Founder and owner of Sunderland firm Hays Travel, John Hays, dies
The founder and owner of North East holiday company Hays Travel, John Hays, has died.
His death was announced in a statement on Friday afternoon.
The 71-year-old had been working at the Hays Travel head office in Sunderland when he collapsed.
Tributes have been paid to the businessman, who won praise across the country after Hays Travel stepped in bought 555 high street shops from the collapsed airline Thomas Cook.
Mr Hays "built Hays Travel into the UK's largest independent travel agent providing jobs and careers for thousands of young people over 40 years," added the statement.
Awarded the Freedom of the City of Sunderland in 2016, Council leader Graeme Miller paid tribute to Mr Hays on Friday evening.
Councillor Miller said: "He was always very loyal to Sunderland and the North East as the company kept its roots here, its HQ did not move to the City of London, it remained in our city centre, and hundreds of Hays employees are based here. Whether it was promoting apprenticeships or his involvement with Sunderland AFC, John was a player in the life of our city as he remained very true to his roots and his community responsibilities. "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his wife Irene, family, his many, many friends, and everyone at Hays Travel. "The death of John is a great loss to everyone in Sunderland, to the region, and so many people across the country and the world."
Hays Travel says the company's board and senior management team will "ensure that the business continues to serve the customers of the UK's largest independent travel agent as he would have wanted."
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