Hays Travel snaps up South Wales based Travel House and 16 shops in undisclosed deal

Jacob Hughes and Dame Irene Hays

North East independent holiday company Hays Travel has swooped for South Wales company Travel House.

The Sunderland business has acquired Swansea based Travel House and its 16 shops in an undisclosed deal. Hotelier and entrepreneur, Martin Morgan, who has been a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group since 2021, and Jacob Hughes, group managing director, announced the news with the team, assuring staff that the change in ownership won’t affect day-to-day operations in the short term.

The deal comes just two months after Hays Travel acquired Just Go’s 45 branches across the North West and North Wales.

Dame Irene Hays said: “Martin is a brilliant entrepreneur who has developed an excellent travel business in South Wales. We were delighted when he joined our Independence Group in 2021 and our in-house team have enjoyed working with him to further develop the business.

“When Martin explained his plans, we were honoured to step in and have given him and his excellent team our assurances today that their jobs are safe, and they will be welcomed into our Hays Travel family.

“We are very pleased with this latest acquisition, which further supports our strategic priorities. We wish Martin and Jacob every success with their future plans.”

Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, chief operating officer of Hays Travel, said: “We are pleased to welcome the former Travel House team to Hays Travel and have assured them today that the change in ownership will not affect day-to-day operations for them or their customers in the short term as any refits will be added into our 2024 plans. Our teams will work closely with our newest colleagues to offer support and development opportunities.”

Jacob Hughes said: “As we explained to our brilliant team this morning, for Swansea.com stepping away from travel has not been an easy decision, but the time is right to focus on the other areas of our business and continue our investment in new projects in the City of Swansea and beyond.

“Having been a Hays Travel IG member for a couple of years now, we already feel part of the Hays family. There is no other organisation we would trust our team’s future with.”

Martin Morgan said: “My Travel Agency dream started 31 years ago, opening a branch in Brynhyfryd situated halfway between the two schools I attended as a child. We worked tirelessly – opening late, and on Sundays – and in 1999 we sold to Thomson Holidays. In 2004, Travel House was repurchased from TUI, continuing the dream. I would like to thank Christine Major, Leanne Williams, and all our staff who have played a pivotal role in Travel House’s success.

“We joined Hays Travel Independence Group in 2021, after weathering the storm of Covid, that cost our industry millions. We have now reached a place where we have taken Travel House as far as we can, with myself turning 61, moving to Spain, and getting married next year, now is the time for Travel House to expand and thrive even further.”