All 555 Thomas Cook shops are to be bought by rival Hays Travel in a move that could save up to 2, 500 jobs.
The independent travel agent said the move gives it shops in areas where it had little or no presence, including Scotland and Wales.
John Hays, who set up the Sunderland-based firm 40 years ago, said he hoped the shops would reopen within days.
It had been an emotional day, he said, with many staff crying when they were told their jobs were saved.
He said it was difficult to give cast-iron guarantees about every Thomas Cook shop, because there would now be talks with individual landlords.
However, “it is certainly our intention to take on all the staff; to welcome them back,” he added. The shops will be branded under the Hays name.
The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, is a significant step for Hays, which has 190 shops, 1, 900 staff, and last year had sales of £ 379 m, reporting profits of £ 10 m.
Mr Hays, who owns the business with wife Irene, said: “It is a game-changer for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people. “
He said he could succeed with the shops where Thomas Cook failed because Hays is an independent agent offering holidays from all operators. Although Hays has a big internet and social media profile, he said there was still a demand for personal service in shops.
” We are pretty big already, and have a lot of buying power so our prices are competitive, “he said. “We didn’t embark on this without giving it very serious thought.”
‘It’s been emotional’
The takeover deal was struck with the travel industry regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, after several days of negotiations. He said he was “elated to get the deal over the line. It’s been emotional”.
Many ex-Thomas Cook staff had cried when told they still had jobs, he said. “These people did nothing wrong. One day they were in jobs, and the next day they were locked out.”
He expected many of the shops to reopen on Thursday, “although probably with a skeleton staff”. There were some logistics problems – Hays had still to locate many of the shop keys, he said.
His wife, Irene, chairwoman of the company, said: “Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry. We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future. “
More than 100 new jobs will be based at the company’s Sunderland headquarters, with the rest in shops across the UK. The company has tweeted, urging former Thomas Cook staff to apply.
When Thomas Cook collapsed, it put 22, 000 jobs at risk worldwide, including 9, 000 in the UK.
It also sparked the biggest ever peacetime repatriation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to bring more than 150, 000 British holidaymakers back to the UK. The last flight to repatriate Thomas Cook customers landed at Manchester Airport on Monday.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said she hoped the deal ” will provide significant re-employment opportunities for former Thomas Cook employees, alongside the advice and support we will continue to provide to help people find a new job as quickly as possible. “
‘We’ve not been told anything ‘
Samantha Kennedy, 34, from Alness in Scotland worked at an Inverness branch of Thomas Cook for six years.
She told the BBC that her WhatsApp chat group had been “going crazy this morning since the media started reporting “the deal.
“We’ve not been told anything. My manager hasn’t been told anything. It would be absolutely amazing if it
Samantha said she was sad the Thomas Cook brand had gone, but she loved worked in the industry.
“To continue to work in the industry would be amazing and there’s not many travel shops in Inverness, so if Hays were to take over I think people would be pleased. “
‘Deal with landlords’
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) union, which had members in Thomas Cook shops around the UK and in its head office in Peterborough, welcomed the move.
Manuel Cortes, TSSA’s general secretary, said it offered “real hope of reemployment to former Thomas Cook retail staff, many of whom are our members.”
“We will now move swiftly to gather more details about the dea l and are seeking an urgent meeting with Hays about the part our union can play in supporting what will be a significant expansion for them across our High Streets, “he added.
David Chapman, the Official Receiver, described the sale to Hays Travel as an “important step” in unraveling the finances of the 178 – year-old chain.
The business is thought to have a license for six months to occupy Thomas Cook stores, giving Hays time to strike new deals with landlords.
What is Hays’ plan?
Ian Bell, head of travel and tourism at accountancy firm RSM, said it was a “shrewd move” for Hays, but would also represent a quadrupling of its travel agency stores at a time when customers are increasingly booking holidays online.
“Much may depend on the deals that Hays can strike with its new High Street landlords, “said Mr Be
As Hays bought the stores from the administrators, it means it will have bought them at a lower price than if Thomas Cook was still trading.
Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, said that in waiting, Hays had got a “best price” for the stores.
However, she questioned the logic for the transaction at a time when customers are turning away from High Street travel agents.
“You have to wonder what Hays’ plan is and how they can make it a success.
“Has the travel firm been gung-ho in trying to secure a cheap deal without assessing the viability of taking on these stores ?,” she asked.
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