“Different doesn’t have to be worse”: Flight Centre’s Renos Rologas talks post-pandemic travel

Portrait of a Latin American man traveling by plane wearing a facemask during the COVID-19 pandemic and looking at Rio through the window

As the world slowly begins to travel again, having a travel expert in your corner will be vital to post-pandemic travel, according to the head of account management at Flight Centre’s business travel arm.

During a keynote speech on Tuesday at this year’s CAPA Australia Pacific 2021 Aviation Summit, FCM’s Renos Rologas highlighted the importance of travel management companies and, by extension, travel agents in the leisure sector, in navigating the post-pandemic travel landscape.

“We’ve been talking about the green shoots in the travel industry for a long time and being stood here in front of so many people shows those green shoots really are flourishing now – and we’re now seeing that flowing through to enquiries and bookings,” Rologas said.

“We will still face challenges in 2022 in our industry but that’s why having a travel management company by your side is so vital – having an expert at the end of the phone is like gold dust when there are changes to rules, regulations, and restrictions across the globe.

“A key aim for us next year is to ensure our customers, prospects and people throughout the wider travel community have the confidence to travel safely with concerns at a minimum, and knowing they have someone to turn to if plans do change.”

According to Rologas, being travel ready is “incredibly important” for travel professionals who want to be ahead of the game.

“That all starts with how ready you and your people are. Have you updated your policy? Do you have a traveller wellbeing process? These are key pre-trip considerations,” he continued.

“We’re now looking at an omnichannel world where a traveller can be contacted in multiple ways, a world where you need to know the ins and outs of travel insurance policies and inclusions, and a world where there will be more of a focus than ever on safety and wellbeing.

“Different doesn’t have to be worse, and in many ways, there have been several improvements made that will make travel better, safer, and more hygienic than it has ever been.”

FCM head of account management Australia Renos Rologas giving his keynote speech at the CAPA Australia Pacific 2021 Aviation Summit (supplied)

Rologas said FCM has formed a partnership with a PCR testing company to make booking seamless, as well as investing in more technology so clients can access the company’s expertise in a simplified way.

The hybrid event being held across 7-8 December in Sydney marks CAPA’s long-awaited return to in-person events.

CAPA managing director, Derek Sadubin said a survey of CAPA members and the wider travel community, revealed an overwhelming 85 per cent of responders urging the organisation to bring back its live, in-person events.

“In response to this, and in reflecting our commitment to continue to support the global aviation industry through its deepest crisis, we are delighted to finally be able to return to in-person events with the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit,” Sadubin said.

“Virtual events have served us well and kept us connected in a time of separation, but nothing can truly replicate the buzz of a CAPA Summit, so we are so pleased to welcome 300+ aviation and travel industry representatives to the Summit and discuss the outlook for 2022 and beyond.”


Featured image: iStock/Hispanolistic

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