The Private Club

Hayden is a software engineer who has taken his business from a start-up to a company of 50 within 4 short years. He now travels between Sydney and his European offices, frequently switching between Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

Regarding the future of travel, he wants to see more of the comforts of home: “I’m a member of a private club where you can buy a special bottle of gin and it’s kept in a locker for you to return to and use each time you visit with friends. I think airlines of the future should have the same principle… imagine if you already had your jacket and ties on board when you returned?”

Build trust and loyalty through thoughtful gestures.

The Frequent Traveler

Derwood has the vigour and energy of someone half his age. As the Managing Director of the Engineering firm he founded thirty years ago, his focus now is on its future, sorting out business and succession plans to ensure that his company continues to grow.

Active in several markets around the Asia-Pacific region, Derwood travels to ensure the relationships that are pivotal to his business are cultivated and grown.

“Travel is the backbone to my business. My name is on the front door – of course I’m going to bloody make sure that I build and maintain my contacts around the country and around the region!”

Derwood sees the future of travel as “more of the same”. “I don’t know whether you can really innovate anymore. I think online check-in is quite nice, but for me, if you’re going to change air travel, you’re going to have to change the feel of air travel… make it feel less like we’re all cattle!”

Change the feel of air travel.

The Game Changer

Carlie, a marketing director, is having a busy year: after 10 years at a major marketing firm, she has been promoted to Marketing Director… in addition to getting hitched to her partner of four years, Lachlan.

The only trip she’s planning this year is her honeymoon and she’s not quite sure where in Europe she and her husband-to-be plan to visit.

“I don’t know. Somewhere romantic! I’ve been to Paris and Rome before, but obviously this will be a very special occasion”

When asked about the future of travel, Carlie reflects that her priority is her new husband and her new family. “I trust that airlines are safe and I understand and accept the annoyances of airline security. But if we could make it easier for everyone, I think we can have safety and convenience. That would be a game-changer."

Offer safety and convenience.

Technology in the Sky

We met Mark Lawson at his 40th birthday dinner at an upscale restaurant overlooking the harbour.

A partner at one of Sydney’s most prestigious law firms, he confesses that he doesn’t have time to think too much about his holidays and leaves the planning to his wife of twenty years, Lisa.

“The whole economic crisis thing? Not so much. Lisa and I still take our little short breaks to Asia at least twice a year and I guess we’re fortunate because my business flights give us both extra points to upgrade with Qantas.”

Mark doesn’t know what to say when he’s asked about the future of flying. “Will they be drone, robot pilots or something? Only kidding. I think that the future of flying will have to be about how you can make it more personal. I can log in online and see all my points and history. It would be marvelous if I could log-in to my seat or something like that. And, you know, they know what food or wine I like or they could recommend stuff based on what they know already. That would be like the Apple Genius!”

Personalize the flight, online and off.