NEWS 1


Cassie Hayes with her four-year-old daughter Ruby


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Floral tributes outside the Tui store in Southport on Sunday


#agentsunited after Tui attack


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


The killing of Tui agent Cassie Hayes prompted an outpouring of support from the travel industry on social media under the hashtag #agentsunited. Travel professionals put aside


their rivalries as thousands of messages and reactions were posted after the 28-year-old assistant manager was killed in her Southport agency on Saturday. Trevor Davis, former


Barrhead Travel director and managing director of industry support services firm 3For, came up with the hashtag. He said: “There were already


lots of comments being made but we thought we need to harness this outpouring of love, affection and sadness and try to turn this into a positive.” Agents, operators and industry bodies shared tributes and messages of support, and a fundraising campaign set up for


Hayes’ four-year-old daughter Ruby raised more than £6,245 within three days. Travel Gossip administrator


Bruce Martin, who set up the Go Fund Me page, was visiting family in Southport on Saturday and saw helicopters landing in the town. He said: “I felt that I had a responsibility to do something. I know a fundraising page isn’t going to reverse this terrible tragedy, but it does give travel people the opportunity to make a small, positive difference. “I hope our combined efforts can help a little at this sad time.” Hays Travel closed its


Southport store on Sunday as a mark of respect. Hays North West managing


director Don Bircham said: “When the news came through, everyone was devastated. “We sometimes get caught up in petty competitiveness in January, but when something like this happens it reminds you that none of that matters.” › To donate to the appeal, visit gofundme.com/cassie-hayes


4 travelweekly.co.uk 18 January 2018 Tributes paid to


Amie Keeley amie.keeley@travelweekly.co.uk


Tributes have been paid to “popular and passionate” Tui travel agent Cassie Hayes who died after being attacked while at work at her agency in Southport on Saturday.


Colleagues described the mother-of-one as the “life and soul of the party” who loved her job and always worked with a “positive attitude”. Hayes, 28, died in hospital after being attacked with a knife in front of customers at her Tui store in Chapel Street, Southport. A post-mortem found she died


from shock and haemorrhaging from a throat injury. Hayes had worked as a travel


advisor for Tui for 12 years in stores in Newcastle and Liverpool. She had worked in the Southport


branch since 2008 and had been promoted to assistant manager in 2015.


Nick Longman, Tui UK and


Ireland managing director, said: “Cassie was well-liked and known for her sense of fun and passion for the business. We know she will be greatly missed by her family, friends, colleagues and customers.” The store will remain closed for


the “foreseeable future” and Tui will offer counselling to staff and customers affected. Longman added: “I have been


overwhelmed by the support and care expressed by many throughout the travel industry. “It’s at times like these you


realise what a close community we are and how deeply the events of the weekend have shaken us all. “With Cassie’s family, we will


think about the best way to commemorate her time at Tui.” Michael Young-Richards,


PICTURES: LIVERPOOL ECHO


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