Thomson have launched their Freedom Collection on the 22nd January 2010,  bringing a new range of holidays aimed at the gay market. Designed with gay and lesbian travellers in mind, it’s the only collection of its kind to be offered by a mainstream tour operator.

All holidays featured in the e-brochure have a GayComfort seal of approval which means that the hotel staff have received training to remove any awkwardness regarding same sex couples. You won’t find that it's a problem to ask for a double bed rather than a twin and there will be a Holiday Advisor on hand to give you the inside information on the local “scene”, nightclubs and beaches.

Thomson Innovation manager, Philippa Morgan, says: “This is a hugely exciting launch for Thomson. There’s definitely an appetite in the market for gay-friendly holidays that come with the security and peace of mind that only a big tour operator can offer.”

Philippa continues: “The reason we’ve taken this approach is because research has shown that three out of four gay or lesbian holidaymakers actively search out hotels they believe are genuinely welcoming.”

The hotels which include some Gay Exclusive properties are spread across seven ‘pink’ destinations (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Sitges, Ibiza, Majorca, Mykonos & Lesbos), all of which have either well-established or blossoming gay scenes.