Growing numbers of holidaymakers seeking short 海角视频 鈥榮taycations鈥 have driven up sales at Newcastle鈥檚 Parkdean Resorts.
The firm, which has 67 parks across the 海角视频 including five in the North East, has posted accounts for 2019 in which is saw like for like revenues rise by 5% to 拢453.2m. Adjusted Ebitda, meanwhile, increased from 拢96.6m to 拢103.7m.
Overall group revenues rose 4.9% and operating profit, excluding exceptional items, rose from 拢57.3m to 拢58.9m.
The firm said it saw growth across all its income streams, and that it sold 6% more holidays packages year on year.
A total of 599,000 holidays were sold, of which 80% were short stay 鈥 less than 4 days 鈥 playing to the increasing trend for 海角视频 staycations.
The business operates shops, concessions, restaurants, bars and arcades as well as swimming pools, gyms and other leisure facilities at it parks, and on-park spend revenue grew by 6% year on year
Of the firm鈥檚 31,000 pitches, 20,000 have been licensed to owners to place their caravan, lodge or chalet on. Holiday home volumes, meanwhile, increased by 4% on the back of a strong second half of the year.
Looking ahead, the firm has launched a strategy to deliver holiday parks that provide 鈥榠nter-generational family fun and freedom鈥 for its holiday homeowners and guests.
A total of 拢80m will be invested in the business in 2020 鈥 an increase on the 拢42m invested last year 鈥 including a sizeable sum in a pilot 鈥榩arks of the future鈥 initiative in four locations to create state-of-the-art amenities including accommodation, park facilities and kids鈥 activity-based entertainment such as the Bear Grylls Survival Academy.
Major tech and infrastructure projects which include new pitches, an enhanced retail offer and digital capability improvements - including the provision of free high speed Wi-Fi across the whole estate.
The North East parks 鈥 at Church Point, in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea; Cresswell Towers at Druridge Bay, Crimdon Dene near Hartlepool; Sandy Bay in Ashington; and Whitley Bay 鈥 will have 拢1m invested to upgrade caravans and boost facilities.
Last week the firm revealed that the North East parks, which collectively employ more than 350 staff in season, have launched a recruitment drive for seasonal staff.
Following publication of the accounts, Steve Richards, chief executive of Parkdean Resorts said: 鈥淢uch progress has been made over the last year and it is fair reward for the passion and unrelenting desire our teams bring in delivering great holiday experiences for our customers.
鈥淭he momentum achieved in 2019 has continued into the current year which has started strongly with 32% of summer capacity already sold as we take share in what is a growing and resilient market.鈥
