Flight Centre Travel Group was named as the winner of Plug and Play’s Corporate Innovation Award, a prestige given to the corporate partner that best demonstrates a commitment to digital transformation through acquisitions, investments, proof of concepts, and thought leadership.
The award was presented during Plug and Play’s three-day Silicon Valley Summit, held at the company global headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, in June. Flight Centre Travel Group is now a three-time recipient of the ‘Corporate Innovation Award,’ having previously won in 2022 and 2020.
“We’re incredibly proud to be honored again with the ‘Corporate Innovation Award’ from Plug and Play,” Flight Centre Travel Group chief experience officer, John Morhous, said.
“Our flagship business travel divisions of FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation, and this recognition reflects our dedication to driving meaningful transformation across the corporate travel space.
“Our collaboration with Plug and Play’s accelerator program has allowed us to connect with some of the brightest, most forward-thinking minds in the industry.
“These relationships have been instrumental to our continued success through the years, often leading to strategic investments or impactful partnerships that have enabled us to develop groundbreaking new technology solutions.”
Flight Centre Travel Group has long been a champion for innovation in travel, embracing the latest advancements in technology to help enhance the customer experience for both of its corportate brands, FCM Travel and Corporate Travellers.
Through its ongoing partnership with Plug and Play, Flight Centre Travel Group has been able to make significant investments and acquisitions in select tech-driven companies – such as Shep, WhereTo, Sam, and Umapped – that have played a key role in transforming the business.
Flight Centre Travel Group was first introduced to Shep through Plug and Play’s startup accelerator program. In 2018, Shep won top honours in the travel startup competition at Plug and Play’s Summit. They made an initial investment in Shep in 2020, which was followed by a full acquisition in 2021.
After the ownership transition, Shep CEO and co-founder Daniel Senyard joined the FCTG team, where he led the integration of Shep’s capabilities into FCM’s operations, most notably through its FCM Extension product. A travel technology pioneer, Senyard now serves as SVP of Commercial Platforms and Innovation for FCTG, where he has been integral in advancing the company’s efforts in the emerging AI space.
“It’s tremendously rewarding to be recognised again by Plug and Play – nearly seven years after Shep was first honored,” Senyard said. “Plug and Play was where my journey began and where I first connected with Flight Centre Travel Group, setting the path that ultimately led to our acquisition.
“It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and a shared belief in innovation. Today, I’m proud to give back through my continued involvement with Plug and Play, mentoring the next generation of travel tech leaders within the same ecosystem that gave me my start – truly a full circle moment.”
The Silicon Valley Summit is Plug and Play’s bi-annual event, bringing together hundreds of startups, corporate partners, venture capitalists, and thought leaders to showcase emerging technologies, celebrate innovation, and foster new partnerships.
“Flight Centre Travel Group continues to set a high bar for what corporate innovation can look like in practice,” Plug and Play managing partner, Amir Amidi, said.
“Over the years they’ve demonstrated not only a deep commitment to digital transformation but also a genuine openness to collaboration – whether through early-stage pilots, strategic investments, or full acquisitions,” Their work with startups like Shep and ongoing engagement with our ecosystem are prime examples of how sustained innovation can drive long-term value. We’re proud to recognise FCTG once again for their leadership and continued impact across the travel industry.”
