FCM Travel named a finalist in Australian Financial Review’s Most Innovative Companies 2026

Now in its 15^th year, the Most Innovative Companies list is produced by the AFR in partnership with KPMG Australia, and celebrates organisations across Australia and New Zealand that are turning inspiration into genuine, in-market innovation.

Entrants were assessed against a KPMG-designed framework spanning commercial outcomes, market disruption, responsible innovations, and organisational innovation practice.

FCM’s entry centred on Sam’s 2026 agentic upgrade, which went live in June. In just the first two weeks, Sam handled more than 14,500 genuine traveller conversations across 61 countries – resolving the large majority of them without any human involvement, and freeing FCM’s consultants to focus on the complex, high-value moments where people make the difference.

FCM Travel General Manager ANZ Renos Rologas said being named a finalist was a proud moment for the whole team.

“To be considered one of the most innovative companies in ANZ is a real achievement, and it’s a direct reflection of the team who’ve spent years building Sam into something genuinely our own,” Mr Rologas said.

“We’ve seen travellers use Sam for everything from checking an itinerary to navigating a disruption in real time, and the volume and pace of that adoption has told us we’re solving a problem our customers actually have.

“What matters most to us isn’t the technology on its own, but the fact that it frees our people up for the moments that matter. With Sam handling the simpler, routine queries, our consultants get to dedicate their time to more complex issues where a human makes all the difference.

“Sam has been a multi-year investment for FCM, built on our own data, our own architecture, and years of understanding what corporate travellers and travel managers actually need. Being recognised by the AFR and KPMG alongside some of Australia and New Zealand’s most innovative companies is validation of that long-term bet.

“We want to thank our customers, whose trust and feedback shaped Sam every step of the way, and our teams globally who continue to build something we’re genuinely proud to put in front of travellers every day.”