Show comes in from the rain

FOLLOWING the downpours that plagued the Park Homes Lifestyle Show at Stoneleigh Park in May, causing the show to close early on its final day, the Park Home Lifestyle Forum has decided to move indoors in 2007.
It has also moved the show from May to July 18-22, and attracted sponsorship from Saga FM.

“Despite the rain, the 2006 show was a great platform for raising the industry’s profile,” said Martin Hember, the Forum’s vice-chairman. “As anyone who was there will remember, though, trudging around a water-logged field was not much fun.”

The exhibition, which has been rebranded as the Retirement Lifestyle Show and the Leisure Lifestyle Show, will still take place at Stoneleigh Park. But the main display areas will be in Stoneleigh’s two covered exhibition halls, which also feature indoor catering and toilet facilities. Car parking will be under cover, too.There will still be some outdoor exhibits, but these will be on hard-surface areas.

Another change will be a reduction in the number of exhibits. The organisers believe that in past shows, faced with 80 or more homes, some visitors have suffered 'unit blindness’.

In 2007, however, the ten major manufacturers that make up the Forum will be restricted to three homes each in the main halls, with some also exhibiting leisure homes in the outdoor area. There will probably be about 40 homes altogether.

To add further interest for visitors, there will be special ‘features’ in each of the halls and the outdoor area.
Launching the 2007 shows at a reception at Stoneleigh attended by more than 50 people from the industry, Martin Hember said, “The exhibitions in 2007 will offer visitors indoor and outdoor attractions and a larger variety of exhibitors and features.

“Development of the industry relies upon building public awareness that park homes and leisure lodges provide a comfortable and stylish way to live. The new initiatives have the potential to dramatically increase footfall, and to spread the word of the benefits of park home and leisure lodge living to a wider audience.”
For more information visit http://www.retirementandleisurelifestyle.co.uk.

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