On 9 October 2019, Hays Travel announced that it had purchased all stores from the travel agency Thomas Cook Group, another large travel group headquartered in the UK, which were assumed to be closed due to the business entering liquidation during previous months.

Hays Travel, the UK's largest independent travel agent, became a household name when it took over the retail operations of Thomas Cook in October 2019. Following the sudden collapse of the 178-year-old travel giant, John and Irene Hays famously purchased the entire 555-store portfolio for a reported £6 million, effectively saving thousands of jobs and ensuring the "high street" travel agency survived in the digital age. In 2026, Hays Travel continues to operate many of these former Thomas Cook locations alongside its own independent branches. More recently, in late 2023, Hays Travel also acquired Miles Morgan Travel, a prestigious regional agency in the South West and Wales, further solidifying its dominance in the UK market. This strategy of acquiring well-established local brands while maintaining a personal, "human" touch in travel planning has allowed Hays to thrive despite the fierce competition from online-only booking platforms and the "direct-to-consumer" models of major airlines and cruise lines.