Hays Travel stands to take valuable learnings from the Miles Morgan Travel “powerhouse” following its acquisition, according to owner Irene Hays.
Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, she described Miles Morgan Travel as an “exceptional business” and said her decision to buy the 19-branch agency had been a “very easy yes” after seeing it go from strength to strength since joining the Hays Travel Independence Group 18 years ago.
She said: “It [Miles Morgan Travel] really now is a powerhouse. It is an exceptional business with an exceptional brand and incredible customer loyalty.
More: Hays Travel acquires 19-branch Miles Morgan Travel
“It became a very easy ‘yes’ when we were even asked to consider [buying] it, when Miles got to the point where he too was considering it.”
Pledging to retain the brand, she said Miles Morgan Travel would be a separate, owned brand under Hays Travel.
She added it was “business as usual” under the group’s managing director Mandy Shillito, who will stay on with all the staff at the company.
One of the most important results of the deal will be the shared expertise, she said, with Hays Travel expected to learn from the way Miles Morgan Travel operates, particularly in terms of its supplier relationships.
“In many respects Miles Morgan Travel does things better than Hays Travel,” said Hays, adding: “It’s really important for us to learn from the fantastic things that are happening in Miles Morgan Travel and translate that across the Hays Travel brand.”
She named the growth of experiential travel as a particular opportunity for Hays to learn from, adding that Miles Morgan Travel worked in a different way and with alternative, less mainstream tour operators. “We find that incredibly exciting,” she said.
Staff will also be able to share their way of working with Hays, she said, noting: “Hopefully the staff will be able to share their skills with Hays Travel and in exchange they will have more opportunities to progress through a larger organisation. It will be very much [a case of] sharing of expertise.”
Miles Morgan told the webcast it would be up to Hays Travel how they build on the current business. “We do do things differently to Hays. The product mix we sell is different. Hopefully Hays will have the opportunity to glean [from that] and ultimately make a more successful business, which I think is exactly what can happen.”