Steve Hui

This is the stuff that gives me that nice fuzzy feeling, and makes me even more determined to bring change to an industry that needs it. A testimonial from one of our SAAS clients. "For quite some time, Simon K was encouraging me to get onboard with the Rideminder platform I was naive and believed I had everything under control with reliable operators spread across Australia. I thought my traditional methods were sufficient and saw no need to change. Then an unexpected incident happened that turned my perception around. I had no choice but to call upon Simon for help. He jokingly laughed and remarked that this situation was precisely why I needed to be on the Rideminder platform and diversify my business. After months of procrastination and holding onto my old ways, I decided to take the leap of faith and switch my business to Rideminder. Looking back, I can confidently say it was the best decision I ever made. The platform has not only facilitated a remarkable 200% growth in my business but has also equipped me with powerful tools, including a comprehensive driver and rider app. These advancements have revolutionized our day-to-day operations, allowing me to reclaim so much free time. As I write this testimonial, I'm sitting by the dock, enjoying the fresh air—something I could never do before switching to Rideminder. The platform has taken our business to new heights and fundamentally transformed the way we operate daily. The prompt job dispatch and efficient driver allocation have significantly improved our overall customer experience. With its built-in failsafes, Rideminder ensures that drivers are always on time and no customer is ever left behind. The platform has expanded our business reach across Australia in ways we never imagined. Whether it's Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, or our hometown of Brisbane, the fully automated dispatch and job allocation system works flawlessly, even in the middle of the night. Knowing that a customer can place a booking at any hour and the system will manage it without my intervention is incredibly reassuring. The peace of mind Rideminder offers is unparalleled. Before, I was constantly involved in every aspect of the business, unable to step away or relax. Now, I can confidently leave the system to handle bookings and operations, knowing everything is under control. This has allowed me to develop a healthier work-life balance, dedicating more time to personal pursuits while the business continues to thrive. I could go on for hours about how dramatically Rideminder has transformed our business. However, the true benefits can only be understood by experiencing them firsthand. If you're on the fence, take the leap and make the switch to Rideminder. Reclaim your life, find balance, and watch your business grow while you enjoy the freedom you've always wanted." https://lnkd.in/gPAzkvyZ

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✔ Top tips for working with Travel at 60 included in Starts at 60's annual Baby Boomer travel trends article ✔

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Another huge week in the AI space, only a week after presenting at Tourism Industry Aotearoa's TRENZ on the topic there are already new updates to how travel marketing will be affected. The rate of change in this space is so rapid that if you blink you might miss an entirely new generation of tools.   Where we were right - Booking.com is coming! The previously US & UK-only "AI Trip Planner" has come to New Zealand. Leveraging Open AI's ChatGPT service, the app now lets you plan your holiday with conversational prompts rather than by searching by location, budgets and dates. Simply describing your ideal trip and your own travelling situation lets the app provide a suggested itinerary and accommodation to match. Since launch, this service has also been expanded to include flight bookings and attractions through FareHarbor.     Where we missed the mark - Google's AI search summaries are going mainstream! After the slow rollout of Googles AI Search ambitions we believed it would remain in the Google Labs testing phase for some time still. Announced this week at their annual developer conference Google I/O they are rolling out a vastly improved version of the service as the default experience for users worldwide. Not content with simple summaries (and perhaps trying to outdo the rapidly ascending perplexity.ai), Google are reimagining a world where "Google does the Googling for you". The new Google will make suggestions, categorise results, and summarise information based on your questions. It remains to be seen the impact that this will have on ad and organic click throughs, but in a world where you can find everything on the google result page it's hard to imagine these not being massively effected.   What we weren't expecting - while the world waits for the next generation of ChatGPT or a GPT-powered search, the creators OpenAI released an improved version of the existing model, called ChatGPT4o. The new version is faster, produces better images, and will include a voice assistant that people can become way too attached to. Rather than responding to single commands like the current voice prompt, the assistant is supposedly able to respond in real time and is aware of the world around you when using it (terrifying). Be sure to keep half an eye on our Maverick Digital Tourism Marketing website, we've developed an AI hub to demystify and add value to you and your business where Tim Olson is leading an almighty charge to try and keep up! https://lnkd.in/gBfNi9bd

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Incentive Travel Index 2024 Survey is now live! The Incentive Travel Index (ITI) represents the most comprehensive study of the global incentive travel industry & an important opportunity to have ANZ data included to this global response! If you are an Incentive Travel Corporate Booker (end user), Incentive Travel House, DMC, Supplier or a Destination Marketing Organiser you are important to the success of the survey results, please share this with your peers as this is not only for SITE members. Complete the 10 minute survey - https://lnkd.in/gjHXFWT7

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Is tracking sustainability becoming an issue, or searching for a new solution into the new year? 🍃One of the best ways to achieve green business travel goals is to encourage travellers to make sustainable choices right at the time of booking. FCM Travel Australia's Extension provides detailed reporting and alerts travellers of non-compliant bookings, helping you stay aligned with ease. Find out more 👉https://okt.to/2aNRBt

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🤑 Our new calculator determines your savings on business class flights based on your specific level of business expenses. Simply add up all your costs—wages, rent, suppliers, materials, ATO payments, and more—to see how you can transform these expenses into travel opportunities. Unlock the value of your outgoings and travel smarter! IFLYFLAT - Turning your business expenses into personalised business class savings. #TravelSmart #BusinessTravel #BusinessClass #iFLYflat #TheFlightsClub

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MY MONEY - "What the Qantas frequent flyer changes mean for you" Thanks Tom Watson for including my thoughts. Is this a positive move for frequent flyers? "There's been plenty of questions raised about the value of frequent flyer points and the availability of rewards seats in recent years, so could Qantas' expanded program go some way to addressing these concerns? Steve Hui, founder and chief executive of iFLYflat, believes that because of the higher points threshold required, the new option will naturally benefit frequent flyers with larger balances. "I think it is positive for the points-rich, but not for the average punter. Because of the higher points needed for Classic Plus, in sheer practical terms you need to have the points to play," he says. "In the case of a family looking for four Business Class round-trip seats to London, under Classic Rewards you'll need 1,156,800 plus taxes, which is already a lot of points in anyone's eyes. "Under the new Classic Plus, taking the numbers provided by Qantas, that family now needs 2,555,600 points plus taxes. And perhaps even more due to the dynamic link to cash airfare prices." Hui does believe that Classic Plus could provide a useful outlet for frequent flyers who have built up a stash of Qantas Points in recent years. But again, he questions whether most people will be able to easily build up the points required to regularly benefit from the new option. He says it is pleasing that Qantas has committed to retaining the five million rewards seats available through the Classic option though. "It's positive that they [Qantas] have reiterated they are not going to reduce the number of Classic Reward seats and that they are committed to the continuation of the Classic Rewards format. So for everyone who is still seeking Classic Rewards when they fly, it's a positive that this won't impact them.""

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So Qantas have announced their #NDC strategy to come into force in mid 2025 and it’s good to see that the mantra of NDC to make things easier and better for everyone has been taken into consideration, not! So a single schemer has manifested itself into 4 standards of NDC, with one level being by invite only, the Chairman’s Lounge of NDC shall we say. It is this level that is the most concerning, The BTA represents the UK TMC sector, many of which have operations in Australia, many which don’t, so will Chairman’s Lounge NDC invites only be extended to large Australia based TMCs or global players what will a non Aussie based TMC need to do to get on the guest list? Furthermore, whilst surcharges are the norm for edifact I don’t believe the discrimination depending on where you are based for the surcharge is as vast as with Qantas. If you are TMC in Oz and book edifact for your customer then you pay £6 in NZ you pay £8 and for our UK agents they will pay £10, almost double compared to their Australian peers, why? Surcharges have become the norm for NDC but access to differential pricing depending on your NDC channel or “status” is bringing a whole new level of fragmentation that is simply ridiculous and unfair. It’s time for the customer, so the buyer and the traveller, along with the TMC community, to say stop this madness and work together with airlines to deliver a modern airline retailing experience that doesn’t discriminate, that doesn’t add complexity and that offers something more than simply cheaper fares. We will continue to work with our colleagues at Association of Travel Management Companies and GEBTA to have the voice of the customer heard across the globe to demand a NDC that delivers something positive, as it is meant to have done, to customers. I have never understood why the only USP I see for NDC is lower fares, where is the sense continuously driving yield down in the pursuit of fictitious “huge” savings on lower distribution costs? The TMC distribution channel is hugely cost effective for buyers and suppliers, offeriing services and products way beyond simply buying a ticket and should be seen as a strategic business partner regardless of market position or size. How has something as positive as modernising airline retailing taken 12 years to deliver something like this? #businesstravel #yourbta #corporatetravel #travelmanagement #NDC #distribution

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Whyalla has over 80,000 bednights per year in tourism accommodation and considerable growth pending, and one cannot expect the local community via its City Council to continue to absorb its Airport upgrades and maintenance, with tens of billions of dollars of major sustainable new industries requiring more frequent and faster airline service to grow these new businesses. It may be time to share the load with a Tourism bed tax. “Highly critical”: Whyalla Airport in need of key upgrade to accommodate bigger Qantas planes Several million dollars may need to be injected into a key regional airport to accommodate bigger Qantas planes. Whyalla Airport in need of key upgrade to accommodate bigger Qantas planes | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au) "The concept of tourist tax isn’t a new one. City tax has long been the norm for many countries in Europe such as Greece, Spain and Germany, and hotel tax is standard across many destinations, including US states" “We have a lot of costs for the city, of course — for well-being, for livability,” Hester Van Buren told the New York Times. “We don’t want to increase the taxes for our inhabitants. So we said, ‘Well, let the visitors pay some more.’” #Whyalla #touristbedtax

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AirDNA have just announced their top 10 Airbnb markets in Australia with this article:  https://bit.ly/3UVB2V8  (https://lnkd.in/eA_qus9H “Investing in Australian Airbnb properties offers promising returns due to growing tourism, demand for alternative accommodations, and clear regulatory frameworks.” Are there any surprises for you in this list? 🤔 Comment your thoughts below! 👇#airbnbbusiness #airbnbhost #shorttermrentals AirDNA

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The proposed deal between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia would be a win for business travellers, seeing both airlines realise access to greater efficiencies and synergies. We expect this to benefit the end consumer and create interesting new options for travellers taking off domestically and internationally. Ultimately it should mean more routes, heightened competition and better prices for Aussies. Qatar is a top-three trading partner for Australia in the Middle East and North Africa region, with two-way goods and services trade worth A$3.4 billion in 2023 and showing growth of 10.2 per cent from 2022. Many Australian companies are registered and active in Qatar and this will open up greater access and capacity for them. https://okt.to/zJyqFH

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Is tracking sustainability becoming an issue, or searching for a new solution into the new year? 🍃One of the best ways to achieve green business travel goals is to encourage travellers to make sustainable choices right at the time of booking. FCM Travel Australia's Extension provides detailed reporting and alerts travellers of non-compliant bookings, helping you stay aligned with ease. Find out more 👉https://okt.to/eQLfTH

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NEWS 🗞️ FCM Travel Australia has identified a decline in international airfares, reflecting enhanced stability in the travel sector. The analysis highlights a 5-10% reduction in Economy fares and a 4% decrease in Business Class rates, benefiting key routes to Qatar, UAE, and Europe. This positive trend aligns with increased capacity and competition among international carriers. Find out more here: https://okt.to/BJEy4U

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Exciting times for FCM Meetings & Events as they go global! 🌏 With over 25% of FCM Travel Australia customers dedicating more than half their budgets to the MICE sector, it's clear that the industry's growth is unstoppable. "Globalising the FCM M&E business will allow us to add consistency and scale for customers looking for a global meetings and events provider, and our hub offices will allow for global consistency - but with local nuances to meet specific client needs." Said FCM Meetings & Events Global General Manager, Simone Seiler. https://okt.to/qgZoCa

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We're seeing more and more travel managers step into the meetings and events (M&E) space. Recent survey by FCM Travel Australia found that most corporate travel is linked to meetings, events, and conferences with customers expecting their M&E activity to increase into the new year.   With this merging of categories, consolidating the management of the two can make a real difference. The latest guide from our sister company, FCM Meetings & Events breaks down how consolidation can create a more streamlined approach. Saving time, money, and stress. Check out the guide here https://okt.to/f672UE

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How to Turn Your Business Expenses into Business Class Flights. Necessarily paying too much to travel? Many business owners with $1M+ turnover don’t realise that their everyday expenses (including suppliers and payroll expenses) could be the shortcut to cheap business class travel experiences. Discover your benefit with this calculator.

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According to data published today in Travel Daily, Australians are currently cutting back significantly on travel budgets. This is mixed news for Australian domestic travel operators Travel Daily reports that "Australians have saved $528 a month from cancelled, postponed or “slimmed down” travel in the first quarter of 2024, according to NAB’s latest Consumer Sentiment Survey. The shredding of the travel budget is up by 39% on the same period last year, with the lion’s share of funds being diverted to cover everyday expenses such as paying down mortgages." " As a result, the report suggested European summer travel, overseas weddings and lavish interstate trips are now less likely to take place this year, as many Aussies look to bolster savings and make more budget bookings." " Millennials have taken the largest knife to the travel budget in 2024, slicing away $743 a month to cover other costs. This was followed by $645 a month for people aged between 50 and 64, $440 for 65+, but in a welcome reprieve for the youth market, only $329 for Gen Z. Looking ahead, the study also predicted that one in four Australians are likely to reduce spend on travel in the next 12 months across both international and domestic trips." “For some it might mean switching the Amalfi Coast for the Sunshine Coast, for others swapping an interstate break for a city staycation,” NAB Executive, Paul Riley, said. “This is another example of the ‘loud budgeting’ trend we have seen emerge over recent months, where people are feeling more comfortable setting budget boundaries and telling friends and family,” he added.

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❗ According to FCM Consulting’s latest Global Quarterly Trends Report, business class airfares are getting more affordable. It comes as airlines ramp up flights, seeing international capacity return to pre-pandemic levels. FCM Consulting’s Felicity Burke told The Australian “In 2022 and 2023, we had a lot of leisure travellers that were using flight credits and opting to use them up in business class, which didn’t leave much room for corporate travellers who were being asked to pay $23,000 for those last minute trips if any seats were available at all. Now there’s more choice. That rush of leisure travellers, that pent-up demand, is softening and is freeing up a few more seats in business class. I think it will definitely be more affordable for corporates for the rest of the year.” View the full Report here: https://okt.to/TgFVBd Read more here: https://okt.to/Poh83x #DiscoverTheAlternative #FCMTravel #FCMConsulting #Q1 #News

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