Emily Richards, from the agency’s Yate branch, will fly with Virgin Atlantic to the US and stay at the Hilton Hotel Times Square.

Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, chief operating officer for Hays, travelled from the agency’s head office in Sunderland to hand-deliver the prize. 

 
"When I saw Jonathon walk through the door I couldn’t believe someone in my branch had won, I still didn’t think it would be me as I never win anything," she said.

"I last went to New York for my 21st birthday 19 years ago, I can’t wait to go back with my husband."

Richards has worked as a Hays Travel branch manager in Yate for nearly three years following the Thomas Cook takeover in 2019.

Previous winners of the Big Hays Travel Thank You include Lynne Browne from the Hays Travel legal team and Sandra Taylor from the Washington branch, who will have their mortgage or rent paid for by Hays for six months along with water, gas and electricity bills. 

It was also announced next month’s prize would be an Apple bundle containing products worth up to £3,000.