Flight Centre focuses on bricks and mortar over online

Flight Centre focuses on bricks and mortar over online
By admin


Speaking at TRAVELtech in Sydney today, Flight Centre chief Graham Turner said while there is space to move into the online space, the company still has a long way to go and its focus remains on bricks and mortar travel agents.

“People can do business with us anyway they want, via phone, web bookings, email, however as an industry, we need to be offering people true experiences, rather than just a service,” Turner said.

Turner added the advantage for bricks and mortar agents over websites and Online Travel Agents (OTA) is “person to person experience” that can offer the extended service, and where he sees the future of the industry.

While recognising there is space for growth online, Flight Centre is focused on the traditional bricks and mortar agents, moving from a service based operation into an experience based operation, delivering people the best experiences.

“The more successful we are at doing this, the better the service provided and the better it will be for the industry as a whole,” Turner explained.

Widely regarded in th industry as being a web sceptic, Turner spoke about the change in Flight Centre the past few years as moving from being a middle man, to being a true retailer. “We want to have our own product,” Turner said, describing Flight Centre as a retailer who is still selling other people’s product.

The company this year took over youth travel company Topdeck Travel in a joint venture partnership similar to the joint venture with Back-Roads Touring Co.

Turner headlined the annual TRAVELtech 2014 conference in Sydney, where this year's central theme is innovation – "finding a better way of doing something".

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Tourism

Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs

Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull is departing the agency with effect from Friday May 10. Over the past three years, Turnbull played an instrumental role in driving growth, with one of the agency’s most significant achievements being the increase in visitor spend. Under her leadership, Tourism WA achieved a record breaking $17.7 billion in […]

  • Travel Agents

DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign

DriveAway has launched its Brit-Euro Blitz: Explore the UK, Europe & Ireland campaign, designed to inspire travellers to uncover the beauty and diversity of those destinations during May and June. The campaign arrives amidst a surge in popularity for destinations across the UK, Europe and Ireland, with year-to-date increases averaging around 30%. Notably, cities such […]

  • Road & Rail

Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern

Great Southern’s Fly and Stay Free special offer will have travellers taking in the views along the east coast between Adelaide and Brisbane next summer. This bright orange locomotive chases the summer sun, sharing the incredible coastline with those who want to experience it by train. The journey reflects the best of Australia, from charming […]

  • Tourism

Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips

Gen Z travellers prefer to limit alcohol when overseas and have an increased reliance on TikTok when planning a trip, according to a report by StudentUniverse, the world’s largest online travel retailer for young people. The State of Student & Youth Travel Report for 2024 delved into the latest travel sentiments amongst those aged 18-25 […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]