VOTE: New Butlins hotel putting Bognor on the map

While the firm's other resorts at Minehead and Skegness struggled in the recession, the Sussex branch of the company had recorded significant profits.

Latest figures have shown that nationally the firm has seen its visitor numbers increase by two per cent to around 1.5 million.

This is reflected in impressive advance booking figures of 1m for the Bognor Regis site '“ which in turn has offered a vital economic boost to the area.

"Staycation"

However, the company's managing director Richard Bates claimed the phenomenon known as 'staycationing' in which hard-pressed families stayed in the UK for their holidays last year had little basis in fact.

He said: "There was some talk that people were just going to give up their Tuscan villas for apartments in Skegness, but that clearly wasn't the case.

"Overall we've had a good year, but our growth has been largely driven by the new hotel at Bognor Regis. The staycation idea didn't deserve the hype it got."

Jeremy Pardey, resort director of Butlins in Bognor Regis, welcomed the company's assessment of the new hotel, which is operating at around 90 per cent occupancy.

Positive feedback

He confirmed its study is now due to progress into creating a watersports facility at the site '“ which is being backed by the University of Chichester and Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force.

He said: "The numbers of people we are getting here is fantastic, feedback we've had has been very positive with people saying how much they really enjoyed the resort.

"What we are trying to do is encourage guests to enjoy the south coast beyond the resort.

"We have undertaken a 200,000 study to see what our guests want to see for the future '“ which includes the possibility of a watersports centre if that's what people want.

Christmas

"We'll be looking at how we are going to take our guest experience forward and that can only be done through careful research.

"But we believe our facilities are already among some of the best in the country and are focusing on making sure guests have a great time over Christmas, which is a busy period for us with very

few rooms now available across the site.

"There will be a lot going on here with Christmas characters and we've tried to make the place as festive as we possibly can."

Have your say

Is the Ocean Hotel a major factor in putting Bognor on the tourist map?

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