The founder of Lowcost Travel Group, Paul Evans, has died, aged 67.
Paul launched trade-only bed bank lowcostbeds in 2004, then consumer brand lowcostholidays, forming the Lowcost Travel Group.
It collapsed in the summer of 2016, with 27,000 customers overseas and 112,000 pipeline bookings.
Before that, Paul had worked at several travel businesses, notably Airtours Holidays, where he was Purchasing Director, then Commercial Director at Airtours-owned travel agency Going Places, before moving to the same role at First Choice Holidays.
Writing on LinkedIn, Paul’s friend of 35 years and former colleague at Airtours, Steve Endacott, said: “It is shocking to think that someone who was part of so much of my career is no longer here.”
Steve said: “We shared ambition, opportunities, disappointments and plenty of laughter.”
He added: “Paul was a formidable negotiator, an innovator and a leader with the courage to back his judgement. Like all of us, he had his imperfections, but I remember a man whose energy and ideas made working alongside him memorable, and whose friendship lasted many a business clash.
“My thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved him. Paul added to my life, teaching me new skills, and I am grateful for the years we shared. When I think of him, I picture him bursting into my office with another idea, already convinced it would work.”
In 2018, Paul bought and ran country house hotel Torrs Warren in Dumfries and Galloway on the Scottish borders. It was put up for sale three years ago.
Paul had been ill with cancer for several years and had recently married for the third time.
