A man shelters from the rain underneath a broken umbrella as he walks past a Hays Travel shop
Hays Travel have also been a high-street staple for almost 40 years (Picture: Lewis Stickley/PA Images)

The worst fears about the future of Thomas Cook were confirmed last month when the company collapsed into compulsory liquidation. Thousands of people lost their jobs, but now company Hays Travel have stepped in to offer light at the end of a dark tunnel for former employees.

Thomas Cook failed to secure the £200 million it needed to keep the business afloat in September 2019, sparking the biggest ever peacetime repatriation.

Around 600,000 people, including 150,000 Brits, were left stranded abroad after the collapse of the company, and the government had to step in to fly holidaymakers back to the UK.

Formerly one of the world’s oldest travel companies, the collapse of Thomas Cook meant that thousands of people lost their jobs and the company’s hundreds of high-street stores were set to close.

However, news has broken this morning that Hays Travel, an independent travel agent chain headquartered in Sunderland, England, is stepping in to save hundreds of jobs following Thomas Cook’s collapse, by buying the company’s store network.

Who owns Hays Travel?

Hays Travel, a former rival of Thomas Cook, was founded in 1980 and is owned by John Hays, who is the CEO of the company.

John Hays, founder of Hays Travel
John Hays, the founder and CEO of Hays Travel
(Picture: Hays Travel)

Hays Travel is currently the largest independent travel agent in the UK and employs over 1,700 people. In 2018, turnover for the company passed the £1 billion mark.

However, their acquisition of the Thomas Cook store network is still a huge undertaking for the company, which will now almost triple the number of shops it has.

Pedestrians are pictured walking past a branch of a Thomas Cook travel agents
Hays Travel will triple their stores by acquiring Thomas Cook’s store network. (Picture: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

John Hays, who opened the very first Hays Travel shop in Seaham, Co Durham, 39 years ago said of his company’s decision to buy the Thomas Cook stores: ‘It is a game-changer for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.

‘Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.’

How many Thomas Cook stores are Hays Travel buying?

Hays Travel have bought all 555 high-street stores once owned by Thomas Cook.

It is reported that 421 former Thomas Cook employees have already been hired by the travel firm and Hays have also invited other ex-Thomas Cook employees to call 0800 215 5995 – their recruitment line.

The move from Hays Travel to buy Thomas Cook’s old stores could save upwards of 2,000 jobs in total.

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Irene Hays, chair of Sunderland-based Hays, said: ‘Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry.

‘We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future.’

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