Hays Travel acquires all 555 former Thomas Cook stores
Hays Travel has agreed to buy the entire retail portfolio of 555 former Thomas Cook shops following the travel company’s collapse into administration last month.
The move means that up to 2,500 jobs could be saved.
In a statement, Hays Travel said it has already employed more than 25% of the Thomas Cook retail employees who lost their jobs as a result of the administration and is planning to re-open stores immediately where possible.
While over 100 of the new jobs will be based at Hays Travel’s Sunderland headquarters, the rest will be based in shops across the UK.
Hays Travel is jointly owned and managed by husband and wife team John and Irene Hays and operates 190 UK stores. In the coming weeks, the company hopes to take on as many of the 2,500 former Thomas Cook retail employees as possible and double its workforce.
Irene Hays said: “Thomas Cook was a much loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry. We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future.
“We all share a passion for the travel industry and we want to continue to build the company’s reputation for first class service and being a great place to work and develop a career.”
The 40-year-old company reached sales of more than £1 billion in 2018 and celebrated by sharing £1 million with its 1,900 employees who each received £100 for every year they had worked with the business.
John Hays said: “In the last two weeks we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them. Now that we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry into our family business.”
