For Linda Hill, the end of her 22-year career as owner of West Kilbride's LAH Travel came with little time for farewells.
She told her staff about the sale the morning before the acquisition was completed and, under the terms of the deal, exited the business on the same day.
"It was quite abrupt – it was heartbreaking for us all," she says. "My staff are like family. We'll still keep in touch, and I'll do whatever I can to support them through the transition. But I’m out of the business."
However, Hill is adamant that this is not retirement. "It's day one of the rest of my life – I'm only 54," she says. "I've still got lots of passion and drive to go off and do something else within the travel industry."
Hill launched LAH Travel in 2004 having previously worked for businesses including Stewart Travel and ATM Travel. She had always harboured ambitions of running her own agency, eventually putting her life savings into the venture.
Hill's grandmother gave her the financial push she needed to start the agency – by giving her part of her inheritance early
"Starting my own business is one of the bravest things I've ever done," she says. "I had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I knew I had to make it work."
Her grandmother helped make that possible, giving Hill some of her inheritance early. And just days after LAH Travel opened, she came in to see the finished business.
"She came into my shop and told me how proud she was of me," Hill says. "I’m going to cry, because my gran never said things like that. She was old school – 'Let other people praise you, don’t praise your own'. But she stood in my shop and told me how proud she was of me."
Fifteen days later, Hill's grandmother passed away. "I'm so, so grateful she got to see it before she went," she says.
'Covid destroyed my business'
The early years of LAH Travel were financially challenging. Hill remembers judging the health of the business by the size of the overdraft she needed to get through the first quarter when bookings were strong but commission payments were months away.
"The first five years were really tough," Hill recalls. "January to March, while our busiest season, was challenging from a cash flow point of view – that caused a lot of stress."
Over two decades, the agency also faced some of the biggest challenges to hit the travel industry, from the Boxing Day tsunami – which came just a year after LAH Travel opened its doors – to supplier failures including Globespan and Thomas Cook. And then there was "the big one" – the Covid pandemic.
"Covid absolutely destroyed my business," Hill says. She chose to retain her staff throughout the pandemic, putting a "significant amount" of her own pension savings into the business.
When the industry reopened, Hill still had her "stellar team" – but had invested every penny of her savings.
When the industry reopened post-Covid, Hill still had her 'stellar team' but had sunk all her savings into the business
"I worried that I'd made the wrong business decision, even though it was one from the heart," Hill says. "But, looking back, I know I'd make that same choice again and again."
Her profile also grew during Covid through the Keep Travel Alive campaign, which saw her lobby for tailored financial support for the travel industry outside the Scottish Parliament and alongside Abta at Westminster.
"I became quite vocal about the government's lack of support for the travel industry," she says. "From that, I'm now featured pretty regularly as a speaker on BBC Scotland."
"We've brightened up the high street'
Hill says her approach to business has always been driven by people rather than finances.
"Lots of businesses have come and gone over the years, but LAH Travel has brightened the high street in our town for 22 and a bit years," Hill says. "We've supported charities, sponsored local sports teams – everything."
Her bonds with customers, too, often went far beyond just the booking. When a seriously ill client developed pneumonia in Tenerife and wanted to return to Scotland, Hill arranged a private jet and medical team over a bank holiday weekend, which won her the Customer Service Champion award at TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies in 2020.
"She had cancer and because of that, hadn't bought travel insurance," Hill says. "Organising her return was one of the most challenging things I've ever done."
Unfortunately, the customer died around 10 hours after arriving home. "It was tragic, but her family were just so grateful that I was able to give her her last wish," Hill says. "Those stories are what I'm more proud of than any financial gain or business awards."
'I've handed my baby over'
That commitment to customers also meant Hill effectively ran LAH Travel around the clock, which is one thing she "definitely won't miss".
"There wasn't a weekend when I didn't get an out-of-hours call, or a family occasion where I didn't have to step outside and sort out somebody's flight," she says.
The decision to sell came unexpectedly. LAH Travel was financially strong and had just recorded its best year in 2025 when Hill noticed Hays carrying out a number of acquisitions.
"It started as a general chitchat with Hays," she explains. "I mentioned I was planning on selling one day and I knew that, when that time came, it was always going to be them – they have the same family ethics as me."
Tanya Cooper, Hays Travel's Head of Sales (middle) met with the LAH Travel team to 'welcome them to the family'
The deal was kept secret for around six months, with only Hill's husband knowing. Even Hill herself remained uncertain. "Right up until last week, it still didn't feel real, you know?" she admits. "There have been so many mixed emotions."
Now, she has accepted the business she built is no longer hers to control. "I've handed my baby over to them," she says. "Even if they change the name, I'm okay with that, because my legacy will go on."
'I'm absolutely bursting with pride'
Looking ahead, Hill plans to continue her 'Let's Talk About Travel' podcast and is considering making business mentoring a more formal part of her future.
"I've mentored other agents voluntarily over the past 15 years, including a wonderful girl, Julie Bennett from Brilliant Travel, who has gone on to be really successful," she says. "I'll definitely keep doing that."
She has been particularly moved by the outpouring of messages following her sale announcement, with people reaching out to tell her she has "inspired" them.
"I'm absolutely bursting with pride and have been completely overwhelmed by everyone's response," she says. "I've made mistakes, I've had some incredibly difficult moments and I've had some amazing opportunities, but I'd do it all again.
"It's been a great journey, and it's not over yet."