A Hays Travel Explorer franchisee has reconnected with a university friend 30 years after he was seriously injured in moped accident in Cyprus.
Where to Next Travel owner Katy Doherty has now booked her pal a trip back to Cyprus as part of his healing process.
Doherty returned to the travel industry seven years ago to set up Where to Next Travel as a Hays Travel Explorer Franchisee, after 12 years away from the sector.
She was recently contacted via social media by Dominic Hurley, who was looking for a holiday to Cyprus, in the same area where he and Katy had once been 21-year-old hotel management students together on a one-year placement.
Just seven weeks into their time there in 1994, he was seriously injured in a moped accident which left him in a coma for three months.
He had not been wearing a helmet and doctors thought he would never walk or talk again.
Doherty said: “Hearing from Dom was amazing. We stayed friends for a while after his accident, but this sadly fizzled out.
“It was a special moment when he said that he wanted to return to Cyprus on the 30th anniversary of his accident, alongside his family, as part of his healing journey.
“I know I made the right decision to become an Explorer – it is so rewarding as people trust us with shaping forever memories, to reassure them and take away any stresses.”
Hurley is a brain injury recovery peer support worker who has raised £100,000 for charity and regularly presents helmet safety awareness sessions in schools.
He said: “Returning to Cyprus has been on my mind for years. I am continuing to recover and have made so much progress that it feels right to go back now and turn what was a tragic situation into a happy family memory.
“Katy has gone above and beyond and made the booking process really special.
“With the summer season in full swing, my experience leaves an important message – enjoy every second of your holiday, but please remember to be safe.”
Doherty estimates that Where to Next Travel’s sales for 2024 and 2025 will beat the £1 million earned in 2023 and that the next 12 months will see more agents joining the business.
Steven Reilly, head of Hays Travel’s Explorer Franchise, said: “It is a privilege to hear Dom’s story. It is testament to how it is possible for agents like Katy to create unforgettable experiences for customers, even from home.
“I wish Katy every success as she continues her Explorer journey, and I wish Dom all the best for the future.”
Main picture shows Doherty and Hurley in Cyprus, back in 1994.
