Thomas Cook's "entire retail estate" has been acquired by Sunderland -based Hays Travel, which says it is aiming to save 2,500 jobs.
The announcement by the was made on Wednesday morning, and affects the 555 stores across the 海角视频, meaning "re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former employees" of the collapsed travel giant.
Hays Travel, the country's largest independent travel agent, has already recruited 421 former Thomas Cook staff, and has "further offers outstanding to former employees".
It comes after the firm's collapse last month - which left 150,000 people stranded abroad, and thousands facing job losses.
It was announced today that the Official Receiver and Special Managers from KPMG have announced an agreement had been reached with Hays Travel Limited to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire 海角视频 retail estate.
UPDATE: New owner of Thomas Cook stores plans immediate reopening
David Chapman, the Official Receiver, said: "I am pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Hays Travel to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire 海角视频 retail estate, comprising 555 stores across the country.
"This represents an important step in the liquidation process, as we seek to realise the company’s assets."
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Hays Travel said it was planning to add around 100 jobs to its Sunderland headquarters after the purchase and hoped to employ thousands more in re-opened shops.
Company chair Irene Hays said: “Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the 海角视频 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.
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“We all share a passion for the travel industry and we want to continue to build the company’s reputation for first class service and being a great place to work and develop a career.”
Chief executive John Hays said: “Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.
“In the last two weeks we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them. Now that we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry, into our family business.
“I’m very proud of the fantastic team who have helped me build Hays Travel over almost 40 years and they have worked tirelessly over the last couple of weeks to bring this about. 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.”
Thomas Cook
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Hays, which works with tour operators such as Jet2 and TUI, already owns 190 travel agent shops. The deal will boost the high street presence of Hays, the 海角视频’s largest independent travel group.
Jim Tucker, Partner at KPMG and Joint Special Manager of Thomas Cook’s Retail division, said: "This is an extremely positive outcome, and we are delighted to have secured this agreement.
"It provides re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former Thomas Cook employees, and secures the future of retail sites up and down the 海角视频 high street.
"We are pleased to have achieved this in a short time frame and in the context of a complex liquidation process, which is testament to a lot of hard work from a number of parties.
"Over the weeks ahead, we will work closely with Hays Travel and landlords to ensure a smooth transition of the store estate."
The company also runs the Hays Travel Independence Group, a consortium of independent travel agents, in addition to operating a subsidiary business, Just Go Travel, which trades under the Hays Travel brand - predominantly across the North West of England.
John and Irene Hays, Managing Director and Group Chair of Hays Travel Limited, which has 190 shops across the 海角视频, said in a joint statement: "Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand employing talented people. We look forward to working with many of them."