Spring views 2013

No. 59 The Newsletter of the Langdale Owners’ Club Spring / Summer 2013

ViewsHello OwnersIt can’t be time for Views already! The ink is still drying on the last edition. Time is going far too quickly for my liking.

2013 is well and truly underway. I do feel sorry for 2013 as it has got a very hard act to follow after the amazing year that was 2012! It has been a bit eventful already with some extreme weather – at the end of January we had some fairly heavy snow and a few power cuts. I’m sure that those of you who were here during that time will join me in thanking all the staff for their great efforts in dealing with a very tough situation. Let’s hope that’s the last we see of the snow for the time being. It’s nearly time to dust off the BBQ, wipe down the patio furniture and start flipping the beef burgers - and no, I’m not going to make a horse joke! Bring on the sun. (I live in hope).

So, what is happening at Langdale? Well, we are in the final count-down for the opening of Brimstone. Don’t know about you but I can’t wait for it to be finished. I’m so excited to see these fantastic rooms completed. I had a walk around the other day – it now resembles the last 10mins of a DIY programme. Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen has just been told that the owners of the house are on their way home. There is an army of decorators, contractors, painters and carpet fitters to mention a few, all rushing round trying to get finished. Its chaos but organised chaos! You can now see some pictures of a finished room and the 360 degree tour as well on the owners’ site and on www.brimstonehotel.co.uk .

What else has been going on? Well, we have some new visitors to the Estate now. We have otters back on the Great Langdale

Beck and they have even been seen in the little tarn with the waterwheel outside Hobson’s Bar. The otters have obviously heard of the reputation of the Hobson’s Fish ‘n’ Chips. Clearly otters of good taste!

We have begun working with Kankku again, the four-wheel experience providers in Windermere, who have agreed to offer Langdale guests an exclusive deal which can only be booked if you are staying at Langdale. It’s a self-drive safari through the Lyth Valley. You drive the green lanes around Crosthwaite and Underbarrow, call in at the Mason Arms at Strawberry Bank for a spot of lunch, then carry on until you get to Gummers Howe for a quick walk to the top to take in the fantastic views over Windermere. Then it’s a drive back to Kankku. It’s a truly amazing day and at a great price. Check out the Owners’ Website for more details or give me a call.

Over the years, more and more of you have opted to receive information from Langdale via emails. Sending an offer by email to you is more efficient in both cost and time. It is also a greener form of communication. We will still send paper copies out, unless you inform us otherwise, of things like Views, Chairman’s reports, AGM information, etc; but, from now on, any offer relating to the hotel for owners will only be sent via email. So, please make sure we have your up-to-date email address so that you don’t miss out on anything.

That is pretty much all from me this time. I look forward to seeing you again at Langdale and wish you all the best for the rest of 2013.

Enjoy the summer!AdamOwner Relations Manager

langdaleownersclub.org.uk

Brimstone is nearly ready, the team at Langdale are now in the final days of pulling everything together to start to welcome guests to the best rooms in the Lake District and a new era for the Langdale Hotel.

Over a year of hard work and dedication from the team at Langdale along with local contractors and tradesmen is now coming to an end and work of a different kind begins.

The marketing team has the new website www.brimstonehotel.co.uk to complete,

photographs and virtual tours to take, guest information to create and bookings to generate. The images and virtual tours will be on the website in early June. The sales team is already taking bookings.

The PR department has been busy booking in journalists to write reviews on Brimstone, amongst those already confirmed are the Financial Times, Cosmopolitan, Sunday Express, Grand Designs, Metro, GS and more.

The HR team have gone to tremendous

lengths to find some fantastic hosts to look after the needs of the guests. Nikki, Claire, Andrea, Debbie and Harriet are already on board. Training in all aspects of delivering fantastic and memorable brimstone experiences is well under way as well as the necessary check in, check out, billing and health and safety procedures.The chefs have created some lovely in-room dining and room service options and are practising in preparation for the first orders being placed with the hosts.

There may be an opportunity for owners to see the rooms inside brimstone depending on occupancy levels, if you are interested please contact Adam for more information.

015394 [email protected]

The Owners’ Club Committee has reached agreement on a Succession Plan which will result in a vacancy becoming available in 2013, and another in 2014. As previously reported, a number of Owners who had expressed interest in membership of the Committee have attended a seminar and Committee meetings over the last two years. Those Owners have been invited to enter a selection process which will result in one or

Nominations for Joining the Owners’ Club Committee

more being recommended as having the skills and knowledge that are most closely aligned to the current needs of the Owners’ Club. The Constitution provides that nominations for the elected Committee members shall be made and seconded in writing before 1 July, the consent of the nominee having been obtained. Any Owners recommended for election by the Committee will have to be nominated and seconded accordingly. It is open for

any other Owner to be nominated and seconded for election. Nominations to fill the vacancy arising this year have to be received by 1 July 2013.

More details of the Succession Plan will be in the papers for the 2013 AGM which will be held on Sunday 1 December, at Langdale.

Nominations should be sent [email protected]

The HR department has been busy getting ready for the opening of Brimstone with the hosts now in place and the training well under way.

Executive chef Graham Harrower and family are leaving us to be closer to their respective families in Scotland. We wish them well with their move.

Mike Clark retired at the end of February after thirty two years loyal service we wish Mike and Rosemary all the best for a happy retirement together.

Nina Edwards has left after two periods in the marketing team to take up a senior position in the marketing department at Westmorland. We wish her well with her career.

We’re pleased to welcome Vicky Drysdale as Marketing Assistant. She brings a wealth of experience in digital marketing.

Lucasz Zachmielewski has returned to Poland to be with his family after working with us in the Terrace restaurant for six years.

Andrew Cowan joined us as Purdeys Assistant Manager and fits in very well with Sarah Strachan’s team

Michael Wrigglesworth joined us to support Gavin Lee in a front of house role and he has already established himself as a walker of the floor with a keen eye for detail.

Staff News / Familiar Faces at LangdaleThe hotel continues to operate at good

levels of occupancy, particularly considering the adjacent building works. The family rooms have been updated with new sofa beds to replace the fold out bunk beds and are proving popular with families and also with couples outside the school holiday periods when there is less demand for family accommodation in the hotel.

The staff in the spa have had training in delivering new therapies including the skin renewal facial using Anne Semonin products. They have also introduced new manicures and pedicures using OPI products. Founded in 1981, OPI is the leader in professional nail care products with over 200 shades.

Wainwrights’ continues to be popular with visitors and locals alike and has enjoyed a very busy year since Ben took over the reins as manager. Ben`s knowledge of (and experience in drinking) local real ales shows in the excellent range always available and the menu, whilst still keeping the ever popular Lamb options, has a new twist on the Cumbrian hot dog.

Business Update

Langdale Owners’ Club AGMAt the last AGM in December it was noted that the three previous Annual General Meetings had been held at Langdale as is the 2013 event. In order to be fair to owners living in the south of the country it was suggested that it may be time to hold the 2014 event in the south.

Some attendees responded that it would be better to keep the event at Langdale. Should you have an opinion on this matter that you would like to be taken into consideration when the decision is made on the location of the 2014 AGM, please email [email protected]

If you would like to receive information from your Committee electronically then you can register to do so on the owners` website. This will give your Committee the opportunity to use more cost effective and sustainable communication methods where possible and appropriate.

The management has over the past four years implemented a digital marketing strategy for all aspects of the business which is proving to be very successful. You can keep up to date with what’s happening and receive offers for the spa, hotel and restaurants by email, website and social media. Any offers which are specific to owners are sent by email so please don’t forget to add your email to the contact details we have for you.

Electronic Communication between the Committee and Owners

Through their generosity and commitment to preserving the Lakeland landscape, Langdale owners have raised a staggering total of £194,000 since the inception of the Man at the Top scheme which funds footpath repairs in the Langdale Valley.

Owners have also donated £32,119 towards the reconstruction of the Weir, which is greatly appreciated. Very soon we hope to pass the half-way mark towards the total cost of £69,897. The new weir and related works on the waterways have led to a transformation of the Langdale site for the benefit of owners.

Man at the Top & Weir

If you are unable to use your timeshare week you may be able to swap it with another Langdale owner and come at a more convenient time. For a list of weeks available see the Owners’ Website or contact Sheila Crouch - 01661 [email protected]

Swaps

Those of you who listen to the radio whilst at Langdale will have noticed a reduction in reception quality as the national and many local broadcasters prepare to switch to digital broadcasting and to reduce signal strength. In response to this and to continue to provide dedicated radios in timeshare units, internet radios will be installed in all timeshare properties at Langdale.

The internet radios will use the existing fibre optic infrastructure and offer the full range of UK and international radio stations.

Timeshare RefurbishmentThe timeshare maintenance period has come to a close. This year we have completed the refurbishment of -

• 17kitchen/livingrooms• 6ensuitebathrooms• 3ensuiteshowerrooms• 7sauna/showerrooms

We now carry out all of the stripping out and preparation work for the kitchen refurbishment in-house. The strip out team is led by Rob Taylforth, they can strip out and have a lodge ready for refurbishment in just one day. Rob and his team have been fantastic in giving each refurbishment lodge project its best possible start.

Gordon Harrop our electrician has retired this year. Gordon has a huge depth of knowledge of all the timeshare properties and we were delighted when he agreed to stay with us for two days a week to assist with lodge maintenance.

Privilege CardDon’t forget your Privilege Card each time you visit Langdale for exclusive discounts in Purdey’s, The Terrace, Hobson’s, Wainwrights’ Inn and The Spa.

Also, remember you can SAVE 10% off the best available rate in the Langdale Hotel.

Internet Radios

Rob Taylforth in Lodge 43 after 3 hours of preparation work (the Lodge, not Rob).

What! No Kitchen!

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The Langdale Timeshare Owners’ Website has had a redesign and should be more informative with information split into two categories, ‘Managing Your Property’ and ‘Plan Your Holiday’ at Langdale.

New Owners’ Website

The website is exclusive to Langdale Owners and therefore requires a username and password to access. If you do not have a password, follow the instruction on the website to apply for one.

The Langdale Marketing team welcome any feedback or suggestions you may have for features or information you would like to see on the site.

langdaleownersclub.org.uk