Hays Travel Independence Group

04/09/2026

✨🏆 SPAA SPARKLE AWARDS WINNERS! 🏆✨

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to two very special Hays Travel Independence Group members who have been recognised at today’s SPAA Sparkle Awards in Edinburgh! 🎉🥂

🌟 Leisure Travel Consultant of the Year
🏆 Gill Steel – Murray Travel

🚢 Cruise Consultant of the Year
🏆 John Ferguson – Thorne Travel

What a fantastic achievement! 👏✨ We are absolutely delighted for you both and so proud to see Hays Travel Independence Group members recognised among the very best in the Scottish travel industry.

Congratulations Gill & John! Enjoy your well-deserved success! 🥂🎉🏆

04/09/2026

🌟 Congratulations to everyone selected for this year’s Travel Weekly Cover Stars! 🌟

We’re absolutely delighted that two agents from The Independence Group have been selected:

✨ Louise Baker from Seaside Travel
✨ Emma Conway from Pretty Little Holidays

Louise and Emma are in for an unforgettable experience, with a fantastic photoshoot in Africa, experiencing Newmarket Holidays’ Premier Collection tour – The Ultimate Safari: Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe. 🦁🌍✨

We’re so proud to see two of our fantastic agents recognised in this way. We can’t wait to see the photos and hear all about their incredible adventure!
Congratulations, Louise and Emma, thoroughly deserved! 🥂🎉

03/09/2026

A fond farewell to a true travel industry legend ❤️

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Doug Wardle, founder of Wardle Travel, at the age of 92.

Doug established Wardle Travel in 1983, building a business that has gone on to become a much-loved and respected name within our industry. Wardle Travel has been part of the Independence Group family for 14 years, and he was always a prominent figure at our overseas conferences alongside his wife Ruth, with many a question to ask!

Doug leaves behind an incredible legacy — not only in the business he built, but in the many people he supported, inspired and befriended throughout more than four decades in travel.

Our heartfelt thoughts are with Ruth, Chris, the wider Wardle family and everyone at Wardle Travel at this incredibly difficult time.

01/09/2026

🌍 We are delighted to see our Independence Group member, Viva, making a fantastic impact in the US market.

Their new venture is gaining impressive recognition, having been featured in the prestigious Wall Street Journal 📰 and highlighted on NBC News 📺.

👏 Congratulations to everyone at Viva on this exciting milestone. We look forward to following your continued success.

🔗 Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/the-mystery-vacations-that-give-you-no-idea-where-youre-actually-going-0a9e9cb6?st=6rJ8Pr&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

🔗 NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/thousands-of-americans-roll-the-dice-on-travel-with-viral-mystery-vacation-trend-268347461583

Travelers are taking a shot on rock-bottom-priced packages that could take them to Hawaii—or Tampa, Fla.

28/08/2026

💙 We’re so proud to see one of our members, Ocean Holidays, supporting such a wonderful cause. 📚✨

Following the passing of Dolly Parton, Ocean Florida is supporting her incredible Dolly Parton's Imagination Library by donating £25 for every person travelling on a Tennessee holiday booked by 30th September 2026.

It’s a fantastic way to celebrate Dolly’s incredible legacy and the work she did to help give children access to books and a love of reading. ❤️

A brilliant initiative from the Ocean Holidays team, combining travel with giving back. 👏✈️🇺🇸

Read the full story here;

It is donating £25 to the cause for every person travelling on a Tennessee holiday booked by 30 September 2026. Parton passed away on Tuesday (25 August) following a brief cancer battle. She was 80.The initiative gives agents a timely hook to spotlight Tennessee and the destinations at the heart of...

27/08/2026

Today our lovely Lois Chapman from IG Operations is celebrating her 30th birthday 🥳🎈

She got to spend the day with us lovely lot at work before we’re heading out for birthday drinks and pizza 🍕🍻🍾

Please join us in wishing Lois the very happiest of birthdays, and to enjoy her celebrations 😘 ###xx

21/08/2026

🚀 What a journey for Team CK Travel Trade! 🚀

It was fantastic for Stephen to visit CK Travel Trade earlier this week and see their exciting new premises first-hand.

Since joining Hays Travel Independence Group in November 2025 and opening their very first retail shop, Chris & Kev have seen their business grow at an incredible pace. 📈

Such has been the demand that they’ve now moved into a fantastic new, larger premises, a brilliant corner location with plenty of passing footfall and things have already got off to a flying start! 👏

And the growth doesn’t stop there… Elaine and Kayla have recently joined the team, helping Chris & Kev keep up with the ever-increasing demand and providing even more fantastic service to their customers. 🙌

It’s been incredible to watch CK Travel Trade grow so rapidly in such a short space of time since joining Hays IG. Their hard work, ambition and passion for their business really are paying off.

A massive congratulations to Chris, Kev, Elaine, Kayla and the whole Team CK Travel Trade — here’s to the next chapter and even more success! 🥂✨

20/08/2026

🌟 A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPARKLE FINALISTS! 🌟

What a fantastic achievement for our Hays Travel Independence Group members who have secured a place among the SPAA Sparkle Awards 2026 finalists! 🏆✨

We’re incredibly proud to see our members recognised across the Scottish travel industry. Each nomination is a reflection of the commitment, expertise and enthusiasm they bring to their businesses and customers every day. 💙👏

✨ OUR FINALISTS ✨

🏆 Leisure Consultant – Gill Steel, Murray Travel

🏆 Luxury Consultant – David McKerry, We Do Travel

🏆 Cruise Consultant – John Ferguson, Thorne Travel

🏆 Leisure Manager – Jacqui Peat, Murray Travel

A fantastic achievement for all four finalists, and we couldn’t be more proud! 👏💙

Wishing Gill, David, John and Jacqui the very best of luck — we’ll be cheering you on! 🤞✨

Go sparkle, team! 🌟🥂

20/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the finalists of the John Hays Entrepreneur Award 2026!

Now in its sixth year, this prestigious award celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that our founder, John Hays, brought to the travel industry and recognises those who continue to drive innovation and growth across the sector.

👏 Best of luck to the finalists:

✈️ Guy Novik, USAirtours
✈️ Helen Cannon, ISON Travel
✈️ Steve Witt & Paul Harrison, Not Just Travel
✈️ Wendy Wu, Wendy Wu Tours

🏆 The winner will be announced at the TTG Travel Industry Awards 2026 at the Roundhouse, Camden, on 23 September.

19/08/2026

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS, VICTORIAS TRAVEL! 🏆

We’re absolutely thrilled that Victorias Travel has been nominated in the Droitwich Spa Business Awards 2026! 🎉

🌟 Entrepreneur of the Year
📣 Best Business Marketing Award

Having only opened their doors in June, being recognised so soon is truly amazing. 💚

👉 Vote here:
https://forms.gle/M8TaZR2mQfucKuyz6

It’s fantastic to see one of our newest members achieving so much in such a short space of time. ✈️🌍

Wishing Victorias Travel the very best of luck! 🏆💚