Top rating for holiday park

EIGHT years hard work is paying off for Himatangi Beach Holiday Park proprietors, Margaret and Dennis Penney, whose complex has just been recognised as one of the country’s leading accommodation businesses.

Qualmark, New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance system, has awarded the holiday park a four star grade after a comprehensive on-site assessment that measured performance against more than 400 quality criteria.

Mr Penney said the couple was delighted at earning the prestigious quality mark, and though it had been a “tiring” journey since they arrived at Himatangi Beach from Tauranga in 2003, it had been rewarding.

“We started off at three stars and went up to three-plus two years later, and now getting to four reflects what’s been done.”

He said finishing off “little jobs” that affected the public – like cupboards under benches, a new events room and a general tidy-up – had played a part in the upgraded rating.

Assessment criteria are based on research into what travellers expect in areas such as customer service, facilities, cleanliness, safety and other business operations.

Himatangi Beach is the only Qualmark holiday park in Manawatu and one of only two between Wanganui and Wellington.

Mrs Penney said the Qualmark rating gave potential holiday park customers a base that had been recognised by the silver fern brand and a confidence that the park would meet their expectations.

Himatangi Beach Holiday Park has also experienced one of the busiest holiday seasons for some time, with many new campers joining the regulars as the weather played its part and remained largely settled.

“We are constantly getting good feedback on how lovely and quiet the camp is and how safe it is for children, which seems a top priority,” said Mrs Penney. “We’ve had people in tents and caravans, as well some in motor homes who are not wanting to go too far away from home.”

Future bookings for the rest of the year are strong, especially around Rugby World Cup time, with one British group booked in for two months and a number of Australian supporters using the camp as a base.

Mrs Penney also thanked the beach community and the Manawatu District Council for their support in helping them achieve the park’s quality accreditation.