NEWS
Plug and Play to Host Innovation Workshops for FCM Customers
Flight Centre Travel Group has announced its latest step in bolstering its technology offering and investing in its future. The travel organization has commissioned Plug and Play to host innovation workshops for its FCM customers, in order to better leverage innovative technology to deliver a seamless and ideal travel experience for corporate travelers.
Plug and Play’s thriving ecosystem of startups connects the largest corporations to the world's best startups through industry-focused accelerator programs. Serving as a corporate liaison, Plug and Play sources Venture Capitalists (VCs) for clients seeking like-minded partners who aim to improve industry standards and elevate business offerings. The company starts important conversations among thought leaders and facilitates relationships between travel management companies and startups to boost the travel experience. Plug and Play invests in over 250 startups a year and has connections to 300 of the world’s best VCs, with Flight Centre being one of their most active travel and hospitality partners.
“Although the industry is experiencing a severe downturn, we believe we’re on the verge of a re-emergence,” said John Morhous, Chief Experience Officer for Flight Centre Travel Group Americas. “We’re taking this time to reassess our technological assets and examine how we can best utilize these assets with the needs and new priorities of travelers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plug and Play’s expertise and support can help us best determine how to maximize our offering and remain at the forefront of corporate traveler well into the future.”
Since partnering with Plug and Play in 2017, Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (FLT) has made great strides in the travel industry, led by its deep commitment to open innovation and emerging technologies. Together with Plug and Play’s consultation and support, the company has acquired Umapped and made significant investments in various companies such as, Upside and Shep.
In their newest acquisition, FLT purchased the travel management platform, WhereTo. Flight Centre’s acquisition will increase advancement in their technology capabilities as well as allow them to integrate WhereTo into products and services in both its Corporate Traveler and FCM Travel Solutions brands.
“It’s great to see a corporation supporting startups and investing in their future during one of the most difficult times the Travel and Hospitality industry has ever endured. I hope our collaboration with Flight Centre underscores for other organizations in the Travel and Hospitality industry just how critical innovation and digital transformation are to the longevity of an organization. I hope it propels them to follow Flight Centre’s lead in partnering with like-minded companies. We believe Flight Centre will come out ahead from this pandemic vs. their competition because of their willingness to evaluate, explore and evolve.” Jordan Bray, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Travel at Plug and Play.
For more information on Plug and Play’s Travel & Hospitality program, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/travel/