Hays Travel owner attends International Women’s Day reception hosted by The Queen

Hays Travel chair and owner Dame Irene Hays attended a reception hosted by The Queen to mark International Women’s Day.

She was accompanied by Jo Rzymowska and Helen Milford, who are both non-executive directors of the agency group. 

The Queen addressed leading women, politicians, and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse at the Women of the World (WOW) event, held at St James’s Palace in London.

She is president of WOW, a global alliance supporting equal and inclusive rights for women, girls and non-binary people.  

Dame Irene said: “It was a privilege to join The Queen at St James’s Palace to celebrate International Women’s Day with WOW Women of the World. I was particularly pleased to attend with Helen and Jo, who is a member of the WOW development board.

“WOW is a fantastic charity founded by Jude Kelly CBE. It’s a global alliance working to drive an equal and inclusive future. Being in the same room as so many incredible people to celebrate women was a memorable experience and we left with renewed determination for work still to be done. 

“At Hays Travel we are proud to have an above-average percentage of women on our board and senior team.

“We are committed to driving diversity, equity and inclusion across our group, and to making meaningful change where needed to ensure our people and customers feel they belong.

“As The Queen, who is the president of WOW, said in her speech ‘Every woman has a story. And so, too, does every man. And these stories need to be told’.”