Travel firm’s expansion strategy creating new jobs
An independent travel firm is rapidly expanding in the Greater Manchester region with the creation of 12 new jobs and a further 24 on the way.
Bosses at Hays Travel North West have just opened a new Didsbury branch in Wilmslow Road following a £60,000 refurbishment, and a lease has been signed on a unit within Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, on Yorkshire Street, which is about to undergo a similar makeover.
Plans have also been announced to push ahead with new stores in four other Greater Manchester and Cheshire communities – Cheadle, Ashton under Lyne, Oldham and Macclesfield – which will create a further 24 jobs.
It is part of a major expansion scheme launched at the end of last year by the travel firm which now has 31 branches across the North West and North Wales and this is expected to rise to 50 within the next 18 months.
Lindsey Barber, retail sales director for Hays Travel North West, said: “We have been looking to expand further in to the North West area, including the Greater Manchester and Cheshire regions, for some time.
“We already have thriving stores in Warrington, Liverpool, Bolton, the Wirral and some of our newest openings have been in St Helens, Southport and Ormskirk.
“Finally laying down firmer roots in the Greater Manchester region feels an important step for us.
“The places we have chosen are in the heart of strong communities which are the perfect fit for our business.”
She added: “We will now focus on securing all the units we are interested in and giving them all a high-spec £60-70,000 makeover so our new customers in these areas have an inviting and modern store to visit when booking their holiday.”
Lorenzo O’Reilly, Rochdale Exchange manager, said: “We are very pleased to be welcoming Hays Travel to Rochdale Exchange because it is such a well-respected brand in the travel industry.”
Hays Travel North West is the main partner of Hays Travel, based in Sunderland, which has just announced a turnover of more than £1bn and is the UK’s largest independent travel agency.
Hays Travel North West has a turnover of more than £70m.
