Leisure Media Issue 3 2009

www.leisuremanagement.co.uk

ISSUE 3 2009 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 3 £7.00

Feather Down Farms’ Philip Knatchbull Luite Moraal on $VS[PO"&T$&0 GLAMPING on striking a cinema camping gets EFBMXJUI).7 glamorous BIG ambitions TACKLING 5063*4. EDINBURGH 7JTJU#SJUBJOT Aiming to become Christopher Europe’s ﬁ ttest 3PESJHVFT city by 2020 discusses the #SJUJTI5PVSJTN Framework review

HOTELS GONE GREEN Howard J Wolff explains new sustainable hotel development guidelines

leisure-kit.net OFFICIAL MAGAZINE Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital LEISURE s TOURISM s HEALTH & FITNESS s SPA s SPORT s ATTRACTIONS s HOSPITALITY the changing face of leisure

Iêm oekh \WY[ Wj j^[ KAÊi bWh][ij b[_ikh[ [l[dj$ AZ^hjgZ >cYjhign LZZèjihndj^c[gdcid[Vaai]Z`Zn^cYjhignhjeea^ZgheajhV]dhid[ cZla^kZYZbdh!ZYjXVi^dcVaZkZcihVcYcZildg`^c\deedgijcî^Zh# L_i_jmmm$b_m$Ye$ka\ehj^[\kbbfhe]hWcc[e\[l[dji$ Face to face with the leisure industry Register now at www.liw.co.uk EDITOR’S LETTER e-mail: contact’s full name @leisuremedia.com CINEMA TRENDS Subscriptions Julie Albone +44 (0)1462 471915 was browsing in a vast book, music and coffee shop recently when it became obvious [email protected] Circulation Manager that the large CD and DVD section was deserted. On closer inspection it looked dusty, Michael Emmerson abandoned and full of old stock, an example of how new technology – in this case MP3 – +44 (0)1462 471932 I can reduce the power of a booming industry in a very short period of time. Editor Liz Terry +44 (0)1462 431385 It was interesting to hear that Curzon AE and HMV have formed a partnership to revitalise Acting Managing Editor just such spaces by harnessing yet another new(ish) technology – digital fi lm projection – to Andrea Jezovit create boutique cinemas in prime retail space and in town centre locations. +44 (0)1462 471918 Contributors On page 30 we interview Philip Knatchbull, CEO of HMV Curzon, the company formed by the Kate Cracknell partners. He explains plans to create 20 or more in-store cinemas if the prototype – a 200-seat, +44 (0)1462 471906 three-screen development planned for Wimbledon and opening this autumn – is a success. Kathleen Whyman Curzon already operates nine screens at fi ve cinemas in the London area, so knows the +44 (0)1462 471918 Managing Editor/News market well and the idea is to head in the opposite direction from the competition: “In a reversal Tom Walker of policy from 20 years ago,” says Knatchbull, “we’re taking cinemas back to the high street. +44 (0)1462 471934 We believe councils and people generally want high streets to be more socially engaging.” Assistant Editors/News Pete Hayman The combination of new technology, cross-market +44 (0)1462 471938 Sarah Todd collaboration and fl exibility in pricing is opening new doors +44 (0)1462 471927 Caroline Wilkinson for cinema. In addition, the blurring of boundaries between +44 (0)1462 471911 leisure-kit.net live entertainment, theatre, music, fi lm and attactions is Sarah Todd +44 (0)1462 471927 giving creative operators more elements to play with Publisher John Challinor The new cinemas will also offer 3D fi lms and a café, with the intention of experimenting with +44 (0)1582 607970 pricing, opening hours and co-ordinating openings with home pay-per-view services to fully Display Advertising test the new business model. Content will vary, with live screenings and events to coincide with Tessa Alexander music launches, as well as more traditional movies and reruns of classics. +44 (0)1462 471903 Julie Badrick It seems that cinema is a hotbed of innovation at present, with a number of operators +44 (0)1462 4719019 announcing new programming and ideas. Vue Cinemas is working on two new sites which will Nuzhat Hayat include 3D screens, while City Screen has announced a partnership with the National Theatre in +44 (0)1462 431385 London for the screening of live theatre at 18 cinemas across the UK. Also in London, the team Nadeem Shaikh +44 (0)1462 471902 at Somerset House will repeat its successful 10-day outdoor fi lm festival this summer in part- Jan Williams nership with Film4 and in Scotland, actress Tilda Swinton will be on tour with a mobile cinema +44 (0)1462 471909 Advertising artwork which will visit remote communities so they can enjoy the pleasure of the movies. Ed Gallagher Analysts and industry commentators tell us that cinema thrives in times of economic hard- +44 (0)1905 20198 ship as people seek escapism and a cost-effective treat. Couple this trend Design with innovative programming and partnership working and it’s a potent Andy Bundy combination which is keeping cinema operators’ businesses buoyant. +44 (0)1462 471924 Internet The combination of new technology, cross-market collaboration Katie Eldrige and fl exibility in pricing is opening new doors for cinema. In addi- +44 (0)1462 431385 tion, the blurring of boundaries between live entertainment, theatre, Dean Fox +44 (0)1462 471900 music, fi lm and attractions is giving creative operators more ele- Emma Harris ments to play with and producing some very exciting new concepts. +44 (0)1462 431385 The move back to town centres is a very welcome one at a time Tim Nash when the combination of web sales and the recession mean that +44 (0)1462 471917 Michael Paramore many high streets are starting to lack vitality. +44 (0)1462 471926 Financial Control Sue Davis Liz Terry, editor [email protected] +44 (0)1395 519398 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital Financial Admin Denise Gildea the leisure media company publishes +44 (0)1462 471930 Credit Control spa business SPORTS Attractions Rebekah Scott MANAGEMENT management Feather Down Farms’ Philip Knatchbull Luite Moraal on CRYSTAL PALACE GROWING THE GRASSROOTS GLAMPING Reopens its doors to international events England Athletics camping gets looks towards glamorous +44 (0)1462 431385 2012 and beyond BIG GIANT TACKLING SCREENS CCPR’S TIM LAMB 5063*4. ON CHAMPIONING SPORT AND RECREATION

uniting the The Leisure Media Company world of spas Ltd Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1DJ UK leisure management works in partnership with Subscriptions Tel: +44 (0)1462 471915 Fax: +44 (0)1462 433909

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 3 ISSUE 3 in this issue…

p20 Luite Moraal’s Feather Down Farms p30 Curzon’s Philip Knatchbull PHOTO: WWW.BRITAINONVIEW.COM

p34 Why consumers are avoiding the pub p50 Developing eco-friendly hotels

LEISURE MANAGEMENT NEWS 24 design news 36 staying strong A look at some of the innovative 6 world leisure news 26 design profi le strategies businesses across the leisure 8 commercial team effort sector are adopting to fi ght the recession 9 spa We profi le renowned venue designer 10 hospitality Shaun Clarkson and his longtime client, 38 big ambitions 11 health & fi tness legendary music promoter Vince Power a fi tter city 12 sport Edinburgh is aiming to become Europe’s 13 parks 28 architect’s focus fi ttest city by 2020. Julie Cramer reports 14 attractions archial architects 15 public sector Director Paul Weston talks about his fi rm’s 42 tackling tourism 16 property designs for the Plymouth Life Centre and Visit Britain chair Christopher Rodrigues Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre discusses the results of the British 18 burning question Tourism Framework review is the recession threatening 30 interview the future of UK sports clubs? philip knatchbull 46 a look at the budget With four per cent of clubs facing closure The CEO of Curzon AE on his company’s Brigid Simmonds explores how the industry experts agree times are tough exclusive new cinema deal with HMV budget will impact the sector 20 hotseat 34 consumer caution 48 companies with cash luite moraal It’s recession fears, not lack of funds, Despite the downturn, some leisure The man behind Feather Down Farms that are curbing consumer spending, sector businesses have the cash to make talks about growing the business according to a new Mintel report deals. Matthew Goodman reports

4 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 p42 A new strategy for British tourism LUGENBEEL PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FRANKLIN p58 Improving culture and sport

p48 Businesses on the hunt for bargains p64 Vintellect’s Clare Young on wine

50 62 hotels gone green senior’s solutions READER SERVICES Howard J Wolff discusses Horwath HTL how to keep a grip and and WATG’s new set of sustainable hotel remain confi dent digital magazine development guidelines Despite the downturn, customers expect See Leisure Management online professionalism and a good time – not leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 52 young at heart just cheap prices, says Grahame Senior news & jobs We visit SHOKK énergie’s Blackpool site For jobs and news visit the – an entire health club devoted to kids 64 secondary spend Leisure Management website at getting wine right www.leisuremanagement.co.uk 56 Vintellect’s Clare Young says wine can clean and cool attention buyers! The latest innovations in air conditioning help hospitality businesses increase and ventilation systems sales and profi t. Vicky Kiernander reports Use our search engine to fi nd suppliers and get innovation 58 a passion for survival 68 leisure-kit updates www.leisure-kit.net A Passion for Excellence, the improvement subscribe: agenda for culture and sport, is more 72 leisure directory sign up for Leisure Management at relevant than ever, John Bell says leisuremanagement.co.uk/subs 74 odd job or call: +44 (0)1462 471915 60 organisation profi le making a splash buyers’ guide: wrap As a ‘pool tester’ for First Choice For suppliers of products and We speak to WRAP’s Paul Mathers about Holidays, Tommy Lynch travels the world services in the leisure markets, his work promoting recycling for sports rating waterslides and wave pools for turn to p72 turf, green spaces and attractions their fun factor, as Andrea Jezovit hears

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 5 NEWS World Leisure

Expanded Anchorage Museum opens

The US$106m (£64m, 74.4m euro) expansion of the 170,000sq ft (15,793sq m) Anchorage Museum at the Rasmuson Center in Alaska has opened its doors to the public. The revamp, designed by David Chipperfi eld Architects, includes a new glass-fronted façade and entrance facing downtown Anchorage. Among the features of the new building are a café, shop and two extra fl oors (80,000sq ft, 7,432sq m) of exhibition space. A venue at the heart of the existing building was retained to continue providing a space for arts, music and cul- The museum was designed by David Chipperfi eld Architects tural events, but there has also been the addition of a science discovery cen- The museum also houses a new Alaskan artifacts from the Smithsonian tre and a Young Learners Discovery 530sq ft planetarium and the 100,000sq Institution’s National Museum of Gallery with touchable objects and ft (9,290sq m) Smithsonian Arctic Natural History and National Museum hands-on learning opportunities. Studies Center, exhibiting 600 Native of the American Indian.

Boutique spa at O Terminator Salvation on Kloof opens coaster unveiled Six Flags Magic Mountain in An intimate new spa has opened as Valencia, California, has kick- part of the O on Kloof hotel in Cape started its summer season with Town, South Africa. the launch of a new US$10m The spa has one treatment room and (£6m, %6.9m) rollercoaster, called one therapist, but treatments are also Terminator Salvation: The Ride. offered in the eight guest bedrooms. Based on the latest addition Designed by local architects Anton to the Terminator fi lm series, De Kock and Graham Koch, who were the coaster, designed by Great also in charge of the renovation of the The spa boasts one large treatment room Coasters Int., is inspired by the hotel, the brands at O’Spa have been movie’s post-apocalyptic setting. supplied by Logica, while treatments with a deeply moisturising body butter, It features synchronised onboard use SpaRitual and Theravine products. infused with essential oils. All treat- audio, a loading station fl y-through, The signature treatment is an African ments will focus on local produce wher- two tunnels and fi re and fog effects, body Butter Massage, which com- ever possible, while other therapies as well as the 2,850ft track’s fi ve bines various massage techniques include facials and massages. hills and six banked turns.

CNL acquires Hawaiian Waters

CNL Lifestyle Properties has acquired “This transaction is a homerun for Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in both sides,” said Byron Carlock, CEO Kapolei, on the island of Oahu, US, from of CNL. We were looking for a vibrant a subsidiary of the Village Roadshow. operating partner with which to grow Although now owned by the US real our portfolio of properties. Hawaiian estate investment trust, operation of Waters is exactly the kind of quality the 29-acre waterpark has been leased attraction we look for, where families back to the Australian global entertain- can make lasting memories.” ment company. Graham Burke, managing director of As part of the deal, Village Village Roadshow, added: “CNL is the Roadshow will continue to operate the perfect partner for us as we grow our site and will rebrand the park as Wet highly successful water park business ‘n’ Wild Hawaii. in the United States. Rides at the park include a Tornado slide

6 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Russian Fitness Group African centre accredited opens ﬁ rst luxury club

Exercise Training and Sports Academy Russian Fitness Group (RFG) (eta) in South Africa has signed up to opened its latest World Class health become the fi rst approved centre in the club – the 19th in the chain – in St country to be accredited by health and Petersburg in April. fi tness awarding body Central YMCA Located on Krestovsky island, it’s Qualifi cations (CYQ). the operator’s fi rst luxury club. Built The agreement follows a 10-day visit over three fl oors, the 3,800sq m club by the CYQ Business Development has an 800sq m gym with almost Team to South Africa in March as part 12m-high ceilings. of the UK government’s Passport to Facilities include group cycling Export scheme. and martial arts studios, both of “Because of the international profi le which have panoramic windows of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted in looking out over the embankment. South Africa, the government is focus- There’s also a pilates studio, two ing on developing skills, particularly in group exercise and personal train- the fi tness industry,” said Lori Randall, The scheme is part of government strategy ing studios, a kids’ club, doctor’s CYQ’s business development manager. surgery, café and boutique shop. As well as accrediting the South Ireland and Italy and issued nearly RFG operates more than 42 fi t- African centre, CYQ has approved a 39,000 certifi cates in the past fi nancial ness clubs in 11 cities of Russia. further 54 training centres in the UK, year – a 5 per cent increase year on year. Hersheypark opens Boardwalk expansion

Galician club for Hersheypark, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, has unveiled its Holmes Place US$17.6m (£11m, 12.6 euro) expansion. The project com- Holmes Place Iberia opened its latest prised the expansion of the park’s club on 15 May. Located in the city of A Boardwalk area, which opened in Coruña, it’s the chain’s ﬁ rst club in the 2007, and is called The Boardwalk: region of Galicia, north-west Spain. The SEAquel. Facilities at the 3,200sq m club The work included the installa- include a ﬁ tness suite supplied by Star tion of The Shore, a 378,000-gallon Trac and Life Fitness. wave pool and the Intercoastal The pilates studio offers Peak Pilates Waterway, a 1,360ft lazy river. equipment, while the group exer- The area also features a chang- cise studio is equipped by Aerobic & The health club includes a pool ing area, lockers and a restaurant, Fitness and Tecnosport. Personal train- as well as 27 cabanas that can be ing is also available. ming pool, a solarium, spa pool and rented out. The new attractions Situated in the Dolce Vita shop- Turkish bath, and a restaurant. There is have replaced the former Canyon ping centre, facilities at the new club also free parking for members. Details: River Rapids, which were in place also include a stainless steel swim- www.holmesplace.com from 1987 until last August.

Wellness lifestyle concept launch

The new Henry Ford West Bloomﬁ eld integrative therapies, programmes Hospital in Michigan, US has launched and classes have undergone a rigor- with the inclusion of a complementary ous review by a committee compris- wellness facility called Vita. ing Henry Ford physicians, scientists, The 8,000sq ft (743.2sq m) facility nurses and other healthcare profes- has been created primarily to serve sionals, to ensure that the experience patients, their families and the commu- within Vita is both safe and suited to nity and combines wellness and pre- patients’ needs. ventative care. Providing a model for Creative Spa Concepts consulted on affecting positive change in healthcare, Vita, and was responsible for shap- Vita – which is named after the Latin ing its individual services - including word for life – contains programmes health coaches, acupuncture, TCM and created for sustained wellness. All beauty therapies for cancer sufferers. The centre focuses on wellness

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 7 NEWS Commercial

Royal opening for Epsom grandstand

A new 11,000-capacity grandstand has been offi cially opened at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey by the Duchess of Cornwall, marking the completion of a three-year, £38m redevelopment scheme. The Duchess Stand has been designed to accommodate both racing and non-racing events throughout the year, and includes the 1,123sq m (12,088sq ft) Oaks Hall on the ground fl oor, which can be used as an 800-seat conference venue. Three fi rst fl oor restaurants will also be available for conferencing and ban- queting on non-race days, while the The Duchess was present at the opening of the new grandstand second fl oor includes fourteen private hospitality boxes and the Downs View In addition to the new grandstand, new 120-bedroom hotel. Suite, capable of accommodating more the Epsom Downs redevelopment Nick Blofeld, Epsom Downs MD, said: than 100 people. project included the construction of a “We felt it very appropriate with hav-

Rileys to introduce darts at clubs

Troubled snooker and pool club operator, Rileys, is to introduce darts zones at its remaining clubs as part of efforts to revitalise the business. The company will introduce darts zones at “a number” of its 130 clubs, with the ﬁ rst one having launched in The stadium will have 22,000 seats Croydon. Rileys hopes to beneﬁ t from the rise in popularity of darts and the World champion Phil Taylor launched the club Casino for new spate of pub closures – the traditional Southend stadium home of darts clubs. and Tom Jack of Ernst and Young were In April, Rileys announced the clo- appointed joint administrators and a Southend United Football Club sure of 30 properties and the loss of 200 deal was struck with Valiant Sports to (SUFC) has announced that it is jobs after it entered administration due ensure the survival of 130 clubs, which planning to include a casino as part to a downturn in trading. Simon Allport will operate under the Rileys name. of a new 22,000-seat stadium development at Fossetts Farm in Essex. The £46m scheme, which was Salford racecourse inquiry underway given the go-ahead by the government last September after being Plans for a new racecourse near course and an equestrian centre, is at called in for a public inquiry, has Salford, Greater Manchester, have gone the centre of Peel’s plans for the 1,690- now been altered to incorporate the before a public inquiry at the request of acre (684-hectare site). proposed casino, as well as a new the developer behind the scheme. Proposals also include an 18-hole football academy. In November last year, Peel Holdings golf course, an 80-bedroom hotel with According to SUFC chair Ron appealed to the government to inter- a gym, a restaurant and a swimming Martin, the proposed academy vene in the planning process after both pool, and a forest park vistior cen- would not be viable without the Salford City Council (SCC) and Wigan tre, as well as an eco-village, 11 miles inclusion of the casino, which is set Council failed to decide whether to (17.7km) of cycle trails and 20 miles to be operated by Rank Group. approve the company’s proposals for (32.2km) of footpaths. SUFC’s amended proposals for Salford Forest Park. A new international The scheme is set to be opposed by the stadium, which include the standard horse racing course, including SCC, which rejected the plans due to casino, will now have to go through a 6,000-seat grandstand, an eventing the perceived impact on green belt land. the full planning process.

8 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 NEWS Spa & Wellness

Knock Castle revamp Grayshott Studio Spa opens reaches second phase

The Grayshott Spa brand has been Redevelopment work on the Knock extended with the opening of the ﬁ rst Castle hotel and spa in Crieff, Grayshott Studio Spa at Fawsley Hall Perthshire, Scotland has reached in Northamptonshire. the second phase. The boutique facility features a hand- The £1.5m revamp’s second phase picked selection of treatments, includ- included the creation of a dedicated ing pre- and post-pregnancy therapies, spa treatment wing, housing treat- massages, facials, wraps and scrubs. All ment rooms as well as a relaxation treatments use Guinot, Aromatherapy area. The leisure area, which con- Associates, Jane Iredale and Jessica tains the swimming pool, spa pool products. The spa is situated in the and steam room area, was also newly-refurbished Coach House, in upgraded during the works. close proximity to the main hotel. Other improvements completed It boasts six treatment rooms, a hair during the second phase included and pedicure studio, thermal rooms and The spa is situated in a Fawsley Hall the addition of a 100-capacity con- relaxation areas. There is also a juice ference suite. bar, an indoor swimming pool and an have been added for guests wishing to The baronial mansion is outdoor hydro pool. A gym, equipped extend their spa experience. A private owned by Scottish company The by Nautilus, is on site as well as a fur- garden completes the offering. Details: Henderson Group. ther six ensuite spa bedrooms which fawsleyhall.com Students offer services free to cancer patients

Halcyon opens A new partnership has been formed between the University of Derby in at Bishopstrow Buxton and a local hospice, to give cancer patients in the region free A new spa called Halcyon has complementary therapies. launched within Bishopstrow House, After completing specialist train- part of the von Essen hotel Collection ing, the university’s spa managers in Wiltshire, UK. and assessors have taught students The spa has a range of 40 treatments how to deliver therapies to cancer and four therapy rooms, including a patients and carers associated with double treatment room. Blythe House Hospice, in Chapel en All treatments will use the Elemis le Frith, Derbyshire. range of products. Other suppliers for The treatments are offered at the spa included Carlton Couches, Stan Halcyon boasts four treatment rooms either the hospice or the university’s Ledbetter for the Rasul Mud Therapy, Devonshire Spa facility. Ariane Poole make-up, Culpepper prod- Ottoman style, a relaxation suite, The initiative is intended to help ucts and Natural Magic candles. indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a people cope with the effects of their Other facilities include a rasul mud whirlpool, a sauna and a steamroom. illness and the side-effects of their therapy room, decorated in Turkish Kerry Chapman consulted on the spa. treatments. Details: derby.ac.uk

Carlton Institute opens new training centres

A number of training centres are to ing. Extending skills to earn more or an open as part of an expansion of the unexpected need to change career is UK-based skills training provider The key to peoples’ future.” Carlton Institute. The Institute has also partnered with The company, which is under new the Essex-based Brentwood Academy, ownership, is extending the number which will provide long courses and of training centres across the country fast-track courses in liaison with the from two to seven locations, in order to institute. Principal and director of meet the rising demand. Brentwood Academy, Jacqui Borley, Owner of the Carlton Institute, Suki said: “We see our partnership as mutu- Kalirai, said: “Demand for fast-track ally beneﬁ cial and a move that beneﬁ ts courses that get individuals into work our students.” Details: beauty-training. quickly or build their skills is grow- co.uk Training is based on practical skills

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 9 NEWS Hospitality

Rezidor to open Missoni-branded hotel

Rezidor Hotel Group intends to open its ﬁ rst Missoni-branded hotel in Edinburgh in a joint venture with the Italian fashion house. The ﬁ ve-star, 136-bedroom Hotel Missoni Edinburgh will open on the Royal Mile in early June comprising a bar and a restaurant as well as conference rooms. The opening will be shortly followed by the launch of the portfolio’s second property - Missoni in Kuwait City - this autumn. Additional facilities will include a 1,000sq m (10,750sq ft) spa, two tennis courts, a private beach, numerous The hotel will be located on the city’s Royal Mile and boasts 136 bedrooms swimming pools, meeting rooms and a 400sq m (4,300sq ft) ballroom. partnership with Rezidor. Initial focus “Its design, combined with the best Missoni aims to open 30 hotels will be on Europe and the Middle East, of bars and restaurants, will make this over the next decade – designed by later expanding to the North and South a truly unique hotel experience,” said Milanese architects Studio Thun – in American and Asian markets. Kurt Ritter, CEO of Rezidor.

Mixed results for Plans submitted hotel operators for £250m hotel A new £250m hotel is being Hoteliers in London reported a 0.9 per planned for the banks of London’s cent increase in average room occu- River Thames as part of the redevel- pancy during April, compared with opment of the Mermaid Conference 2008 fi gures, according to a report by and Event Centre on Puddle Dock in PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Blackfriars. However, the statistics also revealed Designed by Alsop Architects on that room rate decreased by 10.6 per behalf of developers Heatherfi eld, cent to £123.85 at hotels across the and managed by Blackfriars capital, which has been blamed on the Room rates continue to fall rapidly Investments, the 28,000sq m, fi ve- extensive use of promotional offers to storey hotel comprises a conference attract more visitors. room rate, occupancy and yield as a centre, ballroom and a gym and spa Meanwhile, regional hotels have result of the recession. facilities. The scheme, submitted to reported a sharp decline in the three Hotels in Birmingham reported a 20 the City of London for approval, also main performance indicators after per cent fall in occupancy and a 15 per includes bars and restaurants and a reporting double digit decreases in cent reduction in room rate. rooftop terrace.

Brits’ summer savings spent on leisure

More than 40 per cent of British people tionnaire admitted that the warmer admit that they spend the money saved weather encouraged them to feel more on bills during the summer on leisure relaxed with their spending habits, activities, according to a new report by while entertaining children on school National Savings and Investments. holidays and the cost of socialising also The Quarterly Savings Survey impacting upon summer spending. revealed that 42 per cent of people The report also revealed that more believe that they save an average of than half (60 per cent) of the population £77.39 a month during the summer, a are inclined to spend more on holiday- period when 48 per cent say that they ing during the summer rather than the spend around £110 a month on lei- winter, and 39 per cent said that they sure activities. A further 43 per cent of are more likely to spend money at res- the people who answered the ques- taurants and bars. Summer increases spending in leisure

10 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 NEWS Health & Fitness

Annual ﬁ tness industry survey launched

SkillsActive’s sixth UK Working in Fitness Survey – one of the largest annual surveys of people working in the UK health and fi tness sector – has been launched online. Conducted by SkillsActive and the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), the survey has been created to give insight into how the fi tness industry rewards its workforce as well as salary levels, job satisfaction and spending on training and development. In previous research for its Sector Skills Agreement, SkillsActive estimated that an average 8,500 job open- Around 8,500 new job openings are needed every year ings were needed in the fi tness sector each year to meet staff turnover and as many people take part as possible we found fi tness professionals were the creation of new positions. to get a good representation of jobs positive about remaining in the indus- Jean-Ann Marnoch, registrar of in the industry and to be able to iden- try but continued to report a need for REPs, said: “It’s really important that tify issues at a local level. Last year improvements in salaries.”

New leisure centre Health club to add for St Davids subterranean pool Top Notch Health Club in Chesham Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) will soon feature a £500,000 under- has unveiled designs for a proposed ground swimming pool. £1.3m dual-use sports complex, which General practitioners will be able is to be established on the site of St to refer patients with disabilities to Davids Swimming Pool in west Wales. the new facility for ﬁ tness and reha- The pool closed on 7 June in order to bilitation sessions. Chiltern District make way for the new complex, which Council approved the plans, sub- will include a four-court sports hall, a mitted for the third time, by six health and ﬁ tness suite with chang- The centre will have a health club votes to two. The previous two ing facilities and two further changing applications were rejected owing to rooms for external use. to improve the exterior of the adjacent concerns over Green Belt land and PCC has already invested in a new secondary school. a lack of car parking spaces. multi-use games area and the upgrade Pembroke-based Cottons Limited has The swimming pool will have of three tennis courts at the site, while been appointed by the council to con- full disabled access and includes further work is due to be carried out struct the new centre. water-based rehabilitation facilities.

Queen’s Club gym gets a refurb

Queen’s Club in West Kensington, including 15 CV stations and strength London, has undergone a refurbish- equipment from the Eagle and VR1 ment to its fi tness facilities. Dual ranges. Established in 1886, the club was There is also a dedicated stretch area named after its fi rst patron, Queen and two treatment rooms for massages, Victoria, and is one of the fi rst lawn osteopathy and physiotherapy. The tennis and racquet clubs in the world. old gym has been transformed into an The facility, owned by members from aerobics studio. The club also offers 45 the Lawn Tennis Association, has had lawn tennis courts - 12 grass, 10 indoor, its gym doubled in size to 1,800sq ft eight shale and clay, four plexi and (1,672sq m). The new gym, converted four artifi cial grass courts, in addition from former meeting rooms, has been to two racket, two regular tennis and fi tted with £50,000 worth of Cybex kit, three squash courts. The gym was fi tted by Cybex

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 11 NEWS Sport

Ricky Hatton opens ﬁ rst ﬁ tness club

Boxer Ricky Hatton has opened a new £2m health and ﬁ tness centre in Hyde, Greater Manchester, following eight months in development. Formerly occupied by a print works, the 1,000sq m (10,764sq ft) Hatton Health and Fitness Centre opened on 12 May and features an 85-station gym equipped by Cybex, along with two Power Plate machines. A new ﬂ oor has also been added to provide a boxing area, including two rings, bags and speed balls, as well as two studios offering a range of classes, such as spinning and conditioning. Hatton plans to open further clubs if the pilot site is successful Facilities at the centre, which had already secured more than 300 mem- Wellbeing treatments and therapies Depending on the success of the bers ahead of its opening, it also are also provided as part of the offer- Hyde site, Hatton is considering the includes a reception and refreshment ing, which also includes a number of possibility of rolling out the concept area, a sauna and changing rooms. membership packages. and opening more sites in the future.

Brighton stadium funding secured

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club has announced that it has secured full funding for a new £93m stadium project at Falmer, East Sussex, after Tony Bloom took over as club chair. Bloom will fund the majority of the £93m development after replac- The complex will feature a sports hall ing previous chair Dick Knight, who has stepped down after 12 years in The stadium has been designed by KSS £16m sports centre the position to become the club’s new for Preston life president. The scheme includes Buckingham Group Construction a 22,500-seat stadium, which has has started work on the venue after A £16m sports centre will be been designed by London-based KSS amended plans were approved by the built at The University of Central Architects, and will also be funded city council in February. The stadium is Lancashire (UCL) in Preston to pro- using a number of grants. scheduled to open by the end of 2011. vide new sporting facilities to its students and to local children during the school holidays. Premier League clubs resist downturn The new complex will feature a sprung timber sports hall with More than half of the 20 Premier League ing an impact on the amount of inves- more than 300 retractable bleacher clubs reported an operating proﬁ t dur- tors willing to inject cash into clubs as seats and a viewing gallery, able to ing the 2007-08 season as the league’s the league’s net debt has increased to accommodate regional and national collective revenue increased to nearly more than £3bn. sporting events. £2bn, according to new research. Two thirds of the total net debt has Activity studios, squash courts, Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football been attributed to the Premier League’s multi-functional spaces and chang- Finance revealed that Premier League top four clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, ing rooms will also be built, while clubs’ revenues had increased by 26 Liverpool and Manchester United – a pre-school complete with sen- per cent compared with 2006-07, and while the cost of players’ wages has sory, nature and hard play areas are now expected to break through the also contributed. will accommodate up to 90 children £2bn barrier during the 2008-09 season Salary expenditure reached £1.2bn aged six months to seven years old. However, the research also revealed following the largest annual increase A planning application has been that the economic downturn is hav- recorded by the Premier League. submitted to Preston City Council.

12 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 NEWS Parks & Countryside

Carisbrooke Castle unveils new garden

English Heritage has opened a new Edwardian-inspired garden within the former privy garden of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, at Carisbrooke Castle near Newport, Isle of Wight. The garden, which has been developed in partnership with garden designer and former presenter of BBC’s Gardeners’ World, Chris Beardshaw, is designed to celebrate Princess Beatrice’s role as the island’s governor between 1896 and 1944. Period plants, fruit trees and a foun- tain have been incorporated into The historic garden is managed by English Heritage English Heritage’s design in order to keep it as close as possible to the orig- Other improvements at Carisbrooke oped to complement the Victorian gar- inal layout of the garden, which was Castle include a new visitor recep- den at Osbourne House near East established as Princess Beatrice’s pri- tion and new interpretation of the site, Cowes, which is also maintained and vate garden in 1913. while the garden has also been devel- managed by English Heritage.

Green light for Durham regeneration Coventry park schemes get axed Plans to restore Auckland Castle Coventry City Council (CCC) has Park in County Durham have been approved plans for a £3.8m refurbish- scrapped after One North East’s ment of the city’s War Memorial Park, budget was slashed by £47m. which fi rst opened in 1921 to commem- Although the agency will repriori- orate the lives of soldiers who died in tise £46m to provide immediate and the fi rst world war. direct support to businesses during The council is expected to contrib- the recession, the £10m scheme to ute £240,000 capital funding to the pro- regenerate Bishop Auckland town posed scheme, which includes the centre and the Auckland Castle restoration of park features and the The park fi rst opened in 1921 Park restoration project can not be revamp of the central pavilion to pro- supported in the short term. vide educational, training and cul- are also outlined as part of the War The funding bid for Auckland tural activities. Improvements to tennis Memorial Park project, which received Castle Park included the develop- courts and three football pitches and £2.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund ment of a new visitor centre, exhibi- the restoration of gardens and pools in April. tion space and education facilities.

National Park decision put back

The New Forest National Park Authority number of “constructive and critical” (NFNPA) has given itself more time to comments that it has received during come up with a draft plan for the future the public consultation. of the park, after it was inundated with “Given our commitment to listen to replies to a public consultation. the views expressed, we have taken The approval of the authority’s the time to go through the thousands National Park Plan has been extended of consultation responses carefully,” to the end of October, to allow “ade- he added. “It simply would not be pos- quate time for the draft to be revised sible to do this and revise and rewrite in the light of the many comments the draft plan in time for July.” received”. Clive Chatters, chair of When completed, the National Park NFNPA, said the authority’s priority Plan will be used to implement the would be to look at the large future strategy for the park. The consultation will outline future strategy

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 13 NEWS Attractions

Lancashire’s Camelot Great North Museum opens theme park reopens

The Great North Museum: Hancock in Camelot theme park in Charnock Newcastle upon Tyne has opened its Richard, Lancashire, has reo- doors to the public following a £26m pened just two months after its transformation. owner, Prime Resorts, went into The natural history museum, administration. designed by Sir Terry Farrell, is located The park was acquired by The in the former Hancock Museum, which Story Group and has been leased was closed three years ago to undergo to Knights Leisure, a newly-formed the redevelopment. group led by the former chief execu- The new attraction houses 3,500 tive of Prime Resorts, Roy Page. items from collections from the orig- Although The Story Group is still inal Hancock Museum, Newcastle looking to enter into negotiations University’s Museum of Antiquities with Chorley Borough Council in a and the Shefton Museum. bid to revive plans for a residential The University’s Hatton Gallery is Museum manager Steve McLean with T-Rex mixed-use development on the site, also part of the Great North Museum it has agreed to lease the park to but remains in its existing building. lica T-Rex skeleton, Ancient Egyptian Knights Leisure, enabling Camelot The museum also includes a plan- mummies and a large scale model of to operate as a theme park until etarium, a bio-wall displaying the Hadrians Wall as well as examples of 9 September 2009. diversity of life on Earth, a life-size rep- Greek art. Theme parks responding resiliently to recession

Middlesbrough The annual Attractions Attendance Report has shown that theme parks Wheel delayed are coping well with the downturn. The report for 2008, compiled Plans to establish a new 40m (131.2ft) jointly by Economic Research wheel attraction in the centre of Associates (ERA) and the Themed Middlesbrough, north east England, Entertainment Association (TEA), have been delayed after it was shows that 10 out of the world’s revealed that a suitable wheel is not top 15 theme parks recorded an yet available. increase in the number of visits – World Tourist Attractions (WTA) is when compared to 2007 ﬁ gures. behind the proposals for the attraction, According to ERA’s John which will be situated in the town’s Robinett, however, the growth in Centre Square and will feature 30 How the wheel would look on the site numbers could have been bigger, glass-sided observation pods capable but for a fall in attendances during of accommodating ﬁ ve people each. remain in place for an initial six months the fourth quarter. He also revealed Middlesbrough Council approved at no cost to the council before a deci- that large destination parks were planning permission for the scheme sion is made on whether renew its stay hit harder by the late fall in visitor on 9 April, which will see the wheel for a longer period. numbers than smaller parks.

Cutty Sark to open next summer

Cutty Sark, the historic tea clipper situ- £11.75m grant in June 2007. Once fi n- ated in Greenwich, south London, is set ished, the work will protect the ves- to reopen in summer 2010, three years sel from corrosion and will also make it after it was ravaged by fi re. more accessible to visitors. A £25m restoration project was The restoration project will see the already underway to protect the his- Cutty Sark suspended 3m (3.8ft) above toric ship from corrosion and to make it its current position in order to enable more accessible to visitors. visitors to walk underneath the ship The fi re has increased the cost of the and view its hull design. revamp by a further £10m. There will also be a glass can- The cost of reconstruction has been opy installed, meeting the ship at the partly funded by the Heritage Lottery waterline and covering the dry dock, Fund, which awarded the scheme a creating 1,000sq m of space for events. The ship was badly damaged in the fi re

14 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 NEWS Public Sector

Planning extension for Scottish museum summit leisure developers

Scotland’s 60 museum leaders con- Leisure developers are now able vened in Stirling last month to debate to retain their planning permis- how best to address the challenges fac- sion from Westminster City Council ing the sector. (WCC) for up to ﬁ ve years in a move The conference focused on how the to help projects that are put on hold nation’s industrial and voluntary muse- during the economic downturn. ums can be sustained and how fund- The council, which originally ing and limited resources can be better allowed developers to keep their distributed between national and local permission valid for up to three museums. Leading the convention, years, introduced the extension so culture minister Michael Russell said: applicants can avoid the lengthy “This summit presents a real oppor- process of resubmission as well tunity for new thinking about how we as the risk of their projects being understand museums in Scotland, how scrapped due to the long-term we work together, and how best we The conference focused on best practice uncertainties in the economy. can tell the story of this country. Cllr Robert Davis, WCC deputy “While we have the Scottish to apply to a special funding stream leader, said: “Our aim is to help as Government’s Recognition Scheme - - there remains an obvious divide many developers as possible make which allows the 33 collections recog- between local and national provision of these plans a reality. nised as being of national signiﬁ cance museum services.” Sport England seeks increased participation

Councils to end Sport England has called for “everyone in sport” to do more to increase cotton wool culture participation by people with learning difﬁ culties. Council leaders across the UK have Sport England hair, Richard announced plans to introduce zip Lewis, made the call as he wires, tree houses and large climbing announced a funding package structures in playgrounds across the worth £200,000 for this year’s country in order to put adventure back Special Olympics. into children’s playtime. The event, which will be held in Research from the Local Government Leicester between 25 and 31 July, is Association (LGA) has revealed that open to children and adults with a councils are including an increasing Thousands of playgrounds will be upgraded learning disability, and thousands amount of adventure equipment as part are expected to compete. of a scheme to build or refurbish more Local authorities are also introduc- Lewis said: “The games offer a than 3,500 playgrounds by 2011, which ing holiday play schemes, including chance for more than 2,700 athletes has been funded by a £235m funding BMX biking, surﬁ ng and circus skills, as of all ages to realise their potential package outlined in the government’s part of efforts to end what the LGA has and experience the thrill of compet- Children’s Plan. labelled a “cotton wool culture”. ing in a major sporting event.

Welsh bi-lingual sports plan unveiled

The Sports Council for Wales (SCW) Cynon Taf, with plans to spread the is establishing new bilingual drop-in scheme throughout Wales by 2013. sports centres throughout the country The venture will train and employ to encourage young people to take part 300 Welsh-speaking sports leaders and in physical activity, while supporting a 60 coaches. plan to boost the Welsh language. SCW chair Philip Carling said: “We The four-year scheme being launched are passionate about sport and our rich in collaboration with Urdd Gobaith heritage and language. It makes sense Cymru will see almost £140,000 being that we make sport as welcoming as invested in 32 new drop in centres, 24 possible to everyone in Wales. That’s new community clubs, school holiday why we are making sure that there are programmes and sports festivals in plenty of opportunities for people to Cardiff, Ceredigion, Eryri and Rhondda take part in bilingual sports sessions.” The scheme will run for four years

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 15 NEWS Property

Weston pier scheme back on track

Plans for the £34m redevelopment of the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare are back on track after the owners of the 104-year old attraction reached an agreement with North Somerset Council (NSC). Pier owner Kerry Michael had warned that the project was at risk of being shelved after claiming that the council had “moved the goalposts” in a dispute over legal costs and the construction of a new bus lay-by, as well as the installation of a seafront trafﬁ c light system. However, the Grand Pier is now The newly-built pier is scheduled to open in summer 2010 expected to reopen as planned in summer 2010 after a series of negotiations Michael said: “We have worked very quickly reached an agreement and between NSC and Michael resulted through the issues to reach a solution after that it was just a matter of putting in an agreement that has ensured the which is acceptable to all. Once the key the relevant professionals together to scheme remains on track. decision makers were all together, we formalise the agreement.

Birmingham designs unveiled

Birmingham City Council (BCC) has unveiled its preferred design proposals for a new £1.5m public square, which is set to be created in the centre of the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter. Plans put forward by Birmingham- based architects Capita Lovejoy have The stadium will hold 30,000 fans been selected by the council after local residents were invited to comment on The plans include a ‘Golden Square’ Bristol City in proposals from six shortlisted compa- talks over stadium nies during April and May. Jewellery Quarter, which is responsible At the heart of the designs for the for 40 per cent of all jewellery made in A new supermarket development new ‘Golden Square’ is a series of the UK each year. Green spaces, seat- on the site of the Ashton Gate sta- ‘exposed seams’, pointing towards the ing, fountains and lighting are also dium in Bristol could help to fund traditional material sources used in the incorporated in the plans. Bristol City Football Club’s (BCFC) new 30,000-seat venue planned for the outskirts of the city. Two-year planning extension for developers The club has confi rmed that it is in talks with supermarket giant Leisure developers are now able to at the council’s discretion if a reasona- Tesco over the proposals, which retain their planning permission from ble case is made. are meant to ensure the Football Westminster City Council for up to fi ve Cllr Robert Davis, Westminster City League Championship outfi t years in a move to help projects that Council’s deputy leader, said: “As the receives the maximum value for the are put on hold during the downturn. largest planning authority in the coun- site in order to fi nance the scheme. The council, which originally allowed try we receive more applications than It comes as BCFC group developers to keep their permission any other borough and our aim is to chief executive, Colin Sexstone, valid for up to three years, has intro- help as many developers as possible announced that the new sta- duced the extension so applicants can make these plans a reality.” dium, which will be built on a avoid the lengthy process of resub- Applicants who have already sub- 42-acre (17-hectare) site near the mission, or the risk of its project being mitted an application will also be con- Long Ashton park and ride facil- scrapped due to the long-term uncer- sidered for an extension provided they ity, will be prepared to form part of tainty. The extension will be supplied contact their case offi cer. England’s World Cup bid for 2018.

16 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 FACT: Despite high rainfall, limited capacities for water storage, coupled with our high population, means that there is relatively little water per head in the UK.

The Rippleffect is a free initiative by Envirowise to help businesses in England in their efforts to save water and money.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE? For more information and to register for the Rippleffect visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/rippleffect

www.envirowise.gov.uk BURNING QUESTION

Is the recession threatening the future of sports clubs in the UK?

According to a new study by Deloitte for the CCPR, up to four per cent of community sports clubs – 6,000 in total – are facing closure in the next year as a result of the economy. Pete Hayman examines what the future holds for sports clubs in the UK

CCPR, the umbrella organisation for 290 national governing As a result, clubs are already looking to cut back investment bodies and representative bodies for sport and recreation, has in facilities, coaching and community schemes to offset increas- recently published new research examining the impact of the ing costs that are being driven up by the introduction of new recession is having on community sports clubs in the UK. government regulations and soaring energy bills. Almost half of all the clubs that participated in the study have But with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games admitted that the situation is likely to get worse before it gets just three years away, is enough being done to ensure that clubs better, with the turbulent economic climate having a signiﬁ cant can weather the economic storm and to ensure that Britain can effect on membership numbers and revenue. fulﬁ l a promise to itself to become a world leader in sports?

BRIGID SIMMONDS he data shows that sports clubs are in trouble. CCPR has been Chair Tpushing the government to do CCPR more for sports clubs through its Subs for Clubs campaign and by fi ghting off the endless increases in regulation which increase their costs. community programmes. There can be million pound water companies, a This survey shows that, unless we no doubt that cuts will set us back. development tax and music licence act, thousands of local sports clubs The government also needs sports fees. Sport needs all the support it can could go under. That would be a tragic clubs to help introduce the fi ve hour get but, from the reception we receive shame for both their members and their offer for sport in schools. They simply in some government departments, you local communities. don’t have the staff or the commitment would think we were selling cigarettes Even those which survive the reces- from schools without involving local or fatty foods, rather than sport! sion are telling us that they are going sports clubs in the scheme. We know that sports clubs are likely to have to make cutbacks. These What we need now is a morato- to go to the wall as a result of the sports clubs have to make ends meet rium on any new regulations, laws and recession. But what we don’t want to and falls in subscriptions will be met charges affecting sports clubs. We are do is to compound that with any new with reductions in coaching, with already fi ghting off liquor licensing regulations which could push still more investment in kit and facilities and in fees, drainage charges from multi- of them over the edge.

RICHARD LEWIS port – along with other sectors – is facing tough economic Chair Schallenges, so we all need to Sport England be vigilant. But that doesn’t mean we should be unduly pessimistic. Grassroots sport is in good shape and our latest participation survey has For our part, we must make sure economic downturn. Encouragingly, revealed that the number of people par- grassroots sport derives maxi- there has already been considerable ticipating regularly is increasing. mum value for money from all Sport interest in the fi rst of our larger invest- So how do we deal with the chal- England’s investments. By monitoring, ment rounds, which will create a range lenges that lie ahead? Firstly, we need and sharing, the intelligence on what’s of sporting opportunities for people in to stand tall and stand together. We working and what’s not working, we rural communities. will support governing bodies in their can isolate the pressure points and Sport can, and will, be an important efforts to put clubs in a position to help sports overcome issues. We also part of the solution to this recession. weather the challenges. That’s not need to be brave and nimble enough Sport drives employment, it keeps peo- going to be an easy task, but having to adjust our plans if evidence shows ple fi t and healthy and it helps people the readiness to adapt and the determi- something isn’t working. Our open to develop attributes such as leader- nation to fi nd the ‘value offer’ for your funding rounds provide us with some ship, team-work and determination sport or your club will stand our sector fl exibility to target investment at areas that will help them and this country to in good stead for the future. which may have been affected by the emerge stronger from a diffi cult period.

18 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 GERRY SUTCLIFFE ith London 2012 now ﬁ rmly on the horizon, plus a host Sports minister Wof other major international Department for Culture, Media and Sport sporting events to look forward to during the next decade, these are exciting times for sport in the UK. The real leg- acy of this golden decade would be departments – shows we are working going through tough times but we are Britain building on its growing status together. And the Budget included a doing all we can to support the grass- as a world leader in sport, and I want new initiative to create 5,000 new jobs. roots. The government continues to two million more people more active, An unprecedented amount of public invest heavily in community sport and including one million through sport, by money has gone into community sport strongly encourage local authorities 2012. To do this, a strong community to ensure its growth and success, and and businesses to do the same. sport infrastructure is crucial. sport has received nearly £6bn since Almost £500m is going to sports gov- The recession is a challenge to all 1997. We also run a range of initiatives, erning bodies from now until 2013 to sectors but the government’s commit- including a tax relief scheme of up to increase participation. With this and ment to sport is unwavering. Across 80 per cent on business rates that 5,000 further investments, we’ll see that leg- Whitehall, government departments clubs are currently enjoying. acy come alive – Britain becoming a understand its value. Our £140m free Now is not the time to be talking world leading sporting nation with swimming programme – backed by ﬁ ve down sport. Of course some clubs are community clubs at its heart.

CHRISTINE NEYNDORFF he recent CCPR survey, in which half of sports clubs say that the Director Trecession is having a negative Hertfordshire County Sports Partnership effect, is alarming. If the trends that the survey identiﬁ es continue, sport at a local level will face problems. All but a handful of sports clubs are clubs. Further cuts in the already lim- club is a continuing struggle with soar- run by volunteers and funded by the ited support that councils provide may ing expenditure for facilities, energy members and their activities. Almost well lead to closures. The drop in par- and coaching. This is against a back- 40 per cent of clubs have already ticipation that a quarter of clubs have drop of increasing regulation and a experienced a downturn in member- already seen will weaken their argu- heightened expectation on the part of ship renewals, and with nearly 30 per ment for continued council support. funding agencies, local authorities and cent seeing a fall in new membership Nationally, central government fund- schools of the capacity of clubs to sup- enquiries, the ﬁ nancial outlook is bleak. ing for sport via Sport England is port national initiatives. Most local councils are review- increasingly being directed towards An increasing number of clubs are ing their budgets and, for many, this the national governing bodies for sport. suggesting that talk of developing ‘a will include a review of their cul- There is little indication that much, if world leading community sports sys- tural and sports activity, including the any, of this funding will end up help- tem’ is beginning to ring hollow. Our grant funding that they give to vol- ing local clubs with basic costs. The sports clubs need support – and they untary organisation such as sports day-to-day reality for a voluntary sports need it now.

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 19 HOTSEAT

LUITE MORAAL

Variously described as ‘glamping’ – glamorous camping – and the Boden of holidays, Feather Down Farms provides the opportunity for camping in salubrious tents on working farms. Kath Hudson speaks to Dutch-born Luite Feather Down Farms caters to big Moraal, the man behind the concept city familes who want to get back to nature and enjoy simple pleasures

How did you get into the leisure industry? What are your near-term expansion plans? I started off in marketing and advertising at a small agency and We are expanding quite rapidly because a lot of people are tell- in the early ‘80s I was scouted by the founder of Center Parcs, ing me we should come to their country. We opened a few Piet Derksen. I initially worked in marketing and advertising locations in France in 2008 and have three farms starting in the there before becoming involved in other areas, including prod- US in June and hope to add another two or three by the end of uct development. Later, I became a corporate director and was the year. Our fi rst German farm should open at the end of June. involved in the management team taking the concept overseas. When I joined there were only four or fi ve villages in Holland. How would you describe the concept? Is it ‘glamping’? Partly it is, yes! In general we are trying to give a real experi- Where did you go from there? ence. We target families in big cities, where the parents feel At Center Parcs I learned about the leisure market in general responsible for the education of their children and worry they and afterwards I spent some time working for Disney and was have lost their connection with the earth. For example, many involved in all kinds of projects as a leisure entrepreneur before children are surprised when they fi nd that milk is warm when it starting Feather Down Farms. comes from cows because they only know it from the fridge. How did the idea of Feather Down Farms come about? Who designed the tents? I was a director of a turnaround project for the Dutch National I’m afraid that would be me! All the comfort elements are there. Trust, which is a big property owner with a lot of farms. The clo- To have a fl ush loo in a tent is really quite comfortable. But sure of farms was creating a real problem for the organisation beyond that everything takes effort – making coffee takes three because it was left having to maintain the landscape, so the quarters of an hour. It’s about experience and being different chair asked me for ideas on how farms could diversify to keep from home. I wanted the accommodation to feel like it’s from a their businesses going. My market research showed that a lot of certain undefi ned era when life was still simple and good. people were looking for holiday experiences where less is more; there is also a growing need for responsibility for your actions How involved can guests become with the farm? and the desire to quit comfort and luxury in favour of a real expe- There’s always some farm life to experience, but it varies from rience. All of this triggered the idea of Feather Down Farms. farm to farm depending on how much the farmer wants to offer. There are usually small livestock and calves to feed, but it’s When was the fi rst Feather Down Farm opened? not likely guests will be milking the cows. Also we have ara- In Holland in 2004, and we started the fi rst pilot in the UK in ble farms where they are not always harvesting. However, there 2006 with Manor Farm in Hampshire. I love the UK and have are always some animals to interact with, such as chickens for always been impressed with the UK market. guests to collect eggs. How did you get farmers excited about the idea? Would a play area go against the concept? Because it’s such a good concept! We address it on the website A swing from an apple tree is fi ne, but no fully equipped play- and we have various sources of fi nding farmers. grounds. That’s what city people are trying to get away from.

20 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Tents feature wood-ﬁ red stoves (above) and comfy beds (below left); guests can interact with farm animals (below)

THE CONCEPT

Feather Down Farm tents sleep when you have to bring loads of kit, There are 21 farms across the UK, six, with a master bedroom, bunk the tents are fully equipped, allowing from Cornwall to Scotland and the bedroom, canopy bed and toilet. people to come on holiday with just Lake District to Suffolk. In Holland, Spacious and atmospheric, the tents clothes and wellies. where the company is known as have a fl ushable toilet, cold running The aim of the experience is to Boerenbed, there are 12 farms. France water and a coal or wood-fi red stove slow people down, reconnect them has fi ve farms under the name Un Lit for cooking and to provide heat. Light with nature and allow simple pleas- au Pré. Three sites were piloted in the is provided by oil lamps and can- ures, such as reading aloud by US in May, and more are expected to dles, there’s no electricity in the tent candlelight, preparing meals on launch in 2010. and for a hot shower you need to go stoves and chatting around fi res. For Prices vary according to season, to the shower block. Farm shops sell farmers, Feather Down Farms pro- length of stay and even the coun- local produce and coffee beans which vides a much needed extra income try, but at £795 for a peak week in can be ground on the tent grinder. stream and means they can continue England, the experience is compara- Unlike the usual camping experience maintaining the landscape. ble to paying for a holiday cottage.

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 21 HOTSEAT

Participating farms earn extra income, allowing them to maintain the landscape

GOING ‘GLAMPING’

A relatively recent trend, ‘glamp- At the high end, hot tubs, massages back to nature by cooking on open ing’, or glamorous camping, appeals and caterers are on offer, and holidays ﬁ res. The tents are often furnished. to those who wouldn’t usually cost the same as an expensive hotel. Reasonably priced and one step dream of setting foot inside a tent, Slightly cheaper are stays in tipis and up from camping is the camping pod. or who have grown out of camping. yurts – spacious, sturdy tents pop- Timber-built (from locally-sourced ‘Glampsites’ offer plush tents with ularised by Native Americans and wood, of course, because glamping is soft beds, running water and warmth, Central Asian nomads respectively. very green), with lockable patio doors providing guests with an outdoor Sites offering tipi or yurt accomoda- and insulated with sheeps’ wool, camping experience that boasts many tion generally advocate holidays with pods mean you can go camping with- of the comforts of a holiday cottage. low carbon footprints, and getting out a tent and you won’t get wet.

Do people use the farm as a base to How many are you hoping to open? explore the area or do they spend We aim for national coverage, focussing most of their time on the farms? on the popular tourist destinations. So far Eighty per cent of our business is from it’s only a small scale concept. In the UK, short breaks, and these holidaymakers London is the main target area and we tend to stay in and around the farm. They have about 20 so far. arrive on Friday night and settle in, lighting the candles and the stove. The tent is How many farms are there in total? really great to experience. 40 or 50. Some people do make it their main summer holiday, however. It’s really a What’s been the biggest challenge? domestic product, although we are start- Getting the fi nances in place! ing to see some people from the UK and Holland going to France. Was that made harder by the current climate? What other activities are Of course, although I had the fi nances on offer besides interaction arranged before the downturn and the with animals and the experience of the tent? credit crunch isn’t evident in our bookings. Most farmers join Feather Down to broaden their income, so it’s up to them what they offer. Some farms have an offer with What has been the highlight of your career? smoke barrels to make stews over an open fi re, as well as Oh, for sure it’s Feather Down. It’s been enjoyable and reward- wood-fi red oven dinners. ing, and nice to work with farmers. Do the campers interact? What are your plans for the next 12 months? Yes, without having a Hi-de-Hi! Atmosphere. There are no par- Continue as we do. We’re still quite young and in the building ties or bingo nights, but most farms have a kind of communal up phase. I want to carry on making all those countries work bread oven supper or lunch once a week, where guests would nicely and make sure the farms offer a great experience. Then I have a glass of wine or cider together. will be extremely happy. How do you ensure standards are maintained? How about longer term? We have regular meetings and agreed and shared minimum per- I have no fi xed idea. We’ll continue to expand in Germany, the formance levels. We also have a sophisticated guest enquiry US and France, and we may add one or two more countries, system and have lots of feedback from customers. but that’s not an objective as such. I do have a strategy, but there’s not a big business plan behind it – people approach us How quickly can a farm become and that’s how it mostly works. operational from the fi rst enquiry? We can turn it around within weeks. It’s my investment, there’s no What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? investment from farmer unless he has to make changes on site. Be daring. Believe in yourself. ●

22 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 VAC 2009 the annual National Conference of Visitor Attractions wednesday 7 october 2009

Where? The QEII Conference Centre, London. Who? You, if you are an owner, manager or marketer of a visitor attraction, an opinion former, a tourism or heritage professional. Why? Never have Britain’s Visitor Attractions faced more challenging trading conditions. But “Challenges make Champions” – and we will be examining what the best do to survive and thrive, and learning from Attractions that have made exceptional gains. Evaluate your strategies to stay one step ahead. This is your conference – organised on a not-for-profit basis by the industry. Come and exchange ideas and information with fellow Delegates and question industry leaders. BOOK NOW! Please log onto the official VAC 2009 website to register for the conference www.vac2009.co.uk Early bird and multiple booking discount registration rates will apply. Early Booking Deadline 6 August 2009!

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

Supported by DESIGN SPA FOCUS designnews project: novi spa hotels & resort design: studio ante murales location: novi vinodolski, croatia

%35m spa opens at Croatian resort A new %25m (US$35.2m, £21.83m) spa and wellness concept has opened at the Novi Spa Hotels & Resort property in Novi Vinodolski, Croatia. The spa has wall-to-ceiling windows throughout, offering views over the Adriatic Sea to the Island of Krk and includes 22 treatment rooms and six spa suites. Designed by the architect Ante Niksa Bilic from Studio Ante Murales in Zagreb, Croatia, the concept of the spa focuses on traditional Oriental philosophies combined with a more traditionally Western, holistic approach. Facilities include a 14 saunas, including an outdoor Finnish sauna, a laconium, three steambaths, a salt peeling bath and a Kneipp area. There is also a whirlpool with heated sea- water and indoor and outdoor thalasso swimming pools.

project: the serai

design: raison d’etre / jaisal and anjali singh

location: jaisalmer, rajasthan

Rajasthan tent spa in the works

Spa development and management consultancy Raison d’Etre is to work in partnership with Sujan Luxury Hotels to create a tented spa for The Serai camp in Rajasthan. Opening later this year, The Serai will feature 21 canvas tents for accommodation, including one with a private spa area, swimming pool and lounge. Four treatment tents will be set apart from the main camp, each with a welcome area, changing area and treatment space. Locally-sourced stone and canvas are being used throughout the spa. A rooftop sky lounge will also be located on site.

project: emerald bay spa

design: pueblo bonito resorts

location: mazatlan, mexico

Emerald Bay Spa launches in Mexico

A 16,500sq ft (1,532sq m) free-standing spa has opened at the Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay resort in Mazatlan, Mexico. The site is one of seven in the group’s portfolio. The Emerald Bay Spa was designed by a Pueblo Bonito Resorts team, and has features including a chromotherapy room, reﬂ exology paths, 11 treatment rooms, and wet areas with jacuzzis and aromotherapy showers. The design was inspired by Mazatlan’s early beauty and features neoclassi- cal ﬂ ourishes and warm colours.

24 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2009 © cybertrek 2009 project: jw marriott hotel and spa design: hirsch bedner associates location: shenzhen, china

JW Marriott Shenzen debuts

The JW Marriott hotel and spa in Shenzhen, China has launched. Designed by hospitality consultancy Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the property is located in the city’s new business district of Futian and was adapted from an existing offi ce block and features a signature Quan Spa. The hotel’s design features sleek lines and geometrical symmetries. A two-story atrium lobby is wrapped with silver-leaf metal screens and lit by 18 giant fl oor lanterns; the space also features a refl ective pond and glass feature wall. The new property’s signature Quon spa has been designed around the concept of white water, with creative bubbles and fl owing water effects.

project: the vine hotel design: ricardo boﬁ ll/nini andrade silva location: madeira, portugal

New %1m vinotherapy-based spa A vinotherapy-based spa has opened at The Vine Hotel on the island of Madeira, Portugal. Located above the cobbled old quarters of the city of Funchal, The Hotel Vine has 57 hotel bedrooms as well as a large spa. The %1m (£889,690, US$1.25m) spa features TheraVine- branded vinotherapy treatments and products. Additional wellness facilities include a number of treatment rooms, a panoramic rooftop swimming pool and a large whirlpool. A member of the Design Hotels network, The Vine’s design aesthetic has been themed around the idea of good wine and grapes and has used a bold colour palette. Masterminded by Catalonian architect Ricardo Boﬁ ll, interiors have been created by Funchal-born designer Nini Andrade Silva.

project: andreus resort and spa

design: schletterer wellness & spa design

location: italy

Schletterer-designed spa launches

The Andreus resort and spa has opened in northern Italy within the Passeier Valley. Schletterer Wellness & Spa Design were responsible for the design of areas including the spa and gym as well as the hotel’s lobby and restaurants. Wood and natural stone is used throughout the hotel, as well as a large amount of natural light and this is followed through into the design of the 53,819sq ft (5,000sq m) spa, which combines Alpine elements with a Mediterranean inﬂ uence. Spa facilities include a herbal bath, reﬂ exology foot baths, whirlpools with underwater sound, a Kneipp walk, a panoramic sauna and a heated outdoor pool.

ISSUE 2 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 25 DESIGN team effort

Renowned venue designer Shaun Clarkson has worked with music industry legend Vince Power for over a decade. Kath Hudson speaks to Clarkson about his career, and asks Power about the partnership shaun clarkson

What do you enjoy about What do being a designer? you have I really enjoy creating fantasy worlds and to take into watching people’s reactions to some- consideration thing I’ve created. It’s very satisfying to when designing see people having an amazing time in an a venue? environment you’ve created. You have to know your market. How did you learn how Lighting is eve- to design venues? rything – people It was a big learning curve, but I learnt hate down light- the operational points with my own bar, ers. Localised or the William IV in Hoxton. That’s been shaded lighting is great in showing me how to design a sexy, and we’re Carrington House opened in November venue effi ciently and to understand the selling sex. When workings behind the bar. they’re out, people want to look sexy, feel blankets on the sofas and stuff! It’s anti- sexy and have sex! Whether it’s a grun- design, he keeps sending my designs What was your big break? gey club or a gay bar it’s all about that. back saying it’s overdesigned. We’re Working with Oliver Peyton. Through also designing a chain of delis and the him I met Vince Power about 15 years How do you approach the Farmers’ Market at St Pancras station. ago, and he adopted me as his designer. design of a venue? Going to see him was an intimidat- In a grungey music venue you don’t want What are your personal ing experience in those days. He had to frighten people off and you don’t par- projects in Norfolk? a headmaster’s button on his offi ce ticularly want them to remember the We’ve cornered the market for cool peo- instructing you to “wait” or “go away”, design. The biggest buzz is to do the ple who want to party. Bascially they are and he sat you in a 1950s dentists chair glamourous stuff: nightclubs offer great high-end fantasy houses which you can and was very business-like. scope and are very exciting. hire for the weekend. It’s a very urban crowd we cater for: What’s it like working with Vince? Which venue are you most proud of? 75 per cent London and 20 per cent other He gives you huge amounts of freedom Le Pigalle (a 1940s-inspired supper club big cities. They come mainly for birthday and completely trusts you, but if you fuck in London’s West End). It had a £2m parties for 30, 40, 50 or 60-year-olds, or up he gives you a hard time! Generally, budget and has an amazing atmosphere. hen weekends for older brides. though, he’s amazing to work with and It ticks all the boxes. I’ve seen people Cliff Barns (opened November 2004) I’m proud of what we’ve created together. like Marianne Faithfull and Eartha Kitt is the ultimate party house, Carrington perform there. House opened last November and now Where do you get your we’re working on an American-style inspiration from? What are you working motel. It will be a two-storey, 20-room Anything from a decorated pencil to the on at the moment? motel around a courtyard with a cov- Taj Mahal! I’ve always got a camera with The gay market is still buoyant: we’re ered pool, so you can have pool parties me. A lot of my infl uences come from doing a gay diner in Soho for Gaygar, all year round. There will be a diner and foreign travel: I like foreign retro and con- and Pendulum, a gay bar for Vince Power. communal spaces and a big function temporary ethnic. I shop a lot for furniture I’m also working on a recession-themed room, which will be able to hold about and love trawling through antique shops. bar for Vince, called LiquidNAtion, with 120 people for weddings.

26 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Shaun Clarkson & Vince Power PROJECTS

Bartok, London (1994) Odette’s, A cocktail and tapas club with a London (2006) theatrical atmosphere. Drapes, Inﬂ uenced by subdued lighting, chandeliers and Californian maroon and red furnishings were used. restaurants; yellows, whites The Palace, Luton (1994) and pale greys This is Las Vegas in Luton, were used to creating the glam fantasy world of create the feeling Caesar’s Palace in a new build. of sunshine.

Cube, London (1998) The Moose, The architecture of the building, a London (2006) 1960s bank, was the inspiration. A skiing lodge- The design followed the contours themed venue, and used muted colours. with a basement bar, club Rex, London (1999) and cocktail Plush velvets, crystal chandeliers, bar. It features cream coloured Camel Victoria, London (2008) comfortable sofas and leather timber, cow hide seats (pictured) A twist on the gentlemen’s club, armchairs create a decadent 1930s and Nordic murals. with turquoise stripey wallpaper atmosphere, infl uenced by art noveau. and orange Chesterfi elds. The Pigalle Club, London (2006) Sugar, Cardiff (2004) 1940s glamour is recreated with Black Bull, London (2009) A multi-storey disco with different aged wood panelling and twinkling A comfortable, understated members themes on different fl oors getting more mirrors. Diners are entertained bar for people visit before the match. hardcore the higher they go: a video by a houseband and waited on basement, lounge fl oor and rave fl oor. by staff in 1940s uniforms. By Robyn Sampson vince power you tamper too much with an artists’ work, you spoil it. That’s how I feel with Shaun. So yes, you could say he does How important is the have pretty much a free rein. design of a venue? The majority of the overall design and What is your favourite venue look is paramount to the success of the Shaun has created for you and why? venue/project. I would have to say The Pigalle Club. It took a very long time to do and it’s styled You’ve been working with Shaun as a 1940 speakeasy/supperclub. for around 15 years, how did you fi rst come across him? Has he ever done anything you I met Shaun one night in a sleazy bar in have insisted on changing? Soho and we have been colleagues and No! It’s actually the opposite. I’ve used friends ever since. other designers on some venues which haven’t been as successful, and have What did you like about his drafted in Shaun to change it. designs? What would you say is his trademark? Tell me about the concept When it comes to design Shaun has a for LiquidNAtion. sense of freedom about this taste. He The bar is going to refl ect the sign of the is very ecclectic and will try anything. time. It’s going to be a fun bar, relaxed Shaun has the courage to go where other and no pretence, stripped back with an designers wouldn’t dare. undesigned feel and look to it, where students can come and listen to live How do you work together? music – the best bands – and buy non- Do you give him a free rein? branded cocktails, wines and beers, all I do. Shaun is an artist. Sometimes when at great value.

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 27 ARCHITECT’S FOCUS

New designs for Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre (above) and Plymouth Life Centre (below)

ARCHIAL ARCHITECTS

Director Paul Weston talks to Andrea Jezovit about his ﬁ rm’s designs for two major upcoming projects, the £46.5m Plymouth Life Centre and Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre’s new £10m dive pool.

What was your brief for the What was the inspiration behind your design? Plymouth Life Centre? It’s come from the wide range of stakeholders and Plymouth To create a major regional facility that would be fl exible to cater residents who are eagerly anticipating this facility. We want to for the needs of the local community and drive up participation make a difference in their lives and in the community, and the in sport and physical activity, as well as to support the needs of exciting form of the building comes from the activities inside. high-level athletes like Plymouth diver Tom Daley. This is a major project for Plymouth City Council and one of It’s an extensive brief that includes a 25m by 15.5m diving the region’s biggest ever investments in leisure facilities. It will pool to FINA standards with a dry dive area; a 50m 10-lane pool become one of the country’s leading centres of aquatic excel- with two movable fl oors and booms; leisure water with features lence. Our aim was to create a building which would be a focus and two fl umes; a climbing zone with climbing wall, boulder- of community pride as well as a visual gateway to the park. ing and high level aerial experience; an eight- lane indoor bowls centre; a 12-court multi-use sports hall; a 150-station fi tness What design features will help the gym; ancillary studios, dance/activity and squash; and a cafe/ building become a community hub? foyer that opens into the adjoining park. It’s a very large, striking and robust building, and will be visible from some distance away. We’ve accentuated the climbing What stage are you at with the project? zone and the diving pool so that they’ll be visible from the pri- We’re completing the tender documents for issue to the short- mary approaches to the centre. These will add to the dramatic listed design and build contractors and are awaiting detailed effect of the building, as will the large scale entrance portico planning consent. It’s a tight timescale but the centre is still on drawing in visitors from all sides. Visitors will be able to see track to open in late 2011. various facilities within the centre, and it will pull together all members of the community and users from the region – acting How will the design fi t into as a sport, leisure and social hub. Plymouth’s regeneration plans? Part of the Council’s vision for 2020 is for Plymouth to be “one What was the biggest challenge of the design? of Europe’s fi nest, most vibrant waterfront cities, where an out- The biggest challenge has been designing all the accommoda- standing quality of life is enjoyed by everyone”. The Life Centre tion into the site boundaries and ensuring that the facility will will be located to the north of Central Park – a green ‘lung’ also function effectively when football matches take place at running south towards the city centre – and is crucial to its Plymouth Argyle. It’s visible on all sides, so the quality of materi- regeneration, acting as a key focal point which will attract more als must be both robust and consistent. visitors and helping to ensure the city remains competitive and well-placed to attract further investment in the future. An area What’s your favourite part of the design? action plan and masterplan have been developed for Central It has to be the dive pool where Tom Daley will train to be our Park, and the Life Centre will be the fi rst major sign of the next gold medallist. It’s the focus of the pool hall, and it’s in the regeneration of the area. most prominent location on site.

28 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 PROJECT

The Plymouth Life Centre development is the city’s largest ever investment in leisure facilities

PROJECT ONE PROJECT TWO PLYMOUTH LIFE CENTRE SOUTHEND LEISURE AND TENNIS CENTRE

A £46.5m sport and leisure scheme to open in Archial has designed a £10m 25-metre dive centre and Plymouth’s Central Park in late 2011. The devel- eight-lane swimming pool to open as part of this exist- opment, aimed at becoming one of the country’s ing site in 2010. The diving facilities will include 3m, 5m, leading centres of aquatic excellence, is the city’s 7.5m and 10m diving platforms, each 3m wide to allow biggest ever investment in leisure facilities. for synchronised diving, and the pool will feature a move- Aside from a 25m by 15.5m diving pool built to FINA able ﬂ oor and water agitation and air cushion system. The standards with a dry dive area and a 50m 10 lane design also includes a leisure pool with water features pool, the facility will include climbing facilities, an and a dry diving area with a harness and trampolines. indoor bowls centre, a multi-use sports hall, a 150-sta- The facilities have been selected as a pre-games tion gym, dance and activity studios, and a café. training camp for the London 2012 Olympics.

What was your brief for Southend Council and Creating Leisure, which manages the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre? Leisure and Tennis Centre on behalf of the Authority. The scheme consists of a dive pool with 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m diving boards and movable fl oor together with dry dive facilities. Do you design your projects with There’s also an eight-lane, 25m competition pool, and changing environmental sustainability in mind? accommodation. This major extension then links to the existing We undertake bespoke BREEAM assessments on all our sport leisure centre. It’s been selected as a pre-games training camp and leisure projects, using such elements as biomass fuel sys- for the London 2012 Olympics. tems, rainwater harvesting and CHP plant. BREEAM Very Good standard has now become the norm for our public sector cli- What was the inspiration behind that design? ents, and we’re exploring ways we can develop this further. We’ve developed the design from a concept by Saville Jones which expresses the form and function of the different pool What other projects are you working areas. The curved roof profi le provides a strong landmark on in the leisure sector? viewed across the adjoining athletic track. We’re busy on a wide range of sport and leisure projects. Apart from Plymouth and Southend, we have two new pools under What challenges did you face with this design? construction at Nottingham and Barr Hill, plus a feasibility Again, this is a very restricted site and the design has had to study for a major project at Perth and refurbishment projects at ensure that the existing centre can function without interruption Hadleigh, University of Essex and Milton Keynes. These com- throughout construction. We’ve liaised closely with our client plement our recently completed schemes at Waendel Leisure offi cers from the culture division at Southend on Sea Borough Centre in Wellingborough and Riverside Pool in Norwich. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 29 KNATCHBULLPROFILE HBUL NATCHBULL

Curzon Artiﬁ cial Eye – the UK’s only integrated ﬁ lm distributor and cinema operator – has signed an exclusive deal with HMV that aims to bring cinema back to our town centres. The company’s CEO talks to Rhianon Howells about his vision

rowing up in a small town in the 1970s and 80s, my Now, following a recent deal between the niche fi lm distribu- local cinema was a magical place: everything from the tor and cinema operator, Curzon Artifi cial Eye (Curzon AE), and G cramped foyer to the scratchy, pull-down seats to the leading music/fi lm retailer HMV, the cinema could soon become interval ice creams (a Strawberry Mivvy or perhaps a a feature of our high streets once again – without the scratchy Cornetto) smacked of pure, unadulterated pleasure. Situated seats and with all the advantages modern technology can offer. on the high street rather than in a shopping mall or an out-of- In a 50-50 joint venture, the two companies plan to launch a town development, it loomed large in both the fabric of the town new chain of in-store, digital cinemas with 3D capability, under and the consciousness of its inhabitants in a way that modern the brand name HMV Curzon. The concept is set to be tri- multiplexes – for all their large screens, state-of-the-art sound alled in HMV Wimbledon from this September, with 200 seats systems and extra leg-room – do not. across three screens; if successful, it could be rolled out to up to 20 HMV stores nationwide, and possibly also to Waterstone’s bookshops, which are also owned by the HMV Group. “Mainstream operators build fi ve-, 10- or 15-screen boxes as a centre of a development,” explains Philip Knatchbull, the CEO of Curzon AE, which currently operates nine screens across fi ve cinemas in the London area. “What we’re doing, in a reversal of policy from 20 years ago, is taking cinemas back to the high street by putting them in high-street stores. We believe councils, and people generally, want the high street to be a more socially engaging space and we can make that happen.” FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE When Knatchbull’s speaking about the fi lm business, a real passion shines through. His father was peer of the realm Lord Brabourne, who, under the name John Brabourne, was a successful fi lm producer, working on classics like Romeo and Juliet (1968), Murder on the Orient Express and A Passage to India. Growing up in the industry, Knatchbull fell in love with it.

30 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Curzon Artifi cial Eye has fi ve cinemas, After graduating from Kent including sites in Soho (pictured Cinemas (unrelated to the National University and the London above and on opposite page) and Amusements-run chain of the same International Film School, he set up Mayfair (opposite page, bottom left). name), which owned the Richmond Front Page Films, which he ran until Filmhouse. All fi ve cinemas and the 1994, with credits as producer on a fi lm distribution arm were combined number of features. In 1989, he also became a founder share- under a single umbrella: Curzon Artifi cial Eye, jointly owned by holder and chairman of Showcase Cinemas, opening 10 screens Wingate’s Act Entertainment and Knatchbull Communications across London, before moving away from the industry into pri- Group, a private equity house controlled by Knatchbull. vate equity. It was his desire to get back into the industry he loved that led to the formation of Curzon AE in 2006. “I wanted A NEW-STYLE CINEMA to combine my fi lm knowledge with my fi nancing knowledge, Under the new umbrella, both Curzon Cinemas and Artifi cial Eye and I knew you could only enter this industry in one of two have remained focused on art-house and foreign-language fi lms. ways: from a position of strength, as a market leader, or as a While this market is currently very small and London-centric, it’s niche player, where you could be more fl exible and adaptable.” underexploited, says Knatchbull, and he believes there’s an even After an abortive attempt at bidding for the Odeon group wider potential market for less niche independent fi lms. (which eventually went to Guy Hands), Knatchbull started It’s with a view to tapping into this slightly more mainstream looking at opportunities within fi lm distribution, and quickly market, without diluting its existing brands, that Curzon AE has identifi ed Artifi cial Eye – a distributor of art-house and foreign- launched a second fi lm distribution arm – Chelsea Films – and language fi lms, with a 350-strong fi lm library – as a leading entered into the deal with HMV. But it was the arrival of new player in an under-exploited sector. The company also owned technology that actually made the HMV partnership possible, as two cinemas in London, The Chelsea Cinema and The Renoir Knatchbull explains. “With digital technology, we identifi ed early in Camden. But knowing that the independent fi lm sector was on an opportunity to build a new-style cinema using a modular, fi nding it increasingly diffi cult to access cinemas, Knatchbull scaleable approach, which until now wouldn’t have been pos- continued to shop around for other sites too. sible – the idea of building a cinema in a retail store would have Founded in Mayfair in 1934, Curzon Cinemas had opened been unthinkable three years ago. its second site in Soho in 1999. In 2006, its owner Roger “But with digital cinemas, you don’t need a projection box, Wingate signed a deal with Knatchbull to merge the com- you don’t need a box offi ce... you just need a digital projec- pany with Artifi cial Eye, as well as a third company, Showcase tor and a high-quality sound system and screen and seats. We

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 31 PROFILE

UK CINEMA NEWS Vue to open new 3D sites

The Vue cinema group, which who’ll be releasing what could be already boasts 641 screens across the biggest movie of all time – Avatar 66 sites in the UK, has announced – in December.” plans to open around 10 more sites 3D has numerous other applica- over the next two to three years, tions, says Richards. In April, in a including two state-of-the-art, all- European fi rst, Vue successfully digital cinemas with extensive 3D tested the fi rst live 3D satellite trans- capability. mission of a live music event, when The fi rst site will be located in it beamed an hour-long concert by the Westfi eld shopping centre in pop band Keane to its Vue West Shepherd’s Bush, west London. The End cinema. “It was an important cinema will have 3,000 seats across milestone, as it successfully demon- 14 digital screens, at least seven of strated that the technology’s there which will have 3D capability. to do concerts, sporting events, com- In addition, three of the screens edy and opera, all in 3D.” will offer leather seats, and be Another area with huge potential served by a separate box offi ce and is gaming, Richards adds. “We’ve VIP foyer and bar, with valet park- been trialling that for around two ing also on offer. While Vue has been Vue CEO Tim Richards years, and we’re trying to get the offering ‘premier screens’ for some software companies to start creat- years, the Westfi eld site “takes the According to Richards, digital ing specifi c games for the big screen concept to a whole new level,” says 3D fi lm is one of the most excit- – and again that could be in 3D. The Vue CEO Tim Richards, who con- ing recent developments in the problem right now is that the tech- fi rms that the company is having a sector. “It’s a perfect immersive nology limits it to a small number of “dramatically good year” despite the experience,” he says. “Every major characters, but games companies economic downturn. producer and director in Hollywood say it’s possible to have up to 100 The site is scheduled to open in has a 3D project right now, from recognisable characters on screen at December. A second, similar devel- Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson once, and that’s the goal – 100 peo- opment is also planned for Stratford, who have teamed up to do three ple chasing and shooting each other to open in 2011. Tintin movies to James Cameron, and blowing each other up!”

already knew a lot about HMV because our distribution company their business is after six o’clock, whereas the stores open at sells a vast number of DVDs through their stores; we knew they nine or 10 in the morning. So that, along with the digital tech- were developing their stores with their ‘Next Generation’ rollout, nology, gives us the opportunity to try different things, such as and we knew they’d likely want to diversify given the potential education or live music or gaming competitions. And we can problems with the CD and DVD market [due to competition from also do simultaneous live broadcasts across multiple screens. downloads] over the next few years. So we approached them “For instance, if Will Smith was releasing a new fi lm or album, with the idea, and they rapidly understood and embraced it.” we could do a simultaneous live link with him to help push his The pilot site is set to open later this year on the under-uti- CDs or DVDs. So it’s a good marketing tool as well.” lised second fl oor of HMV’s Wimbledon store. Wimbledon, says To accommodate the much wider variation in opening hours Knatchbull, ticked all the right boxes in terms of both the space and programming, the company also plans to experiment with and the demographic profi le, which refl ects that of existing active pricing, although Knatchbull says it’s too early to say Curzon customers. The site will initially offer a similar programme what the different tiers might be. to that of other Curzon cinemas with a view to diversifying later on. “It may take time to get the major distributors, such as the HOME AND AWAY Hollywood studios, on side,” explains Knatchbull, “but I think As the only company in the UK both to distribute fi lms and once we prove the concept we can move more into the main- operate cinemas, Curzon AE has a distinct competitive advan- stream, which will facilitate the rollout across the country.” tage, says Knatchbull. “Having a fully integrated company, In line with other Curzon Cinemas, HMV Curzon will also with everything from cinemas at one end to downloads at the include a small café and a foyer area that will be integrated into other, puts us in a unique position, because it allows us to take the store; tickets will be bought online or from HMV tills. “We’re chances in an ever-changing marketplace.” trying to create a space where people can sit down and join An example of this experimentation is a partnership with tel- in and talk about whatever’s going on, rather than just being a evision broadcaster BSkyB, whereby Artifi cial Eye fi lms are widget that goes in, pays £10, gets popcorn and disappears. released simultaneously on the pay-per-view Sky Box Offi ce, We want to engage more with our audience.” and at Curzon Cinemas, with the same price (£10) charged for One obvious difference between traditional Curzon Cinemas a cinema ticket or to view the fi lm at home. Rather than see- and the new sites will be the opening hours, says Knatchbull. ing home cinema – be it pay-per-view, DVD or downloads – as “Cinemas typically don’t open until one or two pm, and most of a threat to cinema-going, Knatchbull sees the potential, with

32 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 UK CINEMA NEWS Theatre broadcasts for City Screen

I think one of the key trends for the future will be that exhibitors increasingly concentrate on areas that differentiate them from their competitors

Independent fi lm exhibitor City can’t or don’t have the inclination to Screen, which has 46 screens across come to London,” says managing 18 sites in the UK, has become the director Lyn Goleby. fi rst cinema operator to broadcast The National Theatre tie-up builds live theatre on the big screen. on City Screen’s existing partner- In an exclusive tie-up with the ships with the Metropolitan Opera in National Theatre on 25 June, the New York, which sees up to 10 per- company beamed a production of formances a year transmitted live City Screen managing Racine’s Phèdre, starring Helen to cinemas in the UK, as well as the director Lyn Goleby Mirren, from the theatre on London’s Royal Opera House in London. South Bank, via satellite transmis- “I think one of the key trends for and young people locally.” sion, to all 18 of its sites, as well as to the future will be that exhibitors With admissions “hugely up” other cinemas it’s working in partner- increasingly concentrate areas that across the group, Goleby confi rms ship with. The event is the fi rst in a differentiate them from their com- expansion is on the cards, with fi ve planned series of four, with a second petitors,” says Goleby, adding that projects at various planning stages. play broadcast set for later this year City Screen’s daytime programming The group has also invested just and two more scheduled for 2010. is another of its key differentiators. under £500,000 in refurbishing its “I hope this will be the start of a “We offer autism-friendly screenings, Ritzy Picturehouse in Brixton, with a long-term partnership that will make and have education offi cers in sev- luxury screen, an area for live comedy theatre more accessible to those who eral cinemas who work with schools and music and a new bar/restaurant.

proper management, for the two to feed off each other. shared emotional experience. I don’t think the two are mutu- “We’re trying to pioneer the idea of home cinema and pub- ally exclusive and I think it’s perfectly believable that people will lic cinema as being complementary,” he says. “I passionately want both experiences at different times.” believe that people will always want to leave their home to Knatchbull does not expect the recession to negatively go to the cinema, and the evidence so far suggests that [the affect business at all. “The fi lm business generally and cine- BSkyB partnership] is increasing cinema admissions, because mas specifi cally are very recession-resistant, and in fact cinema of the awareness of the fi lms created by Sky’s huge market- admissions have gone up in previous recessions. So for us it’s ing platform. We as a small distributor cannot compete with the actually an opportunity, because on one hand we have a strong Hollywood studios for marketing, and Sky has 1.5 million cus- business, and on the other hand, commercial property prices tomers, so that’s a fantastic opportunity for independent cinema. are under enormous pressure, which makes our current growth “Then again, the reason we’re able to do this is that we’re a strategy even more likely to be worthwhile.” small, fully integrated cinema owner and distributor, so we can The only possible impact, he says, may result from the fact take these risks whereas some people really can’t.” that funding to make fi lms has temporarily dried up, which could In general, Knatchbull believes trying to fi ght increasing con- have a knock-on effect on admissions further down the line if sumer demand for controlling how and when they view fi lms the quality of the products deteriorate as a result. is like swimming against the tide – but he doesn’t necessarily see this as a bad thing. “At the moment, there are four months COMING SOON between a fi lm being released in a cinema and it being available If the Wimbledon site is meeting targets after three months, on DVD, and there’s huge pressure from customers to reduce the plan is to open another pilot outside London, possibly that window – and, with piracy on our backs, I think we’ll reach Manchester or Glasgow, as a prelude to a national rollout. In a point in the future when most new fi lms will be simultaneously addition, Curzon AE has identifi ed a number of sites outside available across all platforms, from cinemas to DVDs to down- London for standalone Curzon Cinemas that will be entirely dig- loads. But I don’t see that as the death of cinema at all. ital and with 3D capability, and is also looking to purchase an “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with watching a fi lm additional fi lm catalogue and further build its online presence on my mobile phone on the train for one price, and then in the – but for now Knatchbull is focused on making HMV Curzon a evening paying another price to go out with my girlfriend to success. If the strategy pays off, a new-style cinema could be see a fi lm on a huge screen with a great sound system for that coming soon to a high street near you. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 33 RESEARCH consumer caution

s the country responds to A new Mintel report shows A vastly changed economic condi- that it’s recession fears, not tions, latest research from lack of funds, that currently Mintel reveals an interesting and enlightening has consumers curbing their picture of how consumers are reacting – and more spending. Sian Brenchley reports importantly, adjusting their behaviour. The recently published ‘British Lifestyles’, Mintel’s of what may happen to their personal per cent) are worried about their job or fl agship research report, has revealed fi nancial situation. What’s more, while employment prospects. However, it’s how fear of the recession is driving con- less than half of adults (43 per cent) claim important to remember that many consumer behaviour more than an actual to have been personally affected by the sumers are cutting back not because change in circumstances. The research recession, as many as three quarters (71 they have to, but because it’s seen as reveals more than two in fi ve adults now per cent) of consumers have cut down on the right thing to do. Nobody wants to claim to have been personally impacted spending as a result of the economic sit- be seen as being too fl ash in a troubled by the recession. Moreover, another 39 uation. Only 13 per cent said they didn’t economy. Many consumers are unsure per cent know someone who has been know anyone who’d been affected. when recovery will come, and without affected. Clearly, the effects of the cur- Although most consumers are wor- this confi dence, they’re unlikely to start rent downturn are already widespread. ried about their own personal situation, making long-term plans again. more are worried about the state of the The British Lifestyles research also SCALING BACK economy as a whole. Around seventy indicates fears over Britain's troubled Contrary to the belief that lack of spend- per cent of consumers in Britain are con- economy are eclipsing major personal ing is the full result of lack of funds, the cerned about the state of the economy, concerns such as health and crime. research fi nds around a third of adults (30 compared with 59 per cent who are con- When asked about key concerns, the per cent) in Britain admitting they have cerned about their own personal fi nancial economy ranked as the nation's number cut back on spending mainly through fear situation. Interestingly, even fewer (37 one issue, at 71 per cent. Meanwhile, other personal concerns such as crime FIGURE 1 and health are causing considerably less THE ITEMS ADULTS ARE CUTTING BACK ON IN THE RECESSION, FEB 2009 worry. Indeed, today less than half of the nation is worried about crime (46 per Base: 1,440 adults aged 16+ who have cut their expenditure in the recession cent) and the state of their health (43 per cent), compared to a year ago when they Clothing 74 ranked as the top consumer concerns. Restaurants 66 Snacks (crisps, biscuits etc) 63 BIG TICKET ITEMS Drinking out (i.e. at the pub) 59 It seems big ticket items will bear the Weekly groceries 58 brunt of these attitudes. Over a third (35 CDs, DVDs 54 per cent) of us admit that the recession Coffee bars, sandwich shops, etc. 54 has prevented us from booking a main Haircuts 45 holiday in the next six months. The same Cinema 42 number say that the recession has pre- Live entertainment (eg. theatre, ballet) 37 vented them from putting more money Computer games 35 into savings. When asked which items Newspapers, magazines 34 consumers would cut back on in the Books 33 recession, as many as three-quarters (74 Toiletries (eg. shampoo, skincare) 33 per cent) of Britons said they would cut Charity donations 32 back spend on clothing and two-thirds Gym, exercise class 26 (66 per cent) would spend less on res- Drinking at home 26 taurants. However, just a quarter (26 per Petrol 22 cent) said they would cut back on spend- Smoking 15 ing on drinking at home. Other everyday items 14 The research also reveals how con- Children’s pocket money 9 sumers in Britain are shunning drinking at the pub, with 59 per cent saying they are 0 20 40 60 80 cutting back in this area, instead choos- % respondents ing to splash out large sums of money

34 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 59 per cent of British consumers say they’re avoiding the pub, instead preferring to spend large sums of money on drinking at home PHOTO: WWW.BRITAINONVIEW.COM

on alcohol. Today, the average British FIGURE 2 household spends £30 per week on alco- HOLIDAY & TRAVEL SALES VALUE, BY SUB-SECTOR, 2008 hol, amounting to as much as a bottle of wine per night per household. Breaks abroad 4+ nights (long) – 38% In 2008, consumers in the UK spent Breaks abroad 1–3 nights – 3% £28.8bn on entertainment – spending has grown 48 per cent in last decade and has been relatively slow in the past couple of UK short breaks – 3% years. However, it seems evenings out are the fi rst to suffer when it comes to cut backs - spending on nights out declined Coach & bus travel – 4% eight per cent in 2008 and has grown by only 12 per cent in the last decade. The eating out market in the UK was valued at Rail travel – 9% £31.1bn in 2008 and the average UK consumer spends £10 per week on eating outside of the home. Spending has risen UK long breaks – 14% 55 per cent, faster than in-home food expenditure. Indeed, in 2008, for every £1 spent on food, 50p was channelled Airlines – 29% through restaurant and takeaway estab- lishments. Although this is unchanged on 2007, it compares with 44p in the pound SOURCE: MINTEL MARKET SIZE DATABASE in 1998. Mintel research shows that while the economic climate is forcing consumers to cut back on eating out, the fast And while the travel bug has prompted package holidays sold in the UK. Overall food market is unlikely to suffer. a major expansion of overseas holi- however, packages have been decreas- days at the expense of UK ones, this ing in popularity – in 2001, 54 per cent of TRENDS IN TRAVEL trend could be reversed as the economic holiday spending was on inclusive pack- The holiday market as a whole also looks climate encourages Brits to seek expe- ages, falling to 45 per cent by 2008. set to be impacted. British Lifestyles riences closer to home or cut back on Bearing all this in mind, the impact for reveals that the next 12 months may see additional weekends away. As Brits look businesses is considerable. With a signif- the traditional mid-market family holiday for domestic holiday options, holiday icant three in ten adults cutting back on struggle. Thirty-fi ve per cent of consum- centres in UK are enjoying a revival – this their spending mainly through fear of how ers report that the current economic type of holiday accounts for an increas- the recession might affect them, the chal- climate has prevented them from booking ing proportion of UK domestic holiday lenge for manufacturers and retailers is to a main holiday, despite the fact that such business, and currently stands at 16 per overcome this fear and make consumers a break has increasingly become seen as cent. The holiday centre market in the UK feel safe about spending again. Even if a right rather than a privilege throughout is estimated to have been worth £1.3bn someone hasn’t been personally affected the recent era of cheap, easily accessi- with 6.4 million visitors in 2008. by the recession, knowing others who ble overseas travel. In 2008, consumers In addition, the recession hasn’t spelled have been can shake a person’s confi - spent just under £60bn on holidays and disaster for all areas of overseas holiday dence. In these diffi cult times, it’s evident travel, representing an average household spend. All-inclusive holidays have bucked consumers are changing their spend- spend of £2,259 per year. Our love of new the overall trend, with the fact that costs ing behaviour and adapting, whether or horizons has seen spending increase 61 are included in one prepaid price prov- not it’s necessary. It seems as a nation per cent over the past decade, as Brits ing popular as consumers look to control we’re thinking ahead, and for those who increasingly focused on what they did, costs. Mintel estimates all-inclusive prod- haven’t been personally affected by the rather than what they owned. ucts account for 20 to 25 per cent of all recession, preparation is key. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 35 NEWS REPORT

STAYING STRONG

Amid economic uncertainty, businesses across the sector are turning to innovative solutions to keep customers and remain The BuyStirlingAlbion campaign (top left) is resilient. Pete Hayman reports making a bold move to save Stirling Albion Football Club; Whitbread (above) is creating 1,000 new jobs

stablishing new, profi table busi- director in Deloitte's Sports Business keen to point out that those who’ve lost ness models which take account Group, explains: "In the current eco- a job are not the only ones the company E of changing income streams has nomic climate, supporters are looking is looking to target: "Fresh Start is one prompted a number of crea- for value for money above all else from of a host of value initiatives Esporta has tive and effective initiatives, as operators their season tickets. Offering deeply recently introduced in response to the work to ensure their businesses come discounted tickets for children is becom- economic climate,” he says. throught the recession in good shape. ing more common and this can help fi ll As Woking Borough Council has empty seats, nurture future fans of the proven, lowering gym charges can have VALUE FOR MONEY club and provides assistance to families dramatic results. It reduced monthly fees For some, this has been achieved who buy more than one season ticket." for 2008-09 from £49 – a level which through a series of price reductions. The England and Wales Cricket Board generated 650 members and £194k of Football clubs have been quick to appre- (ECB) has introduced a raft of money- membership income – to £35. The change ciate the long-term benefi ts of rewarding saving schemes designed to get more increased membership to 2,000 and gen- their most loyal customers with dis- people attending domestic and interna- erated £325k of income – a 68 per cent counted rates on season tickets to tional cricket fi xtures this summer under increase, according to the The Leisure maintain a healthy level of retention. the 'Great Exhibition' marketing umbrella. Database’s Leisure Pricing Report. Bolton Wanderers Football Club cut Free entry for young people and two-for- the price of a child's season ticket by 64 one deals have been implemented for NEW APPROACH per cent ahead of the 2008-09 season – Friends Provident Trophy fi xtures, while It’s the potential growth which can be one of a number of price reductions that the ECB has teamed up with The Sun driven by discounting that’s seen budget led to a 3.2 per cent increase in sales. newspaper to offer signifi cantly reduced hotel operators such as Travelodge slash For the 2009-10 season, the club has just ticket prices for Twenty20 Cup fi xtures. prices to as low as £9 per night per room announced that due to the success of Meanwhile, Esporta, one of the UK's in recent months, as predictions suggest the childen’s reductions, adult prices will leading health and racquet club opera- an increasing number of people holiday- be decreased by 11 per cent. Chair Phil tors, has taken a novel approach, with ing at home in 2009. But while a price Gartside says attendances have gone up a campaign which appeals to those hit war rages among the budget chains, by 7.5 per cent as a direct result of this hardest by the downturn. Fresh Start, a other hospitality companies are revising change in pricing – the biggest increase new discounted membership package their strategies to attract new customers. in the Premier League. for people who’ve been made redundant Parmontley Hall Country Lodges at the It’s a strategy that’s not exclusive to launched in April 2009. Whitfi eld Estate in Northumberland made Bolton Wanderers, as Paul Rawnsley, Esporta chief executive Glenn Timms is lodges available to let for short breaks in

36 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Esporta has unveiled a discount membership package for people who have been made redundent, along with other initiatives to help customers ﬁ ght the recession addition to its standard purchase option. vital boost to London's economy." England and Wales, says the bank appre- This made the properties more accessi- The LDA's plan to invest money to ciates the concerns businesses have, ble to potential clients, while at the same make money is shared by Whitbread, and reiterates Readman's assertion that time generating income for the company operator of Premier Inn and Beefeater the necessary guidance is there. during a time of slow property sales. restaurants. At a time when some are cut- Elsewhere, holiday village operating back, Whitbread has unveiled a new RADICAL OPTIONS tor Pierre et Vacances hopes favourable employer-led apprentice scheme, coupled In some cases, the only option left is the mortgage interest rates will encour- with the creation of 1,000 jobs through the most radical, as Stirling Albion Football age Brits to consider leaseback property opening of 12 hotels, four restaurants and Club has recently found. investments abroad this summer and is over 100 Costa Coffee shops this year. Faced with growing concerns over marketing a range of options. Not all companies are experienc- the future of the Scottish League ing growth, however, and the long-term Division Two club, an audacious bid to TOURISM INITIATIVE implications of redundancies can have acquire the business in its entirety has With predicted increases in the number a negative effect according to David been launched by the Stirling Albion of UK residents holidaying at home and Readman of Employment Practice and Supporters' Trust. the number of overseas visitors to Britain, Law: "Before implementing redun- The trust is aiming to recruit an addi- London mayor Boris Johnson and the dancy procedures, consider alternatives tional 20,000 members, each paying a London Development Agency (LDA) seriously,” he says, “Flexible work- £40 fee, to raise enough capital to buy have taken a different approach to making arrangements, for example, enable out the current chair, Peter McKenzie. ing sure the capital beneﬁ ts this summer. employers to retain valuable, experienced Paul Goodwin of the BuyStirlingAlbion The 'Only in London' marketing campaign staff. However understandable, employers campaign appreciates it’s a bold move to aims to emphasise the unique nature of should not undertake redundancy for any take, but says that the options are rap- the city's attractions to overseas tourists, other reason than the necessity of losing idly running out. "We have to be very and if successful, could net up to £60m unsustainable jobs." clear that if this campaign doesn't come for London's economy. 'Turning the Corner', a new scheme off, there’s a very serious danger we may LDA chair Harvey McGrath says: from Barclays Commercial Bank, is cease to exist as a League club." "We’re providing additional funding based on the belief that having full However radical the campaign may for VisitLondon as part of the mayor's awareness of the relevant HR issues and be, it serves as a potent example that in Economic Recovery Action Plan, and investing in the right training for staff the current climate, risk-taking is more attracting additional visitors to London is will pay dividends in the long run. David accepted and that courage, innovation a highly cost-effective way of providing a Marks, the bank's managing director for and determination are crucial. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 37 BIG ambitions A FITTER CITY

EDINBURGH IS AIMING TO BECOME THE MOST PHYSICALLY ACTIVE CITY IN EUROPE BY 2020. JULIE CRAMER REPORTS IN THE SECOND OF OUR SERIES ON CITIES WITH BIG AMBITIONS

dinburgh is a city of natural beauty, sporting and cultural E heritage, a thriving annual arts festival and new year celebrations which draw crowds from around the world. So it’s perhaps not surprising that when a council steering group came The Edinburgh Nocturne to pen a strategy looking at the future of sport and leisure in the Scottish capital, it wanted to create something on an ambi- cer showing some of the fastest-growing rates. Its death rate tious scale. In 2003, that document – A Capital Commitment to from coronary heart disease was the second-highest in Europe, Sport – laid out the council’s aims for Edinburgh to become the with 12,500 premature deaths per year. most physically active city in Europe by 2020. For public health departments and the leisure sector alike, the They were lofty ambitions, but also ambitions generated by ﬁ rst challenge was to get the message across to the public that a true health crisis, not just in Edinburgh, but Scotland as a increasing levels of physical activity could signiﬁ cantly reduce whole. Statistics from the government as it published its White these mortality rates and positively improve health. The second, Paper for Health a decade ago would not have made easy read- a rather uphill challenge, was to translate words into action, and ing for health and leisure professionals. actually get people to participate. Life expectancy at birth in Scotland was less than in England, From its White Paper, the Scottish Government went on in Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland’s death rate from cancer 2000 to form the Physical Activity Task Force dedicated to man- was the highest in Western Europe, with colon and breast can- aging national health objectives – initially headed by former

The Heineken Cup Final The MoonWalk Edinburgh

EDINBURGH’S CAPITAL COMMITMENT TO SPORT

Edinburgh’s Capital Commitment s Review access costs for young people of increasing participation to Sport came up with a number s Strengthen the place and value of s Maximise opportunities for resource- of recommendations for the city PE, school and community sport based access for walking, cycling and going forward, including: s In target sports, establish and running in Edinburgh and nearby s Increase participation by people from provide sustained support for clear s Create a Sports Forum to build links under-represented sections of the sports development pathways with the voluntary sports sector community with the appointment s Create better programmes s Employ a full-time marketing team of development ofﬁ cers of activity for girls for sport and physical recreation s Involve young people in the s Develop family-friendly policies s Establish an action plan to attract planning of provision with the particular objective more major sporting events to the city

38 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 international rugby player John Beattie. Edinburgh’s Rat SAUGHTON PARK SKATEPARK In 2003, the Scottish Executive produced Race (above) a physical activity strategy entitled Let’s is one of the ne of the main chal- make Scotland more active. That same active events lenges identifi ed in year, Edinburgh’s city council produced taking place O Edinburgh council’s its own fi rst attempt at “joined-up think- this year strategy document was to ing” across the leisure sector. There may tackle the worrying levels of still be 11 years to its 2020 target, but how has the council fared inactivity among young peo- so far in translating its 30-page document into concrete action? ple. Another challenge was The council’s head of sport and physical activity, Stephanie- to reduce crime and vandal- Anne Harris, admits that the 2020 ambition “was a bit of ism through the promotion of blue-sky thinking”. “We wanted a strategy that everybody – the positive lifestyles. public, sports clubs, the voluntary and health sectors – could A development which will buy into,” she says. While a lot of work has already been done at contribute to these aims is the grass roots level in schools and leisure centres, 2009 seems the new £750,000 skatepark to be the year that projects long in the pipeline are now being at Saughton Park, which will launched – and results are starting to become measurable. be the biggest skatepark in Scotland. Construction on Construction will REBRANDING the 2,100sq m facility starts fi nish in December One successful project has been to rebrand the city’s annual this summer and is due to be sports calendar, changing the name from FutureSport to completed in December. Activcity, and more than doubling the number of events this The park, designed with ested in traditional sports.” year to 82. Sports development offi cer Kathy Reynolds, who help from local skater and The development has had worked on the project, says there was a conscious decision BMX-er Dave Sowerby, will a chequered history, with to move away from the idea of “just sport”. “We wanted to be free to access, and will two other sites in Edinburgh promote the idea of physical activity and put on events that eve- offer beginner areas, inter- being rejected by plan- rybody, no matter what their fi tness level, could get involved in.” mediate ramps and more ners over the past 10 years. This year’s calendar, running from April 2009 to February challenging features for com- Now that the site has fi nally 2010 naturally includes the big international crowd-pullers, such petition-standard users. The almost arrived, Travers is as the Heineken Cup Final at Murrayfi eld – but each month is design includes timed fl ood- excited about its future. also packed with events that invite participation. May saw the lighting, toilets and a cafe. “I met someone involved Edinburgh Nocturne, a night-time event for cyclists of all levels, Senior community devel- with a skatepark in and the MoonWalk Edinburgh – a charity walking event open to opment offi cer at the council, Dumbarton, and the commu- everyone, also held overnight, took place in June. John Travers, says: “There’s nity has seen crime drop 33 Activcity, which receives a dedicated budget of £117,000, huge anticipation from the per cent. On weekend eve- is also the sponsor of Edinburgh’s fi rst-ever Festival of Sport, skating community about nings, local youths have to running from 18-28 June with 70 different events covering 30 the opening of this site. It will apply for a ticket at the local sports. Again, the focus is on encouraging diversity and partici- attract many youngsters who police to enter the park. It’s pation – such as free golf lessons, tai chi workshops, ‘come and wouldn’t normally be inter- been a great success.”

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 39 BIG ambitions

SUPPORTING SCOTLAND’S AIMS try petanque’ and a Brazilian ju jitsu open The city’s day. The inaugural event is supported ageing Royal The Physical Activity and sector. Members can access by ClubSportEdinburgh, an independ- Commonwealth Health Alliance (paha.org.uk) key national strategy docu- ent body which is the collective voice of Pool will receive is an online community web- ments and current research sports clubs in the city – and an organi- a £37m redesign site bringing together those related to physical activity, sation which has also rebranded itself in (above). involved in the promotion of and are encouraged to con- the past couple of years. physical activity in Scotland, tribute and share information whether from the health, lei- with each other through the FINDING FACILITIES sure, voluntary or private online forum. Edinburgh does not lack open spaces to host such kind of events, but when the council steering group evaluated sports facility provision back in 2003, it came up with a mixed picture. revamped Victorian pool will reopen in spring 2010. Swimming pool provision was found to be “excellent” and in When the council examined sportshall provision in the city, areas such as the port of Leith there was even thought to be the picture was not so rosy. It estimated that only 34 per cent an oversupply. However, many of these older facilities were in a of demand was being satisﬁ ed by existing non-school-based rundown state, and a capital investment budget was ringfenced provision. A way to boost this, it decided, would be to open up for facility renewal. Projects range from straightforward leisure larger public school halls to the public – which could then sat- centre refurbishments to grander projects. Harris says work will isfy an estimated 77 per cent of demand. Harris says work in start in August on the ageing Royal Commonwealth pool, which this area is “ongoing”, and through public/private partnership is a national facility for Scotland. The £37m redevelopment – to schemes many school halls are being upgraded and opened up include a 50m pool and new diving facility that will be used for – thus improving reach in the city’s more under-resourced areas. the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 – will produce a A somewhat controversial project is the city’s Meadowbank sparkling new facility in two years time. Stadium - a large-scale multi-purpose sports complex built A £5m, 18-month refurbishment is also underway at the when Edinburgh ﬁ rst hosted the Commonwealth Games Glenogle Swim Centre in Stockbridge, part of a wider coun- in 1970. There were plans formed in 2006 to demolish cil strategy to preserve all the city’s historic Victorian baths. The Meadowbank, sell off the land and use the funds to build a

SCOTLAND’S HEALTH

he Scottish Health Survey 2003 cantly between 1995 and 2003, from (0-30 minutes, on seven days a week). looked at 8,148 adults and 3,324 56 per cent to 64 per cent in men, School activities were not included. T children, and found the following: and from 47 per cent to 57 per cent in Activity levels declined with age among s The proportions of men and women women. The proportion of people who girls aged 8-10, but not among boys. aged 16-74 who were meeting physi- were morbidly obese more than dou- s The most common activities reported cal activity requirements (30 minutes bled in this time. by children were: walking (boys 92 of activity on most days) increased s 39 per cent of men and 35 per cent per cent, girls 94 per cent); active play from 41 per cent in 1998 to 44 per cent of women spent an average of four (boys 91 per cent, girls 88 per cent); in 2003 in men, and from 30 per cent in or more hours sitting at a screen per and sports and exercise (73 per cent 1998 to 33 per cent in 2003 in women. weekday (this increased at weekends). boys, 68 per cent girls). Increases in physical activity participa- s 74 per cent of boys and 63 per cent s 32 per cent of boys and 24 per cent of tion were especially marked for men of girls aged 2-15 had a high physical girls aged 13-15 spent on average four and women aged 55-74. activity level (at least 60 minutes, seven or more hours a day sitting at a screen s 65 per cent of men and 60 per cent of days a week). 12 per cent of boys and (TV, computer or video game). There women were either overweight (BMI 18 per cent of girls had medium levels was an increase in the prevalence of 25-30) or obese (BMI 30-plus). The (30-59 minutes, seven days a week), obesity in boys between 1998-2003 proportion of adults who were either while 13 per cent of boys and 19 per (from 29 per cent to 35 per cent), but overweight or obese increased signiﬁ - cent of girls had a low activity level no change for girls (30 per cent).

40 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 The Primary School Sport Challenge

SCOTLAND’S TARGETS smaller facility in the east of the “health message blitzing’ (post- city. However, this has been met by The Scottish under, to meet the ers, leafl ets in GP surgeries, bus widespread opposition from local Government’s tar- minimum recom- shelter adverts, etc), particu- campaign groups. According to gets to increase mended levels by larly in poorer pockets of the city Harris, the project is currently on hold physical activity are: 2022. To meet this such as Craigavon, Craigmillar and due to the economic climate”. to achieve 50 per goal, it will need Muirhouse, where problems may be cent of all adults to see average masked by Edinburgh’s generally GROWTH IN VISITS aged over 16, and increases of one per perceived affl uence. The most basic Working on delivering much of the 80 per cent of chil- cent a year across message – as refl ected in the UK’s physical activity agenda is Edinburgh dren aged 16 and the population Change 4 Life campaign (just being Leisure – a not-for-profi t company piloted in Scotland) – advises 30 min- which receives £9m a year (towards a total leisure spend of over utes of activity per day for adults and 60 minutes for children. £24m) to run the council’s 31 leisure venues. The company’s At the time of the government’s White Paper, there were three Allison Brodie says leisure visits are showing steady growth. In times as many inactive Scots as those who were smokers. “The 2002/3, there were 3.6 million annual visits to leisure centres in dangers of physical inactivity is the most important message to Edinburgh, which has a population of over 450,000. That fi gure is convey in public health,” says Harris. “People know smoking currently 4.1m, and the 2008/09 revenue of £16.2m from leisure can kill, but they don’t necessarily link inactivity to a greater risk visits represents a six per cent increase on the previous year. of heart disease, colon cancer or mental health problems.” The company now operates many targeted schemes aimed By 2020, the council will not have a defi nitive way to ‘meas- at bringing specifi c populations in touch with a healthier life- ure’ its results – the process is considered more important than style. One, Edinburgh’s Young Sports Ambassadors, a fi rst end results. Harris says one encouraging marker this year has for Scotland, has seen 11 young sporting ambassadors been the city’s 10K race. More than 10,000 runners registered picked from Edinburgh schools to give young people a voice for the event, which took place on 3 May – up from 6,000 to and develop new sport and activity programmes for youth. 7,000 participants last year. Edinburgh Leisure also operates the BAA Youth Games, which For a more detailed health picture, the council is monitoring has grown year on year over the past decade; this year’s event its achievements in line with the government’s Scottish Health saw 1,600 partipants from schools across the city. Survey, an in-depth look at the health of the nation in private For older residents unable to access services, Edinburgh households. Surveys took place in 1995, 1998 and 2003. The Leisure brings activities to care and nursing homes. For moth- most recent study, started in 2008, will be carried out over three ers diagnosed with post-natal depression, a scheme delivered years, with the fi rst results to be published this summer. alongside health partners gives them access to discounted lei- As for Edinburgh becoming Europe’s most active city, again, sure facilities and fully-funded creche places. there will be no concrete markers – only, it’s hoped, a growth in reputation. “We think of Amsterdam as a healthy city because GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS everybody cycles, and we want Edinburgh to gain this kind of Going forward, Harris says the council is looking to do more reputation,” says Harris. For most in the city – leisure providers work with the Lothian NHS Trust. This work is really about and leisure users alike – it will be the taking part that counts. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 41 FIRST PERSON TACKLING TOURISM

THE BRITISH TOURISM FRAMEWORK REVIEW HAS DETERMINED HOW VISITBRITAIN CAN BEST WORK TO DELIVER THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE VISITOR ECONOMY. CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUES, VISIT BRITAIN CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE REVIEW, DISCUSSES THE RESULTS

ver the last six months, VisitBritain has been working if you will – into its rightful position as one of Britain’s leading with the industry to implement the recommenda- industries. An industry with a very high employment coeffi cient; O tions of the British Tourism Framework Review. an industry with signifi cant multiplier benefi ts to the rest of the Commissioned by the secretary of state for the DCMS, economy and to the quality of life we live in Britain; and, criti- this review examined the entire infrastructure surrounding the cally, an industry that – to paraphrase a well known commercial visitor economy to ensure that spending is directed as effi ciently – “reaches parts of the economy other industries cannot reach”. as possible. It’s already led to a restructuring of VisitBritain to focus on policy, platforms and our overseas network, and to a RISKS REVEALED separate VisitEngland with its own CEO. The Deloitte research revealed that the total economic contri- In parallel, a Deloitte and Oxford Economics study commis- bution of the visitor economy to Britain is £114bn, or 8.2 per sioned by VisitBritain and the Tourism Alliance revealed the cent of total GDP, and employs 2.6 million people. In the longer scale of our industry’s contribution to the economy. The review term it predicts that the sector’s economic impact could grow took devolution as a given; its solutions are robust and will sur- to £188bn by 2018, and that the 2012 Olympics in particular vive any future reorganisation at the regional or national level. should provide a signifi cant boost to tourism and travel rev- It soon became clear that we needed, once and for all, to enues. However, it details a number of risks to the sector that move the visitor economy from being an industry that people would prevent it delivering that target. As well as the turbulent only notice when times are bad – the foot and mouth syndrome, economic climate, Deloitte highlights a number of market fail- ures and policy barriers that “could prevent the visitor economy (Below) A new tourism body, VisitEngland, will from optimising its potential”. These include a lack of informa- promote the likes of the Peak District, the British tion about what’s on offer for visitors, skill shortages, transport Museum and London’s Albert Bridge to visitors diffi culties and overcrowding. The report also details areas PHOTOS: VISITLONDONIMAGES/ BRITAINONVIEW PHOTO: BRITAINONVIEW/ VISIT PEAKS & DERBYSHIRE/ DANIEL BOSWORTH DANIEL VISIT PEAKS & DERBYSHIRE/ PHOTO: BRITAINONVIEW/

42 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 VisitBritain’s new strategy will attempt to reach visitors through a focus on national and regional brands as well as the Britain brand

where government policy could risk the visitor economy’s suc- AT A SUPERFICIAL LEVEL, IT’S CLEAR cess, such as transport infrastructure investment, the high cost of taxes and visas to enter the UK, and climate change legislation. THAT SIMPLE DESTINATION MARKETING Thanks to the research, there can be no doubt the visitor econ- IS NO LONGER ENOUGH. WE HAVE omy is a key part of the UK economy. But devolution, industry TO MARKET EXPERIENCES fragmentation, the free rider effect and the need to operate over a time frame at a level not reached by the typical SME means government’s role is critical. We can’t leave it to the industry brands and to use whichever was best fi t for purpose. Despite and devolved authorities alone if we’re to reach our full potential. some media claims, this doesn’t mean abandoning the Britain At a superfi cial level it’s clear that simple destination market- brand entirely. There will still be some valuable promotional part- PHOTO: WWW.BRITAINONVIEW.COM ing is no longer enough. We have to market experiences. Or to nerships – particularly around the Olympics – that may only be put it another way, we have to recognise that few people go to an available if everyone works together under a single brand. RDA for a holiday even if that’s the way the government chooses For VisitBritain, it means a strategy that will inspire the world to hand out money. More importantly, the review team concluded to explore Britain, delivering an invaluable global overseas that without greater collaboration and coordination, our thriving network to champion the national brands – Britain, England, past might be followed by a less certain future. And so the review London, Scotland, and Wales. It will enable us to remain the looked at what we have to do to improve our prospects. authority on maximising the value of the visitor economy, for coordinating the voice of British tourism policy, and for provid- VISITBRITAIN’S ROLE ing transaction and technology platforms that extend the reach Since the latest Comprehensive Spending Review fi xed the of industry to the consumer. The review also identifi ed a critical money available, this meant looking at ways to improve the effi - need for VisitBritain’s sponsoring ministry, DCMS, to recognise ciency and effectiveness of VisitBritain’s relationship with the that many of the priorities for the industry are not in the hands industry and with other public sector bodies. It revealed a wide- of its ministers. Historically tourism has all too often been an spread view that VisitBritain’s role should evolve to refl ect the afterthought. It needs to be on the checklist of every relevant realpolitik of devolution and the maturing attitudes, capabili- minister and it is our job to work with DCMS to ensure that is ties and expectations of its strategic partners. And while people the case. One of the most important roles for the minister and agreed that activities should be undertaken using the Britain secretary of state is to ensure that tourism is taken into account brand in some markets – particularly emerging ones – it was in decisions made across government departments. clear that in territories nearer to and more familiar with Britain, The review has also led to the establishment of VisitEngland it was time to recognise our portfolio of national and regional as a standalone, strategic leadership body, which for the fi rst

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 43 BRITISH TOURISM PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DAVIDPHOTO: JOYNER

time truly represents English tourism’s Partnerships industry in line with a national tourism strategy. Banks would public and private sector stakeholders. with British provide the funds, and government would provide guaranteed In the minds of the England stakehold- Airways repayment of loans and support for an interest cap on them. ers its role is to work in partnership with and Air Asia the RDAs, local authorities and the pri- have proved sEasier, cheaper visa processes vate sector to create an English national successful, The industry believes we must trial a Schengen Plus scheme tourism strategy, optimise market- helping to immediately in China, India, Russia, Thailand and the UAE. For ing investment and develop the visitor put ‘bums on £20, when these visitors are planning trips to Shengen coun- experience. The aim is to create a body seats’ on ﬂ ights tries, they might no longer be dissuaded from visiting us simply capable of driving economic growth to Britain because a UK visa is too expensive. We urge easing the proc- and excellence in English tourism. The ess to allow for tourist visa applications in local languages, Partners for England Forum – which brings together the nation’s rather than English alone, and a greater number of processing public and private sectors – continues to provide the primary centres, as well as investment in immigration staff to provide a platform for stakeholder engagement with VisitEngland. speedier and more friendly welcome for visitors.

KEY PRIORITIES sAdditional funding to enable VisitBritain to Following the publication of the review and after the industry match commercial sector investment was recognised by the prime minister at the National Tourism Around the world, carriers, accommodation providers and tour Summit in January, government invited the industry to submit operators are prepared to invest in marketing activity, if only fi ve priorities where government could demonstrate support: VisitBritain puts its money where its mouth is and matches those funds. We have already seen signifi cant success across sImproved government recognition of tourism our Asia-Pacifi c markets through partnerships with British Work here has already gathered pace with the fi rst meetings Airways and Air Asia, which have put ‘bums on seats’ on fl ights of the cross-Whitehall co-ordination group and the Tourism to Britain. Investment now would also help us take advantage of Advisory Council to help ensure tourism is considered in policy- exchange rates currently in our favour and while the industry is making decisions across all departments. Government should offering great deals to attract consumers. ensure tourism measures are included in the way local authority performance is reported and rewarded, or they should be given sA review of business taxation a duty to have a positive strategy for tourism in their areas. Government could achieve much by ensuring the recently announced Small Firms Enterprise Guarantee Scheme applies sSupport for jobs and business development of the industry to tourism businesses, as well as giving tourism businesses a To continue to excel as a leading visitor destination, Britain VAT holiday. It was also a missed opportunity for a government needs to make business operators aware of the benefi ts of that didn’t make use of the budget to reduce or repeal air pas- striving for even better standards across the board. Government senger duty, which is due to rise later this year, adding another can help by providing incentives for SMEs to retain and train – layer to Britain’s competitive disadvantage. Bringing forward and not just recruit – staff. The Learning & Skills Council and capital investment, such as high speed rail links to Scotland and People 1st should work with local authorities to ensure this road and rail transport infrastructure in the West Country, would training is delivered. In particular, councils and local chambers benefi t the whole industry as the UK comes out of recession. of commerce should identify local businesses in the transport, After a year of discussion in producing the framework review, retail, hospitality and leisure sectors that can best be engaged we’re already making progress on a year of action. The review in the skills improvement agenda. highlights why the industry, the public sector and government Industry has long considered the benefi ts of creating a need to work closely together to deliver the visitor economy’s Tourism Development Bank. Tourism is a business of 200,000 full potential. As Britain invests to escape a recession, our work SMEs and many are having diffi culties securing loans to invest can ensure that, with investment, tourism can help lead the way. in their businesses. A Tourism Development Bank – a joint ven- The Economic Case for the Visitor Economy by Deloitte and ture between the public sector and the private sector (the Oxford Economics, and full and summary versions of the British banks) – would focus on supporting investment fi nance into the Tourism Framework Review, are available at tourismreview.co.uk ●

44 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 SET YOUR SIGHTS N A SMALL FORTUNE

Whether you are looking for a valuable addition to your current business, or a start-up project to enhance your earnings potential, Lasersport and Pulse Ranger have the answer.

Ideal for corporate entertainment, team building, or just as an enjoyable day out for groups of any ages, both Lasersport clay pigeon shooting, and the Pulse SHOOT TO THRILL Ranger next-generation combat game provide an adrenaline buzz which safely puts paintballing in the shade.

Both use a harmless infrared beam which is picked up by sophisticated detectors, meaning they’re safe for the environment and don’t create any mess. The products are extremely adaptable: ● Suitable for players of all ages and abilities ● Easily portable ● Played almost anywhere – indoors and out! So with no expensive facilities needed, you really can just set up and start making money. If you want to find out more about the phenomenon that’s hit over forty countries around the world, and is offered on the top cruise liners, call our expert team now. With an excellent business pedigree, we’ll help you make a healthier living in sports and leisure. Telephone +44 (0)1746 767186 www.lasersport.biz

Email [email protected] Fax +44 (0)1746 761312 SET YOUR SIGHTS BISL This year’s budget offered a few positive announcements, but also measures that can sting businesses, not to mention little help for sport, leisure, hospitality and tourism, says Brigid Simmonds

A LOOK AT THE BUDGET

ith public borrowing at £175bn, 12 per cent of GDP, The chancellor’s offer to defer this year’s rates into later years and public sector net debt forecast to rise to 79 per could see businesses running into real trouble come 2010, W cent of GDP over the next fi ve years, there would when they have to pay higher rates under the next revaluation seem little left to help the sport, leisure, hospital- and back payments for this year. In addition, supplementary ity and tourism business based on April’s budget. But it’s worth business rates for all businesses will be introduced next year looking at what help is available and how the industry’s doing. by individual local authorities, which have the ability to add 2p To many raised eyebrows, the chancellor forecast GDP in the pound. Local authorities and businesses outside London growth of 1.25 per cent for 2010, and 3.5 per cent from 2011. need to discuss what the additional rates will pay for, but inside This led him to promise to protect investment in key public serv- the M25 most of these rates are earmarked for the Crossrail ices, notably education and health. But he also promised further project, so there’s no chance that they’ll be deferred. effi ciencies across Whitehall. As a result, DCMS will contrib- The chancellor also announced that CIL – the Community ute £20m in savings as part of an additional £5bn in 2010-2011. Infrastructure Levy – will be deferred until April 2010. (We’re still Watch this space for cuts from DCMS – how will sport be awaiting the fi nal details on how the scheme will work). But this affected? (Not from front line services yet, it’s understood.) Calls again allows local authorities to tax new and existing develop- for more funding for tourism are likely to fall on deaf ears. ments requiring planning permission. The tax is discretionary For all businesses paying business rates, the chancellor from local authorities, but there’s no doubt that many will intro- announced the optionof spreading payments for this year’s busi- duce it. Many businesses had asked the government to make ness rates over three years. There is, however, a real sting in the changes to Empty Property Rate Relief – which is leading to tail for all ratepayers – the new rating revaluation kicks in from empty buildings being pulled down as the only alternative to 2010, based on trading as at 1 April 2008, when economic con- paying this tax – but no changes were made in the budget. So ditions were much more favourable than they are now. Gerald for those who own property, the outlook is rather depressing. Eve has looked at the effect on a whole series of leisure sectors including pubs, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and cinema. In POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS almost all of these sectors, trading conditions were much better On a more positive level, the chancellor announced that the in 2008, and therefore the 2010 revaluation will be higher. government will extend the enhanced ‘loss relief’, which allows companies to offset profi ts in previous years against any current losses, for another year. The chancellor also announced a government top-up of trade credit insurance. This will help companies fi nding it diffi cult to persuade other companies to give them credit while they wait to be paid, by providing additional government-backed insurance against this risk. In the past few months, companies who specialise in credit insurance of this type have been withdrawing it from some businesses in the leisure sector on a rather ad hoc basis; this relief is particularly welcome. There will also be an increase in capital allowances for new investment to 40 per cent for one year, until 6 April 2010. While this relief is useful for capital projects currently underway, it’s unlikely many

The chancellor removed double taxation on bingo participation fees, but raised bingo duty PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/LISA KYLE YOUNG KYLE PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/LISA

46 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Despite alcohol duty rising, it seems attitudes towards the ailing pub industry have softened, Simmonds says It’s perhaps not unexpected that in the current economic climate, and with projects will be able to take advantage unless they’re very well- Treasury coffers rather bare, the sport, advanced. Finally the chancellor announced that the reduced rate of VAT, down from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, will end on leisure, hospitality and tourism industry 31 December 2009 – somewhat of a nightmare timing for pubs, didn’t receive much help bars and restaurants open late that night! ALCOHOL AND GAMBLING As expected, alcohol duty rose two per cent on 23 April in line LITTLE HELP FOR BISL MEMBERS with the escalator introduced last year. It’s interesting that this It’s perhaps not unexpected that in the current economic cli- puts the rate of infl ation at nonexistent, as the escalator worked mate, and with Treasury coffers rather bare, the sport, leisure, on two percentage points above infl ation. Despite this, it seems hospitality and tourism industry didn’t receive much help. On clear that the ‘Axe the Tax’ campaign by the pub and brewing the other hand, this government does see encouraging tour- industry has certainly been listened to and there is a softening ism and the visitor economy as a way out of recession. There’s of attitudes towards an industry with 40 pubs closing a week. no doubt the industry is hurting. Debt was once so popular For gambling, there were defi nitely changes. The chancellor with larger companies but is now a noose around their necks. decided on a long campaign to remove the ‘double taxa- Declines in asset values for property-based businesses is not tion’ on bingo participation fees, but more than made up for helping, but most BISL members are still generating cash, and this positive decision by raising bingo duty from 15 per cent as ever, cash is king. Their businesses are perfectly sound and to 22 per cent and including GPT (gross profi ts tax) on inter- it’s hoped many will emerge more strongly in time. val bingo. For Amusement Machine License Duty (AMLD) on BISL, like many other organizations, has been calling for a gaming machines, the increase across the board was nine per moratorium on legislation and regulations that cost industry cent, which is way above infl ation. Of even more concern was money. Delaying CIL will help, but there’s still more to do in this the announcement that there is to be a consultation on replac- area. The government is trying to do less, a trait bound to con- ing AMLD with GPT. The industry fought off a Treasury attempt tinue as we move towards an inevitable general election, which to bring in GPT in 2003. If AMLD is removed, one of the major must take place by June 2010. problems is that AMLD comes with VAT. If VAT is not paid, Brigid Simmonds is chief executive of Business In Sport neither can you reclaim it or offset it against other business and Leisure (BISL) which represents the interests of expenses. The industry waits with interest to see what the con- private sector companies in the sport and leisure industry. sultation might say and what rate is being considered. For more details contact 020 8780 2377 www.bisl.org ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 47 BUSINESS ANALYSIS companies with cash

Deals across the leisure sector have been slowing dramatically, but a few companies have the cash to take advantage of bargains. Matthew Goodman reports

hen regional brewer JW valuations at or nearing bottom, anyone with cash should be Lees announced the acqui- able to bag a few bargains – as JW Lees and some of the other W sition of ten pubs from one regional brewing and pub concerns have been doing, acquiring of the giants of the sec- sites from Punch they’d never have been able to buy before. tor, Punch Taverns, a few weeks ago, This idea has not been lost on Greene King, one of the country’s the news was reported excitedly in some biggest regional brewing and pub concerns. It recently raised places as the company’s biggest sin- £207.5m in a share offering, becoming the fi rst pub group to gle deal for over a century. Accurate turn to the markets to secure fresh capital this year. Part of the this may be, and the package of pubs proceeds of the rights issue will be to pay down part of its debt acquired from debt-burdened Punch will no doubt prove a great pile, but the company has also said a chunk of the new money fi t with JW Lees’ existing estate. It’s perhaps, though, a sign will be earmarked for acquisitions. of the times that such relatively modest acquisitions are being Rooney Anand, Greene King’s chief executive, said: “In the reported with a dash of hyperbole. current environment, we’re seeing an increase in high qual- The mergers and acquisitions boom of the last decade has ity pubs being put up for sale and our strong fi nancial position imploded to an alarming degree. The leisure sector had been a should enable us to take advantage of these opportunities.” particular favourite with private-equity investors, but with their The rights issue was generally well-received by the market, as sources of fi nance drying up, forcing them out of the market, the company is perceived as one of the better-run busineses in deals have slowed dramatically. Add to that the caution of trade the sector, and fund managers seem happy to back it to acquire players, who are understandably opting to batten down the pubs that may be struggling and need reviving. How many other hatches rather than go on spending sprees to snap up troubled pub groups may join Greene King in either raising money or rivals, and it’s no surprise deal volumes are almost non-existent. simply scouring the market for acquisitions remains to be seen – many are over-borrowed or may struggle to raise fresh capital. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBS A common mantra among dealmakers and advisers in the City THE RESTAURANT SCENE is that the current environment means a whole crop of oppor- Compared to the pub industry, the restaurant sector has been tunities, if only one could fi nd the money to fi nance them. With faring relatively well. Although there have been signifi cant num-

Greene King (above) and The Restaurant Group (right) both have cash for aquisitions

48 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Clapham House Group, which owns Gourmet Burger Kitchen (above), hopes to take advantage of bargains Aside from pubs and restaurants, an obvious area where companies are likely bers of closures, restaurants have not been hit by the smoking to pursue deals is in online gaming, ban, and clever use of price promotions has helped sustain the larger chains. Consequently, there are those around who where the leading operators intend to hope to take advantage of the present climate. Clapham House try and consolidate the market Group, for example, which owns brands including Gourmet Burger Kitchen and The Real Greek, has indicated that it hopes to capitalise on the weakness in the property market to snap up high quality sites that it might not otherwise have been able or Analysts suggest that such caution could pay off. Greg Feehely, willing to secure. Having renegotiated its banking arrangements, leisure analyst at Altium Securities, a stockbroker, says: “When which now run until 2012, the company has a £21.7m facility in is the best time to buy if prices are still falling? Shouldn’t you be place. At its interim results a few months ago, Clapham House waiting until the end of this year or early next year?” said it was positioned “well” to “take advantage of a rapidly softening UK property market as well as likely casualties in the OTHER AREAS independent restaurant sector”. It’s also reportedly in talks to Aside from the pub and restaurant industry, the most obvi- sell its Tootsies chain, which would raise further funds. ous area where companies have cash and are likely to purse Clapham House’s larger rival, The Restaurant Group, owner deals is in online gaming, where the leading operators, such of chains such as Frankie & Benny’s, also has cash availa- as PartyGaming and 888 Holdings, have both publicly stated ble for acquisitions. It too is more likely to use its resources their intention to try to consolidate the market. At the time of for single site deals. It recently acquired the freeholds of two writing, both are known to be keen, for example, on acquiring sites it was leasing from Punch Taverns. TRG’s chief execu- Cashcade, the owner of the popular Foxybingo.com web site. tive Andrew Page said: “The current climate in the pub market “The industry will see signiﬁ cant consolidation,” predicts Nick will yield some potentially lucrative opportunities to grow our Batram, leisure analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a broker. Pub Restaurant business in the future and to date we have pur- The big two tour operators, Thomas Cook and Tui, are also chased a couple of freeholds from Punch.” well placed to take advantage of the recession by acquiring He suggested that patience is a virtue in this market and smaller rivals. They have a habit of making bolt-on deals – Cook that holding back for the time being may be sensible. “We’ve snapped up Med Hotels earlier in the year – and this is only decided to ‘keep our powder dry’ in the expectation that over likely to continue. The recession has forced many travel-related the next couple of years we’ll have the opportunity to use our companies out of business, and the industry’s giants look well resources to greater effect. Longer-term, we believe this busi- placed to have their pick of the stragglers. ● ness has the potential to grow signiﬁ cantly.” Matthew Goodman is a business journalist at The Sunday Times

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 49 ECO DESIGN hotels gone green

hough airplanes, trucks and gas-guz- Horwath HTL and WATG have drafted T zling SUVs are easy a set of sustainable hotel development targets for envi- ronmentalists, buildings are guidelines aimed at encouraging the actually the single biggest con- industry to go green. WATG’s Howard tributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And hotels – operat- J Wolff talks about the initiative ing 24 hours a day, seven days a week – are among the worst offenders. Vehicles are being Forum – “a non-competitive platform for replaced every year with more fuel-effi - the sharing of ideas and the adoption cient models. But hotels are designed to of strategies to benefi t the industry as a last for 50 to 100 years. whole.” Under the stewardship and lead- While hotel buildings contribute heav- ership of its executive director Lyndall De ily to the problem, the good news is that Marco, WATG helped the ITP create an architects and designers, along with hos- array of tools and publications for hotel pitality consultants, can have a major owners and developers. One of those infl uence on improving the situation and initiatives – the creation of a booklet enti- reversing global warming. tled Going Green – is also included in Horwath’s feasibility reports. TEAMING UP TO CREATE GREEN GUIDELINES THE IMPETUS BEHIND Horwath HTL, the world’s largest hotel THE INITIATIVE industry consultancy (with 50 offi ces in Signifi cant energy savings can be 30 countries) has some infl uence with its achieved – at little or no additional cost – hospitality clients. They wanted to use through strategies such as proper siting, that infl uence for good by including – in smart design, careful selection of building every feasibility study that they produce materials and incorporating natural heat- – recommendations for developing and ing, cooling and ventilation. Planning, operating hotels sustainably. designing and constructing hotels that Robert Hecker, Horwath’s managing use less energy not only saves money who, in turn, are more likely to want to director, approached WATG to assist in but ultimately saves the planet. return for a positive experience. authoring a set of guidelines for green The biggest impediment to sustainable The bottom-line benefi ts are also hotel development, because of the design has been the owners’ belief they’ll becoming more obvious. Green hotels design fi rm’s experience creating envi- have to pay a premium. Recent research are sought after by meeting planners and ronmentally-sensitive hotels and resorts. by the US Green Building Council reveals leisure travellers alike, which increases Together with WATG, Horwath created the green premium has been shrinking the properties’ occupancy and room a Sustainable Hotel Development chapter and is now close to zero. Furthermore, rates and gives them a competitive edge that is now a part of the reports that they the more people insist on sustaina- – even in challenging economies. Not produce in the course of advising devel- ble design, the lower the costs will be, only are they saving energy, green hotels opers, lenders and investors on a way as manufacturers rush to offer more – that are less costly to operate have forward with their hospitality plans. and more affordable – environmentally greater value in the marketplace. friendly materials and products. As Prince Charles said 15 years ago: A THIRD PARTNER “Sustainable development doesn’t have In the early 1990s, as founding members GOING GREEN IS to be at odds with a reasonable return of the International Hotels Environment GOOD FOR BUSINESS on investment.” In fact, WATG designers Initiative (IHEI), in association with Prince In the very broadest sense, green isn’t would argue, it can enhance one’s return Charles, WATG’s architects helped to only good for the planet, it’s good for on investment. As Lyndall De Marco puts raise consciousness about how respon- people and for profi ts. It’s a win-win-win. it: “Sustainability and profi tability can sible hotel design and construction could Anecdotally, there’s evidence to sug- walk hand in hand.” become the foundation of a sustainable gest that green hotels have healthier hospitality industry. employees who feel proud of where they THE GUIDELINES IHEI later became the International work. That translates to increased morale, The Sustainable Hotel Development Tourism Partnership (ITP), associated lower turnover and higher productivity. It’s guidelines are intended to increase aware- with the International Business Leaders also noticed and appreciated by guests, ness and interest of stakeholders for

50 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 The recently opened Bardessono luxury lodge in California has been designed to achieve LEED Plantinum certiﬁ cation

undertaking development that respects building investments and achieve com- ence is enhanced through such features the environment. The guidelines pro- petitive prominence for their properties, as organic gardens, private courtyards vide implementable recommendations even in a tough economy. and outdoor showers, in-room mas- that encourage developers to create and One case in point is the recently sages, and the availability of bicycles and operate a sustainable hotel. opened Bardessono – an environmentally electric vehicles. Topics include site evaluation, archi- friendly, 62-room boutique luxury lodge According to owner and developer Phil tectural and interior design strategies, in the heart of California’s Napa Valley. Sherburne: “The decision to design and energy reduction, water conservation, Designed to achieve LEED Platinum cer- build such an environmentally advanced waste management, procurement and tiﬁ cation, features include 72 geothermal hotel has helped to insulate us in the cur- guest participation. Also included is a list wells to heat and cool guestrooms and rent economic climate.” PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAMMY DYESS PHOTO: COURTESY of resources, publications and organ- provide hot water, as well as 940 solar isations to help steer hotel owners, panels on the building’s ﬂ at roofs, which THE WAY FORWARD operators and developers in a more envi- produce 200 kW of power. Sustainable ‘Do not disturb’ – we think of these ronmentally-conscious direction. building materials and organic landscape words in their broadest sense, as a management practices include rammed- reminder that the sanctity of a place and PRACTICING WHAT earth sculptural walls and 100-year-old its people should be preserved in the WE PREACH olive trees. Automatically-adjusting exte- larger context of the built environment, The principles of responsive and respon- rior Venetian blinds control the sun and just as it is in the microcosm of a single sible design are fundamental to the heat. They’re part of an energy manage- hotel room. Fundamental to our mission success of WATG’s projects. Wherever ment system that turns off everything as architects, planners and designers is we work around the world, we encourage electric in the rooms when a guest leaves. a commitment to leave a place and its our clients to pursue sustainability. Bardessono connects with the environ- people better off by virtue of our work. As their operating costs go down and ment through the use of local, recycled Creating sustainable hotel guidelines their property values go up, WATG clients materials and the integration of outdoor allows others to do so as well. realise considerable return on their green spaces into the design. The guest experi- Wolff is senior vice president of WATG ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 51 HEALTH & FITNESS

YOUNG AT HEART

SHOKK énergie’s new Blackpool site is the partnership's ﬁ rst standalone health club for children, and part of a growing trend towards kids-only facilities. Caroline Wilkinson visits

chools, sports clubs and other youth-focused organi- were eager to create a facility that got Blackpool kids more sations, even the police – they’re scrambling over each active, off the streets and away from their games consoles. But, S other to use the new facilities at SHOKK Blackpool. according to Jane, convincing the kids wasn't the main chal- Whether it's through linking with schools to help achieve lenge – the parents were the barrier. Trying to get the message the government's directive of fi ve hours' exercise a week, open- across that the club is a lifestyle-based multi-activity centre, ing up to the local PCT and care homes, or working with the albeit with a gym – not a place where kids just pump weights police to help get disenfranchised youths off the streets, the club – has been a struggle. "When you fi rst hear about a kids' gym, is generating high levels of interest in the community. most respond with 'what's that?'” says Kieran Murphy, market- The new club is one of a number of standalone facilities for ing director at SHOKK. “It's not an easy concept to understand children opened across the health club industry recently. It’s also until you touch and feel it, so instructors have to take the kit the fi rst standalone facility developed under the joint franchise out and do demos. That way parents and schools can see what venture between youth fi tness specialist SHOKK and The éner- young people get from it, as opposed to telling them or giving gie Group – a partnership launched in October 2007 – and will be them a fl yer. You have to bring it to life." used as a benchmark for future developments. SHOKK énergie Essentially SHOKK and énergie were building a business from plans to open fi ve new standalone sites by April 2010, including scratch, with no natural footfall, standalone template or SHOKK sites in China, Norway and Scotland. brand awareness in the local area. The most effective way of getting kids BREAKING BARRIERS into the facility was by offering free The franchisees, ex-professional foot- Schools, sports clubs and other demo sessions during the soft launch, baller Mickey Mellon and his wife Jane, youth-focused organisations have which had been spearheaded by a shown interest in the facility

52 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 three-week pre-sale campaign of demos and community information sessions. Murphy, however, considers creating from scratch an advantage. “From a marketing point of view, everything we do is completely about SHOKK, so for young people it’s a place they can own as opposed to when it’s within an existing club and it’s mixed with adult facilities.” STANDALONE CHALLENGES Most members can only use the gym after 3.30pm, when school ends, so it was important to maximise daytime usage with schools, as well as making it accessible for kids out of school. Having scoured Preston and Blackpool for commercial units, SHOKK and the franchisees chose a 446sq m (4,800sq ft) space on an industrial estate, away from central Blackpool. Despite not being on a main thoroughfare, the club is ideally situated near two major supermarkets, schools and a large residential area, so kids can make their own way there. With walls covered in graffi ti, vibrantly- coloured SHOKK kit, Dance Mats, a Target Wall, 'no-adult' signs and large neon-coloured, hand- The club features 23 stations of SHOKK- shaped seats, it's clear who the club has been built for. But the branded kit, as well as an exercise studio fi tness element has been integrated into a youth club environment, so it also acts as a drop-in centre for young people to socialise and learn about positive lifestyles. Although kids aren't encouraged to do more than one hour sions for over-14s with dance music and strobe lighting, and of exercise per session, they're free to socialise in the 'chill out' there are special classes for fi ve- to seven-year-olds. area after exercising, allowing parents more fl exibility in pick-up For a £25 month-by-month contract (minimum three months), times. The area is decked out with games such as pool tables, each member completes a six-session Tactics induction over encouraging secondary spend. An adult coffee area generates three weeks covering themes from nutrition to mental health – additional revenue, while an unused therapy room and plans for to orientate them before they begin any set programme. a new mezzanine fl oor offer further expansion opportunities. Young people are great at referrals, so the club offers a In addition to 23 stations of SHOKK-branded kit – including 'buddy hour' for a friend to use the facility for free. Non- X-ertain products such as SHOKK MOTIVATRIX, Wireless Dance members can access the classes for £3.50; once kids use the System, IGNITION CV and FLT resistance equipment – the club club, Jane says the conversion rate is high. An 80 per cent has a 4.65sq m (50sq ft) exercise studio to host a wide selection retention rate is also being achieved. of 30-minute to one-hour alternative fi tness classes. Sessions With a target of 500 members in the fi rst year and 300 include breakdancing, cheerleading, kombat, ju-jitsu, footie- members to break even, Mickey hopes the focus on group cise, balance boarding and circuits, at the end of which the kids memberships will continue. "I prefer the big daytime contracts complete a PMR (progressive muscular relaxation) session to from the PCT and schools, rather than individual members, as learn how to relax their body and mind. they keep your income coming in and reduces the demand after The club, for fi ve- to 18-year-olds, also offers evening ses- school – which means we know more of our kids at night,

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 53 HEALTH & FITNESS

GYMS FOR KIDS pitches in Yorkshire, and a kids SHOKK Blackpool is part of a grow- zone with a large soft play area. ing trend towards standalone The Zone, Brixton – A 10,010sq ft gyms kids can call their own. Other centre for 5 to 15-year-olds, built on creating a family feel and maintaining a recently-opened sites include: an entire fl oor of Brixton Recreation higher level of personal service." T2, Northampton (pictured above) Centre as part of Lambeth Council’s Blackpool SHOKK has six school con- – An independent, 3,983sq ft club £2.85m refurbishment of its 1980s tracts which, in any one session, could catering for seven- to 16-year-olds. facility. Managed by Greenwich fi ll the club with 90 kids – just short of The club features equipment from Leisure, it features an energy zone its 95-person capacity. It also has links ZigZag, Trixter bikes and a boxing designed by Veqtor with interactive with local youth sports clubs, offer- circuit, while classes include moun- games, a fi tness zone with equip- ing corporate discounts to players who tain biking, dance mat disco, dodge ment from SHOKK, and an enclosed don't want full access to the classes but ball, hip hop, and FitPro’s Team area for interactive and dance mat want sports-specifi c programmes; this is Combat and Aero Jam. classes from ZigZag. where the demand for personal training The Zone, Huddersfi eld – A NG Kids, Swindon – Opened by is expected to grow. The club similarly 1,808sq fi t health and fi tness venue Next Generation Clubs at its £12m offers special rates of £18 a month for part of a 46,500sq ft complex affi li- Swindon site, this 7,965sq ft facil- young people in low-income families, tax ated to Huddersfi eld Football Club ity for kids and their families has its credits and sibling discounts, so no one and the Huddersfi eld Giants rugby own separate entrance. The offer- who wants to get fi t is excluded. team. Run by the Sporting Pride ing includes a multi-sports hall, Community Trust, the club fea- activity rooms with ZigZag dance KEEP IT FRESH tures a SHOKK-equipped gym zone mats and an eight-station Nintendo Although some of the club's 240 mem- and SHOKK dance mats, a learn- Wii, an ITC Learning Zone, a multi- bers are obese, a lot of the children are ing zone, a sports zone with two of age sports frame and outdoor simply getting away with not doing PE the largest third-generation indoor activity area, a café and a crèche. at school; it's more of a fi tness problem, says Mickey. "Most kids can't lift 1kg above their heads or run on a treadmill for more than 90 seconds." When working to get kids active, you have to "keep it fresh and duty manager, a class instructor, and a part-time freelance keep it moving", advises Murphy. Mickey agrees: "For this gen- trainer who teaches street dance and breakdancing. All have eration of kids, fi tness isn't a main goal – entertainment is – and completed SHOKK's core training and development workshops, a youth gym has to strike this balance." Blackpool SHOKK does teaching them how to manage young people in a gym setting, this in a number of ways, from rotating the equipment each communication styles, child protection, and health and safety. month to delivering member feedback and fi tness tests every "Instructors can make or break a club,” insists Murphy. eight weeks, as well as through a range of incentives and com- Murphy feels the SHOKK standalone model is a winning for- petitions that add that key element for engaging youth: variety. mula. "It's the balance of all the different aspects: training, "We have some young people who will never win a running enthusiasm and brand," he explains. "You could have all the competition, but who are great on the interactive equipment. equipment in a room you want, but it's not going make a facility One girl in particular can beat anyone hands-down on the successful. You need to create an area with a balance between Dance Mats and it's a huge confi dence boost for her to win health and fi tness and fun, and then train and enthuse your staff. something physical against a guy that runs for Lancashire," “Over the years there’s been the attitude that standalone says Jane. "The kids will do anything if you make it competi- kids’ gyms don’t work – and many attempts to establish facili- tive, whether it's competing on the Dance Mats or running on a ties have gone belly up. The standalone side of the company treadmill in teams or relays," adds Mickey. has been bubbling for some time, and now vital support is also Incentives include awards and a points-based system available from the local community, from education and from designed to encourage participation and control behaviour. Kids local government in terms of campaigns like Change4Life. 18 are expected to misbehave, but to minimise anti-social behaviour, months ago, a private organisation [doing this type of venture] there’s a 'three strikes' policy whereby youth can lose their mem- really didn’t get any support, but now Jane has been able to bership. Points, normally saved up and exchanged for smoothies establish direct links with a sport co-ordinator from the Youth and SHOKK-branded sportswear, can also be taken away. Sports Trust. I think this has been a real barrier to setting up a The club has three REPs-accredited instructors: a full-time private standalone as opposed to within a club.” ●

54 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 3 Peaks Challenge 25-26 July 2009 24 Peaks Challenge 15-16 August 2009

Swap your laptops for the hill tops

Climb the 3 highest mountains in the UK in our infamous 3 Peaks Challenge or take on 24 mountains in the stunning Lake District – the choice is yours.

To find out more call Natalie or Lucy on 0844 412 2877 or email [email protected]

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738) Photo: Scott Ferguson redcross.org.uk/events Everyone welcome From energy efﬁ ciency to funky Clean design, the latest air conditioning and ventilation systems COOL offer a range of innovations. We round up some of the latest VENT-AXIA VENTILATION FOR DONCASTER SPORTS PAVILION

LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: VENT-AXIA The new £750,000 Town Field sports pavilion in Doncaster features a Vent-Axia low energy heat recovery ventilation solution. The system, installed by Waveform Services, features six Vent-Axia PAC315 ducted in-line fans serving the facility’s main changing areas. These units are 30 per cent shorter than conventional in-line fans and include an inclined heat exchange unit said to be capable of inlet and bellmouth entry, claimed to transferring 70 per cent of outgoing heat direct incoming air to the impeller with to incoming air at a 300m3/hr airfl ow. minimal turbulance for better air man- The HR200W Kisa self-contained heat agement, reduced noise and higher recovery unit with two mixed fl ow fans ventilation effi ciency and performance. and a high performance polymeric heat Vent-Axia’s HR300 and HR200 units exchange cube is designed to provide provide ventilation to the other chang- temperature-based effi ciency of up to 75 ing areas. The HR300 is a standalone per cent and an airfl ow rate of 200m3/hr.

LG MAKES AIR CONDITIONING ARTY COOLER FITNESS THANKS TO WALTER MEIER

LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: LG LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: WALTER LG Electronics has launched an air Walter Meier treatment unit featuring a front (Climate UK) has panel that can be adapted to hold recently completed any image, from a painting to a installation of a marketing message. Hitachi VRF air con- The Art Cool units, aimed at ditioning system at the designer appliance market, the University of come with an infrared remote con- Sheffi eld’s S10health trol that allows guests to control fi tness centre. air circulation, fan operation, room As well as meet- temperature, sleep mode, opera- ing increased cooling tion mode and single-event, and demands, the new 24-hour timer function. When used system is expected to at hotels, the system is claimed to achieve energy sav- ensure no loss of performance in ings of around 15 per rooms in heating mode when one cent compared to the guest switches to cooling. previous system. All models are fi tted with an air S10health is a purifyer to combat airborne bacte- state-of-the-art fi tness centre with 150 while noise levels were also proving to ria and particles, claimed to remove pieces of equipment over two fl oors. be a nuisance to users. dust, house mites and pollen to Increasing use of electrical equipment The new two-pipe Set Free system help prevent allergies. in recent years, combined with the provides up to 80kW of cooling, control- An Art Cool Mirror is also avail- growing popularity of the centre and a led to match heat loads. A recuperator able, featuring a wall-mounted consequent rise in occupancy, meant was also added to the air handling sys- mirror in either mirror fi nish or in a that the existing VRF system was no tem so that extract air can be used to choice of pastel shades. longer able to meet cooling demands, pre-cool incoming air.

56 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 POWERED BY leisure-kit.net

For more information, or to contact any of these companies, log on to www.leisure-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’ COSAF BRINGS BREEZAIR TO GOLD’S

LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: COSAF CoSaf Environments recently completed an installation of the Breezair evaporative cooling system at the new Gold’s Gym in Camberley. The system is said to be providing the 1,500sq m club with 80 per cent savings on running costs, as the only power-consuming components required are a fan and small water pump. Four Breezair Icon coolers have been installed, removing stale air through extractor fans and distributing cool air via a low velocity FabricDuct. An Industrial Wall Controller (IWC) allows the gym to control cooling. The system is housed in plastic cas- ing said to withstand all weather conditions. Components include a DIMPLEX AIR CURTAINS FOR STAVELEY LEISURE CENTRE world-patented water distribution system delivering continuous, balanced LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: DIMPLEX adjustable thermostatic operation. water coverage to all heat exchanger Staveley, Derbyshire’s Healthy They also feature links to integrate pads to ensure cooling efﬁ ciency and Living Centre has installed Dimplex the units within a BMS/BEMS build- minimal maintenance problems. ARC architectural air curtains as ing energy management system, part of its energy saving measures. a feature which is said to provide The Dimplex ARC architectural close control over running costs. air curtains are claimed to limit The curtains are available in a heat losses through the doors of the choice of painted, brushed or pol- leisure centre, while contributing to ished stainless steel ﬁ nishes, and the building’s design aesthetics. when wider entrances are required The air curtains feature automatic multiple units can be linked heat and fan speed control depend- together as a continuous system, ant on footfall through the door and operated from a single control point.

CALOR UNVEIL NEW LPG ENERGY SYSTEM

LEISURE-KIT KEYWORD: CALOR natural gas. It comprises an internal An energy-effi cient LPG driven combustion engine which drives a gas heat pump from Sanyo has refrigeration compressor to produce been launched for sports clubs heating and/or cooling; it’s claimed and leisure centres requiring heat- to be the only three pipe VRF air ing and cooling. conditioning system available in Available through LPG supplier Europe that can run on LPG. Three Calor and distributor Oceanair, pipes allow simultaneous heating the system provides heating and and cooling, and there is also a two- cooling for non mains gas area com- -pipe option for heating or cooling. mercial applications with a limited The gas heat pump delivers envi- electricity supply. ronmentally-friendly heat, and 'free' With LPG emitting 19 per cent hot water if required, while provid- less CO2 per kWh than heating oil, ing energy effi cient air conditioning the product is said to also offer sig- and reducing electrical demand. nifi cant benefi ts for rurally based The product is said to be more than properties such as hotels and golf 100 per cent effi cient, achieving clubs. In addition, the product can 140 per cent effi ciency in heating also be used in inner-city areas, in and 160 per cent effi ciency in cool- applications where there is a lack of ing, leading to potential savings of three-phase power and inadequa- around 40 per cent. cies in the mains gas supply. There is also an optional 4kW The heat pump is a variable generator which provides 'free' elec- refrigerant fl ow air conditioning tricity by maximising the effi cient system and can be run on LPG or running of the product.

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 57 CLOA With ﬁ nances tight for local government, the improvement agenda for cultural services launched last year as A Passion for Excellence is now more relevant than ever, CLOA honorary secretary John Bell argues

A PASSION FOR SURVIVAL

hen A Passion for Excellence was launched in stronger communities and the health and well being of children, March 2008, the foreword by Andy Burnham, sec- young people and adults. W retary of state for culture, media and sport, and Regional Culture and Sport Improvement and Effi ciency Chris White, chair of the local government asso- Networks are being developed to encourage and facilitate that ciation culture, tourism and sport board, discussed three key challenge. These networks are providing resources to enable local developments: the value of culture and sport in the wider econ- cultural services to challenge themselves. Resources include: omy; the greater emphasis on expertise and good judgement ■ Training on how to use the culture and sport improvement when looking to improve standards and raise performance; and toolkit (www.idea.gov.uk) and the facilitation of ‘clusters’ of the need to be open minded about who’s best placed to deliver authorities for peer-led challenge. Lancashire and Cumbria services, and to trust people in the community to know what have embarked on a powerful programme of self-assessment services they want and need. and peer challenge using the toolkit. Since then, we’ve seen the biggest downturn in the UK econ- ■ The facilitation of sub-regional improvement networks where omy for years, and the question is how local services are going all authorities and cultural partners (Sport England, the to cope with the effects. These effects are already being felt by Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the Arts the culture and leisure sector – leisure centres and health clubs Council) are examining how to collaborate around shared are facing falling income levels, and the whole publicly-provided issues and shared agendas. leisure sector could face massive fi nancial cuts over the next ■ The facilitation of connections with Regional and Sub- two years. In these circumstances, it is reasonable to ask what Regional Improvement and Effi ciency Partnerships (RIEPs). relevance the improvement agenda has. These partnerships are sponsored by the government and include all local services. Culture and sport are beginning KEY MESSAGES to benefi t from the RIEPs – £100,000 has been obtained To answer this question we need to re-examine the messages from the West Midlands RIEP for the Culture and Sport in A Passion for Excellence. One of the key ideas discussed Improvement Network. The West Midlands network has in the strategy is that local cultural services need to challenge agreed three priorities: research and intelligence – the issue themselves through self-assessment and peer-led review, and of data; leadership development – improving advocacy;

PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DMITRIY SHIRONOSOV PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DMITRIY through providing evidence of impact on key outcomes such as and delivering more for less. Resources are also available at sub- regional level. Merseyside Improvement and Effi ciency Partnership has already invited bids for improvement and effi ciency projects to run from 2009- 2011. One of the key questions on the Merseyside application form asks what savings are anticipated from the project. HOW TO COPE What then, are the benefi ts of embrac- ing the Improvement and Effi ciency agenda going forward? First, we need to be realistic about the likely scale and impact of reductions in local authority budgets for culture and sport. In many parts of the country the message is bleak and leisure managers are facing severe budget reductions. How to cope is the question. Coping will, in my view, be easier if there’s a strong sub-regional Leisure centres and fi tness clubs cultural improvement and effi ciency net- are facing falling income levels work in place.

58 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FRANKLINPHOTO: LUGENBEEL

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There are a number of good case studies on how sport and physical activity can impact health, but less acknowledged is the value of culture and sport to youth service and adult social care, Bell argues

SELF ASSESSMENT AND PEER CHALLENGE The network To survive and prosper in the could help by: new economic climate, cultural services have got to prove they are ■ Improving advocacy ‘match fi t’. Badges such as Charter for culture and sport Mark, Quest and Green Flag will not in the sub-region be enough. Evidence of a robust chal- ■ Sharing good practice in lenge system will help to demonstrate that contributing to corporate agendas cultural services have undergone a system- ■ Developing self-assessment and atic evaluation and have an improvement and internal challenge to current provision effi ciency plan. Working through the culture ■ Examining how collaboration and sport improvement toolkit as described could provide effi ciencies earlier should deliver these vital improvements and effi ciencies. Let us look at these in more detail: COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP ADVOCACY Culture and sport have a strong tradi- We need to fi nd new ways of advocating the tion of working in partnership with a benefi ts of cultural services to communities. variety of internal and external agen- Advocacy is even better if someone else does it cies. Partnerships such as County Sports on your behalf! This implies fi nding new cham- Partnerships have provided additional pions in positions of infl uence, and that means services and access to funding from proving the worth of cultural services to those Sport England. And Local Authority potential champions. Strategic Partnership bodies such as Crime and Disorder Partnerships and CONTRIBUTING TO THE Children and Young People’s Trusts WIDER CORPORATE AGENDA can provide funding for projects and There are a number of good case stud- cultural services that deliver their out- ies on how sport and physical activity can comes. But perhaps the next phase of impact health, both mental and physical. collaboration will be between coun- A number of leisure managers obtained cils to jointly provide a service such as funding from primary care trusts to pro- archives or museums, achieving econ- vide healthy living programmes; that omies. Or to look to external partners contribution is now fully acknowledged. such as County Sports Partnerships But perhaps less common is the acknowl- to deliver sports development for a edgement of the value of culture and sport sub-region. Even more radical alter- to youth service or adult social care, and natives will need to be examined if the commissioning of cultural services to culture and sport are to survive in ● PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FRANKLIN LUGENBEEL PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FRANKLIN deliver outcomes for those services. the future.

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 59 ORGANISATION * PROFILE WRAP

Paul Mathers, WRAP programme manager landfi ll. We encourage them to keep these materials and com- for agriculture, landscape and regeneration, bine them with compost to manufacture the growing medium. We also realise that landscape architects and grounds- talks about his organisation’s quest to promote men need a specifi cation. So we do demonstration trials and compost use for sports turf and green spaces, research into all the products so we can provide specifi cations. diverting waste from landfi lls in the process What products do you research and promote? Two forms of compost. The fi rst, source-segregated green What is WRAP? waste, is waste that’s collected by local authorities from indi- Wrap (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a not-for-profi t vidual’s houses and gardens. It’s taken to processing sites and organisation established in 2000 and funded by the administra- goes through a certifi ed process. We’ve provided the industry tions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We’re with a standard for this, BSI PAS100. It’s a recognised standard about assisting the government in meeting the landfi ll diversion for producing what we call quality compost. targets. It’s our job to fi nd markets and outlets for waste that So we’re encouraging local authorities to collect the waste goes to landfi ll – all the waste streams, like construction, plas- and rather than putting it to landfi ll to process it into quality tics and bottles. The team I work for is organics, so that’s green compost and provide it to the industry to manufacture the soil. waste, compost, food waste collected from households. We There’s another form of diversion that we’re just embark- identify waste streams and try and help the markets develop so ing on now, and that’s food waste, collected by local authorities we can fi nd an outlet for them and divert them from landfi ll. from individuals’ kitchens. We’re encouraging the use of in-ves- sel composting, IVC for short, and anaerobic digestion or AD What work do you do in the sport and leisure fi eld? – particular processing streams whereby you can process food It’s mainly two aspects: sport surfaces and sports grass, and if waste into, again, a compost or a digestate. It’s processed to a it’s a building development we assist in restoring brownfi eld land. different standard, BSI PAS110 which is just about to be pub- We do lots of work in manufacturing growing mediums. So if lished. And again it’s a quality compost that you can mix with someone wants soil for turf or public open spaces, we provide other materials to produce a growing medium. them with specifi cations and knowledge for using locally- sourced compost, mixing it with onsite materials and soils, to What impact have you had on the sport manufacture the growing medium instead of importing topsoil. and leisure industry so far? We’re trying to cut carbon emissions by not importing this. Figures from a market survey of the UK composting industry for And when it’s a development, such as a leisure centre or a 2006-2007 show an increase in the use of compost in the sports restoration of a public open space, we don’t want people send- turf sector. In 2006-2007 65,000 tonnes was used, compared ing perfectly good surplus soils and excavation materials to with 22,000 tonnes in 2005-2006.

CASE STUDY Monifi eth Golf Links A 12-month trial sponsored by WRAP, the fi rst of its kind in the UK, investi- gated the benefi ts of compost use on a coastal golf course. Run by waste management training and consultancy provider Wamcal Ltd between September 2006 and September 2007, the trial involved the application of 40 tonnes of locally- Turf was sourced BSI PAS 100 compost as a top treated with dressing for tees and as a divot mix. compost during In the trial, turf treated with com- the trial at post was greener and less patchy, Monifi eth and retained moisture better than turf treated with the conventional top- The compost took longer to be incor- an environmentally friendly and techni- dressing, fensoil. The compost also led porated into the soil than the fensoil cally sound alternative to conventional to a fairly neutral soil PH being main- and made for temporarily muddy turf, products,” said Scott Rennie, course tained across the course. but it was observed that this could be manager at Monifi eth. “We were also At £14 per tonne delivered, the com- corrected by screening the compost to pleased with its overall performance post cost a third of fensoil dressing. a fi ner grade, mixing it with sand and on the tees and on the practice target With two 29 tonne loads of fensoil aerating the soil before spreading. green where consistency of growth and required at the course per year, annual “We were encouraged by the per- depth of colour noticeably increased in savings would be around £1,620. formance of the compost, which offers time for the Open Championship.”

60 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 As part of its work with the leisure sector, WRAP also supports Coca-Cola Enterprises’ Recycle Zone programme, which has provided bins to Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsor and Chessington World of Adventures to make recycling easy for visitors. Recycle Zones at other visitor attractions are in the pipeline, according to WRAP packaging programme manager Claire Shrewsbury

What’s the most successful What we’ve found now is that we need to get out sport and leisure project you’ve there more and communicate this message, and been involved with recently? Monifi eth Golf Links in Scotland, where that’s probably the phase we’re going into next. they used green waste on their fairways Awareness is relatively low, but that’s not because and greens. We’ve heard from the green- people are reluctant to use these practices keeper that he’s used less fertiliser, he’s got good growth, and there’s an element of disease suppression as well. nicate these benefi ts to the guys that use it, and then help them demonstrate it. We fund demonstration trials where we may So there are benefi ts for operators as work with one organisation but invite other organisations to look opposed to just for the environment? at the results and then publish the results within the trade. Yes, it’s a good, environmentally-sustainable material, and all the guys in the sports turf and restoration industry are looking Are these green practices catching on in the sector? for a sustainable solution, but there are some cost benefi ts as It’s starting to be used more widely. It was WRAP’s job to get well, so it’s a win-win situation. the results from these trials so that we can actually show them We would have a hard job if we were saying it’s a sustaina- the benefi t, and what we’ve found now is that we need to get ble material but actually it’s going to cost you a little bit more. out there more and communicate this message, and that’s But if you display, as we did at Monefi eth golf course, that you probably the phase we’re going into next. Awareness is rela- can save on digestates and fertilisers, these guys know they’re tively low at the moment, but that’s not because people are going to be saving quite a bit of money, especially in this age reluctant to use these practises. where the price of oil-based fertilisers is still really high. What should operators do if they’re How receptive has the sector been to your initiative? interested in working with you? We’ve found that generally these guys are open. But what they In the fi rst instance look at our website, www.wrap.org.uk – have to do is prove it on the ground. So it’s our job to commu- watch the website, as we hold workshops and training events. ●

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 61 SENIOR’S SOLUTIONS NUMBER 12

What’s the X-factor between Roger Federer now and Roger Federer last year? What kept Tony Blair walking on water Question Time after Question Time? The answer is the same: chutzpah, aka conﬁ dence and self-belief. How to keep a grip and remain conﬁ dent Customers don’t just want cheap in the current climate – they want professionalism, good value and a good time

onfi dence is one of those unu- they want is something that’s worth the sual characteristics, rather like money and worth the effort. A good host C courage, which is very hard to doesn’t undersell his operation and try manufacture but almost impos- and make the ordinary seem worthwhile sible to be effective without. In these simply by offering it more cheaply. challenging times, it’s hard for an operation to remain confi dent and avoid the Hard times mean temptation to cut costs and quality in a hard choices vain attempt to gain customer satisfaction. In the current climate, it’s really a question Paradoxically, there’s plenty of evi- of survive and thrive or curl up and die. dence that what customers really want is If you try to cut corners, reduce the to visit enterprises with a strong sense of offering, reduce the quality, save on staff, their own value – and the professionalism neglect your best customers, you will to stay at the top of their game. “Never simply not get through. let them see your fear” is as important in If you embrace the need to do that lit- the hospitality business today as it was tle bit more, cherish your customers, let when those early heroes of the British them know you care, give a little bit of Empire strode boldly into a ring of sav- extra added value wherever you can and, ages intent on cooking them for supper. above all, keep up the quality, you will Confi dent self-belief is what makes a fi nd that this diffi cult climate is survivable. good chef great; it’s what turns an ordi- A successful partnership in this regard – Every bit of business is worth having. nary evening into a special occasion. You happy customers, capable caring staff Everyone who comes through your door can feel it in the air when you walk into – is what creates an enjoyable occasion. needs to become a repeat customer. a place, and you’ll never fi nd it in any The operation needs to deliver and the Some of the best businesses have come establishment run by Basil Fawlty. client needs to feel valued. A good web- out of recession stronger than they went It’s too often forgotten that actually, site, like the good visit itself, engenders in simply by putting customers fi rst and most people go out to a restaurant, hotel this sense of confi dence and self-worth. not compromising on quality. A confi dent or leisure facility to have a good time. In the current harsh climate, it’s easy to approach to selling what you are proud Having a good time means they need to think that what customers want is cheap to offer at full value – and making sure believe what they’re getting is good value and cheerful, rather than good quality the value is there for the customer – will and well-presented, and that the opera- and good value. Ask any hard-pressed get you noticed and appreciated more tors and staff actually care about them. consumer and they’ll tell you that what today than in the good years.

SENIOR’S SEVEN – SEVEN STEPS TO CONFIDENCE

1 Do what you know you do well – 4 Greet your customers personally and establishment, they’re there to spend offer hospitality and the menu that ensure they feel personally valued. money and enjoy themselves. Do what you’re good at delivering. 5 Don’t hide or ignore errors. you do well. 2 Dare to be different. Whether it’s Nothing’s ever perfect every time. If 7 Don’t cut corners. Add value. Little local ingredients locally-sourced or a something doesn’t work, if an ingre- touches that show you’re trying your special style of cooking, have a unique dient isn’t good enough, if the right best work well. Distinctive canapés, selling proposition and stick to it. wine hasn’t been delivered – own up, good fresh bread, a complimentary 3 Have an enthusiastic and motivated apologise and offer to put it right. digestif all help the customer relax team. Make sure your staff are happy 6 Don’t worry about the recession. and spend more. Scrimping and sav- with what they’re offering and fully It won’t go away but it won’t kill ing and charging for every little extra understand its appeal. you. If customers have entered your does the opposite.

62 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 A MASTERCLASS IN SIMPLE, CLEAR CONFIDENCE – THE YEW TREE AT HIGHCLERE

I’ve never been a particularly big fan of Marco Pierre White but he has experience, knowledge and a track record to envy. I’d never actually heard of the Yew Tree in the ‘Hampshire Highlands’ until the other day when I stumbled across it by entirely accident, wet and tired after a long walk in some rather poor spring weather. We didn’t seek it out because of Mr White – it could have been run by anyone for all I knew – but we stopped in the car park, changed our soggy boots and entered what looked like a well run gastro pub. From the ﬁ rst greeting: “Of course we’ve got a table, which one would you like?” to the last double espresso, everything was customer-focused. The menu was clearly written, the ingredients exactly as stated, the wine list stunningly good and the food faultless. It was all offered without the slight- est bit of pretention or fuss, as if The whole establishment was clearly The Yew Tree offered a clearly offering simplicity and quality at this professionally-managed, very busy and written menu, a stunningly good level was an everyday occurrence. deserving of every positive epithet in wine list and faultless food Clearly it is for them – would that it this article. Whoever Marco has man- were so everywhere. aging it deserves a pat on the back.

In the current climate, it’s really a question of survive and thrive or curl up and die. If you try to cut corners, you will simply not get through.

Putting my money where my mouth is HOWARD’S HOUSE HOTEL – A WORK IN PROGRESS Over the past few years, I’ve offered a fair amount of advice in these columns. I’ve stayed at Howard’s House for the All of it comes from hard-earned experi- past umpteen years and very much ence in hospitality and marketing. enjoyed my time there. But am I all mouth and no trousers? I It’s a beautiful old building – a little have just taken a deep breath, embraced bit of heaven on earth, really. Like all my own advice that a recession can be a beautiful old buildings, it needs money good time to invest and taken ownership spent on it, and my task will be to of a very well-established small hotel and retain its charm while slightly improv- excellent restaurant in deepest Wiltshire, ing its comfort. I’m blessed in these Howard’s House Hotel. I’ve been stay- endeavours with a marvellous general ing there for many years on ﬁ shing and manager and a great chef. They also shooting trips, and it’s become some- have an in-depth team in every depart- thing of a home from home for family ment of the operation. events and celebrations. My job will be to spend a little With nine rooms, a brilliant walled gar- money and hopefully apply as much of den and a superb chef, it’s perfect for my accumulated hospitality marketing exclusive use occasions. Central Wiltshire wisdom as I can muster in a way that is not immune from the economic reali- makes sense in the current climate. ties facing the whole country, but it does Our strategy will be to do everything to have a discerning market of people who help the hotel fulﬁ l its potential while will continue to expect the best. retaining the commitment of its long- With Noële Thompson and Nick term and very loyal customer base. ● Wentworth in place, we have an excellent team, and I’ll be putting to the test the advice I’ve so freely dispensed in these Howard’s House, a lovely property pages. I will let you know how it goes. that deserves a helping of TLC

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 63 SECONDARY SPEND PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/STEPHEN WALLS PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/STEPHEN

Getting Wine Right

lare Young is gradually growing Wine has the potential to increase sales and profi t in every allergic to wine. It’s an affl iction that most of us would sympa- area of your business, but investment in wine education C thise with, but is all the more and preservation is vital, according to Clare Young, unfortunate for Young given her occu- pation as a wine consultant. And not managing director of wine training and consultancy just any wine consultant. During her company Vintellect. She speaks to Vicky Kiernander 18-year tenure at Cockburn & Campbell Limited, the subsidiary wine company of Young & Co.’s Brewery, Young dras- tically improved wine sales throughout the estate so that the company outper- formed the market year on year. She now shares her knowledge with businesses PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CARLOS ALVAREZ PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CARLOS ranging from independent pubs and bars to hotels and restaurant chains with her wine training and consultancy company, Vintellect. She’ll also be delivering the wine education programme at the Licensed Business Show at LIW. “It’s not just about offering a good selection of wine, it’s about attracting wine drinkers into an establishment and providing a great experience to increase sales and profi t,” says Young. Wine’s an accepted part of the UK leisure culture today, but that wasn’t the case when Young joined the historic brewers in 1987. “I used to hate pubs because you couldn’t get a decent glass

PHOTO: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/WEBPHOTOGRAPHEER of wine. In those days wine was served

64 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Under Clare Young’s direction, Young & Co.’s improved their bottom line by offering wine by the glass and becoming the ﬁ rst pub company to install a serious wine preservation system

from an optic cabinet or was available on LICENSED BUSINESS SHOW AT LIW draught,” she shudders. Clare Young will be hosting and delivering the wine education programme Young was determined it would be dif- at the Licensed Business Show at LIW this September. Free to attend, the ferent on her watch. “I was on a mission presentations will target owners, buyers and managers from pubs, bars and to change the way things were done and clubs as well as other licensed leisure venues, and will focus on introducing so as fast as they were putting in wine on a sales and training culture into your business. Delegates will discover how tap, I was taking it out.” wine can help them increase both sales and profi t in every area of their busi- After winning over the board, Young ness, not just wine. They will learn how to implement a wine-by-the-glass made wine stations and displays part programme and how to train their staff to develop their understanding of of each pub refurbishment and set to wine, increase their confi dence and ultimately, increase sales. work convincing publicans of the need to Other aspects of the presentations will include marketing strategies introduce wine by the glass. And under to attract more wine drinkers and ways to work with wine suppliers to her direction, Young’s was the fi rst pub boost profi t. For more information on the opportunities available as part of company to install a serious wine pres- Vintellect’s wine programme at LIW, contact Chris Brown on 020 7955 3968 ervation system. The result of all was a or email [email protected]. surge in wine sales throughout the estate. EDUCATE STAFF FOR GREATER REWARDS do this at their peril, she warns. “Wine Conducted on site or online, the courses With these credentials it’s easy to see presents a massive opportunity to teach everything from the history of wine why Young’s skills are in demand, but do increase your customer base by attract- and the various wine classifi cations to operators still need to be educated about ing wine-drinkers who also bring their wine tasting, serving and food matching wine today when it’s rare to fi nd a pub, food-eating friends, which all helps to as well as marketing and merchandising. bar or hotel that doesn’t offer a wine increase sales and profi t. Operators are She says the benefi ts of investing in selection? Apparently so, and particularly missing a trick if they don’t make wine wine education will be felt across the in these troubling times, says Young. work for them.” business and by both staff and cus- “Now is the time of survival of the fi ttest It’s for this reason that Young is a tomers alike. Giving staff a greater where owners and operators have to get strong advocate of wine education understanding of wine gives them the everything right, and that includes wine.” and runs BIIAB and WSET accredited confi dence to recommend better quality Often considered a diffi cult product, courses as well as bespoke courses wines to customers, so when someone wine can get neglected, but operators for both management and general staff. asks for a house wine they can make

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TOP TIPS 1. Educate your staff about wine 2. Get advice on your wine list 3. Negotiate with suppliers for the best deals 4. Offer a good selection of wine by the glass 5. Invest in a quality wine preservation system

other suggestions from the menu. By REVAMP YOUR MENU average customer really notice the differ- engaging with customers in this way, The industry has come a long way since ence? “If you’re lucky they might just think staff make clients feel special and deliver Young joined the family-owned brewers, that particular wine was a poor choice, an entirely different experience. but publicans as well as restaurant, bar but if you’re unlucky they might think your Introducing this culture into a business and hotel operators still have much to venue serves out of condition or just poor also helps sales, as testifi ed by Chris learn about wine and its potential. quality wine and they won’t come back.” Lewis, BII Licensee of the Year 2008. As For example, although operators offer The fact is, if operators invest wisely managing partner of Staffordshire-based a wide selection of wine today, many in wine preservation systems, they can hospitality group The Lewis Partnership, would benefi t from changes to their wine dramatically increase their margins by Lewis received the award for his work menu. And a few tweaks from an expert selling better quality wine by the glass, at The Swan Hotel, which he re-opened is all it takes, says Young: “We were able says Young. She recently advised a well- in 2002 following a modernisation of the to increase sales by 20 per cent after known restaurant chain to encourage historic former coaching inn. Vintellect’s altering the layout and presentation of waiting staff to tell customers that they Max Your Wine Sales training gave his a client’s wine list and we didn’t even were now offering prosecco by the glass. staff greater confi dence to up-sell wines change their wine selection.” In one venue where this was introduced leading to an eight per cent increase in Operators must also ensure they get as a standard working practice, sales wine sales on a like for like basis. The the most from their suppliers, working went from two to 33 bottles a week. company is also now selling more quality them harder, negotiating on price and Many operators are afraid to sell wines with higher profi t margins. shopping around for the best deals. And expensive wines by the glass, but this is His experience comes as no surprise those who have invested in a wine pres- a wasted opportunity, says Young. “Most to Young, who says most people like to ervation system should use it properly to people won’t buy a £40 bottle of wine receive a recommendation from staff and ensure that every glass of wine is sold unless they are sure they are going to when they get one are prepared to spend in optimum condition, which is one of like it. If they’re able to try a glass fi rst, up to 25 per cent more on a glass or bot- Young’s particular bugbears. “I’m terrifi ed they’re more likely to buy the bottle.” tle of wine. “If house wines represent 80 of ordering wine by the glass, because Young estimates that a small opera- per cent of sales, you can reverse this by they’re just not properly looked after.” tions selling 1,000 cases of wine a year training staff to make recommendations Wine starts to oxidize the second the can add at least £12,000 to its bottom and up-sell,” she says. bottle is opened, but it’s hard to get staff line by investing £500 to £1,000 in wine As well as benefi ting the bottom line, to use the vacuum systems when cus- education and a preservation system. educating staff can increase their moti- tomers are lining 10-deep at the bar, so “Wine plays an important role in our vation, helping to boost retention levels. they often wait until they end of night to dining and going out experience, but Some operators also say the interac- do it. By that time it’s often too late and often gets neglected. And you don’t tive nature of the online courses helps to the quality of the wine has already started have to spend a lot to get a quick return, improve the language skills of their for- to deteriorate, which affects the next cus- which in today’s environment is good eign-born employees. tomer who buys a glass. But would the news for everyone.” ●

66 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Did you know that you can now receive a FREE subscription to Leisure Management in its new, greener, paper-free, digital format?

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TECHNOGYM LAUNCHES EXCITE VARIO AND VISIO

A number of new products were launched by Technogym at the FIBO trade show held in Germany. Technogym’s ﬁ rst new product was Excite VARIO (pictured), a cross-trainer that follows the user’s stride and SPA WITH RARE TEA automatically adapts to the desired movement – from the classical vertical step to a simple walk or a long stride The Rare Tea Company is expand- -– with no adjustment of the controls. ing into the wellness market with a The natural movement of the legs is number of new entries into spas. combined with arms movement to The ingredients from the teas can offer a balanced and effective workout. be incorporated into bathing rituals, Also launched was VISIO, a user- as well as being used in refresh- friendly, digital 15-17” interface for ments. Currently popular types CV equipment. It offers programme include the Jasmine Silver Tip Tea, options and a variety of entertainment scented with fresh jasmine ﬂ owers, features, including seamless integra- and the Flowering Silver Tip Tea. tion with the iPod and iPhone. Also launched were a new range A selection from the compa- It also offers operators a tool to of PURE Strength benches and the ny’s range will soon appear at the communicate with members, under- Studio Bike, an indoor evolution of the spa in Blythswood Square hotel in stand their expectations and improve Italian professional road bikes, with an Glasgow, Scotland. the club business model. aluminium frame and non-slip handles.

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Parmar & Parmar is in the process of further extending its bespoke range of interior and exterior furniture and adornments for commercial environments. The UK-based company supplies exclusively designed pieces, such as inlaid glass tables (pictured) and hand-painted silk pictures; undertakes individual projects and stocks an array of reclaimed Indian furniture and artefacts, all personally chosen for their beauty, uniqueness and heritage. The company works alongside international architectural, interior and landscape designers, the hospitality and spa industry and private clients.

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VENDING FOR AFRICA FLEX WITH PROACTIVE Twenty rural African communities now have a constant supply of clean, disease- HARROD AT WEMBLEY The latest launch from supplier free water for the fi rst time, thanks to a ProActive is the FlexOring. Liverpool City Council vending initiative. David Beckham and Andy Murray Inspired by the famous Magic A year ago, the council agreed a recently took centre stage at Wembley Circle of the Pilates method, contract with vending operator Autobar Stadium to promote the ongoing battle the FlexOring can be used for to supply bottles of Thirsty Planet water against malaria. stretching and light resistance to machines in its 15 leisure centres. The two stars pitted their tennis and training or for a more diffi cult mus- From every bottle sold, a donation of football skills against each other in a cle-strengthening workout that 5p goes to the charity Pump Aid, which unique sporting spectacle to promote the increases resistance in total safety. helps impoverished people gain access launch of Malaria No More UK, a not-for- With 10 handles, the FlexOring to clean water and adequate sanitation. profi t organisation committed to ending offers a lightweight alternative to Thirsty Planet accounts for 40 per cent of suffering and death caused by malaria, resistance equipment as well as a vending sales in Liverpool leisure centres. which is a preventable disease. wide variety of exercises, helping Pump Aid’s water pump, nicknamed The football and tennis nets were to boost the major muscle groups the Elephant pump, can supply 250 peo- replaced with special nets manufactured including abdominals, arms, the ple with 40 litres of clean water a day and from blue mosquito netting to highlight back, pectoral, glutes and quads. costs just £250 for materials. the fact that one of the most simple and Established in 1992, ProActive The council has now reached gold sta- effective ways of preventing the spread Health has supplied commercial- tus, awarded to organisations which have of malaria is through the provision of quality products for group fi tness, funded 10 or more pumps. mosquito nets. The special nets were personal training, rehabilitation and Thirsty Planet was launched in March provided by sports equipment manufac- therapy to the UK health and fi tness 2007 and has raised more than £940,000 turer Harrod UK. industry for more than 16 years. for Pump Aid.

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RVR SYSTEM TO PROTECT SS GREAT BRITAIN

A CCTV system has been installed to watch over the SS Great Britain, situated at the Bristol dry dock to protect the ship from ﬁ re and vandalism. Comprising seven dome cameras and passive infrared (PIR) detectors, the system also is monitored by Remote Video Response (RVR) at the company’s control centre in Gloucester. The detectors can pick up any activity such as an attempt to climb aboard out-of-hours, which would set off an alarm while also transmitting images of the incident to the control centre. The SS Great Britain was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and attracts between 150,000-170,000 visitors annually. RVR is part of UTC Fire & Security.

leisure-kit keywords: utc ﬁ re and security

For more information, or to contact any of these companies, log on to www.leisure-kit.net and type leisure-kit.net the company name under ‘keyword search’

NEW BALL FROM MOLTEN TWO SPA LIFTS DEBUT Football manufacturer Molten has launched its latest football, the FIFA- PERSONAL PROTECTION approved VG-5000AW. Two disability lifts specifi cally cre- The football has been designed spe- Personal protective equipment com- ated to be used in above-ground cifi cally for use in wet weather and pany ASEO has launched a new range of spas, swimming pools and hot tubs has been manufactured using Molten- knife- and slash-resistant clothing. have been launched by aquatic lift patented ACENTEC technology. The new product is manufactured developer Aqua Creek Products. Instead of using the traditional from a material called Spectra, which The manual Super EZ Lift, a hand-stiching technique, ACENTEC’s is claimed to be pound for pound 15 modifi ed version of the EZ Lift, is cross-fusion bonding technique elim- times stronger than steel and 40 per cent operated by a hydraulic ram and has inates traditional stitching and stitch stronger than Kevlar. a lifting capacity of 400lb (181kg). holes. This results in a ball that does not One of the items, the slash-resistant Meanwhile, the Super Power absorb water in wet weather conditions, T-shirts, can be worn under a uniform or EZ Lift is a modifi ed version of the enabling it to maintain a constant weight as part of a uniform with a company logo Power EZ Lift and is designed to and shape throughout the game. printed on the front. Unlike products con- clear walls up to 10 inches thick. The The absence of hand-stitched seams taining Kevlar, the new garments can be Super Power EZ lift also has a 400lb also produces a football with a smooth worn directly onto the skin and have an lifting capacity and boasts a bat- and even surface, preventing mud from extremely high strength to weight ratio, tery-assisted ‘lift and lower’ function, adhering to the ball and creating a ball ensuring the garment is comfortable, with allowing for a smooth transition into that can be controlled as easily in wet a high level of breathability. and out of the water. weather as in dry weather. ASEO currently supplies stab proof Both lifts are made of epoxy pow- Manufactured in high-gloss, orange vests to the NHS, various councils and der-coated stainless steel, and have polyurethane skin with foam backing, the other public organisations. a lifting capacity of 28.5 stones. ball is available in size 5.

leisure-kit keywords: aseo leisure-kit keywords: suntrap leisure-kit keywords: molten

REEBOK PARTNERS WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Reebok has launched a new group exercise experience in conjunction with the world-famous Cirque du Soleil entertainment company. Touted as “a cure for your workout blues”, the name of the class – Jukari Fit to Fly – comes from a world dialect meaning ‘to play’. Using a specially-designed piece of equipment called the FlySet, which looks rather like a trapeze, the hour- long workout gives the sensation of ﬂ ying while strengthening and lengthening the body through cardio, strength, balance and core training. A trained instructor guides a class of up to 12 people through the workout moves, each using their own FlySet which is suspended from the studio ceiling.

leisure-kit keywords: reebok uk

70 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 POWERED BY leisure-kit.net

leisure-kit .net PRODUCT ROUNDUP

JUMPING INTO FITNESS SYNTHETIC HELP German company TOGU has unveiled its latest product, the TOGU Jumper. WRAPPING UP 100 YEARS Charterhouse has extended its range Distributed throughout the UK by HaB of equipment to help with the main- International, the Jumper is designed Vehicle wrapping fi rm Totally Dynamic tenance of artifi cial surfaces. to provide a workout for the legs, torso, has completed the wrapping of a special The Verti-Brush and Verti-Broom shoulders and arms. double-decker bus that will promote the level and redistribute infi ll as well as The product uses Dynair technology, celebration of a 100 years of The Royal sweeping the turf, while the Verti- which is designed to take vibrations or Zoological Society of Scotland. Top (pictured) lifts the top layer of oscillations from the user’s activity and The bus will tour round 100 schools, infi ll and fi lters it before returning the rebound them back to the user in a simi- from the Borders to Shetland to spread clean sand or rubber to the pitch lar way to vibration training machines. the Society’s centenary message of con- and brushing in. Suitable for group training within gyms servation, education and research. Although it is important to select and health clubs, the Jumper is said to The wrap on the exterior mirrors the right synthetic surface, it is argu- be ideal for burning fat and as well as the rainforest theme that is found ably even more crucial to maintain providing a cardiovascular workout. The inside the bus and includes pictures of the surface throughout its lifespan Jumper also offers the non-slip surface animals taken from Edinburgh Zoo and as neglected synthetic pitches can offers a fi rm hold even when wet. the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie lead to a shorter life for an expensive TOGU also offers the Jumper Mini for in the Scottish Highlands, which is facility and injuries to players. use by children. also owned by the Society. The company recommends brush- Supplier HaB International – which Totally Dynamic also recently took ing the surface around twice a incorporates Bodycare and Gaiam Pro delivery of a new printer with green week, with the infi ll being recycled, – offers a wide range of quality branded credentials in order to increase its envi- brushed and fi ltered approximately health related fi tness, sports perform- ronmental standards as a company. four to six times per annum. ance and wellness products.

leisure-kit keywords: totally dynamic leisure-kit keywords: charterhouse leisure-kit keywords: hab international

WIND TURBINE ADDED TO RSPB CENTRE

A small-scale wind turbine has been installed at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) Rainham Marshes centre in Purﬂ eet, Essex. Supplied by Proven Energy, the 15kW wind turbine has been put in place in a bid to reduce the site’s carbon footprint. The turbine is to work in conjunction with the site’s existing solar technology, and it is hoped that the two technologies will provide enough energy to power the entire 5m/s centre. Alex Murley, small systems manager for the British Wind Energy Association said: “Proven Energy form part of a growing UK small scale wind industry which leads the world in low carbon product design.”

leisure-kit keywords: proven energy

ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 71 LEISURE DIRECTORY BE SEEN BY OVER 14,000 ACTIVE BUYERS in the most exciting full colour buyers guide in the leisure industry

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architects consultancy (continued) leisure-kit.net BOXALL SAYER Leisure Project Specialist www.strategicleisure.co.uk Project Management Quantity Surveying L Building Surveying Making your vision The website, email and search Planning Supervision LAccess Consultancy ... Reality engine for leisure buyers Tel: 01243 861631 boxallsayer.co.uk WEST SUSSEX LONDON ST ALBANS LIVERPOOL health & fitness consultancy

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finance To advertise your product To book your and reach over 20,000 advert CALL leisure buyers call now on +44 (0)1462 471908 or email John +44 (0)1582 607970 [email protected] Jan +44 (0)1462 471909 Julie +44 (0)1462 471919 Nadeem +44 (0)1462 471902 subscribe online at www.leisuresubs.com Tessa +44 (0)1462 471903 or call +44 (0)1462 431385 Nuzhat +44 (0)121 7421370 lockers saunas spas sunbeds sports flooring

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Member Satisfaction Surveys PLAY SOLUTIONS FOR To book your advert CALL MAJOR ATTRACTIONS Online Member Satisfaction John +44 (0)1582 607970 Jan +44 (0)1462 471909 Employee Climate Surveys % "! $ Julie +44 (0)1462 471919 Nadeem +44 (0)1462 471902 www.sasta.ie % $ Nuzhat +44 (0)121 7421370 Tessa +44 (0)1462 471903 % #!" % $!! ! To subscribe to Leisure Management log on to www.leisuresubs.com email: [email protected] tel +44 1462 471913 fax % +44 1462 433909. Annual subscription rates are UK £38, Europe £49 rest of world £69, students UK £19 Leisure Management is published four times a year by The Leisure Media Company Limited, Portmill House, Portmill Western Log Group Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK and is distributed in the USA by SPP, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Forest Products Centre, Periodicals postage paid @ Manchester, PA POSTMASTER. Send US address changes to Leisure Management, c/o PO Box Design, Development & Analysis Cwmafan, Port Talbot, SA12 9AB 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437 USA The views expressed in print are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher The Leisure Media Phone: + 353 1 6102221 Tel: 01639 896715 Company Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted E-mail: [email protected] www.westernloggroup.com in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Printed by The Manson Group Printers. © The Leisure Media Company Ltd 2009 ISSN 0266/9102 ODD JOB

Visiting exotic locales to test swimming pools and waterslides for their fun factor may not sound like work, but it’s part of Tommy Lynch’s job with First Choice Holidays, as Andrea Jezovit hears Making a Splash

What's your job description? Offi cially my title is lifestyle product development manager for families, and I work within the First Choice Innovation team. Our research shows that 92 per cent of kids asked spent every day on their holiday in the pool and that the most important thing is having a really cool pool. Since then I’ve been responsible for traveling the world to test some of the best pools and slides to see if they can be incorporated into our new 'Splash' programme, which is a collec- Profi le water park which ticks all the right boxes tion of resorts with the most impressive I started with First Choice many with a giant wave pool, splash park, water facilities for kids and their families. years ago when I fi nished my uni- pirate ship as well as petrifying slides and I've just come back from a whistle versity degree in tourism and an adventure river - there's something stop tour of PortAventura on the Costa leisure while working part-time here for the whole family. Dorada, and the First Choice Holiday at a local travel agency. I became Villages in Cyprus and the Algarve. Last a holiday rep and loved it so Are there any unusual elements year I was lucky enough to travel over much I did this for three years in to your job that people would 27,000 miles visiting potential 'Splash' four different destinations. After be surprised to hear? resorts in the Dominican Republic, a variety of roles including a I’m head of the Cool Pool Board of direc- Mexico, Egypt, Turkey and Spain. resort team manager in the Costa tors, which is something that’s impressed del Sol, I decided to move back my family! The Cool Pool board includes What does the ‘pool tester’ to the UK and joined the team as seven children we found in a nationwide part of your job involve? a product executive. I eventually search in April who will be consulted on Our resort teams short-list the best pools worked my way up to Lifestyle any new build Splash Resorts. in each destination and then I’ll arrange a product development manager, visit to properly test them. I look for three and fi nally took on the Splash Pool testing sounds like a main criteria: the Splash Resorts have to resort concept and my pool test- dream job, is it really? be innovative, fun and have something ing responsibilities. I won't lie, it’s a lot of fun. But in all seri- for everyone. They should feature slides ousness, I enjoy making a difference to like a Master Blaster water coaster and people's holidays. My aim is for the kids' Champagne Bowls, and include wave pools and lazy rivers - fi rst reaction to be 'wow!' when they see the resorts. splash parks are a big crowd pleaser. Finally they need to have space, and lots of slides to ensure the waiting time for people What’s the most diffi cult part of the job? queuing is as short as possible. More often than not I have to do my visits in the colder months when we have fewer customers in resorts, so the slide testing What does a typical day of pool testing consist of? can really get my teeth chattering. I also fi nd it diffi cult to break Before I arrive, we'll look through the specifi cations and give the bad news to resorts that haven't quite made the grade. each hotel a proposed 'Splash' rating. It’s then down to me to Also, the desk part of my job is hard to come back to after one make sure the score is an accurate refl ection by going down of my pool testing trips. As I'm out of the offi ce a lot, I always the fl umes and testing their fun factor. We work with third party come back to a mountain of paper work. suppliers and dedicated consultants on any new build splash resorts to ensure that of those hotels, only those with the high- How do people react when you tell est 'Splash' rating make the cut. them your job is testing pools? Generally they don't believe me. When I fi nally convince them What's the best pool you've tested and why? it's true they think I've been a bit jammy landing this role. I'm The best pool by far is the Aqua Fantasy in Turkey. It has its own sure there would be no shortage of applicants if I ever left. ●

24 JUN 2009 active and healthy nation. As part of this 12-16 AUG 2009 year’s extended programme of activities, BHA Annual Luncheon ISPAL will hold a gala awards dinner IDEA World Fitness Convention Grosvenor House Hotel, London with two new and exciting awards up Anaheim Convention Center. US An afternoon of food, awards, enter- for grabs: The ISPAL Innovation Award A selection of educational programming tainment, and a lively guest speaker and the The ISPAL Leadership Award. for fi tness and wellness professionals. – London mayor Boris Johnson. Contact Joanna Rota Innovative session ideas, seminars and Members of the BHA are also invited Tel +44 (0)118 929 8355 a trade exhibition hall will be on offer to attend this year’s Annual General Fax +44 (0)0118 929 8001 along with opportunities for interna- Meeting, which will take place, as usual, Email [email protected] tional networking. at 11.45 am at Grosvenor House. Web www.ispal.org.uk Tel +1 800 999 4332 ext 7 Contact Marsha Phillips Email idea.events.reply@ideafi t.com Tel +44 (0)207 404 7744 29-30 JUL 2009 www.ideafi t.com Fax +44 (0)20 7404 7799 Email [email protected] SPLASH! New Zealand Pool & 18-20 AUG 2009 Web www.bha.org.uk Spa Trade Show Hilton Auckland, New Zealand National Fitness Trade Show 25 JUN 2009 Event for the pool, spa and out- Grand Sierra Resort door industry aimed at pool builders, For the fi fth consecutive year, this Paris HOTelSPA 2009 retailers, manufacturers, contractors, event joins with IHRSA’s Club Business RITZ Hotel, Paris, France architects, landscapers and service Entrepreneur Conference and the This full-day working session is set up technicians. American Council on Exercise Fitness around the theme of developing and Contact Melanie Robertson Symposium. The show will bring refocusing hotel and spa projects. This Tel +61 2 9660 2113 together a diverse group of independent theme will be discussed in speeches, Fax +61 2 9660 9786 health club operators and certifi ed fi t- round tables and a luncheon discussion, Email [email protected] ness professionals. with the aim of facilitating learning, Web www.splashnzexpo.co.nz Tel +1 541 830 0400 experience sharing and networking www.nationalfi tnesstradeshow.com among top hotel executives, spa manag- 04 AUG 2009 ers, owners and investors. 20-22 AUG 2009 Contact Vladi Kovanic FIA Golf Day Tel +33 143 21 0569 Staverton Park International Sports Science + Fax +33 143 21 0460 This year’s Golf Day event will take Sports Medicine Conference Email vladi.kovanic@millenium-organi- place at one of the Midlands’ premier University of Northumbria sation.com golf and country clubs, Staverton Park. The programme will bring together Web www.parishotspa.com The venue offers the perfect place to national and international experts, relax and catch up with industry friends, alongside those who work in the world 25-26 JUN 2009 with networking opportunities for golf- of elite sport, to look at issues in the ers and non-golfers alike. build up to the 2012 Olympic and The Tourism Society Annual Contact Katie Start Paralympic Games, and beyond. Conference Tel +44 (0)1753 740074 Contact David Roberts The Royal York Hotel Fax +44 (0)1753 740075 Tel +44 (0)7703 134 219 This event includes a conference with Email [email protected] Email [email protected] talks from leading UK tourism fi gures, Web www.promotepr.com www.isssmc.com a champagne reception and a dinner, as well as study tour of the Clarence 08-09 AUG 2009 27-28 AUG 2009 Dock development and Royal Armouries Museum, with lunch to follow. Sydney International Spa & ARV Industry Conference Contact Flo Powell Beauty Expo (AquaRec) Tel +44 (0)208 6614636 Sydney Convention & Melbourne Convention Fax +44 (0)208 6614901 Exhibition Centre, Australia Exhibition Centre, Australia Email fl [email protected] Australia’s largest trade event for the The conference will explore the impact Web www.tourismsociety.org spa and beauty industries, providing the of the economic and environmental opportunity to source and experience climates on the aquatic and recrea- 02-03 JUL 2009 the latest products, treatments, ideas tion industry, providing delegates with and equipment. practical advice through panels and Inspiring a More Active Society Contact Tracey Sherwood-Jones workshops. Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwickshire Tel +61 2 9422 2535 Contact Sharon Brasher The second National ISPAL Conference Fax +61 2 9993 8357 Tel (03) 8843 2000 will focus on the new, innovative ways Email enquiries@internationalbeau- Fax (03) 9890 5099 members of society are being inspired, tyexpo.com.au Email [email protected] to ensure we all become a more fi t, www.internationalbeautyexpo.com.au www.aquarecvic.org.au

ISSUE 2 2009 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 75 THE 7TH ANNUAL International Hotel Conference 21-23 October 2009 Hilton Molino Stucky,Venice,Italy

For Details and to Register:

Call +44 1274 854 100 Or Visit www.IHConference.com

AVIGATING THE WATERS

Lodging Unlimited, Inc. Morris Lasky & Mary Lou Koys OF TODAY’S ECONOMY Founders & Producers N Join this International Congress of Hotel Experts from 50 Countries to Discuss Hotel Finance, Development & Management in Europe & Beyond.