Joy for workers like Jackie after Hays takeover

HAYS Travel stores across Wales have started to open in Thomas Cook branches after the travel operator went bust.

The independent travel agent bought all 555 Thomas Cook stores earlier this month, promising to reopen the branches with all original staff.

Around 9,000 Thomas Cook jobs in the UK were lost when Thomas Cook ceased trading last month but some staff were offered jobs with other companies almost immediately.

The first lot of Hays Travel stores have now opened in South Wales, with others expected to follow in the next couple of weeks.

Jackie Bourke, who worked for Thomas Cook for 29 years, 26 of which were based in the Queen Street branch in Cardiff, was thrilled to return to the store.

“It has been horrendous,” said Jackie, who is the customer service manager.

“We had no notification from the company. We were in a Whatsapp group for a couple of stores, and we found out at two o’clock in the morning, the same as everyone else.”

Jackie, 46, who lives in Ynyshir, Rhondda, was out of work for three weeks.

“I knew I wanted to stay in travel, and the support that Thomas Cook staff were offered from travel companies and recruiters around the UK was amazing.”

The branch, which still features Thomas Cook branding internally and externally, has had plenty of customers return to the store every day for the past week that it has been opened.

“We have a lot of regular customers who have come in and congratulated us, people have bought chocolates and wine for us.

“So many people have come to see us and we have done a few bookings since we reopened.

“It is a little bit sad as there are some staff who haven’t come back. We have people from the Whitchurch branch, which closed before this all happened, and two staff from St David’s Centre.

“We have four original staff who have stayed from this store which is nice.”

After working in travel for such a long time, Jackie couldn’t be happier that not only was she able to return to the industry so soon, but she was able to return to her own store.

The former Thomas Cook branch in Tonypandy has also been reopened, and the store in Porth is expected to reopen in the next three or four days.

Owners of Hays Travel, husband and wife, John and Irene Hays, said at the time of purchasing the stores: “Thomas Cook was a much loved brand employing talented people. We look forward to working with many of them.”