Lack of vision by hoteliers

15/02/2001 00:00

Dear Sir, I met a friend from England who wanted to stay at Cala Bona where some other friends were already staying.
I tried to book him a room at a hotel in the resort to be told that although there were vacant rooms we could not book because the rooms were committed'to a big tour company. Now I know (and accept) that the big tour operators block book' beds for their clients and, by and large, they are entitled to do so.

These beds however did not have a firm booking according to the hotel rep. They were merely being held IN CASE the tour operator had any late bookings'.

I am sure that the general public think that late bookings are a bargain because they are cancellations or a few left over that is clearly not the case.

I feel that this is sharp practice at least, but the hotels had better watch out because the market is changing people are more willing to travel independently and the hoteliers, and tour companies may one day be left with egg on their face.

Peter South.Palma.