Media Releases

UOB Flight Centre Licence Agreement

Jan 17, 2005

Flight Centre Limited And Singapore’s UOB Travel Planners Sign Corporate Travel Licensing Agreement

UOB Travel Planners becomes FCm Travel Solutions’ first international licensee

Flight Centre Limited has significantly boosted its global FCm Travel Solutions corporate travel network by expanding into the key Asian market of Singapore.

UOB Travel Planners, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore’s United Overseas Bank, has taken up the FCm Travel Solutions license in Singapore to become the brand’s first licensee.

The mutually beneficial licensing agreement means UOB Travel Planners is now part of Flight Centre Limited’s expanding global corporate travel management operation and will benefit from the company’s strong network, brand name and global travel management expertise. The agreement will also provide FCm Travel Solutions clients throughout the world with expert local travel management services in the corporate travel hub of Singapore.

FCm Travel Solutions global general manager Anthony Grigson said the agreement was a significant step in the brand’s international development.

“With UOB Traveller Planners joining our network, we now have a strong and growing presence in the key Asian markets of China, Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said.

“This will enhance FCm Travel Solutions’ ability to serve existing clients throughout the world as well as secure new global corporate travel accounts.

“UOB Travel Planners is a well-run business with a strong commitment to customer service and
a history of success. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

Francis Hsu, UOB’s senior vice president and regional head of credit card and travel related services, said the agreement would fast-track UOBTP’s corporate travel business.

“By becoming part of Flight Centre Limited’s Asia-Pacific-based global travel management network, we can enhance our travel management operations and serve our corporate travel customers better,” Mr Hsu said.

“We consider this a value-adding arrangement, as FCm Travel Solutions is an exciting and innovative new brand that combines the expertise of local travel market specialists with Flight Centre Limited’s global negotiating strength, leading airline, hotel and car hire partners around the world and state-of-the-art technology.”

Flight Centre Limited will expand FCm Travel Solutions in the three major corporate regions – Asia-Pacific, UK-Europe-Middle East-Africa and the Americas – to develop a comprehensive international network.

About Flight Centre Limited
Established in Australia in the early 1980s, Flight Centre Limited is Australasia’s largest retail travel agency group. The company operates more than 1100 leisure and corporate travel outlets globally.

About FCm Travel Solutions
FCm Travel Solutions is Flight Centre Limited’s corporate travel flagship and the first Asia-Pacific-based global travel management network. The network now includes specialist businesses in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, South Africa, Canada, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. In Australia, FCm Travel Solutions comprises the businesses that formerly traded under the Corporate Traveller, SBT and ITG banners.

About UOB Travel Planners Pte Ltd
(Singapore Company Registration No. 197400040W)
UOB Travel Planners began as a small travel agency in 1974 and has grown in size and reputation through dedicated professionalism and service excellence. In 1990, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited (Singapore Company Registration No. 193500026Z), a leading bank in Singapore.

Flight Centre Limited Response to Idian Ocean Tsunami Tragedy

Dec 28, 2004

Flight Centre Limited continues to work with its customers and suppliers to satisfy the needs of those affected by the events of December 26.

The company’s Australian executive general manager, Allisa Pollok, said the travel retailer would waive its cancellation policies for customers travelling to affected areas between now and January 31, 2005.

“While we will not impose charges, customers are advised to contact their travel consultant to discuss individual circumstances as wholesalers and suppliers may, in some cases, impose their own cancellation fees and conditions,” Mrs Pollok said.

“Many wholesalers, airlines and suppliers have, however, also committed to waiving fees for customers booked to travel to affected areas before January 31, 2005.”

To assist customers, Flight Centre shops are open today in most parts of the country.

In addition, the company operates a 24-hour worldwide customer assistance phone service. The phone number is 1300 131 600.

“Like everyone, we are still piecing together the information and our thoughts go out to those who have been affected by this tragedy,” Mrs Pollok said.

“Over the past two days, many of our passengers have been in contact with our 24-hour customer assistance line and our people have in most cases been able to accommodate their wishes.

“We urge any customers who have concerns or questions to contact our people to discuss the options.”

Mrs Pollok said while it was still early days various trends were emerging in relation to customer reaction to the event.

She said;

  • Most passengers with short-term bookings (departing early January) had been in contact to discuss their options
  • Some had opted to switch destinations, while others had chosen to postpone
  • Most customers with longer-term bookings had not immediately cancelled and were prepared to wait and see.

“This is in line with our experiences after other major world events,” Mrs Pollok said.

“Australians are resilient, work very hard and are reluctant to cancel holidays – they are more likely to postpone or to switch destinations.

“Our previous experiences also show that popular and desirable destinations like Phuket will recover in time. That has certainly been the case with Fiji and Bali in recent years.”

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