The duo, who founded Hays Travel, were among the business leaders honoured at this year’s North East Entrepreneurial Awards.
They were acknowledged for their longstanding contribution to the region, particularly within Sunderland where the Hays headquarters is based, and for saving thousands of jobs when they purchased the Thomas Cook retail operation.
The company, launched in 1980 by John, is now the largest independently owned travel agency in the UK, with reported sales of over £1 billion per annum, 7,500 employees and 450 retail branches.
Accepting the award, Dame Irene said: "John was very proud to receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2004 and he would have been equally pleased to receive this award too.
"It is a huge honour for me to share the award and, as always, I pay tribute to the fantastic staff of Hays Travel who have helped us to achieve so much."
