A Lanzarote hotel recently organised a welcome party for one of its most loyal guests – a British pensioner who has just enjoyed his 90th holiday to the Canary Island since his first trip 35 years ago.
Eric Wilson from Romford, Essex, has always stayed at the same place since his maiden visit to Lanzarote in 1989. The former business worker tends to pick the same room at the five-star Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada, part of World of Hyatt, every time he visits.
In a good year, the 79-year-old visits the hotel up to six times annually.
What’s more, between the regular visits to the popular Atlantic archipelago destination, the father-of-two has also managed to visit another 60 countries.
Tourism bosses in Lanzarote gifted him a book about the island’s Timanfaya National Park in May 2017 during a thank you ceremony to commemorate his 80th visit.
Reports at the time said his hotel stays had cost him the equivalent of 116,000 euros (almost £98,000) without taking into account the pound sterling’s devaluation. Mr Wilson admitted then he was setting his sights on 100 visits, a number that seems very feasible given his average of four trips a year.
Mr Wilson admitted: “I’ve stayed at many hotels but here they look after you and you feel that love.
“I can say without any hesitation I feel at home there and its staff are like family to me. It’s been my refuge during important moments of my life and I’ve met other holidaymakers there who with time have become friends.
“All the rooms are good but room 1256 is my favourite because it’s so central and allows me to move around the hotel easily.”
Mr Wilson’s favourite activities include sunbathing around the pool, taking part in organised activities such as water polo and is a regular at the hotel’s karaoke sessions where he likes to both watch and perform himself. He said the salmon is among his favourite meals, which he likes to wash down with a pina colada.
Eric was described as “exactly the type of tourist Lanzarote is interested in” by the island’s then-Councillor for Tourism for his loyalty to the holiday destination following his 80th visit to the island. Six years earlier he had received a special mention in an annual tourism ceremony organised by the island council.
Mr Wilson, who signed off with a tear emoji on his social media after landing back in the UK from his latest Lanzarote holiday at the weekend, said in a thank you message before he left: “It’s so sad when the hours fly by at the end of a holiday. Saying goodbye to the people you have spent so many hours with. Great bunch of guests.
“To the animation staff, the waiters, the bar staff, the cleaning ladies, the reception and of course management, thank you so much for making my 90th visit at Dreams so amazing.”