FCM Travel Solutions is ending an exceptionally challenging 2020 on a high note after being named Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company at the prestigious World Travel Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global business travel industry, FCM proved its resilience. Despite the lockdown, the TMC won a record amount of new business globally with total projected annual spend (pre-COVID) of €1,1 billion (R20,5bn). More importantly, FCM continued to invest in proactively onboarding this new business, meaning over 60 new global customers are fully implemented and ready to resume booking business travel as soon as border restrictions and quarantine rules are eased.
FCM, which has a presence in 20 countries in Africa, has also leveraged its agility and flexibility to give top priority to supporting existing customers throughout the crisis and helping adapt their travel programmes for the post-pandemic era. In addition to supporting existing customers, FCM in Africa has played a pivotal role in welcoming over ten new client implementations across the region during the pandemic.
FCM has significantly ramped up its duty of care support for customers, including the launch of Traveller Hub, an interactive resource providing extensive up-to-date Covid-19 travel information. The Traveller Hub ensures all stakeholders such as travellers, managers and travel arrangers have the most accurate and current information to support their decision making.
Bonnie Smith, GM FCM South Africa, commented on the award saying: “We are proud and humbled to win this award. In a year where we’ve seen a global pandemic bring the business travel sector to its knees, this award truly is an accolade for our whole team who have worked incredibly hard to uphold the exceptional travel management services, professionalism and value of our brand. FCM Africa has demonstrated its importance to our existing and new customers over the last eight months and to those companies that have been keen to consolidate travel programmes for the first time in the region, seeking improved services and technology relevant in today’s pandemic.”
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards™ brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.