Hays Personal Travel Consultant Kath McDonald has got one of her biggest bookings over the line, after ‘trying’ for weeks to create the perfect holiday for 60 members of a local rugby club.
It’s the first time Kath has made a booking for Hordon and Peterlee Rugby Club in County Durham, but she hopes it will open up new business opportunities in the future.
Kath, whose son Lucas is a member of the club, was approached by coach Chris Brechin for ideas of where he could take the teens on their first end-of-season trip abroad.
She told Travel Gossip: “The coach asked me if I thought it would be possible, given the number of people potentially involved.
“Since I love a challenge, and I thought it was an amazing idea, I held a meeting at the rugby club, and the response was fantastic, with 60 people on board.”
The big booking consisted of 31 adults and 27 rugby players aged eight to 17.
Kath spoke to easyJet holidays Head of Trade Distribution Natasha Marson at the Hays oveseas conference in Turkey at the end of last year, who suggested easyJet’s new route from Newcastle to Malaga would be perfect for a four-night group booking.
Kath said: “Everything took about six weeks from start to finish. There were times I thought it wasn’t going to come off because of the number of people.
“I just went backwards and forwards looking at different hotels within budget and our requirements.”
The team will stay at the four-star Hotel Puente Real, right on the beach in Torremolinos. Newcastle Airport has arranged a designated check-in area for the group.
Kath said: “Many of these kids haven’t even been abroad, so this is the perfect send off from Newcastle Airport.”
The team will fly out in June 2026, just after their school prom. Kath will be accompanying the trip as one of the parents.
The club has set out to raise £6,000 to put towards the trip, so everyone can afford to go, with fundraising initiatives including fines for members who forget their kit, sponsored events such as coach Chris shaving off his mullet, and a bingo night.
Kath added: “I can’t thank easyJet holidays enough for working with me to bring this trip to life – it’s going to be an unforgettable experience for the team.”
