Clubsite bookings 2021

Back in June I booked a week on The Norfolk Broads site for twelve months hence as I thought it may fill up quickly. I needn't have bothered as, other than serviced pitches, there isn’t yet a single fully booked date all summer🤣🤣

Hopefully, if non returnable deposits are introduced it will break the cycle of book early/cancel last minute.

I booked Marazion for first week in September, back up for Tour of Britain. Did it once I knew dates. It pays to be organised over Club Sites nowadays.

A question was asked along those lines at the AGM and answered by Nick Lomas.

Do you have much trouble booking, Mikey?

so how much? 50% per booking? £5 per booking? £20? Got to be something that will stop your cycle? If it's too low then we're back to people not telling the club they won't show, which did happen as the number of no shows went down when the club got rid of deposits.

Too high and income will be affected with pope going elsewhere, especially after what happened this year, and loss of income?

Also non returnable? Seems bit harsh. So that would mean people buying insurance further raising the cost of a stay away?

Also is there a cycle? Any proof? And if there is as long as pitches get sold does the club care? 

If the club were to go down this route you suggest no doubt there would be cries of this is a club why have non returnable deposits?

And why are you so keen on them? Have trouble getting your club sites?

As much as I’d like to, I can’t argue with any of that 😄

Some folk would🤣🤣🤣🤣

With regard to deposits, why are proposals always in a "all or nothing" format. If, and I emphasise 'If",  members feel that deposits might help, could not a relatively high deposit(50% for 6 days+, 100% for 5days-) be required for bookings for more than say three months in advance with it being non-refundable if less than one months notice being given. That would enable long-term planners to secure their chosen holiday whilst discouraging speculative "weekend squatters".

I will now await the howls of protest and reasons why that could not possibly work.

I suppose it might depend how the Club view the advantages of sites being booked up a year in advance as a measure of future occupancy and whether a deposit system might put that at risk. I sometimes use C&CC sites and well as commercial sites where I do encounter deposits and sometimes full payment required in advance. My inclination in those cases would be to book as close to the actual arrival date as I could to avoid a financial loss. I think the current system works fairly well for me but then I don't book a long way in advance and am fairly flexible where I go. Whatever system is put in place should retain a degree of simplicity ie a set amount and simple rules about moving a booking or getting a refund within a certain time period. 

David

If there are more "staycations" next year it will really pay to book ahead. This year we met countless people who were normally "abroad." They were taking long touring holidays here instead. I think this could happen again in 2021 until things hopefully start to settle down.