Campsite owners :: Campingninja

On-line Booking: Meeting customers expectations

01 December 2011 : Written by Geoff Vaughan

On-line booking for Campsites

An excellent article about On-line booking for campsites and holiday parks has come out in the latest edition of the BH&HPA journal. Written by Steve Knowlson it pulls together all the different types of on-line booking systems on the market. From ones which are designed specifically to be used on a Park's website to Campingninja which can be used with any booking system to drive extra bookings to your Park or Campsite.

The article is full of testimonials from campsite owners such as Norman Bliss from Lower Treave, Andrea Gosling from Forest Glade and Richard Barnes from Tehidy.

The article is based around the campsite owner's interviews and the following themes come out.

Control - Both for the park and the customer. Parks stay in control of bookings and can configure pitches, nights, prices quickly and easily. On-line booking allows you greater ability to make sure the right people are coming to your park.

Campingninja says,"We have added functionality for the parks so they can display messages to campers which must be agreed to before making a booking. These are then repeated on confirmation e-mails which they bring with them. This gives campsite owners far greater control and makes sure they are getting the right people onto their park".

Convenience - Parks and customers benefit from the convenience that on-line booking provides. Customers want to book on-line, when they want.

Campingninja says, "Our bookings in 2011 showed that the vast majority of our bookings were made in the evening. At the very time of the day when traditional campsite receptions were shut. Allowing on-line booking captures those bookings without having to reply to e-mails the next day or voicemails"

Security - On-line bookings and payments are made over a secure connection, with all sensitive data encrypted. Added to this the parks are charged a far lower rate than cashing cheques!

Campingninja says, "We come across campsites that are having to spend their precious time cashing and processing cheques. Using cheques is the last thing their customers want to use and I doubt the park owners enjoying keeping track of it all manually and trudging down to the bank on a regular basis. This is why we allow campsites to set whatever deposit amount they wish and all funds are transferred electronically to their designated account."

Keeping costs down - Significant savings can be made in handling bookings, taking payments and general administration associated with answering the phone or postal bookings. A telephone booking can take 15mins, so using an on-line booking system can free up staff time for other duties.

Campingninja says, " There is no doubt that one of our biggest aims is to free up campsites owners' and their staff's time. Why pay someone to come into the office in the morning to answer e-mail booking requests and telephone enquiries about availability? Those enquiries should be bookings waiting for you in the morning".

All in all an excellent article from the team at the BH&HPA about on-line booking for campsites and holiday parks and we were delighted to be a part of it. If you are looking to introduce on-line booking then do get in touch. We work with campsites and parks who have the most advanced booking systems in the world to campsites that have no website who even direct their phone call bookings to their booking page on Campingninja. We do all the booking and processing of payments for them and they get on with running their park.

To find out more get in touch with the team on info@campingninja.com or call us on 0118 942 1307

Camping Industry Community Launched on LinkedIn

21 November 2011 : Written by Geoff Vaughan

Camping Industry Community

After feedback from Campsite and Park Owners we looked around and realised there was no on-line community set up for campsite and Park owners.

We decided do something about this.

Facebook is not the answer but the Social Networking site for Professionals called 'LinkedIn' is.

If you haven't got a LinkedIn account it is very simple and free. You can also promote your business through it. Once you have an account you can join in discussions and groups on topics which are affecting you and your business.

Step 1 Go to the website www.linkedin.com

Step 2 Register as yourself (If you have an existing account simply go to step 4)

Step 3 Join in and off you go

Step 4 Join the group Camping Industry Community. (Use the Search box in the top right hand corner)

If you have any problems, drop us a line at info@campingninja.com

All the best

Geoff and the Campingninja Team

What makes a 'Green' Campsite

14 June 2011 : Written by Geoff Vaughan

Dernwood Campsite

What makes a 'Green' Campsite?

Eco campsite, sustainability, green awards, bio-diversity? Where to start!

We have an amazing variety of campsites here in the UK from Back to Basics to an all singing, all dancing Holiday Parks but what makes a campsite ‘green’. The answer comes from the passion and ethos of the people who run them.

Statistics show that here in the UK 68% of us will make a green choice if it’s presented in front of us.

Here are our Top Green credentials you should look out for to find the Best Green Campsite for you.

Recycling

Something many of us do automatically
at home and yet not all businesses and campsites supply recycling points. It can be very frustrating to see all your recycling waste like glass go to
landfill. Look out for campsites that do recycle. Many provide multiple
points around the park.

Green Awards

There are 2 big awards to look out for in the camping industry. David Bellamy Award and the Green Business Tourism Scheme. Both of these offer Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. Both look at a whole range of criteria from renewal energy to the purchasing of goods. These 2 awards are not exclusive as they do require a membership of various organisations. There are also many local awards run by National Parks, Local business schemes or Regional Tourist Boards.

Local Produce

Can be one of the great highlights of
camping. Trying fantastic regional goods supplied almost at source. Look for
campsites that are proud to source and sell local produce. Some grow their own veg, some link
up with local butchers and offer BBQ packs, some bake their own bread on site.
Some support Local Farmers' market nearby and will be happy to pass on opening times to you.

Renewable energy

Solar and wind power are being used more and more by campsites owners. Some may use it for powering the site. Others use it to help heat swimming pools and provide showers. Using it to top up and therefore reduce their overall usual energy usage.

Back Packer rates

Forward thinking campsites offer back packer rates to those arriving on foot
or by bike. Makes sense as well. Someone carrying their camping gear brings smaller tents, takes up less space, no vehicles = less damage to the land, more likely to buy local produce rather than shopping in Tesco. Look for campsites that actively encourage people arriving by Public Transport , on foot or by bike. These campsites offer discounted rates and don't punish you by charging you the same rates for large tents or in some cases caravans.

Wildlife programme

Many campsites develop wild flower areas and encourage natural habitats on their land. They then promote these Wildlife Programmes by providing walks, guides, signage boards and even in some case guided walks and nocturnal nature visits with a ranger. Great for kids and adults alike.

The David Bellamy Award is a big advocate of Bio-diversity and those campsites which are members of the scheme are encouraged to look at their parks and surroundings with fresh eyes and encourage the fostering of natural habitats.

Biodegradables used

Having a campsite in a stunning location, perhaps on farm land, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a National Park, can have a huge impact on the environment especially when hundreds of campers descend for the week or weekend. All taking showers, washing up and using toilets. Many campsites take their role as land owners very seriously and will source biodegradable cleaning and other products. To do
your bit think carefully before you go away. What do you need, what can you bring. For an example Packing List try ours.

Public Transport Links

Look out for campsites which are situated near good public transport links and which actively encourage their usage. Many have bus stops or train stations on their doorstep. This could be for getting to the campsite in the first place or enjoying a car
free day while staying. Many campsites give out great local information meaning you can plan a car free day easily. Perhaps to visit a local landmark, beach or attraction. A popular way is to plan a one way walk. Take the bus from the campsite and walk back. Or vice versa! Can be a great way to experience to region.

Good News - national campaign to boost customer service for 2012

07 December 2010 : Written by Rhian Evans

At Campingninja we are very pleased that Visit Britain has launched a national campaign to educate and train tourism providers in order to boost levels of customer service in the UK. The aim is to train 200,000 hospitality and tourism staff ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the moment Britain doesn't rank very highly on a world level if perceived "welcome" which is obviously going to be key in the run up and during the Games. This training, by Worldhost, will also be of great benefit to the tourism industry after the Olympics and especially for our customer service levels for other major events in the next few years - 2014 Ryder Cup and Commonwealth games, and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

So, why are we writing about it? Well, at Campingninja we're passionate about enabling camping, caravan and holiday parks to increase their levels of customer service. We have a wealth of experience between us in tourism both domestic and international and one of the largest over-riding factors for success is always great customer service. And this means throughout the whole process of someone's travel experience: working out where to go and what to do; finding the right accommodation and transport; booking it all; getting there; the experience whilst there; coming home; after the trip.

It all counts. Going on a trip, a holiday is all about having an experience and that whole experience should feel good. If someone has a nightmare finding and booking their holiday they begin their whole experience in a frustrated way; if the facilities aren't as promised at a hotel or holiday park then that person will feel unhappy and often angry; if people are unfriendly in the local shops and pubs the traveller feels unwelcome and cannot access local life. The list of these parts of a holiday are endless, but all are equally important.

Word of mouth recommendations are priceless for tourism providers, and in today's world this doesn't just mean people talking to their friends at the pub; it means sharing their reviews on review websites like TripAdvisor or Campingninja; it means sharing photos and stories on Facebook and Twitter. "Word of mouth" is more powerful than ever. This is all fantastic for you when you have provided great customer service. However, it is also a fact that people are 10 times more likely to share their holiday "experience" with others when it has been a negative one. Now, more than ever, providing a high level of customer service is essential to the whole tourism industry. There is a lot of competition and less people wonting to spend money - those who provide the best experiences will rise to the top.

70% of campers would prefer to be able to find and book a campsite, caravan or holiday park online - it makes their busy lives so much easier and enables them to find the right place for them to have the experience they desire. Campingninja enables campsites and parks to provide this to their customers free.

Tourism 2012 Games Launches National Campaign to Boost Customer Service Levels

Worldhost

Campingninja is recruiting. Do you know anyone?

10 November 2010 : Written by Geoff Vaughan

Campingninja is expanding and looking for an enthusiastic sales team of home-workers to sign campsites up to Campingninja (it is free for campsites to join the community. No joining fee and no monthly or annual fees). This role is commission based and will suit anyone who can give between 10 and 25 hours a week (or more).

Do you know anyone who fits the bill? Maybe someone already homebased looking to earn extra money? If you do, then please go to the application form and forward it on to them. There is a share button for e-mail, facebook, twitter etc at the bottom.

You can find the application form here Campingninja Sales team application form

Happy camping even in the winter!

Geoff

Campingninja on safari in Devon with the BH&HPA

29 June 2010 : Written by Geoff Vaughan

A great day had with the lovely people who make up the BH&HPA South Devon Branch. The BH&HPA is the British Holidays & Home Parks Association.

Spent the day visiting 3 excellent and different campsites in west Devon. Just down the road from the town of Tavistock on the edge of Dartmoor. An excellent location to relax and use as a base for exploring Dartmoor National Park and the nearby coastlines. Added to that are numerous cycle trails around Tavistock and onto Dartmoor. 3 Great sites suitable for couples and families. From beautiful campsite fields along the Tavy river to new style camping pods tucked away in the woods.

Thanks to Paul and Nigel from Harford Bridge. John and Dorothy from Woodovis Park and Dave and Jane from Langstone Manor.

Langstone Manor Camping Pods

1st ever Campingninja instructional video - how to sign-up your campsite/park

26 May 2010 : Written by The Campingninja Team

At Campingninja we are proud to say we have put together a video about how easy it is for a campsite to sign-up and how it works. We are really proud of the way we have designed and built the site and think it is one of its biggest selling points.... but you can't see how clever it is (well, we think so) until you decide to sign-up.... which is a big decision.

So, check it out here:

WARNING: embarrassing voice-over is present - I was just trying to be clear but I think I may be a cross between a children's tv presenter and Joanna Lumley!!!

Roadford Lake Country Park joins Campingninja

19 May 2010 : Written by The Campingninja Team

Campingninja announces the arrival of Roadford Lake Country Park Campsite.

Latest Campingninja Board meeting goes well

18 May 2010 : Written by The Campingninja Team

Geoff Vaughan, Rhian Evans, Jane Dyson and the Campingninja discuss upcoming events and marketing strategies at the latest Campingninja board meeting.

Visit Cornwall helps launch Campingninja to Cornish campsites

13 May 2010 : Written by The Campingninja Team

Visit Cornwall and Campingninja have teamed up to encourage campsites in Cornwall to be amongst the first to take advantage of what Campingninja has to offer. Visit Cornwall have recognised the benefits that Campingninja can bring to the camping industry and local businesses in Cornwall and are keen for campsites in their area to be amongst the first in the UK to have the opportunity to sell some of their pitches on-line.

Malcolm Bell, Head of Tourism at Visit Cornwall commented," It is clear Campingninja will benefit some of our primary aims: making more efficient and sustainable use of the campsites which are already established; and promoting green businesses and initiatives throughout Cornwall."

Click here to see the Visit Cornwall e-newsletter article about Campingninja.

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