New York, NY (June 13, 2025) – Plug and Play, a leading innovation platform and accelerator program for early-stage startups and emerging growth companies, this week announced Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) as the winner of its ‘Corporate Innovation Award,’ given to the corporate partner that best demonstrates a commitment to digital transformation through acquisitions, investments, proof of concepts, and thought leadership.
The prestigious award was presented during Plug and Play’s three-day Silicon Valley Summit, held at the company global headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, from June 10th – June 12th. FCTG is now a three-time recipient of the ‘Corporate Innovation Award,’ having previously won in 2022 and 2020.
“We’re incredibly proud to be honored again with the ‘Corporate Innovation Award’ from Plug and Play,” said John Morhous, Chief Experience Officer, Flight Centre Travel Group – Corporate Brands. “Our flagship business travel divisions of FCM Travel and Corporate Traveler are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation, and this recognition reflects our dedication to driving meaningful transformation across the corporate travel space.”
“Our collaboration with Plug and Play’s accelerator program has allowed us to connect with some of the brightest, most forward-thinking minds in the industry,” added Morhous. “These relationships have been instrumental to our continued success through the years, often leading to strategic investments or impactful partnerships that have enabled us to develop groundbreaking new technology solutions.”
FCTG has long been a champion for innovation in travel, embracing the latest advancements in technology to help enhance the customer experience for both of its corporate brands, FCM Travel and Corporate Traveler. Through its ongoing partnership with Plug and Play, FCTG has been able to make significant investments and acquisitions in select tech-driven companies – such as Shep, WhereTo, Sam, and Umapped – that have played a key role in transforming the business.
FCTG was first introduced to Shep, a browser-extension technology designed to enhance business travel communication, through Plug and Play’s startup accelerator program. In 2018, Shep won top honors in the travel startup competition at Plug and Play’s Summit. FCTG made an initial investment in Shep in 2020, which was followed by a full acquisition in 2021.
After the ownership transition, Shep CEO and co-founder Daniel Senyard joined the FCTG team, where he led the integration of Shep’s capabilities into FCM’s operations, most notably through its FCM Extension product. A travel technology pioneer, Senyard now serves as SVP of Commercial Platforms and Innovation for FCTG, where he has been integral in advancing the company’s efforts in the emerging AI space.
“It’s tremendously rewarding to be recognized again by Plug and Play – nearly seven years after Shep was first honored,” said Senyard. “Plug and Play was where my journey began and where I first connected with Flight Centre Travel Group, setting the path that ultimately led to our acquisition. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and a shared belief in innovation. Today, I’m proud to give back through my continued involvement with Plug and Play, mentoring the next generation of travel tech leaders within the same ecosystem that gave me my start – truly a full circle moment.”
The Silicon Valley Summit is Plug and Play’s bi-annual event, bringing together hundreds of startups, corporate partners, venture capitalists, and thought leaders to showcase emerging technologies, celebrate innovation, and foster new partnerships.
“Flight Centre Travel Group continues to set a high bar for what corporate innovation can look like in practice,” said Amir Amidi, Managing Partner at Plug and Play. “Over the years, they’ve demonstrated not only a deep commitment to digital transformation but also a genuine openness to collaboration—whether through early-stage pilots, strategic investments, or full acquisitions. Their work with startups like Shep and ongoing engagement with our ecosystem are prime examples of how sustained innovation can drive long-term value. We’re proud to recognize FCTG once again for their leadership and continued impact across the travel industry.”
For more information on the event, please visit here.
About Flight Centre Travel Group
Flight Centre Travel Group is one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The company, which is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, has company-owned leisure and corporate travel business in dozens of countries, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) also operates the global FCM corporate travel management network, which extends to more than 100 countries through company-owned businesses and independent licensees, along with Corporate Traveler, the flagship business specific to the small-to-medium-sized enterprise sector. For more information, visit fctgl.com.
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/.
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Media Contact
Scott Weiss – Flight Centre Travel Group
U.S. Director of PR and Communications
scott.weiss@us.flightcentre.com