- Hays Travel has acquired Ayrshire-based LAH Travel in its first deal of 2026
- Founder Linda Hill has stepped down after more than two decades running the agency
- LAH Travel operates branches in West Kilbride and Kilmarnock
- The agency has been a Hays Independence Group member for nearly 22 years
- The acquisition strengthens Hays Travel’s presence in Scotland
Scotland’s Hays Travel has completed its first acquisition of 2026 by taking over the Ayrshire-based independent agency, LAH Travel. The strategic acquisition has come as LAH Travel’s founder, Linda Hill, steps down from running the business after more than two decades. The agency operates branches in West Kilbride and Kilmarnock, Scotland.
LAH Travel has been a member of the Hays Independence Group for nearly 22 years and recently won an Outstanding Achievement Award at the national Hays Travel Conference. The transition allows the long-standing Scottish high-street branches to remain open under stable management while preserving local travel jobs. Reports on the deal have been covered by Travel Weekly, Travel Gossip and TTG Media.
The acquisition has strengthened Hays Travel’s presence in Scotland and continued its expansion strategy among independent agencies. The move demonstrates the ongoing consolidation within the travel agency sector, with larger operators acquiring established independents as founders approach retirement. LAH Travel’s membership of the Hays Independence Group has facilitated a smooth transition.
Hays Travel shared in a written statement “the transition allows the long-standing Scottish high-street branches to remain open under stable management while preserving local travel jobs.”
