Source: Elna
LIEVELDE - What began twelve years ago with the takeover of Resort Lievelde by TopParken, was crowned last week with the construction of the last vacation home. Fully in keeping with Achterhoek tradition, the completion of the 4 to 6 person vacation home Notario took place with the placement of a maypole. Rodney de Haas, park manager at TopParken Résidence Lichtenvoorde, and his team are particularly proud of the provisional end result.
By Annekée Cuppers
Park manager Rodney de Haas in front of the last built Notario house with maypole. Photo: Annekée Cuppers
If you live in Oost Gelre or the surrounding area, then you may know Résidence Lichtenvoorde mainly from the hospitality company Skik & zo that is located on the park. Many a successful family or company party has already taken place there but the small-scale vacation park on Boschlaan offers so much more. "Last April we opened Studio Boschlaan, a conference center equipped with all facilities, and the first weddings, parties and meetings have already been booked. But our vacation park is also welcoming more and more guests from home and abroad. With them we also try to bring the Achterhoek itself to their attention and we notice that the guests like it too. For example, people from the West don't understand the maypole, want to know why there is a decorated tree with beer cans. Then we tell them about this Achterhoek tradition, about the story behind it."
Tourism in the Achterhoek is growing considerably, Rodney also notices. "Gelderland's biggest draw is still the Veluwe. However, we do see that the Achterhoek is on the rise enormously. I myself am not originally from the Achterhoek but am very charmed by how they do things here. What they do, they do well. As Résidence Lichtenvoorde we have also been able to realize a number of nice collaborations with local catering establishments, supermarkets and recreation companies. This way you strengthen each other and we can offer our guests even more of an experience, because that's what it's all about for us. That guests are pleasantly surprised by the range of both park facilities and accommodations, but also by what the Achterhoek has to offer. Another factor is that we do as much as possible with family. That still gives a different feeling to what we do here and that helps determine the atmosphere."
And that approach appears to be working. Résidence Lichtenvoorde has already received several awards from tour operators and, like all TopParken in the chain, has a high occupancy rate and regularly returning guests. "The average age of our guests is also going down steadily. Therefore, we now have an animation team in all vacations and the recreation basement has also received an upgrade. Instead of the gray walls, large photos about places of interest in the area provide additional atmospheric experience and guests are immediately given a little more information about what there is to do. The Kidsclub got its own little movie theater, again in response to the question, 'What else can we do to maximize that experience?'"
With the completion of the last vacation home, developments at the resort have come to a provisional end. "We are very proud that what we conceived of 10 years ago has actually come to fruition. We're going to enjoy that for now," Rodney concludes.
''Our guests like the fact that we bring the Achterhoek to their attention.
TopParken Résidence Lichtenvoorde is a small-scale vacation park with 160 homes, ranging from 2 to 14 persons in the middle and higher segment. In addition to a swimming pool, sauna, fitness and sports and game facilities for general use, some homes are equipped with a private pool and/or sauna and spa. The vacation homes are privately owned; a few are still available for sale. The park hereby focuses on short-term rentals.