down within the valley or lifted up in the surrounding tree canopy. Like a cluster of fruit, the treehouses appear similar but not identical. They have been created to complement each other and will really come into their own when viewed collectively, sitting harmoniously within the landscape”.

To ensure a sensitive design approach, Blue Forest is delighted to have engaged the services of architect’s practice, Tate Harmer, who specialise in sustainable designs that work with nature. By a

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careful selection of natural materials, the lodges and treehouses will blend into their natural surroundings, complemented by a sensitive landscaping scheme.

The proposed treehouses will be clad almost entirely in sustainably sourced, premium grade Cedar shingles, giving an elegant yet natural finish. The combination of these neutral colours and textures has been identified as being particularly effective for helping the structures blend in with their surroundings. The cedar shingles used for part of the wall cladding will weather in a relatively short period of time to a natural silver grey colour.

The development is to be sited in areas of Robin Hill, which are currently unused or in need of regeneration. The proposed accommodation will nestle into the natural landscape of the park, maximising on the most stunning views across the valley and providing unique visitor accommodation. Phase One of ‘Nesting’ is proposed for opening Spring 2018.

Local Planning Authority to ensure that it is a sympathetic development in keeping with the natural environment in which Robin Hill sits.”

Glamping News

The secret bus project launches Holidaymakers looking for a five star, luxurious, unusual and very discreet getaway are in for a treat in 2016 with the launch of The Secret Bus project in Devon.

A double decker bus, transformed to the very highest specifications, will be located in an as yet undisclosed location somewhere deep in the South Hams countryside near the coast.

Warwick Castle creates Knights’ Village with Woodland Lodges

Sleeping seven people, with two double beds, one twin and one single, the bus will have a luxurious full size bathroom and shower, its own kitchen and dining room, lounge, sun terrace and log burner.

Guests will be able to go back in time thanks to a new themed village, created by Warwick Castle, which is creating 28 timber lodges in its 64 acre wooded estate.

The bus will be static in a fixed location for each week, rotating field locations during the Spring, Summer and Autumn. Each site will have a stunning view and be within walking or cycling distance of a beach or estuary.

The attractive lodges will feature Mediaeval-themed light fittings, door handles and crockery, lofty ceilings, wooden beams, stonework and green oak wood-styled exteriors and will open in July 2016.

The Secret Bus will also have an outside shower, a barbecue and pull-out kitchen, electric bikes and a selection of outdoor games such as giant Jenga, badminton, swing ball and croquet.

However, behind the façade, guests will be able to find all mod cons including wet rooms, TV, fridge, coffee maker and central heating!

Prices will start at £203 per two-bedroom woodland lodge per night, including breakfast in the banqueting hall and two days castle entry.

Geoff Spooner, general manager at Warwick Castle, says: “This is a new chapter for Warwick Castle as from July 1, we’ll offer guests year-round lodge-style accommodation to complement the Castle’s two sumptuous Tower Suites, set within the fourteenth century Caesar’s Tower, and our superb seasonal Mediaeval Glamping Village."

He adds: “With the 400th anniversary of the death of Warwickshire’s very own William Shakespeare being marked globally in 2016, Warwick Castle – just twenty minutes from Stratford upon Avon – is the ideal place to stay to discover over 1,100 years of English history.

“We’re also very proud of our links to Capability Brown, who designed parts of the our grounds in the eighteenth century and whose genius will be celebrated nationwide throughout 2016.”

Shepherd Huts wi" su#ain Samlesbury Ha" A 14th Century mansion in Preston, Lancashire has been given the go-ahead to build a new hut hamlet development.

The scheme will see 28 shepherd huts, a tree house and extended play area built on land at the 700-year-old Grade I listed building Samlesbury Hall Trustees of the Hall believe the development is key to raising funds in order to sustain the Hall. “We’re absolutely delighted,” said Sharon Jones, hall director. “We’re hoping to do 10 huts this year and the rest next year, then the tree house the year after.”

She added, “Our main income is weddings and that helps keep the hall maintained but it doesn’t provide enough income for things such as a new roof which we’ll need over the next 15 years.”

The huts and tree house are being made by Kirkham-based Pete Fryer and have been inspired by visits to look at other schemes in the country including glamping at Warwick Castle and a tree house at Alnwick Castle.

The huts will be built on existing golf club course grounds which have become unsustainable. Each solar-powered unit sleeps three people and will include washing facilities. Catering facilities would be provided in the treehouse and in the Hall.

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Flooding and insurance

How can you minimise the effects of flooding on your business?

Flooding is the UK’s most common and widespread natural disaster. Although a fire may seem immediately more fearsome, studies have shown that on average small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to have their businesses destroyed by a flood than a fire.

It is sensible to support your flood plan with a site plan detailing important aspects of your business premises specifically.

Within this, it is important to consider the following: ● isolation points for services, such as gas and electricity, so that you can turn them off ● evacuation route(s) avoiding areas that could flood; but make sure the route is accessible for those with disabilities ● traffic management plans ● assembly points, including a ‘crisis centre’ which may be at an off-site location ● location of life-rings

Floods can arise from a number of circumstances and sources. Businesses should consider their susceptibility to inundation from rivers, seas, lakes and reservoirs to name but a few. What steps can be taken to ensure your business has protection measures in place?

Impact a flood can have on a business Businesses rely on consistent income to enable them to function effectively. A large flood may have the capacity to damage a business by rendering any income potential non-existent and damage it’s functionality beyond repair.

Over a third of SMEs do not have a business continuity plan in place in the event of a flood. This could be essential given that 69% of SME revenues have been affected by poor weather in the last 12 months, an increase of 46% on the previous year (based on research carried out by Towergate Insurance on 1,000 SMEs).

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How to protect the property Proper planning is the most essential part of ensuring that the best possible precautions have been considered to protect your business. This can range from simple ideas such as storing valuable items in high up locations to the more complex implementation of flood defences. Whilst the latter could be financially costly in the short term, it could prove vital to an enterprise as upwards of 1.3 million properties since 2013 have reaped the benefit.

The UK government have released a flood plan template for camping and caravan sites. It is important to consider the specifics of your business when using this template as a guideline. For example, keep emergency contacts readily available i.e. plumbers, managing agents and local authorities. In addition, liaising with local emergency services (police and fire service) can give an indication of what their emergency management plans are.

A flood plan template and additional guidance on how to safely recover your business after a flood can be found on the HSE website. This is for not only minimising future risks, but also assessing electrical safety, drying the premises, cleaning up and the hazards associated with such a task. Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk for more details

How to protect individual structures As well as implementing procedures to protect the property as a whole, business owners should also consider precautions to protect individual structures.

Although it may seem a simple notion to situate caravans and glamping structures on higher ground, it could prove invaluable for protecting your business’ assets from a flood. If this is not a possibility, there are other options to consider. Axle stands could raise structures above ground level by approximately 0.5 metres. This would allow for that extra bit of leeway if

Flooding and insurance

inundation from nearby water sources were to impact your site. Floatation devices and anchors could also serve to reduce damage to the structures themselves in such an event.

Insurance considerations A study carried out by Towergate showed that 3 in 5 SMEs are not insured against the elements. It is vital for any business to have a continuity plan in place. Insurance can play an essential part in that plan so make sure you have the correct cover in force. As an addition to indemnifying yourself against material damage to your assets caused by major perils, business owners should give close consideration to implementing Business Interruption (BI) cover. BI cover could serve to ensure that your business continues to function whilst the relevant repair and recovery is being carried out. This is achieved by covering the revenue that would be lost as a direct consequence of an insured peril such as a flood.

When arranging insurance, business owners should consider all eventualities and systematically weigh up what covers would be necessary for their business to carry on functioning should the worst occur. Commercial insurance is designed by insurers as a support for enterprises throughout the highs and lows of trading so make sure you discuss your thoughts and concerns with your broker/underwriter.

Launched in 1997, Towergate is the UK’s largest independently owned insurance intermediary, generating more than £3 billion of pro forma gross written premiums across its companies and employing c. 4,400 people across 100 UK offices.

Towergate is an important distribution channel for a significant range of insurance products and a key strategic partner for the UK’s largest insurers.

Towergate’s scales, customer insight and distribution relationships make it a unique business and a leader in the markets in which it operates. The combination of distribution and underwriting gives it unparalleled consumer data and market insight.

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Website building

Website Building for a Glamping Business You could have the best Glamping site in the world, and yet without the right marketing, it could remain relatively unknown. William Rusbridge explores the ways in which you can make the most of your online presence.

Creating a website for your Glamping site is a great way to get the information out to a larger group of people. And of course, the better your website, the more likely a reader is to become a customer.

Jonathan Knight, owner of Cool Camping, suggests that the more online presence you have, the better, “Like any business, you need a website! Customers make most of their travel purchase decisions by looking online...” By the end of this article, you should have a clearer understanding of the information that needs to be included on your website and how to lay it out attractively. A website can be confusing, if not infuriating, to create but at its heart it is in fact a very simple tool that allows you to pitch your site to potential customers.

Website Content The information on your website needs to be clear and easy to read. Researching other Glamping websites is a good way to find out what works and what doesn’t. If you are not confident in your writing style then a copywriter can be used, Knight suggests, “Possibly, but what’s important here is to really sell all the reasons to come to your particular slice of glamping paradise – but not to exaggerate or over-sell. You need to be honest and clear about what you’re offering, especially the level of luxury customers can expect.”

When thinking about what information to include on your website, it is important to remember that there are certain things that have to be mentioned

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so that the reader has all the information they need to decide whether to make a booking.

Pitches The reader wants to know what kind of accommodation is available, and how many pitches your site offers. A great way of getting around having large sections of descriptive text is to include pictures as well. A picture, or ideally two or three, will give the reader an instant understanding of what you are offering.

It is also worth noting the position of your pitches within the site, as larger groups may want to stay close together.

Who’s welcome This decision is up to you and depends on the type of customer you are looking for. A good example would be to say that you welcome families, couples children and small groups but to maintain a peaceful environment at the site, you do not accept large groups. It is also worth noting whether you accept pets on site, but do not hold back from asking that the pets are well behaved and kept on leads in public areas.

On-site facilities This would include shower blocks, toilets, washing up and laundering facilities and any cooking facilities that are available. There is no need to go into too much detail here, a short list that informs the reader is more than acceptable. It is in this section that the reader will get a better understanding of your site as a whole so if you have large open areas set aside for sports or a children’s playground area make sure to mention it.

Food and drink If your site offers any food or perhaps has a small shop it is important to let the customers know, especially if your site is off the beaten track with no local shops or restaurants. A short description of the services you offer will go a long way, and it is always worth noting the prices. A list of restaurants or local shops is also worth having, especially if you do not offer any

on site. A short list with a small description of each place is ideal here and it is always worth including a phone number or a link to a website so that the customer can get in touch and find out more.

Opening times While your site may not be open all year round, your website will be. It is definitely worth noting the months that you operate so that you don’t get calls from customers trying to book a stay on a date that you are not open.

Prices Making sure that the prices for stays at your site are visible and easily understandable is very important. Listing the different types of accommodation that are available and giving prices per night is a good way to ensure that the reader will have a clear understanding of how much they are going to be paying. It is also worth noting any optional extras that you offer such as fire wood for a campfire or guided hikes.

Things to do Have a number of activities at your site?

That’s great, mention them here. But always be sure to mention a few things to do in the surrounding area. These could be anything from country walks to nearby shopping towns. While the reader may choose to ignore these and explore the surrounding are by themselves, they are easy to include, and may help the reader plan their trip.

Directions While an address may be enough, it is always good to include a set of directions both by road and by public transport.

The directions do not have to be indepth and can be from any local town and for public transport a list of local train or bus stations is always welcome.

Layout The layout of your website is also a very important. A good website should be nice to look and provide all the information needed so that it is easy to locate and

Website building Show checklist

Thanks to www.coolcamping.co.uk for additional information

An example of too much writing.

understand. It is important to avoid large blocks of uninterrupted text as this will often put the reader off. It is far better to have a group of smaller sections of text with appropriate headings. Knight mentions, “The main overview should convey all the main points in a concise way. If that’s enough to get people interested, they will then want to read on in more detail, so have different sections for information about the accommodation, the location, and things to do in the area.”

Pictures are also a great way to not only catch the reader’s eye, but also to easily convey information. While a professional photographer is not required for these pictures, avoiding blurry pictures by using a camera that can take high quality pictures is. When asked about the need for a professional photographer, Cool Camping’s Jonathan Knight says, “It might not be necessary to use a professional photographer as it’s fairly straightforward these days to take decent pictures on most cameras or even some phones. But if you are in any doubt as to your ability as a photographer, then it’s probably wise to get a professional in! Customers will not be tempted to spend hundreds of pounds on a holiday if they can’t see exactly what they are getting first.” It is always good to include a few photos of the site and its surrounding landscape as well as pictures of the accommodation that you offer. This includes pictures of both the outside and the inside of your accommodation.

Remember, a sun-soaked clearing filled with colourful tents is a lot more appealing than a dreary field, blanketed in clouds, so make sure you make the most out of your pictures by taking them on a day with good weather and using the light to your advantage.

A good example a well organised text.

An example of exterior accommodation images

The Next Step The next step is to get your website onto the internet and the best way to do this is to work with a website designer. When asked about web designers, Knight said, “It helps to have an initial meeting early on, as then the writing and pictures can be crafted to the format of the website. It’s also important to have access to the website, to be able to add and amend your own content – so make sure that’s part of your discussion with any web designer. You could also think about doing it yourself, using a website template like squarespace to create your own slick-looking website.”

An example of interior accommodation pictures

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Glamping Pinboard

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We round up some of the interesting and unusual glamping accessories that have come to our attention

Sunshine in a box Perfect for blackouts and emergencies. Ideal for glamping, camping, fishing, and a few hours down the shed. big The Little Red Box is charged via the solar panel, which is er enough to do the job, but small enough to carry in a should bag. It has a 10m lead.

The Little Red Box itself, has sockets in it. Some for lights, can (3 included) and some for USB devices (2 of these) so you s phone run any USB appliance as well as charging pods, pads, and tabs etc......

All light cables are 5M in length which means several rooms -cuts, could be lit up at once! Brilliant in black-outs and power The Ideal for camping or fishing when away from the grid. pefect 'must have' for Glampers who want to stay connected and have decent quality lighting at night.

The Little Red Box is the 'Must have' for 2016..... It's a modern day box of candles whilst being very very useful in between emergencies How long does the box last? 1 light = 20 hrs, 3 lights = 7 hrs.

Charge time 4 hrs in bright sun, longer in cloud. info@thesolarshed.co.uk

Beautiful and Functional Fire Sculpture Sculptural Artist Andy Gage at The Firepit Company creates beautiful, sculptured Fireballs, which are spherical firepits. They work very well as Patio Heaters for warming up those chilly evenings or as fantastic garden or glamping sculptures, especially when illuminated with electric lights. Our Fireballs really enhance your outside space in a unique, beautiful and practical way, other uses include unique driveway markers or when incorporating a corporate logo they become great talking points around business premises. Please take a moment to view our

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d r a o b n i P

Modulog

The moduLog is a unique glamping pod or garden office. Each moduLog is made in modular form which allows you to design your own moduLog by adding as many or as few modules as you wish.

ModuLog is very green in its approach as we use home grown timber and locally sourced materials in its construction.

If you want a unique, luxury, ecofriendly, handmade, bespoke pod for glamping, summer house or garden office then the moduLog is it. www.modulog.co.uk

Private Cinema Experience The Sol Cinema is a unique mobile cinema in a caravan powered entirely by the sun. An audience of 8 adults are treated to red carpet, usherette service and popcorn for a unique cinematic experience.

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is hailed a water leisure industry triumph With a staggering 28 per cent year on year increase in visitor numbers (many from the commercial sector) and well over 120 high quality companies exhibiting, the recently held 20th anniversary SPATEX 2016 Exhibition delivered on all fronts and has been lauded an Industry success story.

Widely acknowledged as the best edition to date, for three days the Jaguar Exhibition Hall at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was a vibrant networking extravaganza, bursting with high tech stands displaying all the latest wet leisure innovations and products. Every sector of the wet leisure Industry was represented in all its glory, from saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools to spas and hot tubs and everything in between. A comprehensive double seminar programme was extremely well attended. Led by a stellar team of Industry experts, the seminars offered visitors a chance to update their professional skill for free and gain valuable CPD points. In fact, the event was nothing short of what you would

expect from the UK’s number one wet leisure Exhibition with an impressive international standing.

Particularly rewarding was the significant increase in commercial visitors, many of these drawn from the hospitality and holiday sector.

“SPATEX 2016 surpassed all our expectations with a constant flow of high quality visitors throughout the duration of the Show,” says exhibitor Cath Saunders from Certikin International, whose comments are typical of those that have flooded into the SPATEX office since the Show closed. “We were particularly pleased to see a large commercial representation, particularly from the holiday park sector. SPATEX is easily the best way of accessing all that the UK wet leisure Industry has to offer.”

Delighted SPATEX Organiser, Michele Bridle says: “We pulled out all the stops to celebrate our 20th anniversary and the Industry handsomely rewarded us with exhibitor space sold out some two months early, but

the visitor numbers exceeded even our expectations. Visitors flocked from both home and abroad, representing a huge cross section of disciplines and facilities - leisure centres, hotels, councils, schools, holiday parks, spas, animal hydrotherapy pools, to name but a few.”

Michele adds: “Far from resting on our laurels, it’s onwards and upwards for SPATEX! This year has proved to be a fantastic platform upon which to build SPATEX 2017, which we are planning to make even bigger and better. Watch this space for news of our landmark 21st.”

Diary Date - Don’t miss SPATEX 2017 Tuesday January 31st to Thursday February 2nd - The Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE.

DIARY DATE - Don’t miss

SPATEX 2017 - Tuesday January 31st to Thursday February 2nd - The Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE.

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