Hundreds gather to pay tribute to Cassie Hayes
Hundreds of people gathered outside the TUI store in Chapel Street, Southport, on Saturday to pay tribute to Cassie Hayes.
The 28-year-old TUI assistant manager was murdered at the shop a week earlier in front of horrified colleagues and customers.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Cassie’s family and close friends stood at the front of the crowd, which broke into a spontaneous round of applause after the tributes were paid.
A minute’s silence was held at the vigil, which was organised by employees at the store. One of Cassie’s colleagues said it was an ‘amazing tribute’.
A fund-raising campaign in Cassie’s memory, to help support her family, has already achieved its £7,000 target in just one week.
Donations continue to flood in for Cassie, 28, who leaves a young daughter.
Andrew Burke, 30, of Vincent Street in St Helens, has been charged with murder.
TUI has offered counselling to the staff and customers who were in the shop during the traumatic incident.
Cassie had worked for TUI for more than 12 years, working in a number of stores as a travel advisor in the Newcastle and Liverpool areas.
She had worked in the Southport store since 2008 and had been promoted to assistant manager in February 2015.
TUI managing director UK and Ireland Nick Longman said the company has been overwhelmed by the support and care expressed by many throughout the travel industry.
"It’s at times like this you realise what a close community we are," he said.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt