Benefits of Farm Stay UK Membership

Membership of an organisational structure that ensures a highly professional and competitive approach to marketing and sales including an electronic database with linked website.

Marketing

• Entry with photo in annual free full colour guide (100,000 in 2011) which is distributed widely at home and abroad. Larger entries available at additional cost.
• Entry, photo gallery (at least one of which must be the exterior of the property), on the Farm Stay UK website with options for additional pages, personal web page link and regional/county micro-sites.
• (These two benefits are a major source of business, both direct and indirect.) Entries on special regional web sites designed to provide linkage options compatible with those of lead agencies such as the tourist boards.
• The opportunity to participate in promotions, press trips and exhibitions.
• Press and media coverage.
• The right to use the brand with it's high profile awareness (signifying quality, standards and security to the customer) - extensive exposure guaranteed by widespread use by members (gate post signs, letterheads, advertising etc.) and by Farm Stay UK in all it's activities.
• On-line availability and booking system with little or no cost.

Other

• Friendship and support of fellow farming families - exchanging experiences, ideas and best practice.
• Regular newsletters providing business updates etc.
• An important meeting point including focus at Regional and National Shows etc.
• Head Office support, advice and guidance.
• Access to an extensive central database.
• A voice in decision making on farm tourism at a national level.

Who are Members of Farm Stay UK?

Members are independent families who offer hospitality to visitors either in a farmhouse or country property as bed and breakfast (with or without evening meal), or self-catering in cottages, converted farm buildings, camping barns or caravans & campsites.

The majority also belong to local Farm Stay groups who work together to provide advisory and referral services that further enhance the benefits to customer and operator alike.

There are also a small number of Associates who provide exactly the same levels of customer service as do Full Members but who themselves enjoy a more limited range of benefits from Farm Stay UK.

Farm Stay UK has over 1200 members all over England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Qualifications to be a Member of Farm Stay UK

1. The provision, on a commercial basis, of farm or country accommodation in the United Kingdom which is inspected by an organisation recognised by Farm Stay UK for the purposes of implementing the appropriate National Tourist Board standards. ‘Farm accommodation’ means accommodation on land which is used for the business of agriculture, horticulture, forestry and/or a related enterprise, being a business which is a source of income for that person.
2. A member who retires from a business described above but continues to provide accommodation which is duly inspected (and which accords with the perception of farm accommodation which Farm Stay UK seeks to project) shall quality under this rule provided membership is continuously maintained.
3. Members must comply with all necessary statutory requirements.

If you'd like to join us at Farm Stay UK, fill in our online form or call us on 02476 696909.