With so much of today’s news dedicated to covering the darker side of COVID-19, here at Corporate Traveller we want to shine a light on the good news stories out there. We’ve received wonderful feedback from our customers on how our people are working around the clock to get their employees home safe to their loved ones, so here’s just a taste of that good news flavour!
This week we are profiling Corporate Traveller State Leader, Account Management Andrea Stidwill.
Andrea Stidwill - Corporate Traveller State Leader, Account Management
How long have you been working at Corporate Traveller?
It will be seven years this December.
What sets Corporate Traveller apart from the rest?
It sounds cliché but our people and our fun spirit is what originally brought me to the company after 16 years working for one of the big four banks. It’s one of the main reasons I am still here today, the people make coming to work fun every day!
What do you like best about your role?
Every day is different! One day I could be working with a CFO to cut cost in their business and the next running an expo stand at a client conference. The role is diverse and gives me the opportunity to immerse myself in many different business and industries – which I love doing.
"Andrea and the team at Corporate Traveller have provided a high level of support to the Beach Energy Travel Program during the COVID-19 crisis.
It has certainly been a difficult time for all with some uncertainty yet to come, but despite the challenges CT have continued to provide the same expert level of service and advice, often outside of normal business hours. They have worked with the Beach Travel Team to rapidly implement changes to our online booking tool, provide timely advice in relation to recent announcements and changes impacting the travel industry, supported us with the ongoing reporting & review of our existing travel arrangements and worked around the clock to support our travellers impacted by airlines cuts and service restrictions.
In addition, the Account Management Team have worked closely with Beach and our affiliated hotel partners to reduce costs and assist in the sustainability of our travel program." - Beach Energy
Tell us about your customer
My customer is Marnie Hausler, EA to the CFO of Beach Energy. They’ve been our customer for over 11 years, and I have had the pleasure of looking after their account for a year now.
Beach Energy count me as one of their travel team, are inclusive and open about their travel program and future direction. This makes it very easy for me to make valued recommendations knowing that I have a full understanding of their business.
So what went down during COVID-19?
During COVID, we regularly reviewed their travel program and policies in SAVI and made small configuration changes to adapt to the situation as it unfolded. One of the changes we made was turning on Jetstar online, when both Qantas and Virgin Australia reduced their network. We have also provided Beach with weekly passenger locator reports to keep up to date with booking cancellations and time changes for their FIFO workers.
Over the weekend of the domestic border closures, the Beach and Corporate Traveller team were in regular phone contact to discuss the unfolding situation. I kept the Beach team updated and gave advice on how we would need to react and accommodate their staff with travel.
We quickly identified that Beach were classified as Essential Services and could continue to send their workforce interstate without the required 14 day isolation restrictions. We worked as a group to identify what documents the travellers would need to provide to the border authorities to make their arrival seamless and without problems.
I was also in regular communication with our operations team to ensure that bookings wouldn’t be impacted by the border closure announcements. It was a team effort from both parties that weekend!
So after you’re done helping customers out of a travel crisis, what keeps you busy?
I’m married and have two step kids - Faith is 21 and Oliver is 20. We also have two family dogs Sia and Schultz.
Weekends revolve around food (my hubby should try out for Masterchef!), music, lots of walks and gardening. My garden is definitely my therapy and I’m very proud of it. I could spend hours in the garden if I had the time.