Argyll Holidays blog

Duncan Bannatyne from Dragons Den is getting press coverage in raising the profile of his issues with TripAdvisor.

Guests certainly have the right to make known their opinions as to their travel experiences. The crux of the argument is that TripAdvisor, through their lack of screening, appears to be becoming the dumping ground for every whacko out there who wants to take an anonymous pot shot at businesses.

The issue is anonymity. TripAdvisor defend their site by saying that there is a right to respond from businesses if they want to comment on a review. This is all very one sided. The individual posting the review does so anonymously. I wonder how many reviewers would post their inaccurate, one-sided, rude and abusive reviews if they had to put their names to it.

Disgruntled customers used to say ‘I’ll call my lawyer’. The new threat, issued as recently as last week, is ‘I’ll put a bad review on TripAdvisor’.  And that was a threat made by someone who was not even staying with us.

We as a company go to great lengths to make sure that each and every customer know that any feedback is welcome and that we want to hear it during their stay. That way we can do something about it. It never fails to amaze me when I see a bad review that these customers who are so upset about something just did not feel strongly enough at the time to bring it to our attention. Are they shy or is it because they have to actually justify their comments? I suspect it is much easier to do so behind the cloak of TripAdvisor.

Like all arguments, we need balance. There are a lot of genuine people out there who are happy to share their positive experiences with fellow travellers.

Is there really any point in entering into correspondence with someone whose alias is ‘cantgetthestaff’?

TripAdvisor provides a valuable tool to help people decide on where to stay and where to go. They just need to re-address the balance so that when a company is named and shamed that the person reading the review at least knows it is a genuine one – improve the accountability and traceability and then everyone wins.

TripAdvisor should insist that all reviews are signed and then verify their email addresses. Until it takes these elementary precautions, anyone using TripAdvisor should beware.

Leonard Gow
Marketing and Ecommerce Manager
Argyll Holidays

The directors of Argyll Holidays, Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell, senior managers and our fantastic sales centre staff gathered together to celebrate the 1^st birthday of the dedicated sales office based at the Drimsynie Estate head office in Lochgoilhead.

Ruth Badger made time in her busy schedule to perform the ceremonial cutting-of-the-ribbon and give a few words of encouragement. Cutting-a-ribbon has more to do with an opening rather than a birthday – but – that is because one year ago we were so pumped up to get open and get working that we didn’t mark what was an important milestone in the growth of Argyll Holidays.

Lead by the experienced Lesley-Anne Smith, the dedicated team of Lisa-Jane Perkins, Kelly Gow, Hugh McIntosh, Emma Hayes and Marion Anderson are on hand to be the first point of contact for our holiday, and holiday home, customers. The sales advisors are there to welcome all enquiries and impart their product knowledge so that visitors are sure to find the best location and accommodation depending on what they are looking for in a holiday.

We would be the first to admit that with seven scenic holiday park locations in Argyll we have a fantastic area and product to sell.

Of course we are not really just one. We are a lot older than that, but it would be impolite to reveal our real age. Let’s just say that January 2010 was a new beginning in allowing us to concentrate on delivering the quality of call support that our customers deserve.

Argyll Holidays will have a stand at the Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show 3-6 February and The Travel Show 11-13 February both at the SECC in Glasgow. Come and say hello – fill in a card – and good luck – you might be the winner of a mid-week break on any of our parks.

The Cowal Marketing Group are well advanced on creating a new illustrated Visitor Touring map for Cowal.

Plans are for it to be available by early April.

If you want to be sure to get a copy as soon as it is available then email your contact details to Map Request.

Their new website is packed full of good information on things to do and places to go and is well worth a look.

Starting on 21st February 2011 Craig Anderson will personally be taking classes at Dolphin Leisure Centre. 

Classes will be available for all ages and abilities. 

Childrens Lessons, Adult & Baby Lessons, Adult & Child Lessons, Adult Lessons. 

The full teaching programme and information on how to book will be available on 1st February 2011

Contact the leisure complex reception on 01369 707771 for details.

Saturday 30th July is the date to put in your diary to come along to the Lochgoilhead Gala Day for a family fun day day out. Start at the Junior Mini Highland Games, all welcome to enter. From mid-day there are events in the car park with a variety of stalls and feature attractions. Mid-afternoon watch, or enter, the Raft Race . Complete the day by entering or watching the Steeple Hill Race. Will anybody beat the record of 19 mins?’

Contact details as well as further information will be added when the Community Council make them available.

“From Monday 10 January I will be available every Monday night for a weigh in session. Time and place: 7.30pm in the function hall at Drimsynie.

 Come and get weighed and talk to me for health and nourishment advice. The session will help build your knowledge of a healthy lifestyle as well as providing support and a focal point in the week to aim for. This will be a relaxed and friendly setting. You will have the opportunity to ask any question to help you achieve your goal.

The theory of programme will be based on healthy eating, exercise, lifestyle and making the correct choices. This will equip you with the information to work away consistently, taking small steps to achieve big gains.

I have over 20 years experience in the health and fitness industry. I have a number of qualifications including a clinical nutrition diploma.  £3 per session”.

Craig Nobes

This is a reprint of the Christmas Newsletter from the OSS (Outdoor Swimming Society). There are some good links to encourage more people to enjoy this most refreshing of past times.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Good tidings we bring, of cold snowy weather and very special swims.

As well as over 20 regular Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day swims going on around the country, this year there are eight new ones organised by OSS regional groups.

See the OSS Swimming Map to find your nearest get together, and email map@outdoorswimmingsociety.com if you know of any not listed. If you want to know what swims are taking place in your check out our facebook page for all the cold water information you require!

Of the OSS ones, a few have happened already (congrats to the group at St Neots, above, swimming in 0.5 degree water and -5 degree air), and special mentions go to the brave folk taking to the water off Sandsend Beach, nr Whitby on Boxing day and intrepid loch swimmers taking on Lochgoilhead on the first day of 2011 – a great way to start the new year!

It’s been fantastic year for members of the OSS. The regional network has made it to Wales, Cornwall and Scotland this year, and the OSS Facebook group is thriving. Some swims members dreamt up or started doing in the last few years – the Durdle Door swim, Burgh Island, various spots on the Thames – have become almost iconic, and people keep exploring new places and passing those ideas on (please email map@outdoorswimmingsociety.com over winter with your ideas).

The team continues to just about hold things together (please put your hand up for public service if you can), with many valuable new members such as Robert Aspey, our Inland Water Access Officer, who is really pushing things forward in the Midlands, where he will hopefully create the kind of inland swimming beach that will provide a blueprint for other bodies nationwide, and our press officers Cath Saunt and Sarah Collings. A special mention also to Jo Lade, Oli Pitt, Louise Crathorne and Jo Chappel who between them organised our biggest events this year – the Derwent weekend, the midsummer party, the Dart10k and swim fitness courses, and the December Dip.

Over 200 of us braved the 0.1°C water at Parliament Hill lido earlier this month at the DECEMBER DIP – see us on Sky News!

Thanks from all the OSS for you support and swimming enthusiasm in 2010. See you in the water over Christmas and we’ll be back around New Year with lists of national and international events and ideas so you can make 2011 THE year for outdoor swimming!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all.

Will Barkway

It is a real pleasure to report that the events in this year’s Christmas and New Year programme were well supported. When I sit down with the management team during the year to plan an events programme you always wonder ‘Will anyone turn up….’ I am grateful to each and every holiday maker who joined in and supported the event.

Our first ever Santa Grotto walk included a trek to a secret location on the park where the children delivered their letters to Santa and had their pictures taken. Later that afternoon and after the children’s Christmas party Santa even had time to drop off a reply to them. On Boxing Day we had a leisurely stroll to work off the over-eating and drinks of the day before. Over forty people turned out for our annual tartan walk. That has to be a record. We took in the sights of Lochgoilhead (no joking) and found out about the history and different places of interest in the area before finishing off at the hotel with a dram and mince pie.

Our first ever beginners curling tournament was a real mix of ages taking part. The mixed abilities made for a great atmosphere. The incentives of chocolate as prizes seemed to bring out the competitiveness in the teams. I am delighted to report that the young kids won in the end.

I was pleased with the turnout of swimmers in last year’s first ever New Year Dip. Considering that the loch was covered in ice just a week before it is all the more surprising that this year we saw over thirty brave take to the water. They were egged on by a vocal and enthusiastic supporting crowd. With over £1,400 raised for CHAS and Epilepsy Research UK it is humbling just what support the locals and holidaymakers give this event.

The last walk of this year’s programme was round the village finishing off at the new adventure play park. This was great for the kids and mums, especially the ones whose husbands were watching the old firm game.

Thank you once again to everyone who participated in the different events and made the Christmas and New Year holidays so enjoyable.

Craig

Last week the head of Loch Goil was ice bound. Today, 1st January, it was ice free, but it goes without saying –cold.  Congratulations to approximately 30 hardy souls who stripped off and took to the water. This was the second Ne’er Day Charity Dip. The spectators were full of encouragement and were in a giving mood. Early reports are that £1,400+ has been raised online as well as in the handy buckets in support of CHAS and Epilepsy Research UK. Craig Nobes, the Activity Manager at Drimsynie, did his usual excellent job of organising and running the event. Thank you to Craig for all his efforts as well as the staff, holiday home owners and holiday makers who came along to take part and show their support.

Craig and a brave swimmer

Lesleyanne from the Sales Centre and her team

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

   

A late entry