INSIGHT
5 Minutes With...FCM Team
Time and time again, it's our people that customers praise. So we thought, it's time to introduce some of them to you!
We quizzed the FCM team on their day-to-day roles, what they find interesting about their jobs and about their hometowns.
Rosie Stone, Global Product Marketing Manager, Supply
Time with Flight Centre: 9 years
What does your day usually look like?
No two days are the same. Usually, it's a combination of lots of meetings with people from all around the global business, and focus time working on strategy analysis and planning how we tell the story of FCM partners and technology. I work closely with colleagues in our Supply pillar, spread from USA to Australia, as well as Marketing and Sales/Operations, who are based all over the globe... so keeping an eye on the world clock is a must!
What do you find really interesting about your role?
It's a new role, in an extremely diverse part of the business, so exploring it all and establishing the scope of my role is fascinating. Every day is a learning journey as I work with colleagues in such varied parts of the business, in order to define what's meaningful and valuable for our customers to know about our supply offering. From hotel API connectivity to air NDC content, to aggregation and preferencing strategies - I love that it's a mental workout bringing it all together!
What's your best advice for getting the most out of a short business trip?
I like to plan meetings with a built-in buffer between them, to avoid a knock-on effect of any delays or over-run. That way, hopefully, my business day will end when I've planned for it, hopefully leaving me time to explore and enjoy whatever destination I'm in (and pre-booking any must-visit spots or restaurants!)
What's your favourite business travel destination, and why?
I recently went on a business trip to Boston and loved it - such an interesting city packed full of history, but also a great vibe with excellent restaurants and bars. Also, home of the lobster roll, which I'm now completely obsessed with!
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time-strapped business traveller in your home city?
My closest city is London and I always recommend a visit to the Sky Garden. It's got great views over London, a lovely bar and cafe, and is the most amazing spot for watching the sunset over the city while surrounded by tropical plants! I actually live in Surrey and for a business traveller with any extra time, would totally recommend half a day out here to Hampton Court Palace for a bit of history, culture, and great riverside pubs.
Paul Jarvie, EMEA Account Manager
Time with FCM: 12 years
What does your day usually look like?
Currently as the EMEA regional account manager for our newest customer, Shell. So at the moment, there are a lot of implementation calls but it's amazing and very interesting getting to understand such a large and complex customer.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Working with customers who all have different needs and requirements. Implementing new business and working with customers on projects and technology.
What's your best advice for getting the most out of a short business trip?
Plan accordingly and make sure you have a plan B if you need to use public transport to ensure as few delays as possible.
What's your favourite business travel destination, and why?
I am just back from GBTA in San Diego, which is now my favourite destination. The convention centre, main hotels, harbour area and bars/restaurants are all within walking distance. It has everything on your doorstep that you need when travelling for business.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time-strapped business traveller in your home city?
Dunnottar Castle is a must, just 10 mins south of Aberdeen which overlooks the cliffs and sea along the east coast.
Sam Revell, Global Head Of Solution Design
Time with FCM: 9 years
What does your day usually look like?
My days generally involve a mixture of managing the global solution design team and running global internal business improvement projects. Solution Design is the team that really absorbs themselves in our clients’ businesses to understand the current and future state of their business travel. Another part of my role is workshopping key aspects of travel programmes with new and prospective multi-national clients.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Managing a global team gives me access to a variety of cultures and ways of working, which I always find fascinating. I also find that no two clients are the same, even if they are in the same industry, so learning about their priorities and plans for the future is always very interesting.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Drink one glass of water for every two alcoholic drinks.
What's your favourite business travel destination & when were you last there?
Dubai - it's been a few years but I'll be back there again next month.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
My nearest city is Birmingham. I'd recommend dropping by The Wellington pub if you're a fan of real ale. It's right by New Street station so you can make it part of the journey home.
James Khan, UK SDR Lead
Time at FCM: 1 year
What does your day usually look like?
When companies first enquire about working with FCM, I’m usually the one that picks up the phone and answers their queries. So I’m usually talking to potential customers about their travel programmes and challenges, or I’m meeting with the global SDR team to streamline our processes and ensure we’re providing the best first impression.
What do you find interesting about your role?
I’m always amazed at the flexibility and offering that customers get and how we’re making peoples jobs easier.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
I always change my sleep routine ahead of a trip to adjust to where I’m going to.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
In London you can’t beat the London Eye to get a good view of city, and Tower Bridge is a great opener into the history of London.
Trudie Earle, Events and Partnerships Manager
Time at Flight Centre: 8 years
What does your day usually look like?
No two days are the same! From finalising agenda items, to getting content recorded, to nurturing relationships with suppliers and key contacts such as BTN and GBTA. Recently my biggest focus has been pulling together the inaugural Th!nk event, and as you can imagine there are A LOT of moving parts.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Events and partner activity is really one of the first opportunities we get to interact clients/prospects in a more subtle way. It's not a meeting, it's not an RFP. We're simply here, showing up to showcase FCM as a thought leader in the industry, and that's exciting.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Stay up ALL day when you arrive during the day. When I fly to Australia, I plan a brunch or lunch as soon as I arrive so I've got something to look forward to (and stay awake for!). The Grounds of Alexandria are my go-to as they're near Sydney Airport.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
I've got two home cities! In London, you've got to head to Mercato Mayfair for a casual meal or drink. The cellars are great for charcuterie and wine and it's in an old, disused church so that's a statement for sure. In Sydney, it has to be Opera Bar. Sure, it's touristy, but for good reason! There's nothing better than sipping cocktails overlooking gorgeous Sydney Harbour.
Graham Ross, Programme Optimisation Director
Time with FCM: 9 years
What does your day usually look like?
I'm about 50/50 on building and designing a strategy for this area of the business long term, and firefighting the large number of customers we have in conversation around new contracts and/or programme changes.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
It's new! The theory behind it is so important for our evolution and everyone I explain it to says "I like this - why don't we do this already!" The reality is, it encompasses so many things we do bits of, but the need to streamline and improve this area is HUGE.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
All-nighters - make your body so tired it doesn't matter what time zone it thinks it's in.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
Oooooooh - business travel destination almost certainly NYC and haven't been since 2018!!
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
My home town is a very small place called Doune in Scotland. Not much to it but you should visit the castle - where Outlander was filmed (and also a famous Monty Python scene...)
David Sykes, Technical Lead, Europe
Time with FCM: 9 years
What's your job role at FCM, and what does your day usually look like?
My role is a combination of solutions engineering and sales; I support our sales directors and account managers in presenting and discussing our tech solutions with prospective and existing customers. I also look after gathering feedback from those customers on our tech, to help identify our gaps, and influence and shape our future roadmaps.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
I like finding new problems, and then solving them. So the most interesting thing is when a customer comes to us with a problem we've never had to solve before, and then working out how we can use our technology to support them.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
I love Paris as a business travel destination for two main reasons. One, you can get there by Eurostar from London which is very comfortable and good for the environment. Two, every time I go I am always treated to a lovely French dinner with lots of great wine by either my clients or colleagues. The last time I was there was in November for a client presentation.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
There is a bar on the fifth floor of the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in London. It's relatively unknown so you can avoid the usual crowds, the drinks are surprisingly inexpensive, and the views over the Thames are fantastic.
Matthew Heymans, Enterprise Sales Director
Time with FCM: 4.5 years
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Talking with clients all over the world with different cultures, goals and objectives on a daily basis.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Get onto your new time zone as quick as possible. By staying awake as long as possible, you are so tired that your first nights’ sleep is amazing and you are straight onto the new timezone.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
It has to be San Diego, and I was last there four years ago.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
London comes alive at night and is my favourite time to explore the city. Definitely have light pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden at one of the many great little restaurants, and then catch the Lion King at Lyceum Theatre just off the Strand (coming from Africa, I always like to go back to my roots). Followed by a few after theatre drinks at Radio Rooftop with panoramic views of the river and city by night.
Yvonne Keller, Business Development Manager, FCM Ireland
Time at FCM: 3 years
What does your day usually look like?
Most of the time I’m meeting new clients, both face to face and over Zoom. Although I’m spending more time at networking events and industry conferences now which is great! It’s important I keep up with what's happening with business travel from Ireland and how companies are managing their return to travel post COVID. I am also busy with the launch of our new FCM Platform and enjoy showing our clients how we have invested in our technology over the last two years.
What do you find interesting about your role?
It's always interesting talking to companies about their varied travel programmes and getting to know their businesses.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
New York! I was there in March 2022; it was so good to be back there.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
Take a walk down Grafton Street in Dublin and enjoy the many restaurants and bars on the side streets; you will be spoilt for choice.
Marc Elvin, Sales Director
Time with FCM: 6 years
What does your day usually look like?
Like many in Flight Centre Travel Group, no two days are the same. There is a lot of autonomy in my role, therefore, I need to be very motivated and organised in order to achieve results. A huge part of my role is being a travel industry and FCM expert but also knowledgeable about macroeconomic trends and how they affect businesses in general, to be able to have meaningful and insightful discussions with future customers.
What do you find really interesting about your role?
Learning about other companies, what is important to their business and discussing how FCM can help them achieve their dreams...
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
Barcelona, three years ago. I’ve spent many years at conferences there in previous roles. I’m looking forward to getting back there to practice the Spanish I tried to learn in lock down.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city?
Edinburgh Castle; the views of the city are amazing, you can spend as long or as short as you want to walk around and the history is fascinating (not all against the English). Then I’d recommend a short walk down the Royal Mile (High Street) with a choice of many restaurants, bars for a refreshment such as Angels with Bagpipes.
Ryan Bradnock, Global Head of Implementations
Time at FCM: 11 years
What does your day usually look like?
No day is the same, but it’s usually lots of interactions and meetings with our clients.
What do you find interesting about your role?
There’s always new challenges and no project ever the same.
What's your best tip for combatting jet lag?
Exercise and whiskey.
What's your favourite business travel destination and when were you last there?
I love Kuala Lumpur and the last time I was there was three years ago.
Tell us your 'must visit' place for a time strapped business traveller in your home town/city.
In Bristol I would say Clifton Village for a beer and bite to eat. Wallfish is a particular favourite restaurant of mine, and the Quandrant pub for a cider.