Anyone remember the hot air balloon contest in Mallorca some years ago?

The sun is back again after a gloomy week, and that feels so great. I just could not stop myself from posting a couple of photos with Palma in sunshine, shops, and cafes open and even live music on Plaza Olivar. Such a beautiful morning. After a long cold winter up in Scandinavia the people hunger for sun. Especially since there was more snow at the beginning of this week, all the way down to Copenhagen. This is one of the reasons why an ordinary Scandinavian family travel a lot. There is no such thing in Scandinavia but if you still let me say – “A standard family” is used to have at least one summer and one winter vacation away from home per year. Winter they prefer Thailand if they can escape two weeks and for one week the Canary Islands are on the top list. I spent 28 winter weeks between Gran Canaries and Tenerife when I grew up. During the summer the Mediterranean destinations call, and we love Greece, Turkey, and Spain.

The headlines in the papers this week have screamed out that we are losing the battle over the summer tourists to Turkey or Greece. My humble opinion is that the country that open first, will get the first 4th wave and we cannot do so much about that. It is not about the opening date for the hotels, it is all about the people. People are genuinely tired of restrictions, and I feel that vacation mood combined with alcohol will not make the best recipe for a relaxed summer in Mallorca. What was said in 2019 about closing all the cheap all-inclusive hotels to reduce low-quality tourism is now long forgotten. I do hope the government have enough healthcare staff and police to prepare for all the freak outs we will have during a hot summer. We should really set the expectations low and cross our fingers that I am wrong.

I checked around what other European destinations are planning to get the occupancy up in their hotels and there is a new concept that are doing really good. Several hotels in the Canaries already offer a workcation package. After a year at home, people are tired to work from home and if you can guarantee great Wi-Fi and comfortable workspace, the Scandinavians are prepared to make the move.

Minimum 14 nights stay on a special workcation, where the hotel offer a change of are allowed to serve staying guests. If you prefer to work from the balcony enjoying the sun and the views of the open sea or, from inside your spacious suite with a nice set up that possible too.

I have seen hotels that offer workspace with coworking area, coffee bar and space for brainstorming. Full board so you do not have to worry about who is cooking, concentrate on your work hours and then go for a walk along the beach. Great opportunities for creative people. I think this is something the hotels on the island could do during a normal year and focus on groups and conferences who would be ideal candidates for this type of offer.