Unease among Majorcan hotel owners: when the news leaked in at the international tourism fair that TUI and Thompson tour operators were planning to unite in a super-wedding, more than one diligent Majorcan hotel owner's hair stood on end. These two giants of the European hotel industry already control over 25% of the tourist transactions on the Balearic Islands, and by merging their power to impose price policies will only increase. There are little hotels in Arenal or Magaluf where the sad hotel owners end up with a profit of barely 1,200 ptas for room and board per person and day.

Upheaval in the Spanish Davis Cup team: Majorcan tennis pro, Carlos Moyá sides with the Basque Alberto Berasategui against the site chosen for the Davis Cup match between Germany and Spain to be held between the 7th and the 9th of February (see Mallorca News No.. 17 and 18). The players' main complaint is that they were not consulted when Cala Ratjada, a Majorcan town which becomes a German bastion during the summer months, was chosen as site for the championship.
The truth is that the Spanish players' misgivings are not altogether unfounded, since it will almost be like they are playing away from home: both the German newspaper Mallorca Magazin and our msm headquarters receive daily calls from people interested in tickets.
More specifically: As of today (Dec. 12th) it is not known when tickets will go on sale nor whom will be in charge of televising the championship. To be continued...

All set: Richard Branson, tycoon of Virgin, appeared in London last week with quite a change of image. To present his new wedding dress collection, Virgin Brides, the multi-faceted businessman (see Mallorca News No.7) didn't hesitate to participate in the show wearing one of his own wedding dresses... veil and all. He even sacrificed his well-worn red beard, appearing clean-shaven. All that's missing is the groom to make the picture perfect...