21 Sunday Oct 2018
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
Tags
#motorhomes, @motorhmenews, camc, caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, NCC, NEC
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
25 Sunday Feb 2018
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
Tags
#motorhomes, @candmclub, @XPFreedomUK, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Experience Freedom.camc, motorhome, motorhomenews, NEC
Spent a fair chunk of this week at the NEC show on the CAMC temporary site. The convenience of it outweighs all other considerations – just stagger the hundred metres to the bus and the next thing you’re at the main entrance to the halls.
I was really impressed with the Experience Freedom stand – all about attracting newcomers to the lifestyle and offering alternative accommodation types for people to consider. The website is well worth a tour at EXPERIENCE FREEDOM and also of course on twitter @XPFreedomUK On the subject of twitter some people tell me they are using it less – for me I am using it more and love it just as much as ever @motorhomenews
All in all a great show – but nice to be home!
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
27 Saturday Jan 2018
Posted in General
Tags
#motorhomes, Brian Morgan, camc, caravan and motorhome club, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, Glasgow, Jamie Taylor, Manchester, Matt Allwright, motorhome, motorhomenews, NEC, Nick Lomas, William Coleman
SOURCE: Caravan Times
Interview Exclusive With CAMCs Head Of Communications And Events
By William Coleman
Last week I ventured up to Manchester to the Caravan and Motorhome show to speak first hand with senior members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club about what they had in store for their members during 2018.
So with both the Scottish and Birmingham NEC Caravan and Motorhome shows only a handful of weeks away I wanted to speak with The Club about how they prepare for the show and what it means to them to have such a presence. As an industry leading holiday provider I feel they do a great job with communicating with their customers, and the public in general. So here is my interview with CAMC’s very own Brian Morgan.
The Club always have such an impressive stand and presence at the shows. How far in advance does the planning start?
It’s an ongoing process, we exhibit at both NEC shows, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as a number of outdoor shows and events throughout the year. We are always in ‘show mode’!
What goes into making sure you have something for everyone at the show?
We make sure we have details of all Club products and services available for show visitors, we can help them from the very first stages with inspiring them to choose the right leisure vehicle for their touring group, to sharing ideas of where they could have their adventures and giving them help and advice along each step of the way and, of course, make their actual holiday bookings for them. Our show staff have such a vast amount of knowledge and experience and they love being at the shows and talking to people. We really do have a great team, not only at the shows but at head office and throughout the site network.
It is quite clear that The Club invest heavily in listening to their members, how can members communicate with you so they are heard?
It’s really important for us to listen to our members to hear about what they want and need from us. We have our Club Together forum with over 400k registered users, our social platforms are a great way for members and future members to interact with us, we carry out regular research and surveys with our members to hear from them – first-hand – about their views. Our Magazine is also a great source of information for members. And, most importantly, we act upon this information we receive. We provide over 60 relevant member offers (everything from discounts on outdoor clothing, fuel discounts, unbeatable ferry offers), our ongoing sites investment programme, we represent the members views through parliamentary channels and other associated bodies such as Transport for London and the FIA to name but a few.
As Matt Allwright said at the Manchester show, ‘there’s nowhere our members haven’t been’ and we are keen to provide the platforms for members to share their knowledge and experiences as they, in turn, inspire others to have great adventures.
At the Manchester show you had Matt Allwright open the show and do a acoustic set with his band ‘The Walnuts’. Will we see Matt again in Birmingham this February?
Yes! Matt will be with us on Club Day (Tuesday 20 February), he will again be hosting a series of informative forums for show visitors. Matt is a Club member and really enjoys getting away with his family in his campervan.
The shows are a fantastic way for members, new and old, to have face to face interaction with key members of The Club. What aspect of meeting the public do you enjoy the most?
You will always find me at the front of the stand, encouraging people to come and say hi to our team. I really do enjoy that aspect of my job. It’s so important to get to meet and talk to people, face to face, you can’t beat it.
And lastly what can we expect from you guys at this years Glasgow or the NEC shows?
We are heading to Glasgow soon, it really is a terrific show. We will be opening the show on Club Day with our Director General, Nick Lomas, the show Director, Jamie Taylor, and there will be a performance for show visitors by a really talented local quartet called the Capella String Quartet, so if anyone is in the area, come and say hi. And then we are at the NEC, Matt Allwright will be with us and we will have an exciting announcement to make, so make sure you are there on Club Day!
Source: Caravan Times
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
23 Tuesday Jan 2018
Posted in General
Tags
#holidays, #motorhomes, ABTA, caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, NCC, NEC, UK
Research by travel trade association ABTA* has revealed the UK is set to be British holidaymakers’ destination of choice in 2018, as 66% of the British population are already planning time away closer to home. Europe follows a close second with 63% planning to visit and 14% look to travel to North America.
2017 was a popular year for UK breaks, with British adults taking an average of 2.1 UK holidays: up on the previous year. Families with children aged five and over enjoyed 2.7 UK breaks and adults aged 35 to 44 ventured on 2.5 domestic vacations.
Research indicates that British spending on holidays will also increase, as a significant 31% are putting aside more money for their vacations in 2018. 47% are hoping to spend the same and just 14% plan to spend less.
Fresh figures from The Camping and Caravanning Club^ suggest the trend is already underway, reporting a 10% increase in bookings across its 106 club campsites for the 2018 season year-to-date versus 2017. The Caravan and Motorhome Club also supports the forecast+, announcing that 2017 was the best-ever year for tent camping, with a 13% increase compared to 2016 and its best-ever figures currently for winter camping. Leisure vehicle holidays were also up in 2017 with the club reporting an 11% growth in pitch nights over 2016 and a record November for touring caravan, motorhome and campervan stays.
Commenting on the rise of UK holidaying, Jenny Summers, Group Marketing Director of the NCC (National Caravan Council), the UK’s trade body for the tourer, motorhome and caravan holiday home industries said: “Sales of both motorhomes and caravans were up in 2017, with motorhome registrations rising by 14.9% and tourer factory dispatches to dealers increasing by 8.7%. This clearly demonstrates the continuing popularity of using a leisure vehicle to explore the UK and beyond.”
The growth of the British tourism industry augurs well for the NCC’s next event in February, the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018. A record-breaking 101,583 visitors attended its sister-show in October last year.
Taking place at Birmingham’s NEC between 20 and 25 February, the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018 brings together over 370 exhibitors and is the UK’s largest showcase of caravans, campervans, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes and lodges as well as new season tents, trailer tents and folding caravans.
The family-friendly event features a variety of holiday destinations and trip options. Show sponsor Freedom to Go is on hand to help visitors plan their next adventure and the leisure vehicle industry’s two largest clubs, The Camping and Caravanning Club and Caravan and Motorhome Club also provide advice and inspiration for all.
Tickets for the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018 are now available at www.ccmshow.co.uk and by phone on 0844 873 7333. Advance prices start from £7.00**, with children 15 and under entering free.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
03 Sunday Sep 2017
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
Tags
#motorhomes, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, National Caravan Council, NCC, NEC, outandaboutlive
Win tickets to the UK’s largest leisure vehicle event.
From 17 to 22 October, the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2017 at Birmingham’s NEC showcases all the new-for-2018 products from the motorhome and caravan industry. We have five pairs of tickets to give away for the biggest launch event of its kind featuring more than 700 motorhomes and caravans from major manufacturers including Adria, Auto-Sleepers, Bailey and Hymer. The show will also host a number of celebrity chefs such as Antonio Carluccio and Rustie Lee who will be giving cooking demonstrations from newly-launched leisure vehicles in the LIVE Theatre.
Launches at the show include the return of the iconic Airstream. Be inspired and explore the latest models from all major motorhome manufacturers and dealers under one roof and discover the perfect home-from-home for you.
For your chance to win tickets to the show (children 15 and under enter free), simply answer the following question:
Which iconic American brand relaunches back into the UK at this year’s show?
A – Airways
B – Airstream
C – Airmobile
Motorhomenews has five pairs of tickets to give away to the first five correct answers I receive. Please send me an email with your answer to the question and enclose your email address as well. Contact me on motorhomenews@gmx.com Winners will be informed by me and will collect their tickets from the NEC on the day you travel to the show. See terms and conditions below.
(For more information or show tickets visit http://www.mcshow.co.uk or telephone 0844 873 7333)
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
Competition Terms and Conditions
Tickets to be collected at the press office at the NEC, the press office is located outside Hall 18, suites 18.1 and 18.2. It is accessible from the NEC main atrium and from within the hall during the following hours.
Tuesday 17:08:00 – 18:00
Wednesday 18:09:00 – 18:00
Thursday 19:09:00 – 18:00
Friday 20:09:00 – 18:00
Saturday 21:09:30 – 18:00
Sunday 22:09:30 – 13:00
Advance ticket prices £8.50 Senior (over 60s), £9.50 Adult when booking before 23:59hrs 16/10/17 after which time prices revert to the on-the-door price of £12.00 Senior and £13.00 Adult. A £1.25 transaction fee applies. Car parking is included in the ticket price. No dogs (except assistance dogs). Children 15 years and under go free when accompanied by a paying Adult/Senior. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for a monetary value. For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.mcshow.co.uk
PUBLICATION TO ENTER ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COMPETITION ENTRY. ALL TICKETS ENTRIES ARE TO BE MANAGED BY THE PUBLICATION OR WEBSITE (UNLESS FACILITY NOT AVAILABLE)
21 Wednesday Dec 2016
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
From Tuesday 21 to Sunday 26 February, the Birmingham NEC will be home to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017 where nearly 350 leading leisure brands will be exhibiting the very best in caravans, motorhomes, tents, camping equipment and accessories.
The six-day event has a packed entertainment agenda with a celebrity line-up and live cooking demonstrations, as well as plenty of interactive features, including an indoor children’s’ assault course, towing and motorhome manoeuvring tuition, a much-loved dog agility arena plus new-for-2017 bushcraft workshops. The show is a great day out for all the family with advance tickets starting from just £7* and children 15 and under go FREE.
If you love the great outdoors the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017 offers all the inspiration you need for your next holiday.
To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the show on a day of your choosing, simply answer the following question:
What is appearing for the very first time at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017?
A) Towing and manoeuvring tuition
B) Dog agility arena
C) Bushcraft workshops
Send your answer by email to MOTORHOMENEWS
motorhomenews@gmx.com
Your entry needs to be with me before Sunday February 5th 2017.
For more information about the show, please visit:
Terms & Conditions
TICKETS TO BE COLLECTED AT THE PRESS OFFICE AT THE NEC.
*Advance ticket prices £7 Senior (0ver 60’S) £8 Adult when booking before 23:59hrs 20/02/2017 after which time prices revert to the on-the-door prices of £9 Senior and £10 Adult. A £1.25 transaction fee applies. For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.ccmshow.co.uk
25 Thursday Feb 2016
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows, General
The place to be is The Caravan Club’s temporary site within the grounds of the NEC and on the shuttle bus route. Simples!
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
16 Saturday Jan 2016
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows, Uncategorized
The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show heralds the new year in the leisure vehicle and travel industry taking place from 23-28 February 2016 at the Birmingham NEC. The show displays the latest products and launches from leading brands such as Swift, Lunar, Bailey, Vango, Elddis, Trigano and Coachman, to name but a few.
The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show is organised by NCC Events (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the industry trade body NCC) and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club, making it the ideal platform for expert advice and industry presence.
More than 350 exhibitors are participating in the celebrity-studded event, with Hyundai as the show’s official tow-car partner. The public will be treated to exclusive deals, complimentary caravan-towing and motorhome-manoeuvring lessons as well as attractions such as a themed activity area inspired by the Woodland Trust, and sessions with industry experts at the Discovery Theatre.
The leisure vehicle industry continues to play an important role in the UK, with England as the largest tourer-manufacturing base in Europe (98% of all new tourers sold in the UK are manufactured by NCC Members). The UK reported the highest growth in European motorhome registrations in 2014 (+17.6%) and the UK caravan industry is worth more than £6bn a year.
To find out more come to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show from the 23 until the 28 of February 2016 at the Birmingham NEC with caravan and motorhome models from leading UK and European manufacturers displayed under one roof. The show is supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club.
Visit: http://www.caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk
Call: 0844 873 7333
Follow the show on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Buy tickets here: http://caravancampingshow.seetickets.com/tour/the-caravan-camping-motorhome-show
Other useful links:
http://www.thencc.org.uk
http://www.thecaravanclub.co.uk
http://www.thecampingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
30 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
Tags
#motorhomes, @motorhmenews, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, NCC, NCC Events, NEC, The Caravan Club
NEC Birmingham – 23 – 28 February 2016
• Holiday, short break and outdoor pursuit inspiration
• Exciting new glamping holiday village to launch
• Expert advice for anyone new to leisure vehicles
Tickets are on sale now for the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, taking place from 23rd – 28th February 2016 at the NEC in Birmingham. The event is the UK’s largest start of holiday season showcase and every February welcomes visitors that love nothing more than spending their leisure time in the great outdoors. It’s the place to visit for families, pet owners and anyone else looking to go on holiday in a leisure vehicle and there’s plenty of free advice for those new to the lifestyle. Advanced tickets start at just £7* for seniors (60+ years), £8* for adults, kids go free, and free parking and a Show Guide are included too.
In 2016 a brand new glamping holiday village will debut at the Show featuring bell tents, yurts, tipis and other trendy accommodation options. There’s more than 350 exhibitors, plenty of outdoor accessories to browse and buy and exciting feature areas that add up to make a fantastic value day out.
The popular dog agility area returns as well as a packed programme of sessions in the revamped Experts’ Theatre, including slots on what to look for when buying a first leisure vehicle. For people new to towing, or those looking to freshen up their skills, the free towing experience is back to help visitors try driving with a caravan in a safe and controlled environment. And, free motorhome manoeuvring sessions can be booked with expert tuition from qualified instructors.
James Bissett, marketing campaign director for NCC Events, organiser of the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, said: “Following on from our successful Motorhome & Caravan Show in October 2015 I can’t wait to throw open the doors to our February start-of-season showcase, especially with our new glamping holiday village in mind. For anyone who loves spending time in the great outdoors and wants to find out more about the leisure vehicle lifestyle there is no better place to start than our show. We’ll have plenty more thrilling news to come in the weeks ahead so stay tuned to our website and social media channels.”
Organised by NCC Events, a wholly owned subsidiary of industry trade body the National Caravan Council, and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club the Show features many leading leisure vehicle manufacturers, including Adria, Bailey, Coachman, Elddis, Lunar, Swift, Trigano and more. This means visitors will be able to compare all the latest motorhome and caravan layouts, interiors and benefit from exclusive show offers on thousands of products ahead of the 2016 season.
Tickets can be booked by going to:
http://www.caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk
or calling 0844 873 7333
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
* When booking before 23.59 on 22/2/16. On-the-door prices: £10.00 Adult, £9 Senior (60yrs+). Children 15 years and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult/senior. Car parking is included in the ticket price and the free show guide is subject to availability. No dogs (except assistance dogs). Calls to cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. £1.25 transaction charge applies unless otherwise stated.
NCC Events is the exhibitions arm and a wholly owned subsidiary – of the NCC. The NCC is the trade body for the UK caravan industry, encompassing touring caravans, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes and park homes. The NCC represents some 800 member outlets in manufacturing, park operations, distribution, retailing, and in the provisions of specialist suppliers and services within the UK caravan industry, which is worth in excess of £6 billion per annum (sale of products, services and holiday spend).
25 Sunday Oct 2015
Posted in Exhibitions and Shows
Tags
Carl Fogarty, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Guinness World, Marquis, Matt Baker, motorhome, motorhomenews, NCC, NEC, Swift Group, The Caravan Club
Photo: Lots of discussion, negotiations and firm orders being placed were a major feature of the show.
The Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015 opened with a bang and the setting of a new Guinness World Record for the largest ever caravan made from interlocking plastic LEGO® bricks. Ex-World Superbike Champion Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty and TV presenter Matt Baker, a guest of The Caravan Club, laid the final bricks and declared the event open in front of a packed crowd eager to see all the new for 2016 leisure vehicle products. Subsequently, many of the 400 exhibitors have reported record sales at what is the UK’s biggest leisure vehicle launch show.
Yet again a huge buying audience was delivered to the NEC, for example the UK’s largest dealer network Marquis enjoyed its most successful indoor exhibition on record with orders in excess of £10m being taken at the Show. Lowdhams exceeded its expectations with a 50% growth in sales and Swift Group reports sales from the show being so good its order book is almost full for the year, with its Sprite range 10% up on the incredible performance of 2014.
Once the event closed its doors earlier this week (Sunday 18th) 94,514 (96,237 in 2014) people had visited. It drew its biggest crowd on Saturday 17th, with 25,308 (26474 in 2014) people through the doors and interestingly 48% of all advanced tickets booked to the Show were by people new to the event.
This success is indicative of a leisure vehicle market that is on the up, with new registrations for motorhomes up 25% to 10,461 and new caravans despatched to dealers up 5% compared with this time last year.
At the Show live product showcases took place each day in the revamped Experts’ Theatre from leading UK and European leisure vehicle manufacturers including Adria, Auto-Trail, Hillside Leisure, Hymer, Knaus, Lunar, Roller Team and Swift Group.
Footage of the LEGO brick caravan has already clocked up more than 325,000 views on YouTube with it featuring, to name but a few, on the BBC, MailOnline, The Sun, Evening Standard, Mirror.co.uk, Metro, Yahoo!, mashable.com in The Sunday Times, regional media and generating a massive social media and online impact with millions of Twitter accounts reached and thousands of article shares on Facebook. It also featured around the world on Discovery Channel Canada, Foxsports in America, German national newspaper Bilde.De and as far away as Australia.
Other famous faces to star during the event included Rowland and Monica Rivron, Julia Bradbury, Chris Goffey, chefs Sean Wilson and Dean Edwards as well as ‘Gadget Girl’ Ella Williamson.
The event is organised by NCC Events and supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. Anthony Trevelyan, Chairman NCC Events, said: “The outstanding number of caravans and motorhomes sold at the show and the high visitor attendance underline the success of the industry and the benefit of providing people with an enjoyable, low cost day out. The key is in delivering a top quality show at a super-competitive price, which we will continue to do at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show in February 2016.”
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
