Hero of the High Street - The rise of late Sunderland businessman John Hays and his Hays Travel empire
and live on Freeview channel 276
Sales amounted to £812 at the end of his first year in Church Street, Seaham, in 1980.
By 2018, however, turnover had surpassed £1 billion with the Hays Travel portfolio consisting of new headquarters in the centre of Sunderland, 190 branches nationwide and around 2,000 staff.
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Hide AdThe empire expanded again in October 2019 when he and wife Irene, the company’s chairman, saved 2,000 jobs by buying up 555 Thomas Cook High Street branches after its parent group collapsed.
Hailed the ‘Heroes of the High Street’, the couple were interviewed about their rescue package on countless TV and radio shows including ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Yet chief executive Mr Hays, who has died aged 71 “doing the job he loved”, was typically humble when asked about the deal and keen to share praise with his employees, adding: “Irene and I have been taken aback by the good will and well wishes from the public over the past few days. It really has been humbling.
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Hide Ad“We’re so proud of our wonderful teams, both old and new, who have come together working around the clock to get as many new branches up and running as quickly as possible.”
Those established teams seemed pleased with their employer too with the business, a recipient of the prestigious Investors in People gold standard, repeatedly included in the Sunday Times Best Company to Work For list.
Not that the achievements of the Oxford University mathematics’ graduate had gone unnoticed here in Sunderland.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Sunderland University and given the Freedom of the City of Sunderland for his contribution to the economy of the city and the growth of the travel industry.
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Hide AdMr Hays also received a Lifetime Achievement trophy at the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards in 2014 and returned to our annual awards ceremony in November last year to receive Large Business of the Year and the Overall Business of the Year titles.
Again both Mr Hays and his wife, who had enjoyed a stellar career in local government, thanked their staff.
Hundreds of those employees would enjoy annual garden parties at the couple’s Whitburn home complete with Pimms and a hog roast.
Their generosity even extended to the creation of The Hays Travel Charitable Foundation with more than £1.6m distributed so far to worthy causes nationwide.
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Hide AdLike countless businesses, however, Hays Travel has faced challenges since the coronavirus outbreak in March this year.
A company statement released after Mr Hays’ death said: “Throughout this past difficult year he did everything in his power to save jobs and protect the travel industry.
“He was held in immense respect by his staff, colleagues, family and friends and was recognised throughout his life for his many achievements.
“He was equally proud of his loyal staff who, under the direction of the board and senior management team, will ensure that the business continues to serve the customers of the UK's largest independent travel agent as he would have wanted.”