A team of unsung heroes has helped scoop a prestigious tourism award for the recent addition to a leading North West company’s collection of popular holiday parks.
The Ribble Valley Holiday Park in Lancashire, part of the Holgates Holiday Parks collection, secured the Transformational Tourism Award in the annual Stars In Tourism Awards.
Holgates Ribble Valley Holiday Park team (left to right) Andrew Batty, Dawn Batty, Nick Lea, Mandy Hewett, Rob Hewett and Nicola Beneduce, from Award sponsors Harrison Drury Solicitors
The team overseeing the site were praised for giving “exceptional customer service” while the park underwent extensive upgrading and expansion.
Winning the Award is even more impressive as much of the development work took place at a time of added disruption due to the global Pandemic.
In making the Ribble Valley Tourism Association Stars In Tourism Award, Tom Pridmore, Tourism Officer for Ribble Valley Borough Council, said: “Despite this major redevelopment, the small team have been a constant and reassuring presence to ensure existing holiday homeowners and repeat visitors receive exceptional customer service.”
He added: “This business has undergone extensive upgrading and expansion whilst maintaining excellent service and continuity during the development works.
“The transformational work to this park has included doubling holiday home capacity, upgrading of all the site services, resurfacing of all roads and pathways, brand new children’s play area, extended bar area and new dog walking area.”
Aerial views of The Ribble Valley Holiday Park, Lancashire.
The Ribble Valley Holiday Park, previously Rimington Leisure Park, was acquired by the Holgates group in 2019. Holgates is family owned and began operating in 1956. It has 10 holiday parks across Cumbria and Lancashire. Many, including its flagship Silverdale site, are within the Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape, renowned for amazing wildlife and scenery.
Michael Holgate, Director of Holgates Holiday Parks, says: “The Stars in Tourism Award is a testament to the effort and dedication of our team at the Ribble Valley Holiday Park and we are delighted all their hard work is being recognised.”
The team includes Nick Lea, Mandy Hewett, Dawn Batty, Andrew Batty and Robert Hewett.
“They are constantly listening to their customers and looking for innovative ways to improve the site and the experience of its visitors. We are very grateful to them and very proud of them,” says Michael.
In addition to supporting the development team during the works, Nick Lea and his team managed an above industry average of owner retention (90%) and increased over night occupancy.
Holgates collection of 5-Star holiday parks provide a peaceful, relaxing environment for holiday home owners, guests and their families. There is something for everyone – from the bustling flagship Silverdale Park with its swimming complex, gym, bar and restaurant – to quieter parks like Netherbeck and Far Arnside.
Since it began in 1956, Holgates has been operated by three generations of the Holgate Family. It has parks situated in areas nationally recognised for their outstanding natural beauty and only a short drive from beacons of natural beauty such as the Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and Morecambe Bay.
