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.

The World Travel Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry and is acknowledged as the ultimate travel accolade. Awards are voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, which have recognised the commitment to excellence FCM has demonstrated over the past 12 months.

Nicole Adonis, General Manager FCM Travel Solutions commented: “We are proud to be the recipient of this award for the ninth year running – it is a tremendous achievement to be recognised consistently for almost a decade as the Leading Travel Management Company worldwide.  This award is a huge endorsement of FCM’s agile approach and culture of fluid thinking, plus the dedication and drive of our people all of which enables us to deliver exceptional service and the right solutions for our customers”

The award rounds off another year of outstanding growth and innovation for FCM with further investment in enhancing technology, products and processes.

The global Leading Travel Management Company award also tops off a year of regional World Travel Awards wins for FCM in 2019 as follows:

• Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company 
• Asia’s Leading Travel Management Company
• Europe’s Leading Travel Management Company
• Mexico and Central America’s Leading Travel Management Company
• Middle East’s Leading Travel Management Company
• North America’s Leading Travel Management
• Oceania’s Leading Travel Management Company 
• South America’s Leading Travel Management Company

The coveted accolade of South Africa’s Leading Resort in 2019, as voted for by the World Travel Awards, and Luxury Country Estate of the Year in the Western Cape by Luxury Travel Guide, is a testament to Fancourt’s focus on quality and the commitment of its staff to deliver an exceptional experience for every guest, every time, says Peter Dros, Sales and Marketing Director at Fancourt.   

Walking away with the World Travel Awards title for South Africa’s Leading Country House Hotel in 2019 was The Manor House at Fancourt, which has won this award for the second year in a row.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to have been recognised by the World Travel Awards and Luxury Travel Guide, which set the benchmark for quality experiences across all sectors of the global tourism and travel industry.

“It is truly an honour to receive such distinguished accolades, especially as they reflect the views of travel and tourism professionals and consumers globally,” says Dros.

These awards pay tribute to the immense efforts of our team, who have transformed Fancourt into an award-winning hotel and golfing destination over our 25-year history. Today Fancourt includes Fancourt Hotel, The Manor House and three of the most acclaimed golf courses in Africa, including The Links, voted number one in Africa, according to Golf Digest South Africa.

“In celebration of our 25^th birthday this year, we will be featuring stories about our past, which is closely linked to the history of the Garden Route, and our present told through the eyes of our staff. Receiving these accolades is an important part of that story. We look forward to forging even more happy memories and delivering excellence over the next 25 years and beyond,” concludes Dros.

Based in Cape Town, Giltedge Africa has been awarded the title every year, except for 2016, since 2010.

Speaking from the head office in Cape Town, Giltedge Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Murray Gardiner says, “Winning this prestigious World Travel Award is a great achievement for Giltedge Africa, especially as we had strong competition in this category. This win is important to us as it shows us that we’re always raising the bar in our service to create the best tailor-made safaris for our guests”.

The World Travel Awards celebrates excellence across all sectors of the global tourism industry. Industry professionals from around the world participated in the voting process, which is scrupulously monitored and independently audited. It’s been described by The Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry.

Giltedge Africa is a luxury inbound tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays and safaris to Southern Africa, East Africa, and the magnificent Indian Ocean islands.

The 2019 World Travel Awards were presented at a glittering Indian Ocean gala ceremony at the Sugar Beach Resort in Mauritius on 1 June.

FCM Travel Solutions General Manager Africa Nicole Adonis said FCM was honoured to be bringing home the award for the fifth year in a row. “Our unwavering focus on the customers’ needs in Africa, combined with industry-leading technology solutions and personal service, is what sets us apart year after year,” she said.

With its customer-centric approach to travel management, in the past year, FCM has explored the science behind Behavioural Economics and why corporate travellers make specific travel decisions. The insight, combined with ground-breaking research on travel data management, has allowed FCM to deliver actual value to its clients, Adonis explained.

“None of the success FCM has achieved would have been possible without the support of an incredible team, trustworthy suppliers and loyal customers,” she added. “I would like to thank each member of our team who has supported us with their professionalism and their innovative ideas on delivering value to our clients,” she said.

Ciarán Kelly, Managing Director – Middle East & Africa Regional Network, commented: “I am extremely proud of the dedication and passion the FCM team has shown in our region. To be named the leading TMC in Africa is an outstanding achievement and clearly shows FCM’s continued commitment to delivering exceptional travel management services, professionalism and value to its clients. We will continue to strive for service excellence and technology advancement to meet the needs of corporate travellers across Africa.”

The World Travel Awards is recognised across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade. Awards are voted for by travel and tourism professionals internationally and value the commitment to excellence demonstrated by FCM and other award winners in the past 12 months.

Winners included South Africa, voted ‘Africa’s Leading Destination’. Durban was named ‘Africa’s Leading City Destination’, whilst Cape Town was acknowledged as it picked up ‘Africa’s Leading Festival & Event Destination’.

In the Indian Ocean categories, Mauritius cemented its reputation as the definitive romantic island by being named ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’, whilst the Maldives was heralded ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination’.

Graham E. Cooke, Founder & President, WTA, said: “The Durban ICC has reinforced its standing as a world-class entertainment venue on what has been a magnificent evening of travel industry triumph, as well as a highlight of our 25th anniversary. We have had the privilege of recognising the leading hotels, airlines and hospitality providers from across Africa and the Indian Ocean and my congratulations to each of them.”

In the aviation sector, Ethiopian Airlines was voted ‘Africa’s Leading Airline’, whilst Kenya Airlines picked up ‘Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class’ and ‘Africa’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’. ‘Africa’s Leading Airport’ went to Cape Town International Airport. Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, Air Mauritius claimed the ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Business Class’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Brand’, and ‘Indian Ocean’s Airport Lounge’ (The Amédée Maingard Lounge @ Mauritius International Airport).

Hospitality winners included Hilton Hotels & Resorts (‘Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand), Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa (‘Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel’), Thanda Island, Tanzania (‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Island’), Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort (‘Africa’s Leading New Resort’), Hilton Durban (‘South Africa’s Leading Business Hotel’), Legend Golf Resort & Spa, South Africa (‘Africa’s Leading Sports Resort’), and Transcorp Hilton Abuja (‘Africa’s Leading Business Hotel’).

Other highlights included awards for South Africa Tourism (‘Africa’s Leading Tourist Board’), Durban ICC (‘Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre’), Durban (‘Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination’) and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board’).

The ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica). The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on 1st December.

For the full list of winners, click here