Lowcost Travel Group founder Paul Evans dies aged 67

Lowcost Travel Group founder Paul Evans dies aged 67
Launched lowcostbeds in 2004 and lowcostholidays
Group collapsed in July 2016 leaving 27,000 holidaymakers stranded
Evans previously held senior roles at Airtours and First Choice
Later owned Torrs Warren hotel in Scotland

Paul Evans founder of Lowcost Travel Group has died at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer. Evans was a highly regarded and influential figure in the travel industry whose career spanned several decades. He began his travel career with Saga in 1986 and over the next two decades held senior executive roles at major companies including Airtours, Going Places, First Choice and Holiday Autos.

In 2004 he pivoted to entrepreneurship launching the trade-facing bed bank lowcostbeds followed by the consumer-facing brand lowcostholidays. Together these brands formed the Lowcost Travel Group. The business experienced massive growth eventually expanding into more than 50 global markets including England, Ireland, the US and Germany and partnering with major brands like easyJet to build their early holiday operations.

The company took a dramatic turn in July 2016 when Lowcost Travel Group entered administration. The collapse left roughly 27,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad and disrupted 112,000 upcoming bookings. The company was bonded in Ireland for just €79,243, but claims from Irish customers totalled €3.8 million, depleting 75pc of the Travellers’ Protection Fund.

Following years of liquidation processes the group was officially dissolved in August 2025. Following the collapse Evans permanently stepped away from the corporate travel industry and relocated to the Scottish borders where he purchased and managed Torrs Warren an eight-room country house hotel located in Dumfries and Galloway.