What if the most valuable “capital” you have isn’t travel points or business revenue, but your health capital?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with Dr Steven Lum Melbourne-trained medical doctor and Founder of Everlab, to unpack the shift from reactive “sick care” to data-driven preventative health. Dr Lu explains why so many high performers make careful decisions in business, then “shoot from the hip” with health, and how Everlab approaches health like a management consultancy, using data to uncover blind spots and prioritise the highest ROI actions.

They explore the difference between lifespan vs healthspan, why travel can quietly tax your body (sleep, dehydration, alcohol, time zones), and simple strategies that help you land sharper and recover faster, even on long-haul flights.

If you travel for business, lead a team, or want to perform at your best for longer, this one will change how you think.

Guest: Dr. Steven Lu

​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steven-lu-82943825a/
Cofounder, Chief Medical Officer - Everlab

Sponsors:

• Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
• Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Key topics: healthspan, preventative health, personalised medicine, longevity, jet lag strategy, sleep optimisation, alcohol and sleep score, VO2 max, DEXA, visceral fat, travel performance.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

• Wellness in hotels: sleep, recovery, gyms, spa, and partnerships

• Airport and travel efficiency tips from a frequent traveller

• How curation beats choice overload

Guest: Emilie Couton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliecouton/
CEO, Accor Plus
Based in Singapore, with 20+ years across Asia and hospitality leadership.

Sponsors:

• Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
• Accor Plus Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Chapters

00:00 The one-way ticket mindset
00:42 Welcome back: first recording of the year + special guest intro
01:24 Emily’s story: Thailand, Singapore, 20+ years in Asia
03:12 Journey vs destination: two travel philosophies
04:13 Why Accor talent stays: the “family” culture
05:35 Living in-region: Phuket, Bali, and discovering Asia properly
07:41 Why Accor Plus exists and how it fits Flyers Club
09:43 Certainty + surprise: the perfect travel balance
11:31 Staycations: the hidden reset most people miss
13:42 The “club” advantage: lounge access as a business tool
14:56 Status fast-track: 30 nights, Platinum, and instant ROI
18:37 Face-to-face beats Zoom: partnerships and serendipity
20:36 The future: travel subscriptions and global expansion
22:23 Will memberships go global across regions?
24:42 Experiences: chefs, shows, behind-the-scenes access
27:56 Travel hacks: lounges, airports, privacy, fast track
34:36 Points strategy: fixed-value points and keeping accounts active
36:22 Wellness: sleep, gyms, recovery, and where hotels are going
39:40 Choice overload: curation as the real advantage
40:40 Unexpected member behaviour: “Red Hot Rooms” as a travel compass
46:34 The dream state: consistency, scale, and global experiences

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does airline status feel so good and why are so many travellers still chasing it, even when it costs them thousands?

In this episode of Always Business Class, the team breaks down the real difference between points and status, why status is deeply emotional, and why points are ultimately strategic. Drawing on decades of travel experience, they unpack the psychology behind loyalty programs, lounge access, upgrades, and the powerful feeling of exclusivity.

You will learn why airline status is becoming harder and more expensive to maintain, how airlines are shifting to spend-based models, and why frequent flyer points are one of the last remaining fixed-price currencies in a world of dynamic pricing.

If you are a business owner, frequent traveller, or anyone trying to fly smarter, this episode will change how you think about loyalty forever.

Sponsors:

• Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
• Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Key Takeaways

• Why airline status feels rewarding but often costs more than it delivers
• The emotional vs strategic difference between status and points
• How airlines are making status harder to earn through spend-based systems
• Why points act as a fixed-price currency in an inflationary travel market
• How to consistently get 2x or more value from your frequent flyer points
• The biggest mistakes people make when earning and redeeming points
• Why hoarding points without a plan leads to wasted value
• How smart planning beats random travel hacks every time
  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 Why status feels so good
01:10 The emotional pull of airline status
02:40 Points vs status explained simply
03:55 Why “free upgrades” are never really free
05:10 The psychology of exclusivity and loyalty
06:40 Airlines moving to spend-based status systems
08:35 Why status runs are getting more expensive
10:40 Points as a fixed-price travel currency
11:25 Real example: points vs cash for business class
12:20 Why paying fees for points can still be profitable
13:15 The psychology of hoarding points

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.