Thomson opens latest high-tech store
Thomson has opened its latest high-tech shop at the Gateshead’s Metro Centre.
It follows the launch of other ‘Holiday Design Stores’ in the last 18 months, in the Bluewater Shopping Centre, Sheffield Meadowhall, Liverpool, Bristol, and Glasgow City Centre.
The Gateshead store is 2,000 square foot and has high definition screens and projections featuring destinations and hotels.
It also has an 84-inch touch screen interactive map designed to inspire customers.
Customers will be able to view ‘top 10’ lists and live weather information, read reviews and view videos of destinations and hotels and get social media feeds.
The store is zoned with specially designed areas for customers to browse for holidays on their own mobile devices or to use interactive screens.
An ‘Advice Bar’ has a dedicated self-service computer to access reviews as well as destination, excursion and visa information or even book their own holiday.
Or, if they want a ‘fully-immersive’ booking experience, customers can sit in booths with agents and see relevant holiday images and video content projected on the walls.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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