Feature
Adventure
time
Show manager Rob Debenham
gives EN an insight into The
Caravan & Motorhome Show and
The Destinations Show, which
have now been co-located at
EventCity for eight years
35k
visitors for
The Caravan
& Motorhome
Show
28k
sqm at
EventCity
31k
visitors for The
Destinations
Show
T
he Caravan & Motorhome Show
and The Destinations Show, both
organised by Clarion, have taken place
at EventCity for the last eight years.
EN meets with show manager Rob
Debenham to hear more the 2018 editions
of the events.
How have the shows grown in the past
five years?
The shows and the content have
changed massively. The Caravan &
Motorhome Show is now so big that
we’re at maximum capacity, so instead
of bringing more content to the show, we
bring new content. My team and I spend
a lot of time researching, meeting dealers
and manufacturers, reviewing the new
products and ensuring they’re exciting
enough to bring people to the show.
Why did you choose to move to
EventCity?
In terms of The Caravan & Motorhome
Show, it was all about the space –
EventCity is so versatile and offers
28,000sqm of space, we use up every
bit possible for this show. For The
Destinations Show, part of the reasoning
behind the move was the huge expansion
of Manchester airport, opening up a
number of routes to go all over the globe.
Logistically, are there any issues of
having vehicles on the show floor?
Yes, having vehicles on the show floor
can be a nightmare; to bring motorhomes
to the show, some are driven here – which
means they get dirty. We have bays at
the back to give them a good clean before
bringing them inside to put them on
show. Now, with the larger doors, it’s
much easier to get them inside the venue.
The show is then built around them.
What is unique about the market and
the industry?
In terms of The Destinations Show –
there is no other holiday and travel show
in the North of England, which is true
about The Caravan & Motorhome Show,
too. A huge number of visitors that come
to The Caravan & Motorhome Show are
from within a 60-mile radius, so it is local
people who attend.
What have been the biggest changes
within the industries the shows serve?
The Caravan & Motorhome Show
has a market that is really burgeoning.
Caravans are now designed to be more
of an activity vehicle, which is ideal for a
younger and more adventurous audience,
strengthening the market as it attracts
a wider range of clientele. For The
Destinations Show, specially tailored and
bespoke trips are on the rise; you can sit
down with a consultant at the show who
can literally plan your whole trip from
start to finish.
Why are the shows in January?
For the caravan industry, January is
peak season for orders being placed.
This then allows for enough time to
kit-out products and deliver them ahead
of the summer. From The Destinations
Show point of view, this is peak time for
booking holidays, as it follows Christmas
and is during the January sales. EN
March — 47