Hoseasons reflects on 80th anniversary of the business

Dan Cook, account director at Hoseasons’ parent company Awaze (Image: Hoseasons)

Here at Hoseasons, we have something extra special to look forward to this year as we celebrate our 80th anniversary – an incredible milestone for a company that started life just before the end of the Second World War with one man’s vision to provide relaxing boating breaks on the Norfolk Broads.

Over the years the personnel and the product may have changed, but the spirit of innovation that inspired harbourmaster Wally B. Hoseason to set up his business has endured, and is still driving us on to provide great holidays for the Great British public today.

Wally knew that despite the economic and social challenges of his time, people needed a break from the daily struggle – a chance to relax, unwind, have fun and spend time with their loved ones.

Wally B. Hoseason founded the business 80 years ago (Image: Hoseasons)

These days the cost of living crisis would, on the face of it, appear to be the greatest threat to a thriving local tourism economy. But if early enthusiasm for our Big January Sale and 10pc low deposit offer on 2024 arrivals is anything to go by, our customers’ determination to have something to look forward to and protect their holidays remains as strong as ever.

That’s why we’re all feeling cautiously optimistic about prospects for the year ahead, and why we’re also looking forward to another year as lead sponsor of the East of England Tourism Awards.

It’s true that, as part of the Awaze group, we now provide a huge range of different self-catering holiday options across the UK, including lodges, caravans, cottages and even city apartments.

But the region remains at our heart and the long-lasting relationships we have with our owner partners in this area – particularly on the boating side of the business – are some of the most established we have anywhere in our portfolio.

Hoseasons is based in Lowestoft and has built long-lasting relationships owner partners in this area (Image: Hoseasons)

Being based in Lowestoft for so many years has also provided us with the perfect platform to connect with those individuals, organisations and businesses that support the wider regional tourism economy.

We know how hard they work to promote this part of the world, attract new visitors and keep them coming back for more.

That’s why it’s always a pleasure to be involved in these awards and celebrate all those who do their bit to make this such an attractive part of the country to visit and holiday in.

The standards we see year in and year out, and the determination to keep raising the bar on quality of offer and service, are incredibly heartwarming for a business 
like ours that consistently trumpets the value of innovation and investment to stay relevant in a highly competitive market.

The business was started just before the end of the Second World War thanks to Wally B. Hoseason's vision to provide relaxing boating breaks on the Norfolk Broads (Image: Hoseasons)

It will also be our honour as lead sponsor to present one very deserving individual with the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award when we gather for the awards evening at Snape Maltings in Suffolk next month.

Obviously, we can’t give away any clues at this stage, but what I do know is that had he been around, Wally would have been proud that the company he started all those years ago is not only still going strong, but also still going out of its way to recognise individuals like him who do so much for the local industry.

Good luck to all those nominated in this year’s East of England Tourism Awards – it’s going to be another great night!

For more information on Hoseasons, please visit hoseasons.co.uk

To find out more about the East of England Tourism Awards 23-24, please visit tourismawards.co.uk