THE new general manager of Haggerston Castle Holiday Park has swapped campfires and cabins for lodges and walled gardens.
For Gordon Walker who joined Haven's award-winning holiday park near Berwick this month was previously based in Canada at a large family beach resort on the shores of Lake Erie.
He spent three years at the Sherkston Shores resort in Ontario as p
art of his career with Haven's parent company Bourne Leisure.
Glasgow-born Gordon, who began his career in hospitality as an assistant manager at Haggerston Castle 20 years ago, said: "One of the big things in Canada, and indeed North America as we were right on the border with the USA, is touring in large motor homes and everyone has campfires which they love to sit around and toast marshmallows. But, apart from a few differences, the principles of providing a first class service to guests are the same."
Gordon spent three years at Haggerston Castle in his first stint in the late 1980s and, returning to the five-star holiday park, he has seen many improvements.
Among them are the addition of a spa for holiday home owners at the resort, the acquisition and redevelopment of large Italian walled gardens that used to be part of the old Victorian Haggerston Castle estate, and the addition of an exclusive development of luxury lodges which have proved highly popular.
The first development of lodges in their own gated community opened last year overlooking the park's golf course and a new development overlooking the resort's beautiful lakes is due to open next month.
Gordon said: "We're very excited about the lodges as they are something of a new departure for Haven."
After his first stint at Haggerston Castle, Gordon's career took him to South Wales, Scotland, Blackpool and North Wales before his move to Canada. He first became a general manager in the mid 1990s.
He added: "It's great to be back at Haggerston. It's a wonderful holiday park in a fabulous location. I've caught up with some old friends and look forward to making many more."
Gordon, who lives in Berwick with his wife Audrey and two children, takes over from Donal O'Sullivan who has returned to his native Ireland.
The full article contains 379 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
