Travel news extra
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Harvey Alexander reveals some exciting news for Club members
THE CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME Club launched a series of new initiatives at October’s NEC show, covering touring, wellbeing and insurance.
Adventure Outside is a campaign to inspire more people to get outdoors and take some exercise. Government research suggests that Britons should take 150 minutes of exercise per week, but only 25% of the general public say they exercise while on holiday.
For Caravan and Motorhome Club members, however, this figure is higher, at 70%, including pursuits such as walking, cycling and surfing.
In collaboration with Sustrans, a charity working to encourage more people to walk and cycle, the club is promoting its new cycle network – 35 routes are attached to club sites. And given their location close to some of the best surfing beaches in the UK, 30 club sites are ideal for those who want to ride some waves while on tour.
“There’s been a change – and certainly we’ve seen it in our membership – that people now want to get out and do something,” says club marketing director Harvey Alexander. “They want to earn their lovely lunch or dinner, so they’ll do a five-mile walk or a 10-mile ride.we want to promote that more.”
“We launched Cyclefest at our national event, which is attended by 3000-4000 people. We’re going to extend it to various locations across the UK in 2018 – members can now get involved in an event that works for them. It’s an organised cycle ride that’s perfect for families – a really nice ride. They’re so well organised and so friendly. At the last national event, we had a fun run, too.”
In other news, the club has announced a Spring into Spain 30-day tour in April, for which members take their own caravan. The trip allows participants to “live like a local at the Marjal Costa Blanca, on the southeastern coast of Spain” and you can find out more at http://po.st/jwnxki.
In addition, the club has introduced 20 new sites in Europe – eight of them ski sites. This was in response to demand from members for more ski sites in the network.
“Having that stamp of approval by the club – or just the fact that we’ve been out and visited every single site that we recommend, and looked at it from a member perspective, definitely makes a difference,” adds Harvey.
“That gives members the reassurance that they can go to that site with their family and know it’s going to be at the quality and the standard that one expects from the club.”
Awards for insurance
Finally, the Caravan and Motorhome Club won the award for Best Caravan Insurance Provider at the recent Insurance Choice Awards, as well as picking up the prize for Customer Service Champion. “One of the things our members love to do is tour for more than 90 days,” says Harvey. “We’re one of few insurers offering cover just for that reason – this recognises our members’ lifestyle and how they want to tour. We make sure we have an appropriate product for them. “We’re best known for our caravan and motorhome insurance, but we also offer pet insurance – 30% of our members have pets. Forget the caravan – their pet is their most valued possession. We also offer home, breakdown and car insurance, so you can be completely covered by the club. All of the money we make from insurance is invested back into our insurance and our sites.”
‘There has been a change – people now want to get out and do something and we want to promote that more’