Highlighting the latest trends from across the travel and technology industries, Illuminate 2018, provided a comprehensive overview of what’s ahead for the corporate travel sector.
The event proved to be a valuable event for education, information and networking with more than 400 people registered for the day and a total of 19 speakers on stage throughout the various sessions.
The audience consisted of travel and procurement professionals from large corporates, academic, government and entertainment organisations to representatives from SME businesses.
Guests walked away from the event having heard the latest trends in automation and artificial intelligence, which are being used in technology platforms for corporate travel, aviation and ground transport.
A highlight of the event was the launch of Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) revolutionary online booking tool, Savi, which is an exclusive product to FCTG’s corporate customers.
James Kavanagh, General Manager of FCTG’s corporate division talked guests through the unique modules of the product, specifically designed for the needs of travellers, travel bookers and decision makers.
“Drawing on the very latest in artificial intelligence, Savi provides a highly customised and personalised experience for your travellers,” James told the audience during the product launch session. “Meanwhile the Savi Select module has been designed to create efficiencies and streamline the booking process for your bookers and travellers.”
Stage and Screen’s Operational Manager Adam Moon said Savi represented a new benchmark for online booking tools in terms of its functionality and capability to dramatically save users time.
“We had excellent feedback from customers on the day,” Adam said. “The Savi stand in the exhibition hall had our technology experts taking people through demonstrations of the product’s new functionality and the benefits customers would gain from using the tool. There was also a Sam stand for guests to learn about a new chatbot mobile app that will be available for our customers soon.
“Stage and Screen as part of FCTG is making a significant investment in technology development, so it was exciting and interesting to hear about our technology alongside the latest developments from our key hotel, ground and airline suppliers.
“The objective of our technology and industry events like Illuminate, is to continually improve the end-to-end customer experience. Illuminate including its supplier and customer panel, is a crucial forum for networking and feedback for all stakeholders in the travel ecosystem.
“It was a huge success and we’re delighted with the engagement from those who attended.”
Illuminate’s client panel this year focused on issues around travel policies, approval processes and strategies that had strengthened each customer’s travel program. Meanwhile the supplier panel talked to distribution channels and personalisation of the travel experience.
Hosted at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Illuminate 2018 set a new standard for corporate travel events in Australia, with almost 30 supplier booths set up in the exhibition hall.
