22.03.04
No single supplements - South West
farm tourism company launches new initiative
No single supplements – that's what a new symbol on
the Cartwheel website indicates, guiding visitors to top quality
rural accommodation in the South West that won't penalise
those choosing to travel or lodge alone.
Cartwheel administers the Objective One Rural Tourism Marketing
grants for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and is the South
West's leading farm tourism company with members in Cornwall,
Devon, Somerset and Dorset. It launched this new initiative
after becoming aware that many of its members either charge
no single supplements at all, or only apply them during peak
holiday months. With the makeup of visitor and family groups
becoming increasingly diverse, the company recognised that
its members' tolerance towards single occupancy was something
that should be shouted about.
"Visitors think single supplements are a disagreeable
fact of life, but they don't have to be,” says Gina Woodcraft,
chief executive of Cartwheel. "As independent small businesses,
our members use their discretion about charging single supplements
– much of the time choosing not to. The farm tourism
industry needs to be sustainable all year round, not just
in the school holidays, so initiatives like this will help
highlight its accessibility and warm welcome no matter what
visitors' travel choices are.”
According to Gina Woodcraft, this is one area where independent
tourism businesses will always have an advantage over big
holiday chains. "Big companies have to make big profits
and maximise returns, which is why single supplement policies
exist. With farm holiday ventures, businesses can adjust more
easily to changing markets, which right now means those that
charge single supplements need to reassess. However, for the
record, many of our self-catering members actually offer a
discount for single occupancy bookings.”
A new, dedicated 'No Single Supplement' section has been
created on the Cartwheel website at www.cartwheelholidays.co.uk/nosinglesupplements.asp giving information about the initiative and listings of the
accommodations it applies to in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
The company hopes that this initiative will be an incentive
for even more of its members to limit or remove the charging
of single supplements.
Cartwheel currently has more than 140 members offering farm
and countryside holidays in the South West, including bed
and breakfast, self-catering accommodation, plus caravan and
camping sites. All members are independent farm diversification
businesses, run with care and pride.
For more press information please contact Gina Woodcraft
or Debbie Bristow at the Cartwheel office on 01392 877842,
or mobile 07885 951931.
Editor's notes:
Cartwheel is promoting its no single supplements
initiative through a dedicated section on its website at www.cartwheelholidays.co.uk/nosinglesupplements.asp before rolling it out to the main listings database.
Cartwheel is the South West of England's leading
farm and rural holiday company, offering visitors the chance
to enjoy a unique countryside experience. It is a private
sector limited company run by farmers and part funded by the
European Union and Defra.
All Cartwheel members are independently inspected
according to the company's quality criteria which encompasses
accommodation, local food, green tourism and sustainable land
management.
Cartwheel administers the Objective One Rural
Tourism Marketing Grants scheme for Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly. The scheme can award 50% grants to fund projects
with a total value of up to £100,000. Projects with
a total value of less than £3,000 can be dealt with
through the 'fast track' process, providing a response within
two weeks. Larger grant applications take between four and
six weeks to process.
Veronica Newport
npr
Tel: 01363 866927
Fax: 01363 866093
Mob: 07808 063053
Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk
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