Hays Travel hosts annual summer party for head office staff

Hays Travel brought together staff from across its head office departments over the weekend for its annual Summer Garden Party in Sunderland.

Dame Irene Hays, owner and chair of the UK’s largest independent travel agency group, and chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston welcomed guests to the city’s Fire Station venue for the event on Sunday (June 28).

The annual tradition began decades ago at the home of Dame Irene and her late husband John Hays, and remains a fixture in the calendar for colleagues at the group’s Sunderland headquarters.

Addressing attendees, Woodall-Johnston thanked staff for their dedication during a challenging year for the industry.

“This day of the year is really special for Dame Irene and many others,” he said. “It has certainly been a difficult year with what has been happening in the Middle East, but each and every one of you has supported our customers and each other.”