It could have been a scene from the TV show Undercover Boss – Dame Irene Hays, owner and chair of the Hays Travel Group, surprised a Hays Travel fam trip in Sydney, by going incognito at the BridgeClimb Sydney. 

It was Dame Irene’s first visit to Australia in more than 20 years – she attended Australian Tourism Exchange, before linking up with the fam trip group in Sydney.

Dame Irene also met Australian lifeguard, Bruce Hopkins or ’Hoppo’, star of the TV documentary, Bondi Rescue, before the group took part in a Let’s Go Surfing lesson on Bondi Beach. 

She said: “It was amazing to fly to Sydney to surprise our lucky fam trip group as they took to a climb across Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s fantastic to spend time with colleagues in this wonderful destination, courtesy of Tourism Australia.”

Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for the UK, Andrew Boxall added: “We’re so excited to have Dame Irene in Australia and to help surprise the Hays Travel famil group at the BridgeClimb. 

“Hays Travel is an incredible partner for Tourism Australia. In just two years, we’ve grown to more than 1,200 registered Hays agents in the Aussie Specialist Program, a fantastic achievement for both Hays Travel and Tourism Australia.”

“It was also a privilege to have Dame Irene Hays with us at the 45th and largest ATE, Australia’s premier travel trade event. Dame Irene participated in this wonderful program, meeting with and connecting with our industry, and experienced first-hand the passion and innovation that make Australian tourism so special.”