Hays Travel has flown more than 700 of its staff to a luxury resort in Turkey after its deal to buy former Thomas Cook travel agents led to its largest ever annual conference.
The Sunderland firm, which saved more than 550 shops and 2,000 jobs last month, chartered planes from Newcastle, Manchester and Stansted airports to take hundreds of branch managers and suppliers to Antalya for the company’s 30th annual retail managers’ conference.
The conference has grown in size after Hays’ acquisition of the former Thomas Cook retail estate, which has seen 450 shops re-opened and 2,000 people who had lost their jobs taken on to work at Hays.
The firm now employs more than 4,000 people and is recruiting for more.
Chief executive John Hays and his wife Irene, the company chair, were on the flights in uniform for the day, serving snacks to some of their staff.
Mrs Hays said: “We always make sure our managers have fun at the conference as they get together from all over the country.
“They pack in three full days with some fantastic speakers and workshops and they end up with a unique insight into the latest developments in the travel industry, and masses of information to take back to their branches.
“This year, we will have the added bonus of getting to know our new colleagues. We’ll also take the chance to recognise and celebrate all the hard work everyone has put in this year, and to thank those from Thomas Cook who joined so quickly and moved mountains to help us get their shops back up and running.
“And we’d also like to thank Jet2 and Rixos Hotels who came to the rescue just four weeks ago when all the plans had to be upscaled, as well as Newcastle, Manchester and Stansted airports, for the outstanding welcome they’ve given us.”
Hays staff conference sees managers staying in five-star luxury hotels where three work days are combined with fun events and an awards dinner.
Manager of the Hays Travel branch in Victoria Square, Belfast, Jackie Geddis, a former Thomas Cook employee of 24 years, said: “We can’t wait to meet some of the other managers and the staff from Head Office - being across the water we haven’t had that opportunity yet.”
