Acquisition deal is Hays Travel's fourth this year

HOLIDAYS specialist Hays Travel has made its fourth acquisition of the year with East Midlands-based Millington Travel.

- TOM KEIGHLEY Business writer [e-mail]

The Sunderland-based group struck an undisclosed deal for the Leicester company which was set up more than 50 years ago.

Hays has now taken ownership of Millington, which spans 14 branches across the Midlands employing 77 staff, and has confirmed all jobs are safe.

The branches will continue to trade under the Millington name. Owners Nick Bland and Nigel Armitage acquired the business in 2005 and are said to have developed it into a specialist in long-haul, cruise and tailor-made holidays.

The acquisition comes hot on the heels of Hays' purchase of Polka Dot Travel last week. Shropshire-based Polka Dot added 15 branches across the North West, Midlands and North Wales to the Hays stable.