DAME IRENE HAYS

Owner and Chair, Hays Travel

Dame Irene Hays is the Owner and Chair of Hays Travel, the UK’s largest Independent Travel Agent in the UK.

Dame Irene has been Chair of the Hays Travel Group since 2009, and was co-owner with her husband, John (deceased), who founded Hays Travel in 1980.

She was instrumental in the growth of the company and particularly in the acquisition of Thomas Cook in 2019. Today, she leads the business alongside Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Chief Operating Officer.

Awarded a CBE in 2008, she was made a Dame in the 2021 New Year’s Honours for her services to training, education and young people, which she said was recognition of the commitment the training team at Hays had made to developing young people. Prior to the Thomas Cook acquisition, over 40% of Hays’ senior leadership team and managers had started out as apprentices.

In April 2023, Irene was appointed High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear for 2023/2024.