Flight Centre Travel Group’s Flichella music fest is happening on 8 July 2023 at Brisbane’s Riverstage with a ‘neon’ theme. Will Skroo swap last year’s tie-dye hoodie for a day-glo one? Who’s playing the Riverstage? Here’s what we know so far.
ICYMI: Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) threw a mini-music fest dubbed Flichella for its team members last year, flying around 4,000 staff from all around Australia to Brisbane and closing down stores for the weekend to party with travel partners and suppliers.
It was a massive EOFY company-wide celebration for FCTG Australia’s team to acknowledge all the hard work and challenges of the previous two years.
FCTG Co-Founder Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner famously got among it all in a tie-dye hoodie and trainers at last year’s music fest, addressing the excited crowd and mingling with staff and suppliers.
After the emotional rollercoaster riding out the pandemic, Flichella brought all the feels for FCTG’s support and frontline staff.
Flight Centre Global Social Media Community Management Specialist Caitlin MacDonald said: “It was a great atmosphere – it really felt like we were shaking off the past two years and celebrating together as a family as we look forward to the future.”
What are the deets?
After its inaugural outing in 2022, Flichella is back again this year, running from 3–9:30pm, with musical entertainment, supplier-sponsored food stalls and that imitable FCTG culture.
Stores will be OOO on 8 July 2023 and reopening from 10am on Sunday 9 July, depending on the state and available flights.
Global CEO Leisure Travel James ‘JK’ Kavanagh confirmed that FCTG has reserved huge blocks on commercial flights as well as chartering planes to fly interstate team members to the event. Novices who have joined by 30 June 2023 will also receive an invite.
“Virgin Australia and REX are bringing everyone to Brisbane,” he said. “We’re adding approximately 60 newbies each week, so we’re expecting around 4,400 Flighties.”
What’s on the menu for musical entertainment and food options?
Flighties can also expect an all-new musical lineup this year.
First Nations singer-songwriter Chris Tamwoy will grace the Riverstage in Brisbane’s CBD this year along with a DJ set from Dave Goode (The Potbelleez); Ciaran Gribbin (ex-INXS) and band, belting out some of Australia’s most iconic rock anthems; Brissie’s own The Jungle Giants and Furnace & the Fundamentals.
To sate that party appetite, last year’s fave international food options are back, including Greek yiros, loaded fries and honey puffs; gourmet pizzas; baos and poke bowls; empanadas; Mexican nachos and quesadillas plus a slider station.
What’s with the ‘neon’ theme?
JK explained that this year’s festival theme, ‘The Future is Neon’, is a reference to FCTG’s Brightness of Future (BOF) initiative.
“Because we’re big on ‘Brightness of Future’ at Flight Centre, we thought it fitting to theme this year’s event ‘The Future is Neon’ and do something completely different to last year’s laidback vibe,” he said.
“This year, Flichella promises to bring a vibrant and energetic atmosphere to the River City and juxtapose the crisp Brisbane July winter evening with a bright flash of neon.”
More than 40 brands have jumped on board to support Flichella again this year, including main sponsors Virgin Australia, Cover-More, TTC Tour Brands, Viking, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, REX, Quest, Sabre and TEQ among many others.
