Was it Will & Kate's Royal Wedding announcement

Was it Will’s & Kate's Royal wedding announcement or the popularity of our pet friendly Salcombe holiday cottages and hotel accommodation that got the phones ringing ?
We have just finished our 20th season at Port Light. This year has probably been the most testing one yet. Market trends are changing quicker than we can keep up with them. The next 12 months will be the survival of the fittest. We are well placed to weather the storm and continue to provide memorable holiday at Port Light and Bolberry Farm Cottages. It does appear that the economic climate is helping the South West Tourism industry with more visitors staying in England but they are booking at the last minute which can cause havoc with staffing. The cottage bookings are well ahead on
previous year with Daisy cottage being full over the summer holidays. The larger bedrooms at the hotel are also filling faster than normal.
The festive season is nearly here with just a few rooms free for the post Christmas break when we will be introducing new items to the menu. There is just one room free for the New Year break which includes the New Years Eve party with music to dance. Reservation for Christmas lunch are just about filled with New Years Eve close behind as we limit
tables to give us the conservatory to dance in. The cottages are full apart from Buttercup (2 bed) being free for the post Christmas break.
The hotel is closed at present for maintenance but the cottages remain open. We are
offering short breaks @ £170 per cottage which have proved very popular. The hotel re opens on the evening of 23rd December until after breakfast on 2 nd January. We are then closed again until 18th February, all ready for our 21st season. 3 night breaks are @ £169 pp for Dinner Bed & Breakfast.
The new suites arrived for the cottages and we are trying to paint each cottage before Christmas. Quality self catering is the way forward and this has been backed up by South West Tourism. By keeping our cottages to a very high standard whilst welcoming pets our guests respect the property and are happy to recommend them and return themselves.
Dave (chef) is back in Tasmania but returns for the festive period. Paul & Jamie are also back for the festive period. Emily (oldest daughter) has also been roped in as by the
bookings taken, it is going to be a fun busy period under the watchful eye of Hazel.
This year has been a great year for Visit South Devon and the Tourist Information Centres with a variety of press coverage promoting our special area. The Mitch Tonks Crab
campaign saw our crab sandwich and salad sales rise with many guests having never
sampled Devon Crab. I am heavily involved with Salcombe Information Centre and are passionate about its existence and importance to visitors “on the ground”. Without these
vital self funding offices, our visitors and locals would be lost for information. Courtesy of Visit South Devon, they will be distributing a leaflet which I designed promoting Salcombe and the area at the BBC Good Food Show at the N.E.C. I am convinced this is an ideal
platform to promote our area.
Our Parish Councils appear to be more forward thinking and have realised that unless we move on with new trends in Tourism it will die. We have already seen many pubs hotels and restaurants close down in the area. A good mix of quality venues is important for the area as it gives visitors a choice. Whilst it appears we will have a good 2011 season we must be very mindful that other areas in the South West are also improving their facilities and raising the customer experience. We must not get complacent and get left behind by competitors having better facilities, although they cannot match our scenery.
SPECIAL OFFERS ALWAYS ON OUR WEBSITES
www.portlight.co.uk www.bolberryfarmcottages.co.uk