Bradford Thomas Cook branch re-opened by Hays Travel

Bradford Thomas Cook branch re-opened by Hays Travel

HAYS TRAVEL has re-opened the Thomas Cook store in the Broadway Shopping Centre, Bradford, and is taking on all six staff who worked there.

Shop manager Emma Raikes said she was delighted that the travel agents and its staff’s jobs had been saved.

Thomas Cook’s shops and staff were bought out of administration this week by Hays’ owners Irene and John Hays saving all 555 of the company’s stores around the UK and the staff who work in them.

Ms Raikes said: “I was so happy I could kiss John and Irene.”

She said all six of the shop’s staff would be returning and the branch would now be able to offer holidays and flights from all the travel companies.

“People can come in and talk to us,” she added. “We have a lot more freedom of what to sell.”

Hays Travel’s branch in Kirkgate will remain open said member of staff Rebecca Richards who said workers at the family-run staff were pleased to see the Thomas Cook staff join their company. She said: “We weren’t really rivals, we were all in the travel agency family.”

Thomas Cook folded on September 23 after failing to secure a rescue deal.