Cutbacks at Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook - one of the UK's leading travel agents, and probably the most well-known due to its "Don't just book it. Thomas Cook it" slogan. - has announced closures and redundancies.

It is expected to relinquish nearly 200 high street shops and lose approximately 2,500 staff in an effort to return to profitability.

Full story here.

Happy Hola-days!

Thomson and First Choice’s 24/7 Holidayline, has launched a new translation service to offer round the clock language services for all customers travelling abroad. Translators will be on hand to offer assistance for customers whether they are attending a doctor’s appointment, haggling for a deal whilst shopping in a local market, or dealing with an emergency such as a lost passport or wallet. 

All customers need to do is call their local 24/7 Holidayline, a dedicated telephone line for Thomson and First Choice customers abroad, and ask to speak to a translator. The service will be available in 157 languages and aims to help customers overcome any issues caused by language barriers.

Double Award for Playa Camp de Mar

The Grupotel Playa Camp de Mar has been voted a winner in two categories by users of the Trip Advisor travel website.

The hotel was placed in the Top 25 in Spain for both the Hotels for Romance and the Bargain Hotels groups.

Well done.

Thomson win industry awards

Thomson recently announced that they have won the following British Travel Awards:

• Best National Travel Retailer

• Best Travel Agency Website

Petula Clark sings 'Mallorca', a 1955 recording about the island and love

Pierce Brosnan Steps Out With A Black Eye via Contactmusic.com

Pierce Brosnan, the Irish actor who starred in several 007 movies including GoldenEye, was photographed sporting a heavily bruised left eye during a golfing session at the Dorint resort in Camp De Mar.

More: Pierce Brosnan | Pierce Brosnan Steps Out With A Black Eye | Contactmusic.com

Mallorcan Food Week from 22-28th October in London

From 22-28th October, London’s top Spanish restaurants and Maltby Street Food Market will be celebrating the produce and typical recipes of Mallorca - known for its olives and almonds.

Authentic Mallorcan specials will also be on the menus at five Spanish restaurants: Pizarro, Tramontana, Barrafina, Cambio de Tercio and Barcelona Tapas.

A select group of food producers, will also be showcasing their wares at Maltby Street in Bermondsey, running a dedicated market on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th.

More info...

Keep Taking The Tablets

Thomson is using Google+ and Twitter to modernise the holiday experience for its customers. (Oh dear - Ed.)

The holiday company will welcome holidaymakers pre-departure using live Google+ hangouts and invite customers to use a dedicated Twitter

hashtag in-resort to communicate with their iAdvisor.

Thomson is trialling this new way of welcoming customers after research found that holidaymakers are using social networks ahead of their trip to meet other travellers and share information. (What's new there? - Ed.)

Customers travelling to Thomson’s exclusive Sensatori Resort Crete in August will have the opportunity to participate in a Holiday Hangout before they depart. The live video hangouts will give customers the chance to ask their resort based iAdvisor questions about the hotel and local area and get an update on the weather.

They will also be able to tweet questions to their iAdvisor from their sun lounger. All Thomson iAdvisors will be equipped with a tablet to ensure they’re easy to reach wherever they are in the resort. (Unless it's turned off - Ed.)

New sundeck relieves overcrowding at Hotel Gran

A new sundeck has finally opened to ease the overcrowding of sun worshippers outside the Hotel Gran Camp de Mar.

An extra 60 beds now allow for more patrons to catch the rays away from the pool area.

La Tulipe - Latest restaurant to open in Camp de Mar

La Tulipe Restaurant is renowned among residents and visitors of Mallorca. Established 18 years ago in the village of S'Arraco by Brigitte Zwygart and René Bernasconi, the restaurant has now moved to Camp de Mar.

The new venue at boasts a charming and comfortable open-air terrace to maximise the enjoyment of the balmy summer evenings in the resort.

Address: Francisca Capllonch Plomer 10

Tel: +34 971 236 306

What's cooking at La Tulipe (Video)