Australian digital music distribution and artist services platform GYROstream has been named the recipient of Flight Centre Business Travel’s 2024 Corporate Travel Grant to help independent artists and labels achieve success on a global scale.
“GYROstream stands for ‘Get Your Record Out’ and we help independent artists take their music to the world. We distribute artists globally on all the major streaming platforms, whilst they retain their independence,” co-founders Andy Irvine and Viv Mellish said at the Corporate Travel Grant final pitching event in Brisbane.
“Building our team and networks globally from our Brisbane base provides some challenges. We also need to be on the ground to build this presence and to become one of the biggest net exporters of Australian music. This travel grant will greatly help to build those networks so we can promote our artists globally.”
GYROstream was successful over the other Corporate Travel Grant finalists: environmentally sustainable magnesium producer Latrobe Magnesium; accessible information digital platform Cérge; sports media company Forever Network; and premium infant formula manufacturer Mumamoo.
To apply for the $30,000 Corporate Travel Grant, SMEs needed to answer three questions online about how winning the Corporate Travel Grant would help them achieve their goals, and ensure they were signed up to Virgin Australia’s Business Flyer program.
Flight Centre Business Travel then selected the top five entries from over 400 received and flew representatives from each finalist organisation to its Global Head Office in Brisbane, to present their pitch in more detail to the selection panel — Candice Marsh, Flight Centre Business Travel Regional GM, Qld & WA; Megan Henderson, Flight Centre Global Brand Experience Leader; and Shanika Ekanayake, General Manager, of Virgin Australia’s SME program Virgin Australia Business Flyer.
Flight Centre Business Travel’s Global General Manager Cameron Harris said that they were delighted with the number and quality of applicants for this year’s grant from across a variety of industries.
“It was extremely difficult for our judges to separate these five amazing finalists,” Harris said.
“We’re thrilled to bring these opportunities to support SMEs and understand as a travel partner some of the challenges they face as they grow and expand their offerings.”
(L to R) Travel Grant Finalists: Latrobe Magnesium (Sal Awad); Mumamoo (Miriam Weir and Belinda Humphris); Winner: GYROstream (Vivienne Mellish and Andy Irvine); Forever Network (Alex Sumsky and Samantha Pasfield); and Cérge (Chris Kerrisk and Victoria Kerrisk).
The Corporate Travel Grant first prize worth $30,000 includes $20,000 travel credit with Virgin Australia; two Platinum Velocity memberships; $5,000 IHG Hotels & Resorts accommodation credit; and $3,000 Hertz car hire credit.
The four runners-up won a share of $10,000 in Flight Centre Business Travel credit, plus a share of $10,000 in Virgin Australia travel credit and two Velocity Gold memberships each.
One of the judges, Flight Centre’s Megan Henderson said, “All the finalists really articulated their mission and they are to be congratulated for their submissions and presentations.
“GYROstream really struck a chord with the entrepreneurial spirit of both Virgin Australia and Flight Centre and their passion taking Australian artists to the world. They demonstrated a strong belief of what the travel grant could unlock for their organisation and the artists.”
Continual feedback from the SME community reinforces that the support provided through partnering with Flight Centre Business Travel and the immense value of their annual Corporate Travel Grant plays an invaluable role in supporting their business growth and success.
Flight Centre Business Travel’s Corporate Travel Grant will be back in 2025. Businesses can subscribe to receive notifications when applications are next open for the Corporate Travel Grant.
Feature image: (L to R) Candice Marsh, Flight Centre Business Travel Regional GM, Qld & WA; GYROstream Co-founders Viv Mellish and Andy Irvine; Megan Henderson, Flight Centre Global Brand Experience Leader; and Shanika Ekanayake, General Manager, of Virgin Australia’s SME program Virgin Australia Business Flyer.