Flight Centre Travel Group’s 2023 Global Gathering is on this weekend. Who’s going to be there?
It’s that time of year again when the Karryon team peers into the crystal ball to make our wildly (sometimes) accurate predictions about which celebs will be at Flight Centre Travel Group’s 2023 Global Gathering.
Happening in Bali from 14 – 16 July, thousands of Flighties from FCTG businesses around the world have qualified to attend this massive conference.
It’s a logistical wonder to pull off, flying team members – often on chartered flights – to the annual destination, putting them up in hotel rooms and all the food and beverage requirements.
Since the inaugural event at the Gold Coast in 1987, the highly anticipated event takes months of meticulous planning and plenty of pie-in-the-sky speculation about the musical acts, keynote speakers and other surprise guests.
Flight Fest Welcome Event
With this year’s ‘Play’ theme, who’s going to set the mood at Flight Fest on Mengiat Beach at Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua? The music acts are always a closely guarded secret.
As a friend in FCTG head office said: “I’ve usually never heard of them but they are world-famous to my kids.”
However, this isn’t always true. Duran Duran graced Global in 2017 and Cyndi Lauper in 2011 to the delight of ‘80s kids and the confusion of Millennials.
And the location is sometimes an influence (Pitbull aka Mr Worldwide at Cancun in 2013) and sometimes not (Kylie in Berlin in 2018).
Spinning the tunes in previous years have been the likes of Calvin Harris, Diplo and Duke Dumont.
For the warm-up party on Friday, our money is on Aussie faves such as DJ Havana Brown (who just appeared at Flichella), Sneaky Sound System (we know they love a Bali club residence) or The Presets.
Global Gathering Conference
Staging the first Global Gathering Conference since 2019 in Las Vegas last year, where the keynote speaker and Gala MC was UK comedian Jack Whitehall, who will rev up the conference crowd at Westin Nusa Dua?
Previous speakers have included inspirational and motivational icons such as sportspeople, former US presidents, charity founders and, err, Mark Wahlberg who have overcome adversity or achieved amazing things.
This year, could Gwyneth Paltrow make a return Global appearance to recoup losing that half-day of skiing? Or will Matt Damon hold court (could someone get him a Byron Bay RSL backdrop for his appearance, pretty please)?
Maybe Matthew McConaughey will have the ‘Greenlights’ to impart his insights (alright, alright, alright)? Or perhaps it’s time for boss ladies Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian?
Global Gathering Gala Awards Dinner
With the dress code of black-tie or formal with a touch of paradise, Flighties will flock to Nusa Dua Convention Centre to represent their nations and celebrate individual and team achievements. But who will do the award honours and keep the evening flowing?
Previous MCs include Hamish and Andy (hilariously described to the UK contingent as the Aussie ‘Ant & Dec’).
Could Global be the glue that brings Will Smith and Chris Rock together? Or bring the banter of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Kevin Hart?
Maybe Hugh Jackman will showcase his greatest showmanship to Bali or perhaps Snoop Dogg will bring his Cali cool and laidback vibes (we can dream!)?
Global Gathering Gala After Party
Flighties get not one but two epic parties and the After Party is where everyone gets loose to some of the most famous music acts and stellar DJs.
In Hawaii, it was Mark Ronson. In 2019 – Calvin Harris and Tiesto. And Fatboy Slim has famously brought the house down twice in Singapore (2012 and 2016).
For 2023, we like the odds of Lizzo and Future getting Flighties on their feet. Or, caught up in recent Swiftie fervour, could it be Taylor Swift herself to close the event?
Harry Styles is another popular crowd-pleaser that we can see in Bali. Or maybe new mama-to-be Rihanna will make a guest appearance, coming in hot from her Superbowl duties?
What do you think? Are we on the money for the 2023 Global Gathering?
