Always Business Class

The Future of Travel: Why Subscription Is Taking Over | Henrik Berglind

What really makes a loyalty program work? It’s not just discounts.It’s not just points.And it’s definitely not just perks. In this episode of Always Business Class, we go behind the scenes of one of the most successful travel membership programs in the world. From rebuilding after COVID to scaling to 500,000 members, this conversation breaks down how loyalty, psychology, and experience design come together. We cover: * Why subscription is the future of travel * The psychology behind loyalty programs * How small group dining became a breakthrough feature * Why emotional connection beats transactional rewards * Lessons from relaunching a global program * How partnerships drive growth and retention * Why travel creates better ideas and better business outcomes * Practical travel hacks like choosing the best seat every time This is not just about travel. It’s about how great businesses build loyalty that lasts. Guest: Henrik Berglind - Accor Plus [https://au.linkedin.com/in/hberglind] Chapters 00:00 Business Class in the Sky & On the Ground 01:33 Behind the Loyalty Program Growth 02:56 30 Years in Hospitality 04:09 COVID & Industry Reset 05:33 Loyalty Program Relaunch 06:16 Winning Best Loyalty Relaunch 07:49 Real Value of Membership Benefits 08:46 Why Travel Sparks Better Ideas 09:40 The Power of Face-to-Face 11:14 Designing Dining Experiences 12:43 The “Small Group Dining” Breakthrough 12:58 Lessons from the Relaunch 14:22 Global Expansion of Benefits 15:02 Why Change Doesn’t Kill Businesses 17:03 Behavioural Science in Business 19:15 Boutique vs Large Hotel Experiences 20:27 From Discounts to Loyalty Culture 22:44 Building a Global Loyalty Ecosystem 26:17 Innovation & Scaling Challenges 27:22 48 Brands, One Ecosystem 28:35 Travel Habits & Seat Hacks 31:18 Subscription Model Explained 34:43 Reducing Decision Fatigue in Travel 36:23 The Future of Travel Curation 38:33 Partnerships & Experiences Strategy 41:58 Sales Channels & Growth 44:10 Key Benefits of Explorer Membership 46:27 Flights Club Explore Launch

From Everest to the South Pole: Peter Hillary on the World's Last Wild Places

What if the most powerful thing you could do for the planet… …was simply go there and witness it yourself?   What if exploration was never really about the summit?   In this episode of Always Business Class, Peter Hillary, explorer, mountaineer, and son of Sir Edmund Hillary, joins Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally for a live fireside chat with over 400 Accor Plus Explorer members — and shares what 43 trips to Antarctica, a crossing to the South Pole, and a lifetime on the world's highest peaks have taught him about the only thing that actually matters.   Peter unpacks why the hardest part of any expedition is never the cold, the food, or the terrain. It is the psychological and emotional battle between your ears. And why that lesson applies just as much in business and in life.   He makes the case for why going to Antarctica is not a luxury. It is an act of stewardship. Because when people witness a place — really witness it — they want to protect it. And places that go unseen get exploited.   This is a conversation about what exploration really means. Not whether it has been done before. But whether you have done it. Because once you stand on that ice, something shifts. And you come back asking a different question. Not what can I get. But what can I do.   Guest Peter Hillary: Explorer, Mountaineer, Son of Sir Edmund Hillary Sponsors Flights Club Accor Plus Explorer Membership

Travel Changes Perspective | Steve Grace on Startups, Status and Living Beyond the Bubble

What if the real advantage in life isn’t just what you earn… …but how you experience the world? In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Grace, Founder of Nudge Group, shares how travel, lifestyle design, and smart flying have shaped the way he lives, parents, and builds businesses. We talk about flying long-haul as a family, why economy is not always the “cheapest” option, and how using smarter travel strategies can unlock premium experiences that most people think are out of reach. Steve shares how he has used services like iFly Flat over the years to make business class travel more accessible, especially when travelling with a family of five. But this conversation goes beyond seats and status. We get into what travel actually does to you. From five-star destinations to islands with no electricity, Steve explains why contrast is the most valuable part of travel, and how those experiences have shaped his kids’ worldview and his own decision making as a founder. We also explore how travel creates perspective, why founders should spend more time outside their environment, and how exposure to different cultures can completely change how you think about business and life. Along the way, we touch on building multiple businesses, the evolution of recruitment through content, and why community and in-person connection are becoming more valuable in a digital world. This is a conversation about travel as leverage. Because once you see more of the world, you start playing a different game. Steve Grace Founder, Nudge Group Nudge Group: https://nudgegroup.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengrace/ Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/ [https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/] Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/ [https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/] 00:00 Why Travel Changes Perspective 02:22 Flying Better and Accessing Business Class 05:18 From Customer to Podcast Guest 10:07 Building a Lifestyle Around Travel 18:00 Why Founders Need Global Exposure 25:49 Raising Kids Through Travel 27:01 Caribbean Travel and Unique Experiences 30:48 Seeing Different Ways of Living 34:58 Travel as a Life Advantage 40:08 Business, Media and Lifestyle Design 45:30 Community and Lifestyle Leverage 50:03 AI, Travel and the Future of Work 53:34 Rapid Fire Travel Questions 55:16 Where He Is Heading Next

Raw C Founder: From One Container to Cracking America

What happens when you wire $25,000 of your life savings into a 20-foot container of coconut water… without a business plan? In this episode of Always Business Class, Scott Mendelson, Founder of Raw C, shares the real story behind building one of Australia’s recognised coconut water brands from scratch and why he is now taking on the 350 million person US market. We talk about selling one box on day one. Driving nine hours around Sydney trying to convince stores to stock a product nobody understood. Competing in a Coles and Woolworths dominated market. And the compounding power of showing up in person. Scott unpacks why naivety can be a competitive edge, how coconut water penetration jumped from 11 percent to over 26 percent, and why flying 15 hours for a two-hour meeting secured a US national retailer. This is a conversation about long games. About protecting factory relationships in Vietnam. About category growth versus ego. About not dying wondering. If you are building a consumer brand, negotiating with major retailers, or thinking about expanding beyond Australia, this episode will sharpen your thinking. Guest Scott Mendelson Founder, Raw C Raw C: https://rawc.com.au/ [https://rawc.com.au/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raw_c/ [https://www.instagram.com/raw_c/]  Sponsors Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/ [https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/] Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/ [https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/] Chapters 00:00 The $25,000 Container 02:52 Why Start FMCG With No Experience 05:22 Selling One Box 10:24 Coconut Water’s Category Growth 16:30 The US Retail Breakthrough 34:19 Factories, Loyalty and Long-Term Thinking 49:59 Taking on America   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Is Points Strategy Worth It for Australian Business Owners?

Is it a scam? Are points even worth it anymore? Do you need millions of points to fly business class? After 150 discovery calls with Australian founders across construction, agriculture, professional services, FMCG and tech, this episode of Always Business Class breaks down the most common myths about points, business class travel, and the Flights Club model. We unpack the psychology of dynamic pricing, why business class fares to the US are now $10,000+, and how points create a fixed-price alternative in a volatile travel market. This is not about hacks or shortcuts. It is about cost versus benefit, systems versus guessing, and using business expenses strategically. If you are a founder spending money anyway and want more comfort, more flexibility and more meaningful travel experiences, this episode is for you. Sponsors Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/ [https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/] Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/ [https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/] Chapters 00:00 Points Equals Flights: The Core Philosophy 02:33 Is Flights Club a Scam? 05:31 Cash vs Points: Two Separate Systems 09:43 Why Fixed Pricing Changes the Game 11:26 Cancellation Freedom and COVID Lessons 13:50 Why People “Can’t Find Seats” 17:35 Using Points Poorly vs Strategically 20:25 The Biggest Earning Myths 27:02 Are Points Worth It Anymore? 37:45 Platinum vs Black Membership Breakdown 42:23 Travel, Joy and Founder Perspective   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.