Park Holidays lays on special weekend for Thomas Cook staff

Park Holidays UK has invited more than 600 people – Thomas Cook staff and their families – to enjoy a weekend at one of its parks.

It is opening up Broadland Sands Holiday Park near Lowestoft on 8-11 November for a special ‘goodbye’ party.

The holiday park group will offer free accommodation in fully-equipped holiday homes for up to three nights and and will lay on free entertainment.

Marketing director Geoff Barnes said it would be a chance for staff to ‘swap memories and let their hair down’ after Thomas Cook’s demise.

"The immediacy of the announcement meant that there was little time for many staff at Thomas Cooks’ Peterborough headquarters to say a final farewell," said Geoff.

"As members of the holiday industry ourselves, we were also deeply saddened by the news and wanted to reach out to try and soften the blow in some way.

"We thought the best way to help would be to open one of our most popular parks, Broadland Sands, for a long weekend and to offer free stays to staff and their partners and children.

"Within one day of making the opportunity known to Thomas Cook staff, we were delighted to have taken bookings for all of the park’s 150-plus holiday homes.

"It means that we’ll be welcoming over 600 guests in total for between two and three nights, and we hope it will create a truly memorable experience for everyone.

"I’m sure there will be some nostalgic moments, but overall we simply want all the Thomas Cook team, and especially the children, to share a very happy time," added Geoff.

As well as the free accommodation, guests will have use of all of Broadland Sand’s leisure facilities.

Charges will also be waived on some other activities usually paid for by holiday guests, such as the climbing wall, adventure golf course and Segway Scooters.

In addition, Park Holidays UK will be laying on a full no-cost entertainments programme in the park’s clubhouse featuring professional family-friendly acts.

Broadland Sands will be offering a subsidised food and snack menu to Thomas Cook guests throughout the weekend, and a range of drinks will also be discounted

It’s hoped that other businesses will also rally to support the weekend with donations of competition prizes or by providing free activities or pampering sessions such as nail treatments or massages.

Any local firms interested in contributing prizes or services to the event are invited to contact Geoff Barnes at Park Holidays UK on [email protected].

Park Holidays UK has 31 holiday centres across Southern England.