FCm Travel Solutions’ has expanded its specialist oil and gas operation in Aberdeen with the appointment of Claire McCarthy as business development manager to focus on growing the travel management’s client base in this market.

FCm already services some 70 clients in the energy sector from its Aberdeen office, which won new business worth £18 million in 2014, and is targeting 20 per cent growth of a further £20 million in 2015.

McCarthy brings extensive experience in the Granite City’s business travel market, having held key sales manager roles at Malmaison Aberdeen and Macdonald Hotels & Resorts’ Norwood Hall Hotel and Pittodrie House over the last three years.

Her appointment coincides with the official launch of FCm’s new premises in Aberdeen.

“FCm Travel Solutions has built a market leading reputation working with a range of clients across the globe, and I am looking forward to supporting the firm’s continued development and in particular helping to grow its Aberdeen client base,” commented McCarthy.

“My main focus is to target SME business in Aberdeen.

“Businesses with a spend of up to £2 million would benefit from the way we service our clients.”

The travel management company, which has been operating in Aberdeen for over ten years and employs 40 staff, has taken over two floors of parent company Flight Centre’s new flagship store in a Grade 2 listed building on Union Street

Mairead Hayden, operations director, FCm Travel Solutions Aberdeen added: “The logistics of arranging business travel in the energy sector are often very complex because of the type of destinations involved, multi-sector travel and the need for flexibility in changing bookings at short notice.

“Companies in the oil and gas sector are not always aware that they can benefit from off-shore fares. FCm’s global product team can source specific rates for the oil, gas and maritime industry for travel originating overseas.

“However it’s not just about cost; duty of care is now equally high on our client’s agenda, especially as they are travelling to more remote destinations in West Africa, Nigeria and Brazil,” added Hayden.

“We have definitely seen a shift in focus among clients over the last 18 months towards duty of care. It has become very important and companies have realised that they need to put traveller tracking in place and drive compliance so that their people can be traced in an emergency.”