FACTS founders launch Academy for Travel to extend industry training year-round

Academy for Travel has launched in Sydney ahead of FACTS 2026, offering self-paced corporate travel courses for buyers, suppliers, managers and newcomers. The platform aims to turn two days of conference content into year-round professional development as the sector adapts to fast-moving technology and procurement changes.

Why it matters: - Academy for Travel is trying to fill a long-standing training gap in corporate travel with structured, practitioner-led courses. - The platform is designed to keep industry education available beyond the two-day FACTS conference. - The launch comes as corporate travel is changing fast, with agentic AI, shifting procurement practices and rising traveler expectations reshaping the field.

What happened: - Academy for Travel (AFT) launched ahead of FACTS 2026, which will be held at ICC Sydney on 25-26 November. - The platform was founded by Peter Harbison and Derek Sadubin, co-founders of FACTS, together with Jamie Harbison. - AFT offers self-paced online courses for travel managers, buyers, suppliers and people new to the industry. - The platform is built to extend the expertise shared at FACTS into year-round learning.

The details: - AFT courses are written by experienced industry practitioners. - FACTS speakers are being invited to create additional courses for the platform. - The flagship course is Mini-MBA: Corporate Travel in Australia. - The Mini-MBA has 10 modules and more than 13 hours of learning. - The course covers TMC operations, procurement, airline revenue management, distribution technology, duty of care, sustainability, data and the future of corporate travel to 2035. - Peter Harbison, Derek Sadubin and Virginia Fitzpatrick teach the programme. - Fitzpatrick is managing director of Partnership Travel Consulting and a FACTS advisory board member. - Fitzpatrick brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate travel. - AFT also offers editions tailored to New Zealand, the UK and the USA. - The catalogue includes a buyer-focused Mini-MBA for Australian procurement teams. - Other courses include Scaling AI in Corporate Travel for TMCs and specialist modules on Formula 1 and international yacht race logistics. - Courses on GDS distribution and NDC for travel managers are in development. - Sofia, AFT's AI learning assistant, supports learners.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a broader shift from event-based learning to on-demand professional development. - AFT is positioning itself as a practical answer to an industry that wants current training without waiting for annual conferences. - The platform also suggests growing demand for education that can keep pace with rapidly changing technology and commercial models. - One university travel program manager said organisations like AFT can help prepare people to be work-ready and able to hit the ground running. - Another launch attendee said digital learning can keep industry conversation going between conferences.

What's next: - FACTS speakers are expected to add more courses to the platform. - AFT plans to expand its catalogue with more offerings in GDS distribution and NDC for travel managers. - FACTS 2026 is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees, 150 exhibitors and 200 speakers across eight stages. - All FACTS stages will be free of sponsored content. - Academy for Travel courses are 50 per cent off for FACTS 2026 delegates until the conference closes at midnight AEDT on 26 November 2026. - The Mini-MBA: Corporate Travel in Australia is discounted to A$497.50 from A$995 for delegates. - More information is available at factsevent.com and academyfortravel.com. - Academy for Travel also has a LinkedIn page at the company's LinkedIn page.