Flight Centre Independent (FCI) has announced that South Africa will host its second Worldwide event. Following the resounding success of the inaugural Worldwide in Santiago, Chile in May 2024, FCI is setting the stage for another spectacular gathering in Sun City, South Africa from September 12-15, 2025.
Worldwide 2024 was FCI’s first major global event, which saw over 300 travel professionals from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa converge in a celebration of travel and collaboration. The overwhelmingly positive response from FCI’s members and industry partners demonstrated a clear demand for Worldwide to become an annual gathering.
South Africa emerged as the preferred destination among FCI's international members. This decision aligns with the group's mission to explore destinations that captivate FCI's members and partners, present opportunities to experience new products and connect as a global community. As one of FCI’s core markets boasting over 200 member businesses, South Africa promises an unforgettable setting for Worldwide 2025.
"We are beyond excited to bring Worldwide 2025 to South Africa. This year's event in Santiago, Chile, was truly amazing, and with the enthusiasm and support from our members and the incredible potential of South Africa, we are ready to do it all again next year," said Chantal Gouws, General Manager of FCI South Africa. "This isn't just an event; it's a movement towards more meaningful and impactful connections."
As the anticipation for Worldwide 2025 mounts, several key partners are already confirmed, signalling strong industry support for FCI.
Registration will open in late 2024, and details about exclusive pre- and post-conference educational trips and special offers from partners designed to enhance the Worldwide experience will be revealed in early 2025.
Watch the destination reveal video FCI members received from the support team CLICK HERE.
The first Worldwide 2024 Conference held in May 2024, highlighted the importance of community gatherings for ITCs. Khudija Moola, an attendee, emphasised the benefits: "The opportunity to meet with like-minded individuals and getting to know each other's businesses and operational techniques was so valuable”.
Gary De Sa added, "As this was the inaugural conference for Worldwide, I was excited to be a part of the first one and to have the opportunity to not only meet other colleagues from all over the world but to also experience the partners that contributed to the amazing few days."
This sentiment was echoed by Zola Somzana, another South African travel advisor who attended the Worldwide 2024 Conference, "I had the opportunity to connect with people who have an amazing passion for what they do, which was truly inspiring. There was some great value gained from other independents, supplier interactions and keynote speakers, which will be beneficial to my own business."
Michelle Page, another attendee, highlighted the success, "My best experience at Global was to realise the size of our brand and how much it has grown from very humble beginnings. The overall content of guest speakers, suppliers and of course meeting with other people within the FCI branded and unbranded space in SA - was a massive success in my mind!"
Emilene Rangaya, the Envy award winner for The Community Impact Award South said: “I believe building relationships and gaining insights into different destinations at Worldwide 2024 is invaluable. By connecting with industry peers and learning about various destinations, I can enhance my expertise and bring back valuable knowledge to share with my clients. This exchange of information empowers me to better serve my clients, offering them a richer and more informed experience tailored to their needs and interests."
Worldwide 2025 underscores FCI's commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the travel advisor community. The event is an opportunity for FCI advisors to connect with other members, industry partners, and the FCI team to learn about the latest travel products and gain valuable tools and skills to boost their business savvy.
