THE high-flying manager of a first-class Maghull travel agents has landed a top award after helping holidaymakers travel around the world more than 400 times.
Emma May who leads a team of nine staff at Hays Travel in Maghull, has been named Manager of the Year at a glittering ceremony hosted annually by Hays Travel North West Managing Director Don Bircham to celebrate the achievements of his 200-strong workforce.
Over the course of 2018 Emma’s team looked after travel bookings which took around 3,500 passengers on a whopping total of more than 10 million miles – the equivalent of travelling around the globe more than 400 times.
Hays Travel Maghull branch manager Emma May, who has worked for the company for 12 years, said: “I love the job, it’s literally what I’ve been doing forever. It’s a really good store and I have a fantastic team.
“We also have a lot of regular customers here and they’ve been popping in and congratulating me.
“I was in complete shock when I won the award. They said I get on with the job and I’m a good role model which was nice to hear.
“It’s nice to be recognised but we work hard as a team and I want to share it with them. I class this as a team award.
“We have more than 100 years’ experience between us and we do so well in customer service. You wouldn’t believe the amount of boxes of chocolate we have from customers, it’s like a sweet shop!”
The mum of two added: “We provide a mix of holidays from presents like UK shopping trips and spa breaks right up to long haul and world cruises.
“This store is all about customer service. We’re unique because we sell every tour operator. We match back to the customer and find the best deal for them.
“I love the job because it’s different every day. Every customer wants something slightly different. We can make suggestions and recommendations for them.
“We all have vast knowledge and experience. This year alone I’ve visited Budapest, Dubai, Mexico and Turkey. We can advise customers and tell them when they might benefit from something different.
“We can give customers peace of mind because we can deal with everything. This year we had a customer who needed 15 different hotels across America.
“He was only there for three weeks and wanted to be in the heart of where he was staying so we had to put a lot of work into that.”
Don Bircham, Managing Director for Hays Travel North West, said: “One of the secrets to our success is the first rate service our staff, including Emma, provide for our customers.
“Offering sound, independent travel advice and listening to what our customers want so we are able to book them fantastic holidays is at the very heart of what we do as a company.
“The annual awards evening is an opportunity to reward the hard work that makes this happen and ultimately creates the thriving business we currently have.
“I’d like to congratulate Emma on winning her award and for the many years of loyal and excellent service she has given to Hays Travel.”
The last 12 months has seen Hays Travel North West, which currently has 33 branches, put its foot to the floor and accelerate the growth of the company.
Major expansion plans were launched at the end of 2017 which almost immediately saw new stores open in Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Ormskirk, Southport and West Kirby on the Wirral.
Since then the community high streets of St Helens and Bootle in Merseyside have welcomed a Hays Travel branch along with Rochdale, Didsbury, Ashton-under Lyne and Runcorn. Units in Macclesfield, Northwich, Bury, Cheadle Oldham and Fornby have been identified and will undergo extensive makeovers ready to be opened later this year.
For contact Hays Travel Maghull Facebook is @HaysTravelMaghull or call 0151 520 2090.
