UNIVERSAL Traveller has officially landed in Australia and has already staked a claim as one of the country’s most flexible workplaces.

The Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FLT) new youth-focussed travel brand launches today (Wednesday, August 7) with a host of innovative new features and offers for its people and customers.

Universal Traveller’s people will be encouraged to become “travel influencers” by proactively using social media channels to inspire customers to travel and will have access to fully paid Unlimited Annual Leave and Flexi-Time programs.

Customers will have access to unique products in six key categories, specifically:

• Student flights – discounted and flexible airfares for students and under-30s
• Fully independent traveller and flash deals
• Small group tours
• Topdeck, Contiki and Busabout
• Festivals; and
• Ancillary, which includes tailored insurance (UTrav), interest free (Skye) and value-added airfare (UFlexi) offers

Universal Traveller general manager Sean Martin said the new brand would build on FLT’s Student Flights offering and aimed to be different to traditional travel agencies.

“Our first key difference is our people,’ he said.

“We have a workforce of travel influencers, who can work flexibly and share their travel expertise from anywhere in the world using social media, our models and our Unlimited Annual Leave program.

“One of our top consultants nationally, Sophie Whiteing, was actually able to travel the world under our Unlimited Leave program for three months last year, while working remotely and being paid along the way.

“Our second key difference is our shops, which are the most enticing places for young people to buy travel. Our shops all have Digi Screens to showcase the latest deals from our top suppliers and are located in youth zones in Australia’s top-50 shopping centres.

“We are a one stop shop for young travellers. We engage as travel Influencers and inspire people to travel through our own authentic love of travel on our social networks.

“The other key difference is our product. We have curated, focused, relevant and unique product ranges that offer the best value deals for our customers and our people are passionate experts on what we sell.”

FLT announced plans to launch Universal Traveller in May 2019 to target travellers aged between 18 and 35.

Speaking at the time, FLT managing director Graham Turner said Universal Traveller would effectively expand on the company’s previous Student Flights offering in Australia by offering tailored and exclusive products to a broader range of travellers.

“This is an exciting brand enhancement for our people, our customers and our suppliers and is geared towards increasing our share of this large market sector,” Mr Turner said.

“Student Flights, the brand that we have traditionally used to target this demographic, was launched in Australia in the mid-1990s as a dedicated flight offering for students and backpackers.

“Since then, the customer base and product offering have significantly evolved, but this evolution into a full service agency – with world class offerings for younger travellers across a number of key product ranges – was not reflected in the brand name.

“This was hampering its growth potential.

“We believe Universal Traveller more accurately reflects the brand’s specialisation and will resonate with the broader customer base of students, backpackers and young professionals that its core products are targeted at and will appeal to.”

All 52 Student Flights shops in Australia have now been rebranded to Universal Traveller.

ENDS: Media enquiries to haydn_long@flightcentre.com, + 61418750454