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SPN APR 2011 Pool&SpaIndustry
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
HOLIDAY LODGES TURN TO BISHTA FOR HELP
Steve Watkins decided to invest in six hot tubs for his holiday lodge business in Powys and wanted some specialist support to help run and maintain them
ne of the fastest growing markets for hot tubs are holiday lodges all over the UK whose owners see them as adding something extra for holidaymakers. As they grow in popularity it also means holiday park owners have to go through a steep learning curve about the day to day management of the tubs being installed in lodges and cottages. Steve Watkins of Heronstone Lodges on the
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edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales is a classic example – and he turned to BISHTA to get help when the business decided to make a serious investment in hot tubs as part of their marketing to potential holidaymakers. “When we introduced the hot tubs into six of our lodges I didn’t realise how much I didn’t know about them and how much I needed to know. It was quite daunting to start with. We clearly had a responsibility to those who came here and used
Heronstone Lodges on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park have installed six Elite hot tubs for holidaymakers
the tubs to make sure we were responsible and careful about them.
“We turned straight away to BISHTA for help – and it was obvious from the start membership was essential.”
Heronstone Lodges have 12 holiday lodges in a rural setting in Powys, and six are now fitted out with hot tubs supplied by Elite Spas from Somerset. “Elite were very helpful and supportive. We
“It’s about information and legislation but also support on a daily basis so that when you get a problem you know who to turn to”
started with just one hot tub and Elite came along and took us through what we needed to do and how to look after it and maintain it. We had the single tub for a year to 18 months just to try it out and it was always booked and clearly was something the holidaymakers and their families really enjoyed so we took the decision to offer it with more of the lodges. Six of the 12 now have a hot tub available for residents to use
and they are always the first lodges to be booked. “It was Elite who suggested to us that BISHTA membership would give us all the reassurance and support we needed and they were right.” Steve said membership had proved to be a benefit when it came to all the issues involved with bulk owning of hot tubs. “I just felt we need the support of an organisation behind us. It’s about information and legislation but also support on a daily basis so that when you get a problem you know who to turn to. “It’s very re-assuring to be able to call someone and get immediate help,” added Steve. BISHTA has recently been adding a number of holiday lodge companies on to its membership from sites all over Britain as the investment into hot tubs grows and the demands for help and information grows with it.
Said Steve: “We market our lodges as a retreat holiday. We have no shops or pubs on the site here and what we offer holidaymakers is peace and quiet but we are on the edge of the Brecon’s and our visitors travel down to the beaches on the Gower Peninsular and when they come back they want to relax at their lodges. So having the option of a hot tub in the lodge is a great appeal and it is so popular with children. “We have noticed in particular how popular they are with bookings at the start and the end of the season when the weather is a bit cooler and getting into a hot tub is even more pleasurable.” Steve added that the company had quickly got used to the demands of running and maintaining the tubs.
“We did get a lot of advice and training from
BISHTA especially in how to maintain water quality, what to do if there were problems, how we needed to prepare leaflets to advise holidaymakers on how to use the tubs and how to make sure we made the most of the investment. We were very keen to make sure we had the highest safety standards for our visitors and I think that is another area where BISHTA and the team have been able to help us.”
i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
F HERONSTONE LODGES ( 0844 847 1356 :
www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges/heronstone-lodges-hers
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