The founders of Word Birds travel frequently for clients around the country - and Qantas Business Rewards is helping write the script for the autocue provider's next chapter.
It’s a fact that many of us fear public speaking. Even professionals need a little support when stepping into the spotlight. In the decade since its launch, WordBirds, an autocue services company founded by Dani Cleary and Kennie Ward, has helped polish the presentations of CEOs, actors, reality stars, diplomats, royals and yes, everyday people.
The team, which includes eight staff in Sydney plus casuals in Melbourne, utilises the latest tech. But WordBirds’ founders say in-person coaching is just as essential. “The human element brings a different level of quality,” says Ward. “We rehearse with clients to help them deliver their words like a pro.”
With an 83 per cent growth in their client base since 2016, Cleary and Ward explain how frequent travel through Qantas Business Rewards has helped foster repeat customers and grow the business beyond their expectations.
"Visiting overseas suppliers and customers fast-tracked growth"
“In the early days of WordBirds, having the most up-to-date tech and highly skilled operators allowed us to expand quickly,” says Ward. “With key suppliers in the UK, we had to travel to solidify these relationships and test new technology. At the time, Dani was still breastfeeding and needed to bring her young family along. We booked through Qantas Business Rewards to access member savings within our budget, while also knowing we could rely on Qantas’s hospitality and cabin comfort. Years on, we’re still benefitting from that UK trip – since then, we’ve continued to be the Australian supplier of autocue services for our client, ITV, and their series I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! (UK)”
Tip:
Qantas Business Rewards members, save up to 10% off the base fare of selected flights, plus up to 5% off Red e-Deals~.
“Points will help us reach international markets"
“We’ve grown to have teams in Sydney and Melbourne and since many of our crew had never met, we used the points we’d earned through Qantas Business Rewards to fly everyone to visit our new facility in Melbourne and to meet face-to-face,” says Ward. “We also booked hotel rooms using points we’d earned through Qantas Business Rewards, saving us a lot of money.
We’re currently looking to the Asia- Pacific for new opportunities – we’ve already done events in Bali, Thailand and Fiji and there are conference and event opportunities in Singapore to explore. Having a bank of points for our business allows us to think bigger about travel and to consider flight upgrades to ensure our teams arrive well-rested for events.”
“Qantas has the best network for travelling on a tight schedule"
“While we support big TV productions like The Voice and Australian Idol, WordBirds isn’t just for television presenters – autocue makes it easier for anyone to give a live speech or present for a video or virtual event,” says Cleary. “We’ve been working on News Corp Australia’s National Bush Summit for several years now, providing autocue services for emcees and guest speakers all over the country – from Rockhampton to Launceston. Our schedule can suddenly change so we book flexible fares through Qantas Business Rewards to access exclusive member savings. Our Qantas Business Rewards Account makes managing itinerary changes for multiple team members easy, and WordBirds earns Qantas Points on top of those earned by individual travellers so we accumulate points faster. For these high-stakes events, we take critical equipment onboard and Qantas is the only airline that allows us to take 14 kilograms carry-on on domestic trips. That point of difference is essential for us.”
Tip:
With over 1,300 destinations across Australia and the world, the Qantas network is built to get you and your travellers wherever you need to be.
