Hays Travel has reiterated its commitment to growth on the high street despite travel retail being “ignored” as a growth area by investors.
Group finance director Ken Campling told Abta’s Travel Convention there were still “plenty of opportunities” for growth on the “much-maligned high street”. Hays Travel currently has 490 shops on the high street.
Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the company’s acquisition of the former Thomas Cook retail estate, he said there was “no sign of high street decline” as holidays continue to be a top priority for consumers.
He said: “Growth is not a given but I don’t think there is any reason for it to stop in the short to medium term. I think growth will continue.
“We have spent £40 million on acquisitions in the last three to four years; we are very committed to the high street but we have also just marketed our Hays Travel app to reach younger customers.
Campling said growth would also come through the Hays Travel Independence Group and Hays’ homeworking network.
He said: “We still see growth; we are investing internally and looking at what we can do to improve that and bring in new players through our Independence Group.
“We can take people on as homeworkers ; we take away some of the ‘plumbing’ because we can deal with the regulatory and compliance side of things.
“We see the future as people coming into the travel industry and removing barriers to entry.”
Responding to the fact travel retail was not named as one of five growth areas for investors by PwC, he said: “We are used to being ignored in the travel industry. The high street is still very important and vibrant.
“I would not expect us to be in the PwC report; we are operating beyond that radar. We listen to our people, our customers and our communities. That helps us to stay relevant to what is going on in the world. We want to sell what our customers want.”
Pictured: Hays’ Briggate branch, Leeds