John Hays opens the first branch of Hays Travel at the back of his mum’s children’s wear shop in Seaham, Co Durham
Hays Travel, the UK's largest independent travel agent, specialises in providing good value, quality holidays alongside excellent customer service.
From the minute we opened our first small retail shop in Seaham, Co Durham, I was hooked - I fell in love with the travel industry.
The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Today, we are proud to be the UK's largest independent travel agent, our annual turnover is more than £1 billion, and we employ over 7,500 people. Across the country we have more than 548 retail shops and over 292 experienced travel agents who work from their homes.
We also run the Hays Travel Independence Group; a consortium of independent travel retailers who benefit from Hays Travel's buying power, technology and back office expertise.
And we're growing all the time.
We're also a company that cares. Our staff get involved in local community partnership projects on a regular basis and we've been awarded the prestigious Investors in People Silver status. One of my proudest achievements is our inclusion in the Sunday Times' 100 Best Companies to Work For in the UK, which we have been included in for the last 3 consecutive years.
Fully ABTA and ATOL bonded, we're able to offer our customers complete financial security, and our independent status means we really can offer impartial advice to find them the perfect holiday. We work with hundreds of suppliers to ensure this.
Well-travelled and trained, our staff pride themselves in providing excellent customer service to every client who trusts us with their holiday arrangements. Our independence means we have access to a wide choice of tour operators and airlines, and we always endeavour to find the perfect holiday for the best possible price. As well as finding people their ideal holiday, we arrange all the extras like car hire, transfers and insurance. There's foreign exchange bureaus in our branches across the UK, where you can pick up commission free currency before you set off on holiday.
As we're constantly expanding, we're always looking for people to join the team. People who, like us, are passionate about the industry. People who want to enjoy the rewards of their work. People who want to share in the success of a company which continues to go from strength to strength.
If you're interested in starting an exciting career in the travel industry, call the recruitment team on 0800 215 5045 or visit https://careers.haystravel.co.uk/.
We’re also constantly recruiting experienced travel consultants to work from home. If you think you would enjoy the challenge and freedom of working from home call us on 0800 412 5990 or visit https://careers.haystravel.co.uk/homeworking.
For more information about the Hays Travel Independence Group 0800 138 6955 or visit https://www.haystravelig.co.uk/.
And finally, to find your nearest Hays Travel shop click here.
Whether it's a holiday or a career you're looking for, I hope we will be hearing from you soon!
John Hays
Managing Director
To view our Group Tax Strategy, click here
To view our Modern Slavery Statement, click here
To view our Gender Pay Gap Report, click here
To view our Insurance Product Information Document, click here
Pensions – Statement of Investment Principles, click here
John Hays opens the first branch of Hays Travel at the back of his mum’s children’s wear shop in Seaham, Co Durham
Hays Travel opens second shop in Sunderland, where the company has its headquarters today
Third shop opens in Washington, Tyne and Wear
Expansion reaches seven shops in the North East
First Hays Travel call centre opens
Hays Travel Independence Group is formed
The company diversifies into homeworking
Hays Travel recognised as one of the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For in the UK
Hays Travel Group hit £300 million turnover
John Hays honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at the Agent Achievement Awards
John Hays picks up the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Globes
Celebrate 30 years and John Hays’ inauguration into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame
Turnover hits the £500 million mark
Acquisition of Bath Travel, the South of England’s largest independent travel agency
Hays Travel Academy launched
Another inclusion in the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For list whilst John Hays is awarded Freedom of the City of Sunderland
Turnover reaches £850 million
Turnover passes the £1 billion mark