SA Caravan Parks conference told AAA Tourism star rating consistency in question

SA Parks re-elected Richard Davis to the Presidents role

Caravan Parks throughout Australia are questioning elements of the core criteria which is used by AAA Tourism to star rate them 96 SA caravan park owners and representatives were told today.

SA Caravan Parks Association Vice President, Ron Shattock, told the SA Annual General meeting at McCracken Resort, Victor Harbor that there were concerns about the value of star rating of accommodation to produce a common standard across Australia’s states and territories.

“Work needs to be put into (point) criteria items and it is not only caravan parks but hotels and motels who are concerned”, he said.

Ron Shattock SA Parks Vice President

Representatives from state caravan parks had met with AAA Tourism and asked that AAA Tourism, the back-office arm of the Auto clubs of Australia responsible for the accommodation star rating system, survey auto club members to establish what their members expected from the system.

A further meeting between caravan park representative bodies and AAA Tourism is scheduled for early September.

“The key is the consumer, who we believe, best knows what their expectations are”, he said.

Fiona Williams of SA Parks gets things organised

“There is no certainty when the goalposts constantly change in the various sectors of the star rating programs”, he said.

“It is a concern when the height of a toilet door is worth more (star rating points) than having a swimming pool.

“Star rating assessors looking at things like this objectively is an issue”.

He said point assessments being sent direct to AAA Tourism from the field by assessors left properties without feedback. They did not get a chance to respond, nor did they have an opportunity to learn from the assessment.

A complaint resolution process needs to be made available to caravan parks by AAA Tourism, Ron Shattock said.

Andrew and Sharon Bowey of Wallaroo North Beach Caravan park

He said AAA Tourism had listened to the caravan parks but caravan park representatives believed they could not move forward until a survey of what auto club members wanted was undertaken.

He said that unfortunately the consistency of star rating assessments across states have fallen back from what had been a good standard after extensive training of assessors by AAA Tourism.

In response to a question asking whether the caravan park industry should be doing its own assessments SA Parks President, Richard Davis, said he understood that three caravan park state bodies have said “they will go it alone” and establish their own accommodation standards.

It’s all about personality

Dale Woods I am a high D type

Motivator, Derreck Percival, fired up delegates at the SA Parks Conference at Victor Harbor SA with a character testing insight into personalities.

Under the headings Directing, Influencing, Steady, and Cautious he lined the conference room walls with prime examples as people scrambled to find their place against the numbers they had totaled on their personal characterization tallies.

Overall it was agreed the result was right on. Much re-elected SA Parks President Richard Davis turned out to be Steady. As SA Parks Secretary Fiona Williams said after more than 30 years leading the SA fray that was no surprise.

SA Parks logo takes a leap into the present

The Mr Caravan Parks of marketing and selling Dale Woods numbered up as a High D for Directing.

Again, not a big shock.

Overall the scary bit was just how right the Percival Personal tally test proved to be. As a fun time it was outstanding.

New brand for SA Parks

SA Parks has a new logo with brings it right into the present moment.

It is fresh, bright and just the message for moving in on the X-Y generation.

GoSeeAustralia rates the result as a 10.

McCracken Resort Victor Harbour

Positive approach to free campers

Roadside camping is seen as something to approach with a positive in South Australia.

SA Parks President, Richard Davis says that park owners should look for solutions which attracted “free campers” to parks facilities by offering options which appeal.

SA Parks is talking to councils on the subject seeking their attitudes and direction.

It should be understood that caravan park owners have no problem with the traveller who camps out of town but find it a bit hard to swallow when free facilities are provided by councils in direct competition with their parks which are rate paying businesses.

Shattock honored

SA Parks Vice President, Ron Shattock was surprised by President Richard Davis at the final conference dinner when he was presented with a life  membership.

Jordan wins for Adelaide Shores Holiday Village
ContACT Internet Solutions have worked with Caravan Parks SA for a number of years now and through the huge reciprocal support shown to ContACT by member parks using ContACT's web site design services, hosting, email and paid park enhanced listing on GoSeeAustralia an impromptu $550 advertising package was presented  by GoSeeAustralia Sales Manager Alan Hislop to a lucky conference attendee.  This was won by Jordan at Adelaide Shores Holiday Village part of their park’s prize is  linked to this feature.

For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia Directory
Phone:  02 6294 1941
Fax:     02 6284 9275
garth@contact.com.au

ContACT-GoSeeAustralia Sales Manager Alan Hislop presents the Adelaide Shores team with a $550 ad package	SA Parks President Richard Davis presents Ron Shattock with his life membership
Now we are all having fun	Motivator. I am an I Dereck Percival
SA Parks Vice President Ron Shattock	The troops rally to the personality two-step