Scoial Media/PR Workshop

Scoial Media/PR Workshops always leave my head in a spin and yesterday's was no different. Thanks to Denise Howard from Welcome Training, Carol Arthur from Northern Lights PR and Visit York my head is filled with so many new ideas about how we could promote the business.

The event, attended by finalists of the Visit York awards, begain with an interesting talk on PR and how to successfully get your story into the public eye.

On the back of last year's sibling rivalry story, Denise and I spoke about the fantastic media coverage Nick and I got from last year's White Rose awards. People remember the Radio York and BBC Look North items - they don't seem to mind that neither of us won the actual award nor do they know who actually did - but they remember our "fights" and the fun we had.

Denise and Carol spoke at length about the importance of having professional photos taken and I didn't like to mention that our Dad took the photo of Nick and I whilst running in and out of reception sorting guests (or maybe they realised that). Our brochure will be redesigned over the next few months so maybe we should call in the professionals.

Carol spoke about all the different social media sources that could be used and I'm happy to say that our Twitter and Facebook pages were used as good examples of how to do it - phew! I've just got to look a bit further into linkedin and pinterest so watch this space!

I've just got to find a way of keeping up with it all now as, in its own way, all social media tools work for us:

Our facebook site is a great way of keeping regular/previous guests in touch with what we are doing and discounts can be offered but we have to find a way of reaching new/potential guests.

Twitter is a fab way of keeping in touch with people that work in our industry and I've met some great people through it that have helped promote the business. We've been able to share ideas of best practise so twitter has been a great learning resource.

We use foursquare to promote attractions that we have in the area - showing our guests that we are a great base to use for getting out and about in the area. We had such fun fighting over mayorships last year and hope to again this summer. Using a #family2follow we can incorporate foursquare into our tweets.

The one thing I'm not sure of is this blog - but you're reading it and hopefully whether you stay here or recommend others to stay here you will realise that we are a friendly site to use, we  are approachable and we enjoy connecting with our guests.

What a couple of weeks it has been since my last blog and so much to tell you about!


The site is, of course, now open and we are currently waiting for our first guest to come into one of the static caravans. There is a definite buzz in the air as Damian and I get ready for the first set of guests. We have added a few new things into the static caravans this year so it was nice to be putting ideas into practise and we look forward to getting feedback from them.

The really exciting news is that once again we have been shortlisted as “Self-Catering/Caravan Park of the Year” in the Visit York awards. Sadly, the two categories have been combined once again this year – hoping that one year we can shine in our own category.

We have also been shortlisted in the “Outstanding Customer Service” category which to me is the one that would mean the most. Keep an eye on our twitter feed on the night of 6th April as that is where we will be breaking the news – whether positive or not our followers will find out first.

This blog isn’t going to be as long as I’d hoped as another car has come into view which means I’m needed in reception once again!

Its time for the awards

Chauffer driven cars were pulling up, the band was serenading the guests, we were walking the red carpet and the champagne was flowing – you would have thought we were at the Oscars. Well we were, just not the Oscars you were thinking of – we were at the Visit York Award ceremony.


As a finalist in the Self-Catering/Caravan Park of the Year Award nerves were high but there was also a sense of excitement as we entered the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. Men wearing tuxedos and ladies in their gorgeous dresses and highest heels were looking around the trains. Helping ourselves to champagne we wandered around the turntable with huge steam trains all around us mingling with 400 guests from across the tourism and hospitality industry.

We were then called to “follow the band” through to the station hall where the awards ceremony was to take place. I’d only ever taken that walk in trainers – never imagined to be doing it in three inch heels! Note to guests – easier to do it in trainers.

 

Trains from the bygone era were all around us – very surreal to be enjoying the occasion surrounded by trains. The tables were set out over the platform with giant screens at the front. Its not a good sign to be seated at the back of an awards ceremony – do you ever see the Academy Award winners walking from the back of the theatre?

 

Its time to settle down, get the wine open, browse through the menu and grab the freebie pens. The evening was hosted by Gervase Phinn, writer and poet, and he soon put everyone at their ease.

We didn’t have to wait long – we were the third award to be given. The Dovecote Barns and Jollydays Luxury Camping Ltd were our competition. I couldn’t tell you what was said about the category, I couldn’t even tell you which of our pictures was used in the film reel – could be the amount of wine consumed but probably the nerves – I can say that thanks to the guys at York Marriott I did hear a huge cheer when our name was read out as one of the nominees. Nick was opposite me ready with the camera to take a picture of the “look of joy/disappointment” as the winner was announced. I haven’t seen that picture but I’m sure I kept smiling as The Dovecote Barns’ had their name read out. To be fair, we didn’t expect to win in our first year of entering – we were just proud to be in the top three out of eighty other candidates.

Once the other awards were out of the way we tucked into a lovely meal. Warm tart of asparagus and Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue Cheese followed by Roast Rump of Dales lamb – yummy - all washed down with equally lovely wine.

After the meal we hit the casino – all for charity with no real money changing hands – shame really we would have come home with a fortune. We didn’t go home completely empty handed – Dad won the magnum of champagne in the prize draw in aid of Marie Currie York and I was allowed to take some balloons home to our daughters. A good night was had by all and we'll try again next year

Click here for photos

Its been an up and down week!

Its been one of those weeks where neither of us have stopped yet don't seem to have anything to show for it. I console myself with the knowledge that had we not done this weeks jobs the guests would have been able to tell - thats the most important thing. It can be quite frustrating when a seasonal or owner tells us we don't seem to have done much while they have been away but if the grass hadn't been cut, the weeds not dealt with, the facilities not been clean, lighting not maintained - they would have been the first to complain.

The freezing temperatures meant bursts this week - can't be helped - we've had to put the water onto some of our pitches for our guests but temperatures of -5 at night have lead to frozen pipes. I don't know how people cope on parks that are open during the winter months. The bursts have been on outside pipes so luckily haven't led to any damage - just frustration! Lets hope the night time temperatures are going to start climbing.

The "up" of the week happened on Wednesday when we received a letter from Visit York to say we had been shortlisted for the Self Catering/Caravan Park of the Year award. So exciting - we still have a mystery phone call and site inspection to go through but to get onto the shortlist is an honour in itself. We have been to a number of award dinners to celebrate the success of our sister site Jasmine Park so we are thrilled that its our turn now.