Irene Hays

Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, centre, collects the High Street Agency of the Year awards for Hays Travel.

City-based Hays Travel clinches nationwide honour

Guests attend the Hays Travel Summer Garden Party at the Fire Station in Sunderland

Hays Travel staff bask in sunshine at annual Garden Party

North East Rich List.

Meet the region's 7 richest families including Sunderland billionaire

Jude Kelly CBE, Queen Camilla, Dame Irene Hays, Helen Milford and Jo Rzymowska MBE at St James's Palace

I was honoured to celebrate the Women of the World with Queen Camilla

Phoebe Thompson, Paula Barrett and Beccy Rayner at the awards

We're proud to bring home a hat trick of gold travel awards

Sunderland travel agency acquires business employing 80 people

Dame Irene Hays outside a Hays Travel branch in the Bridges.

Our success is down to our people says Dame Irene Hays

L-R Stacie Milner (Assistant Manager), Sana Cousins, Davina McCall, Ruby Starbuck

Davina McCall joins the nation’s favourite travel agent

Hays Travel staff celebrate their bumper bonus payments.

Hays Travel rewards staff with bonus payments after record profits

Dame Irene Hays cuts the ribbon on newest Hays Travel branch

Dame Irene Hays, Owner and Director of Hays Travel. Picture: DAVID WOOD

Boss of national travel chain delivers brand prediction for 2025

From left: BBC presenter Jeff Brown, Anderson Groves, Alice Brooks and Dame Irene Hays.

Young Sunderland film makers honoured by Dame Irene Hays

From left: Lesley Spuhler of the Foundation, Sunderland players Jenson Seelt and Anthony Patterson, with Irene Hays.

Hays Travel's shirt support for SAFC charity at QPR game

A Hays Travel branch is heading to the cobbles

Hays Travel to open branch on the Coronation Street cobbles

Jacob Hughes and Dame Irene Hays

South Wales deal is just the ticket for Hays Travel

The remembrance ceremony outside of Hays Travel in Keel Square.

Hundreds gather in Keel Square as Hays Travel lead remembrance tribute
There was a moving rendition of the Last Post.
Neil Fatkin

(from left): His Hon. Judge Paul Sloan KC, Lord Lieutenant Lucy Winskell OBE, High Sheriff Dame Irene Hays DBE, The Hon. Mr Justice Martin Spencer

High-Sheriff honour for Dame Irene Hayes

Dame Irene Hays, chair and owner of Hays Travel, which has seen sales rise fivefold compared to the same time last year

Why Sunderland-based Hays Travel has already had one of its busiest days of 2023

Dame Irene Hays with some of the firm's recent trophy wins

Sunderland Echo Business of the Year Hay's Travel scoops more awards

A night to remember at the Sunderland Echo Business Excellence Awards.

The champions of Wearside's business world are crowned

Irene Hays has been officially made a Dame following a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Irene Hays officially becomes a Dame

Dame Irene Hays

Hays Travel see huge surge in interest after changes to coronavirus green list

Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays Travel.

Dame Irene Hays' dismay over removal of Portugal from 'green' travel list

Britain’s largest and most environmentally-friendly cruise ship, Iona, arrives into her home port of Southampton ahead of her naming ceremony

Gary Barlow performs live quayside at naming ceremony of P&O Cruises' new ship I...

Dame Irene Hays will name the Iona in a ceremony next month

Hays Travel boss Dame Irene Hays to name new P&O liner

Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays Travel, has said staff are looking forward to welcoming back customers as its shops in England reopen on Monday, April 12.

Hays Travel ready for shop relaunch from April 12

Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays Travel.

Hays Travel taking bookings for 'seacations' with world's top cruise operators
Hays Travel has had thousands of inquiries as the North-East firm starts taking bookings for UK “seacations” with the world's top cruise operators.
Poppy Kennedy

Dame Irene Hays with her late husband John. Picture by Kevin Brady.

Hays Travel sees 347% increase in enquiries after roadmap announcement

Hays Travel is closing almost 90 stores

Hays Travel confirms plans to close 89 shops

John Hays and wife Irene outside the Hays Travel headquarters in Keel Square, Sunderland. Picture: North News.

Praise as Irene Hays made Dame in honours list

John and Irene Hays of Hays Travel at the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards in 2019.

'Bittersweet' moment as Irene Hays made Dame in New Year's Honours

John Hays died on Friday

Hays Travel names new chief operating officer after death of founder John Hays

John and Irene Hays outside the firm's Keel Square offices. John Hays sadly died on November 13 at work.

Hays Travel founder John Hays dies suddenly 'doing the job he loved'

Floral tributes have been left outside Hays Travel after the company's founder John Hays died suddenly aged 71 on Friday

Floral tributes left to 'Mr Sunderland' John Hays after sudden death

The Hays Travel headquarters is in Keel Square in Sunderland.

Hays Travel welcomes change in quarantine rules

Travel firm Hays Travel is to cut nearly 900 jobs due to coronavirus travel restrictions (Photo: Shutterstock)

Hays Travel to cut almost 900 jobs - here’s what it means for employees

Hays Travel took over hundreds of Thomas Cook stores in 2019 as the firm collapsed. Picture: PA.

North East reacts to job losses at Hays Travel

Hays Travel, which is based in Sunderland, has confirmed it is looking to cut up to 878 jobs.

Hays Travel confirms it could cut up to 878 jobs

Hays Travel owner John Hays. The company is looking to take on self-employed travel consultants.

Hays Travel on lookout for travel consultants

John and Irene Hays have revealed that the Sunderland-based travel company has seen an increase in bookings for holidays abroad.

How Hays Travel is bouncing back from the coronavirus crisis

Hays Travel, which is led by John and Irene Hays, has launched a drive to recruit a greater number of experienced travel agents to help them bounce back from the coronavirus crisis.

Hays Travel launches recruitment drive in bounce-back bid from Covid-19

Hays Travel branches now have Covid-19 safety measures in place as they reopen to customers.

Hays Travel set to reopen branches

Hays Travel owner John Hays.

Hays Travel confirm 3,000 staff back to work as they see surge in people booking...

Hays Travel, which has travel agents across the country, has announced measures as it works through the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: Hays Travel confirms 880 workers have been reduced to zero working ...

Hays Travel owner John Hays.

Hays Travel asks staff 'to take voluntary leave' over coronavirus

John and Irene Hays at the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Awards in 2019.

How Sunderland-based Hays Travel is changing practices and supporting customers ...

John and Irene Hays own the Sunderland based travel agent Hays Travel.

Hays Travel is recognised as one of UK's top 100 employers

John and Irene Hays of Hays Travel were Overall Business of the Year winners at the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards 2019 at the Stadium of Light.

Hays Travel owners hit back at snobbery and slur on Greggs in interview

John and Irene Hays want to say thank you for the support since opening new branches.

Hays Travel send virtual Santa across UK for Festive Giveaway with the chance to...

Sunderland Echo Portfolio 2019 Business Award winners at the Stadium of Light.

'Everyone deserves an award in here to be honest' - the winners at the Portfolio...

John and Irene Hays receive the Overall Business of the Year Award from Sunderland City Council Leader Coun. Graham Miller (right).

So proud to win in their hometown

Hays Travel has bought former Thomas Cook stores and gives jobs to more than one hundred former staff members.

The people of Sunderland love John Hays from Hays Travel so much they’re trying ...

Hays Travel owner John Hays

Echo readers praise Hays Travel as they reopen Thomas Cook stores across North E...

Irene and John Hays were a hit with ITV viewers when they appeared on Good Morning Britain. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain.

John and Irene Hays are a hit on Good Morning Britain

John and Irene Hays (centre) with new recruits from Thomas Cook Joanne Tully (left) and Joanne Leightley (right).

Up to 2,500 jobs could be saved as Hays Travel set to buy 555 Thomas Cook stores...

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