Hays Travel

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We are delighted to see Hays Travel shopfitting on Crossgate ahead of their opening next month. In our latest business profile, we caught up with MD, John Stewart, on why they’ve chosen Cupar and what lies behind the success of Hays Travel …

John and his wife, Joanne, live and brought up their boys in Fife. Their entire working lives have been dedicated to the travel industry and, for 30 years, they managed highly successful stores for Thomas Cook.

John says: “That was right up until the 23rd September in 2019 – the date which saw the sad end of that business.”  One week later, he and Joanne created their business and then met with the late John Hays & Dame Irene Hays. John adds: “We agreed a deal for John Stewart Travel to own and operate Hays Travel Dundee.”

[John & Joanne as featured in a Travel Weekly interview published last November: click the image to read more.]

They opened officially on the 4th November 2019 and three years later, expanded with Hays Travel Broughty Ferry.

The Travel Bug …

John has always loved travel, saying: “I was lucky to travel extensively with my family when I was young. I caught the travel bug as a child – back on the old planes and being a member of British Airways junior jets flying club!” But a life in the travel industry wasn’t on the cards at the outset. He adds: “I wanted to be an accountant. Funnily enough, I  started in the financial part of an independent travel agency. I saw the fun and excitement of making customers happy and quickly switched from the accounts and admin to the travel side.” Accountancy’s loss is the travel industry’s gain!

He rose quickly through the ranks and, at the age of just 21, became the youngest ever Thomas Cook Manager in Scotland. Through the years, he managed stores from Aberdeen to Newcastle – his largest team being over 40 staff. He still loves the customer-facing side of travel to this day.

We asked John what has inspired him in his work: “As a young man, it was Richard Branson … taking on the big boys of travel with Virgin Airlines. He did not let his personal challenges stop him achieving through sheer determination to win.”

His own determination and dedication has driven success. John says that he has been “fortunate with a great team” to pick up nearly all of the major awards in the travel industry:

  • Agent Achievement Awards London UK – High Street Travel Agency Manager of the Year
  • Travel TTG Awards – Best Travel Agency in Scotland
  • Best High Street Retail – DD one Awards Dundee
  • UK High Street Manager of the Year – Thomas Cook Cyprus
  • Scottish Passenger Association – Best Travel Agency in Scotland

That ‘team’ effort has seen John Stewart Travel grow to become the UK’s largest Hays Travel branded High Street franchise. Their HQ is in City Square, Dundee and they continue to operate a successful branch from Brook Street in Broughty Ferry.

But there has been a missing piece of the jigsaw – until now.

Two years in the making …

John explains: “For the last two years, we have been searching for the right location in Cupar. It is a great town and we are absolutely delighted to be bringing back a ‘High Street’ travel agency to this thriving town of independents.”

The staff being employed in Cupar build the Hays Travel team further. John says: “We employ a multi-award winning team of 26. Last year, we added our latest – the ‘Rising Star Of the Year’ SPAA Awards Glasgow and we have three of our team shortlisted for the SPAA Awards in Edinburgh next month. Great people being recognised for what they do best.”

He describes their shared “obsession” with delivering the “best customer experience“, adding: “We offer the best holiday, flight, rail and cruise deals – with the huge buying power of being part of the UK’s largest independent travel agent. And we back these great deals with our famous free ‘Pre-departure Service’ which includes completing any advance passenger information, check-in, printing any travel documents, boarding passes, ticket wallets and luggage labels. That’s something not all agents offer and is particularly appreciated by our Jet2 Holidays & cruise customers.” And John adds that: “Customers in and around Cupar will be delighted to know that we are also the nation’s favourite Foreign Exchange provider, offering the highest currency rates in town with our Price Watch Guarantee.”

Taking on the manager’s role in Cupar will be Susan Welham. John says: “Cupar is Susan’s home and she is delighted to be back in her home town – doing what she does best. She is also looking forward to the short walk to work!” Susan has spent the last decade working in travel agents in Fife – including Glenrothes, assistant manager of Hays Travel in St Andrews and, most recently, as Assistant Manager of Hays Travel’s store in Dundee.

Finally, as with all who feature on our Blog profiles, we asked John what he would recommend to anyone visiting Cupar for the first time, or for the first time in a long time: “Cupar is a beautiful town with stunning scenery and we would recommend a walk taking in the River Eden.”

 

Launch promotion …

 

Need more?

Hays Travel opens in Cupar at 0915 on Saturday 14th September.

Pop in to see them at 28A Crossgate (KY15 5HH), call them on 01334 756112 (the line won’t be operational until the store opens) or email them via this link.

You can also follow them on Facebook for their latest offers and promotions.

 

Thanks for reading.