After Thomas

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John and Irene Hays of Hays Travel have agreed to save 555 Thomas Cook shops

John Hays , founder of the travel company, The Rescue of Thomas Cook High Street stores, knows a thing or two about survival.

Soon after the establishment of Hays Travel in the back of his mother's children's clothing shop in the year 1980, a rival company appeared.

Mr Hays was forced to offer free Travel Insurance , in order to attract customers - a move that almost sank the nascent company.

But 40 Years later, Hays Travel is still here and expanding, buy, shops are closed, when Thomas Cook collapsed.

with the takeover by the Sunderland-based travel company could save 2,500 jobs, according to Thomas Cook went bust Two Weeks ago.

There is potentially More Than double the Hays Travel employee number that is currently at 1,900.

The Deal is, without a doubt, the largest in the history of the Hays Travel , which began in the country Durham town of Seaham.

Mr. Hays founded The Company after studying mathematics at the University of Oxford and an MBA.

Thomas Cook broke Two Weeks ago,

There is a strong familial connections. His mother, Margaret, was the Director until 1998, and other members of the Family Directors in the travel office were over The Years .

His wife, Irene, chairs Sunderland-based business and the majority shareholding of 50. 1%

'Hard questions'

The free insurance offer, which almost sank Hays ended up traveling in his early years, is driving its growth. enable you to open 10 stores in 1990.

It has expanded in the intervening years and now has 190 of its own stores - before taking on the 555 by Thomas Cook .

Mr Hays , who is Managing Director , confirmed the offer, will be a challenge.

"It is a tough ask, but it is very doable," he says.

he said he was able to succeed with The Business , where Thomas Cook failed, because today is an independent agent offering the holiday of All operators.

Although Hays has said a great internet and social-media profile, he said, there was still a demand for personal service in shops.

this independence means that you sold a number of holidays, such as swimming with pigs in The Bahamas

"We are pretty big already, and a lot of buying power, so our prices are competitive," he said.

"We didn't embark on this without very serious thought. "

In its last fiscal year, sales rose to £379m £337. 7m, but profit before tax growth was flat at £10m.

Mr Hays said: "We have the management, and the ability to do this. It has been confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority. They have approved the plans we have. "

to Comment on whether the companies retain said All 555 Thomas Cook stores and 2,500 employees, Mrs. Hays : "at this time we have no plans to close any of them, and to do what we want to do is, go into the shops and look at the opportunity. In principle, we do not go and say, "this is absolutely a waste of time'. "

"of Course, we are a commercial organisation, we will take a look. But until today we have no plans to do that. "

Family

The Family -run company is proud of how it looks after its employees.

you will receive a bonus in the past year, after The Company 's total sales Hit £1 billion, and hundreds participated in the annual summer party in The Garden at Mr and Mrs today at home.

As The Rescue of Thomas Cook , High Street stores, Mrs. Hays said, the effect of The Company 's collapse on its employees, "a tragedy is announced".

"Thomas Cook was a very popular brand and is a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry. We build on The Good things that had Thomas Cook - not the least of its People - and the us in even better position for The Future . "

"We have said many time, that generally travel in the UK is a relatively small industry, and it is A Family . "

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Source of news: bbc.com