The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will see the Spear branding remain on shops in the northeast, Midlands, Dorset, Oxfordshire and Essex. The chain includes Broads Travel in Sutton Coldfield and Regent Travel in Stone.
The majority of shops are in communities without Hays Travel branches. Spear also has a dozen homeworking associates.
Dame Irene Hays praised Spear owners’ Peter and Libby Cookson and Derek Adams.
“Spear Travels is an excellent fit for us – their product mix of land, cruise, and touring holidays aligns with our core objectives, and we have much to learn from each other,” she said.
“I have enormous respect for Peter, Libby and Derek. They have built excellent, trusted brands in Spear Travels, Broads Travel, and Regent Travel. They have a loyal and growing customer base, cared for by great people with exceptional expertise and experience, who we are delighted to welcome into the Hays Travel family.
"I wish Peter, Libby, and Derek every happiness and success with the next chapter of their journey.”
Cookson added: “Naturally selling the business that Libby, Derek and I have worked so hard to build over the past 30 years is a difficult decision. However, we are comforted knowing that our team has found a new work family in Hays Travel.
"All jobs are safe, and the team now have more opportunities for development and career progression – there will be little disruption to day-to-day activity.”
The deal is Hays Travel’s first acquisition of the new financial year, which began 1 May 2025, and comes almost a year to the day since the Group acquired Miles Morgan Travel and its 19 branches, which grew to 20 recently with the opening of Trowbridge.
