New leading appointments at FCM

Global business travel management company, FCM Meetings & Events, part of the corporate travel brand FCM Travel, has welcomed industry expert Andrew Yell in the role of Group Travel Business leader in Australia. Yell brings decades of experience in the hospitality and tourism sectors both in Australia and overseas and says it is a “great time to rebuild and reenergise the industry” as businesses look beyond the global Covid-19 pandemic. “I think everything has to be different for the meetings and events industry going forward, but I have no doubt that different will be better, it actually gives companies the rare chance to reengineer their business and their business models,” Yell adds. “The key is knowing what’s important, how we deliver our offering, and what our clients need – we will have to be nimbler and more flexible than ever before, but we are well-equipped to deal with last-minute decisions and changes. “The way people meet will have a different look to it, but I can tell you that pent-up demand for face-to-face engagement is huge and shows no sign of dissipating. “It’s human nature that we enjoy connecting on a non-Zoom level. It’s those more informal coffees, the accidental conversations by the lift that people really miss, it’s what I like to call non-planned sharing. “Technology will play a huge part in what businesses are able to achieve in the future – and our current and future clients can live safe in the knowledge that we’re at the very forefront of the technology landscape.” Yell will be responsible for ensuring the logistics and all the moving parts are in place for clients – in charge of everything from booking and quoting, through to the execution and fulfilment – with a focus on enriching the experience of clients. “Prior to the current Covid-19 challenge the eastern seaboard is facing, business was really recovering well with increasing headcounts across multiple industries, we just have to be aware of and accept that there will be bumps along the Four Phase Plan road,” he notes, adding that the FCM brand is a big, stable company and a business that loves to promote within, “so this was too good an opportunity not to grab”. “We’re delighted to welcome Andrew to the FCM family and we’re looking forward to him improving what is already a terrific team that has a superb track record in delivering for our clients,” said FCM Meetings & Events general manager Simone Seiler. “We’re well aware of the pent-up travel demand for meetings and events to return as soon as it’s safe to do so, and with Andrew’s leadership, we’ll continue to be right by the side of our clients through this current global pandemic setback, and we look forward to helping our customers get moving again as soon as possible.” FCM Travel also has made two appointments to the European team. Andrew Boxall has moved to a newly created role as executive general manager of Supply & Revenue Management, while Mick Heitzinger has moved from FCM’s parent company Flight Centre Travel Group to join FCM as director of account management – Europe.