Hays Travel steps in to save four jobs at Preston's World Travel Lounge store

Hays Travel have snapped up the former World Travel Lounge store in the St George’s Precinct and now have 46 high street travel agents across the North West and North Wales.

Don Bircham, Managing Director of Hays Travel North West, said: “We continue to look for expansion opportunities and when the right locations become available we are always interested.

“In this case World Travel Lounge, owner of the shop in Preston, contacted us and the deal was quickly done, the staff have been retained, the Hays Travel branding fitted and the store is now trading as part of our group.

“Preston is a great town for us to open in. It is a busy local shopping hub and we know from our experience elsewhere that a location like this suits our business model.”

It’s one of two North West acquisitions for Hays Travel with the other being a new Blackpool store in the Houndshill Shopping Centre, where another four jobs are being kept.

David McDonald, of owners World Travel Group, said: “Since the travel industry has emerged from the pandemic we have made the decision to concentrate our group on the high streets of smaller towns in the North West.

“We wanted to re-align our estate to fit with our future plans and Hays Travel’s current retail footprint seemed a natural fit for us to approach them.

“All our existing staff are being retained and it was really important for us that our colleagues would be looked after by a really strong company.”

Hays Travel North West has grown steadily since its founding in 1980, a growth that has continued post lockdown, and the business, which employs 250 staff, is still keen to expand.

Don added: “We are still looking for new sites and for shop managers and retail staff and we offer a comprehensive training package.

“We are ATOL-protected and ours is a well-recognised, solid and respected brand."

To contact Hays Travel about current and upcoming job vacancies, email [email protected] or call 0800 215 5045.