Mallorca service providers brace for a lean winter as businesses plan earlier closures

After a weaker summer, many restaurants, bars and shops on Mallorca expect lower off-season revenues. Higher levies and wage costs are forcing cost-cutting measures.

Local businesses brace for a quieter winter

I was in Palma's old town last night; the streets looked quieter than usual at this hour. Conversations with a bartender near Plaça Major and with the owner of a small clothing shop on Carrer de Sant Miquel had the same message: the upcoming winter season will be tougher than expected.

\n\n

Costs rise, opening hours shrink

Many businesses cite rising taxes, higher social security contributions, and the latest round of wage talks as the main reasons. A restaurant owner from Port de Pollença told me she is already closing her terrace at the end of October to save on heating and staff costs. Pragmatic — and a bit resigned.

\n\n

The result: eateries are closing earlier, small shops reducing staff hours, and some shops planning to close completely on Mondays. In several tourist hubs there is talk of closing times of 6:00 pm for boutiques and 11:00 pm for bars, instead of the usual long evenings.

\n\n

Retail hopes for Christmas business

Retail anticipates a cautious autumn and winter season. Many traders are placing big hopes on the Christmas trade — short and intense, as expected. Whether that will be enough remains uncertain. A shop owner in Inca dryly said: \"Christmas is our lifebuoy, but it has a few holes.\"

\n\n

The union PIMEM has repeatedly warned about rising burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises. In particular, owners who earned less in the summer months than in previous years are now dependent on the off-season.

\n\n

Labor market and service quality

Fewer opening hours and reduced shifts can quickly affect service quality: less staff means longer wait times, fewer open branches, and limited offerings. Tourists arriving outside the peak season notice this immediately — and hotel complaint lists fill up.

\n\n

On the other hand, some businesses respond creatively: combo offers, local weekend events, and a stronger online presence to fill the gaps. Whether this is enough to cover all areas remains to be seen.

\n\n

What does this mean for the island?

For residents this means less choice of evening programs, for workers possibly less regular working hours. For the municipality, it means taking a closer look: which sectors need support, where is advice enough instead of aid?

\n\n

I will continue to travel through the towns in the coming weeks — from La Llotja to Cala Millor — and listen to how people feel. Early signals suggest that winter 2025 on Mallorca could be quieter and leaner than long expected. Not dramatic, but noticeable.

\n\n

If you know a business that is changing its opening hours or reducing staff, please write to me — local voices are often the best picture.