Starting a business is exciting, exhilarating and exhausting, but once you hit the ground running there’s no feeling like it. Especially once you start achieving success.
As we re-emerge from the disruption of the past 18 months, we wanted to take this chance to connect and provide an update on our exciting plans.
We have begun the new fiscal year in a strong position after underlining our credentials as an innovative and disruptive world leader in the corporate sector.
Recovery gaining momentum
Even with travel restrictions remaining in place and many companies maintaining “essential travel only” policies, there are signs of business travel recovery with demand for shorter duration domestic trips on the rise in some markets.
This is a promising trend and indicates a pent-up desire for real-life collaboration and networking among business travellers. And while the resumption of international travel remains largely in government hands, we are encouraged by the outlook as constraints are being loosened, leading to immediate spikes in demand.
Assuming market conditions improve during the year, we anticipate a gradual return of C-level travel, meetings, and general corporate travel for those who have been vaccinated and as more countries open their borders to international travellers once again.
Investing to win
The fundamentals that underpin our company remain strong – we are focused on delivering superior products through the latest technology supported by exceptional, customer service. But we can’t rest on our laurels! We approach the coming year with renewed confidence having laid solid foundations for the future.
In our efforts to continuously innovate and spearhead travel recovery and growth in a post-COVID world, we have set out our roadmap for success with our business at its heart. You told us what you wanted, we listened, and we acted. It is clear to us that customer needs have changed, and we have placed this front and centre of our global strategy.
We are excited to reveal that we have invested in a raft of new initiatives to fortify an already strong technology offering; and enhance our service capabilities to ensure improved customer experience and greater synergies across countries as we forge a path back to business travel.
We are proud of our retention rate of our customers which is fuelling strong organic business. Now more than ever, we are grateful for the loyalty and continued support of our customers and clients in these trying of times.
It never ceases to amaze us at the resilience of our industry and our fellow business travel professionals. Thank you for being a great friend to us and we look forward to connecting with you in person in the very near future.
See the Flight Centre Travel Group FY21 trading statement for more details.