Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can now seize a chance to transform their operations through travel and face-to-face customer interaction with the Flight Centre Business Travel Corporate Travel Grant. The grant is back after a hiatus brought on by COVID-19 and offers over $40,000 in travel prizes for successful applicants.

Global Leader of Flight Centre Business Travel, Cameron Harris, stated that as the world reopens, many companies are looking to boost their business travel to benefit from new possibilities. Harris understands the challenges that SMEs and start-ups face and believes grants of this size can be greatly beneficial.

This year, the company will award a single business the Corporate Travel Grant, worth over $30,000, to aid their growth and progress. Meanwhile, four runners-up will divide $10,000 worth of travel credit. Harris highlighted the importance of face-to-face connections for SME owners and how they often depend on human relationships to succeed. In-person meetings allow for more influential relationship building and a deeper understanding of clients’ needs.

Face-to-face meetings are becoming increasingly more sought after, as the shift away from remote communication continues to grow due to “Zoom fatigue.” Personal interaction can be less constrained, allowing for greater rapport building and better results for all involved. Harris noted the trend for businesses to return to face-to-face meetings, rather than relying solely on online video calls.

SME leaders seeking cost efficiency can benefit from the grants and travel management assistance offered by Flight Centre Business Travel. One previous Corporate Travel Grant winner, Almo Milk, reported that winning the grant was life-changing for their business. The grant enabled them to exhibit their brand across Australia and Asia, leading to a 200% increase in online sales.

To apply for the grant, SMEs must submit a one to a two-minute video detailing the significance of travel to their business and how the $30,000 Corporate Travel Grant will help them. The top five entries will be selected and two representatives from each business will be flown to the Global Head Office in Brisbane to present their pitch to the selection panel.

The winner will receive $30,000 in prizes, including $20,000 travel credit with Virgin Australia, two Platinum Velocity memberships, $5,000 in IHG Hotels & Resorts accommodation credit, $2,500 Hertz travel credit, a $1,000 Flight Centre Business Travel voucher, and a $500 luggage voucher. The runners-up will each receive a share of $10,000 in Virgin Australia travel credit and two Velocity Gold memberships.

Entries must be submitted by 5 pm AEST on Friday, March 31, 2023. Visit https://www.flightcentrebusinesstravel.com.au/corporate-travel-grant-2023 for full details, terms, and conditions and to upload your video pitch.

Written by: Stephen Peters

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