Hays Travel is “pleased” with the response to its recently-launched franchisee model and says its in-house tour operation is “very strong” despite Covid-19 setbacks.
The franchisee model was soft-launched in July, with a full rollout in August as it bid to attract agencies who want to run their own business with support and buying power from the UK’s largest travel agency.
Owner Dame Irene told a Travel Weekly webcast: “We’ve been really pleased with the response.
More:Hays Travel returns to profitability in August
“A lot of smaller retailers want to stay in travel but need the confidence of a bigger organisation and the advantages that brings in terms of commercial deals, primarily.
“We always focus on profit for the person running the business so we’ve got a clear structure. We also help with technology, training and development, marketing and advice on property.
“So if people have already got a small business, it’s a great opportunity to look at a different model.
“We’ll help them to be the best that can in what is quite challenging times. These people have great businesses, and great people, but they need a slightly larger team. We’ve got 500 people here, who look after them and hopefully build them back for the future.”
Hays said in-house tour operation Hays Travel Tour Operating is “very strong” despite the continued hit to long-haul travel as a result of Covid restrictions.
She noted that the agency also sells “a lot of other [tour operators’] long-haul as well” but praised the “phenomenal” efforts of staff who joined the company when Hays Travel opened an office in Glasgow last year.
“There’s been a general trend over the years for people to become more adventurous anyway, so the specialist market is very strong for us,” said Hays. “And twin-centre is stronger than it’s ever been; people perhaps doing something educational and informative or cultural then flopping on a beach.”
Hays Travel has made acquisitions during Covid as well as expanding its tour operation in Glasgow, including homeworking franchise company Explorer Travel and Welsh miniple Tailor Made Travel.
“We’re still getting lots of approaches from companies that are struggling, and it’s really sad,” said Hays. “If anybody is kind enough to approach us, we look at it. We’ve got a couple of things ongoing which we might move forward on, but might not.”
Asked what her late husband John Hays, founder of Hays Travel, would make of the industry now, Dame Irene said: “He’d be saddened by the impact on the number of great people and great businesses and the decisions they’ve had to make.
“He always paid tribute to our competitors and talked about the things they were doing better than us. We still do that.
“He would be shocked at how long it’s gone on and saddened by the impact it’s had, but I hope pleased at the way his fantastic team has risen to the challenge because it’s been nothing short of extraordinary.”