Flight Centre Global Gathering 2016 wasn’t just a two-day party for Travel Agents (although the pictures suggests otherwise), it was also a chance for global achievers to give back through a little charity work.
Cue ‘awwwww’.
When some 3,000 consultants and their industry friends descended on Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands late last week, they did so knowing they’d have a pretty wicked time hanging out with peers, partying with celebrity entertainment AND by giving their time to volunteer work.
Organised by Flight Centre Foundation’s CSR with help from Marina Bay Sands, Stop Hunger Now and the Singapore Tourism Board, this year, the group helped pack some 30,000 nutritious, high protein meals to be distributed by Food Bank Singapore to help feed up to 100,000 people in need (including the elderly and those with low incomes).
Flight Centre’s Managing Director, Graham Turner, said “it’s important” for the company to contribute and “build a brighter future” for the communities where they “work, live and travel”.
“The Flight Centre Foundation work closely with a select group of charity partners on an ongoing basis throughout the year, but to be able to assist underprivileged people in the local community at our Global Gathering event is very meaningful.”
Graham Turner, Flight Centre Managing Director
The Foundation’s General Manager, Anita Russell, added that “building a brighter future” is a key philosophy of the company because the least they can do “is give just a little back to the local community”.
Mr Mike Lee, Vice President of Sales at Marina Bay Sands, added that it had been a pleasure to host Flight Centre’s thousands of travel experts at the iconic property once again, while the Singapore Tourism Board, who last welcomed the Flight Centre Travel Group to Singapore in 2012, said it was a “heartening” experience.
Global Leaders at the FC Foundation Volunteer event. Left to Right Adam Campbell, Dean Smith, Melanie Waters-Ryan, Chris Galanty, Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner, Rob Flint).
“While it’s great to have the Flighties return to Singapore this year at Global Gathering to experience our evolving destination, it’s also heartening to see them take the opportunity to give back to the community too,” Sharon Lam, Area Director Oceania, said.
“We hope that spending an afternoon packing food supplies to benefit the Food Bank has been both an enriching and educational experience, making their Singapore stay that much more meaningful.”
According to Turner, Flight Centre Foundation has donated some $2.5 million as a company globally this financial year and there’s “no plans of slowing down with” the CSR initiatives.
