The new TV ad has been rolling on since the 22nd October, during The X Factor. Read about the concept behind the ads and how we made it below.
A demanding job, the household chores, the school run, walking the dog… with a ‘to do’ list like that, is it any wonder we struggle to fit in quality time with the people we care about most? If that sounds familiar, our new TV ad will strike a chord. It shines the spotlight on spending time with your loved ones, and looks at those special moments you have on holiday together – you know, the sort of moments that flash through your mind when you’re racing through the day, ticking off jobs left, right and centre.
At Thomson, we get that holiday time is precious. It’s that rare window in your calendar when you get to stop the rushing, relax, and really focus on your nearest and dearest. That’s why we’re the only travel company that designs holidays so that every bit, however big or small, is just right for you. Just take a look at our different ranges and you’ll see what we mean. There’s everything from Thomson Couples, a range of contemporary, adults-only hotels, to Thomson Family Resorts, which go all out when it comes to family holidays. It means all you have to do is sit back and enjoy yourself, with those that matter most.
Update 20/01/2012: The Thomson Ad now features the beautiful voice of Sunday Girl.
Having been inundated by requests since the ad went on air in October, Thomson is embarking on another travel industry first by replacing the current voiceover on its TV ad with the beautiful vocals of Sunday Girl performing Pixies ‘where is your mind’. The vocal track will be featuring on the couples version of the TV ad over the next few weeks.
The campaign, which takes ownership of “quality time” through rousing imagery and the beautiful music, taps into the emotions of all those watching who know how precious quality time with loved ones can be.
Behind The Scenes
The new TV ad was shot in Tenerife. Filming took place in 11 different places, with crew gathering 42 hours of film showing people enjoying quality time on a Thomson holiday.
The location scouts rooted out some great spots, like the picturesque village of Fasnia, where real villagers were hired as extras, and the beautiful Teresitas beach in San Andres. Other locations starring in the ad include our Thomson Sensatori Resort in Guia de Isora, and the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque in Costa Adeje.
Rather than staging each shot, the director went with the flow, letting the cast just enjoy themselves. The result? An ad showing those magic moments only a Thomson holiday can give you.
The Credits
42 cast and crew
38 extras roped in
10 crickets, 10 grasshoppers, 4 cats, 3 lizards, 2 dogs, 1 crab and a bunch of ants in starring roles 4 days of filming including over 17 hours of filming in one day
72 memory cards used to hold the footage
35 takes to get the closing line right
7 months to develop the initial concept into a finished ad
140 plus hours of editing to get 12 hours of footage into a 90-second ad
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What was the name of the production company?
If you ever make an add for holidays to New York, I’d use ‘Christmas in New York’ by Clara Barker for the music. Lovely tune.
Hi Ian, This advert was created with BMB Agency.
ahh…i see…for some reason i read that bottom part as available now and not available soon…my bad
Just wanted to say well done on the ‘Time for a Holiday’ ad – absolutely fantastic. we’ve booked a holiday with Thomson to Thassos…can’t wait!
The latest Thomson advert May 2012, whats the music track. Sounds like New Order to me, is it? And if so what song?
Hi Matt, We use an instrumental version of The Pixies ‘Where is my mind?’ on one version and then we’ve got Sunday Girl’s vocals for the song on the other version.
on the latest thomson holiday advert, the song sounds like a rock version of louis armstrong’s wonderful world ? please tell me who performs it.
Hi Pete, It’s an instrumental version of The Pixies ‘Where is my mind’.
Thanks for your reply Riannon, however the tune I heard last week on the thomson advert was not the Pixies “where is my mind. Have you any other thoughts please ?
Hi Pete, We’ve only got one advert out at the moment and it’s the Pixie’s track I’ve mentioned in my previous post. We have an instrumental version of the song and then one which includes Sunday Girl’s vocals.
Who is the lady swimming in the advert
Hi Barry, Unfortunately, we don’t have that information. ^Hollie
Hi, do you know where I could find the piano sheet music to Sunday Girl’s amazing cover of this song?
Hi Mark,
Hope this helps – http://www.thomson.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Thomson-Sunday-Girl-Where-Is-My-Mind-Music-Sheet.pdf ^Rhiannon
Oh wow, I’ve been searching for this for weeks hoping that the shert music would be published. Thanks so much for posting the link!
have to say, an absolutely fantastic advert.
The piano with the very true words has left me in January REALLY wanting a holiday. Whoever pulled together this advert needs a pat on the back.
I have just viewed the revised Advert and i think you have taken the feeling away of having a holiday with those special people in your life.Revert Back i say to the original full advert and dont change your direction.
I can’t believe the Pixies let you do this!
Please tell me this song was out of copyright and you ripped it off without their knowledge?
Such a great band, such a great song… advertising tacky package holidays!!!
I guess everyone has to pay the rent….
bit gutted though…
Hi, great advert, does anyone know who the lady is in the pool that looks straight into the camera?
I mean the one with the dark hair and red bikini
’12 hours of footage into a 90-second ad’. Probably would have been easier if the director had known what he wanted. Even I could get 90 seconds decent stuff if I shot 12 hrs of random footage, but that’s not directing, it’s editing.
How about some holidays aimed at the more mature SINGLE traveller who just because they’re single shouldn’t have to pay vastly overpriced supplements !
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your comment about our holidays. I’ll pass on your feedback to the relevant department about the costs for single passengers.
Have been trying to find a holiday for solo traveller for weeks now. Each time I phone in response to an ad I get the whole gambit of wonderful ….. and great buy….. then no. of travellers, silence, then I.ll check on the supplement for that category! To your knowledge is there a protest group or enquiry into this unfair costing?
Hi Ledona,
Solo travellers do need to pay a single occupancy supplement if there are no single rooms available at a hotel. Have you spoken to your local Thomson travel agent so they can look into some options for you? ^Rhiannon
We done a 2 week cruise with thomson last year and it was to be thomson flights which was not there was no tv like we were told or radio u could lsten two very dissapointed it was same going home it was same airline
Hi Micky,
Our inflight entertainment was removed from all short and midhaul flights last year due to extensive customer research that took place. It revealed that customers were taking their own technology on board rather than watching the entertainment we provided. This decision wasn’t taken lightly but I’m sorry if this left you feeling disappointed on your flight. ^Rhiannon
Is the boy the same actor who played the drowned druid boy in the BBC ‘Merlin’? recently?
Sunday Girl – Where is my mind?
It may be BUT the voice (the only voice) on this advert is NOT the boy in the advert but is my 10yr nephew Thomas Kilroy who has the most amazing speaking voice .. we are so proud of him they could have picked any famous person but Thomas beat them all..
yh it is!!
he goes to my dance and was showing me the pics of him as the Druid boy, lol x
Creepy morose advert. All of the actors have vacant expressions like they are living in Stepford wife world, the adult woman in the pool looks like she’s mulling over a divorce and the precocious northern kid voiceover makes me hit the mute button everytime. Looks more like a charity advert sorry to say.
What is the name of the song, please, that is the background of the latest Thompson advert, which is featured on the video (the first video of this page)?
Thanks
Hi Bex,
Guy Farley recorded his version of The Pixies song ‘Where is my mind’ for our advert. We’ve also released the song with Sunday Girl’s vocals which is available for download from iTunes. You can view the video here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m–lZP1c28g. Let us know what you think.
One of the best holiday adverts i have seen for a long time, its so very true, having taken our children on holiday many times, you realise as they get older how very precious those memories are.
Is the piano version of the music in this advert available to buy?
Cheers, Dave
Hi Dave, the piano version isn’t available to download, but the version with Sunday Girl’s vocals is on iTunes. Take a look at the video here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m–lZP1c28g
please stop emailing we will never go with you again after been left in reception overnight and paying to be seated together and did not
Hi Carol, If you’d like to email me on thomsoncares@thomson.co.uk, I can pass on your email address to our subscription team, to have it removed off the mailing list.
a fantastic advert catches everyones attention and really hits the spot regarding how important a holiday is to everyone and how those memories are so valuable and how you dont get time back and the voice over, music and beautiful scenery really is breathtaking. best ever holiday advert. i am off to book my hols.
glad you liked the VOICE OVER section we are all so proud of my 10yr old nephew Thomas who did this (not the boy on film!)