What if your travel life got easier overnight? In this episode of Always Business Class, we sit down with Emilie Couton, CEO of Accor Plus, for her first Australian podcast.
Emily shares how a one-way ticket to Thailand turned into two decades across Asia and a leadership career in hospitality, plus the real strategy behind Accor Plus 2.0: simplicity, transparency, instant value, and a membership that blends certainty (lounges, early check-in, recognition) with serendipity (surprise upgrades, experiences, and discovery).
We unpack the perks members actually use, why staycations can be as powerful as international holidays, and how the future of travel is moving toward curated memberships, wellness, and hyper-personalised experiences.
If you travel for business, lead a team across cities, or want travel to feel smoother, calmer, and more rewarding, this one is for you.
Subscribe for more travel strategy, points thinking, and business-class level upgrades to how you move.
In this episode
-
The “one-way ticket” mindset and why some people never move back
-
Living in Asia vs visiting: why your travel world expands fast
-
Certainty vs serendipity: comfort, timing, smooth travel, and surprise moments
-
How Accor Plus 2.0 was rebuilt with 7,000-member research
-
Why dining benefits (up to 10 people) can pay back the membership quickly
-
Why lounges and hotel clubs are an underrated business advantage
-
Staycations as a reset tool, not a luxury
-
“Red Hot Rooms” as a new way to choose destinations
-
Subscriptions in travel, global membership expansion, and what’s next
