Hays Travel

Hays Travel regional sales manager turned franchisee takes on third shop

Rebecca Holt, who already runs Hays's Chapeltown and Wombwell stores in South Yorkshire, expands into Derbyshire with Chesterfield opening

Hays Travel 'must not further integrate' Polka Dot or Millington after competition watchdog intervenes

Authority says it has concerns the brands will cease to be distinct under Hays's ownership, and could result in a ‘substantial lessening of competition’

Hays Travel boss bemused by cruise lines' agent-by-agent commission stance

Hays Travel has more than 720 homeworkers, but Dame Irene Hays wants every Hays agent to be paid the same level of commission for cruise bookings

'I shed a few tears... because I got to experience Alaska with my dad'

Hays Travel's Michael Astley thought he was a confident cruise seller... but turns out no amount of training courses could compare to going on his first cruise

Hays Travel posts £80 million profit but warns of a dip this financial year

Agency warns tough market, increased costs and investment ambitions will hit this year’s figures

How the lessons of the past are helping Hays Travel create the business of tomorrow

Britain's largest independent is bringing its brand and messaging to a host of new channels and upping its focus on AI. Edward Robertson reports from the Hays Travel Independence Group conference

AI trial will elevate Hays Travel agents 'to a different level', says Dame Irene Hays

Hays hopeful of rolling out AI quote generation tool to shops, independence group members and homeworkers in time for peaks, capable of saving an agent half a day's work

Hays Travel inks Ryanair distribution deal to boost city break reach

UK's largest independent joins the likes of Tui and On the Beach in agreeing terms with Ryanair allowing it to dynamically package flights from the budget carrier's vast network

Hays Travel makes second agency acquisition in a week after taking on Scottish independent

UK’s largest chain snaps up Scottish single-branch agency Holiday and Flight Centre – days after acquiring Millington Travel and just a week after buying Polka Dot Travel

Hays Travel acquires Midlands miniple Millington Travel

Agency giant acquires all 14 Millington branches – its fourth retail buyout of the year – and promises staff their jobs are safe

Hays Travel’s Kelly Green joins Virgin Voyages as line hails 17% UK growth

Virgin Voyages has strengthened its on-the-ground presence with key appointments across its core international markets

Hays Travel snaps up all 15 Polka Dot Travel shops in latest acquisition

The travel agency will continue to trade under its own name from shops in the north west, Midlands and north Wales, with all staff remaining in their posts

Dame Irene Hays honoured for 'exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to careers in tourism'

Hays Travel chair and owner awarded 2025 Tourism Society Award in recognition of her 'outstanding lifetime contribution to the development and success of UK tourism'

Long-time Hays Travel agent given honour of reopening her revamped shop

Lynn Robinson has been working in the same South Yorkshire agency for nearly four decades

Hays Travel's new Burnley branch brings store manager full circle after 27 years

Natalie Lowcock returns to the Lancashire town where she started her career in travel 27 years ago with Going Places

Davina McCall: 'I was mad to stop using a travel agent'

McCall sat down with TTG to discuss her travel loves, future trips – and why she’ll never book her own holiday again

Hays Travel turns to B&Q's algorithm expert to sharpen its AI focus

Hays Travel has recruited a "visionary" AI guru to its board to sharpen its use of data, technology and AI in its operations.

Dr Mohsen Ghasempour, who is chief AI officer at B&Q and Screwfix parent Kingfisher Group, will join Hays as a non-executive director next month.

In his current role, Ghasempour leads on how Kingfisher uses AI and machine learning to drive its brands' customer experience functions.

Hays Travel franchisee Don Bircham joins board of boyhood football team Kilmarnock FC

Bircham, who grew his agency business in the north west and north Wales to 47 shops before selling up two years ago, is also a former chief executive of Wrexham Football Club

Hays Travel ready to go all-in on cruise with bookable website following Cruise.co.uk deal

Dame Irene Hays added the agency giant remained in an acquisitive mood should any suitable opportunities emerge

Hays Travel acquires Cruise.co.uk to expand into online cruise market

Hays hails deal as its biggest since acquiring Thomas Cook in 2019

Dame Irene Hays recognised for business achievements and public service

Owner and chair of Hays Travel has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bradford

Hays Travel hires Fred Olsen Travel's operations chief Tricia Birmingham to fill commercial role

Birmingham’s appointment comes three days after it was announced Hays Travel’s group strategy director McAuley will become managing director of World Travel Holdings UK later this year

Lisa McAuley to take helm of cruise agency as UK MD

McAuley will succeed Alison Earnshaw as managing director of World Travel Holdings UK from October 1

Ocean Holidays refinances Covid debt following Hays Travel investment

The US specialist operator confirmed Hays will have no day-to-day operational role following the investment and its four founders will remain its majority shareholders