By Claire Cassidy
There’s something special about working in film and television, that unique blend of creativity, collaboration, and organised chaos that brings incredible stories to life. For me, leading new sales in the Film, TV, and Production division at Identity Travel (formerly Beyond Business Travel) is more than just a job; it’s a perfect combination of my passion for film and my profession in travel management. It’s what drew me to this exciting business, in my 12 years in the travel industry, I’ve never had the privilege to work in this incredible sector.
I’ve been a film lover for as long as I can remember, I think the catalyst was my grandparents bringing out of print Disney VHS tapes back from New York when they worked on the Cunard Liners out of Liverpool. This then developed as the years went on, from getting lost in studio system era classics, like Gone with the Wind and It happened One Night, to analysing the cinematography of a Scorsese or Orson Wells masterpiece, or being completely knocked off my feet age 7 seeing Jurassic Park on the big screen for the first time. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling on screen. So, to now play a small but vital role in helping productions run smoothly, and, in a way, helping stories get told? It feels incredibly rewarding.
Over the years, our team has been privileged to support some truly iconic productions. From Line of Duty and Derry Girls to Game of Thrones and The Northman, we’ve worked behind the scenes to coordinate travel for cast, crew, and equipment, often across multiple locations and ever changing schedules. It’s a side of production that most people never see, yet it’s essential to keeping everything moving. When a team is filming in remote Iceland one week and back in Belfast the next, we’re the ones making sure every transfer, flight, and hotel booking lines up flawlessly.
What makes production travel different
What makes production travel so different, and so exciting, is its unpredictability. Last minute location changes, weather delays, VIP movements, changing crew sizes? Not a problem, no two days are the same. That’s where our experience really shows. Our operations team is phenomenal, led by Cliff Garland (our number 1 production travel expert), they’re calm under pressure, creative in their problem solving, and deeply knowledgeable about the realities of production logistics. Working side by side with them, I bring the industry knowledge and client perspective that help us craft a service perfectly tailored to this niche world.
We’ve built something truly special here, a travel management service that feels more like an extension of a production team than an external supplier. So much so that production managers come back to us time and again when they move across different studios and production companies. We understand the rhythm of this industry: long days, tight deadlines, and the need to move fast without missing details. That’s why we provide 24/7 support, flexible solutions, and clear communication no matter how complex the project becomes.
Evolving with Identity Global
Now, as we integrate fully into Identity Global and transition from Beyond Business Travel to Identity Travel, we’re taking that personalised service to the next level. Being part of such a dynamic, creative group allows us to offer even more, from aligning with event management and experiential production teams to supporting clients with sustainability tracking, data reporting, and end to end logistical support. It’s an exciting evolution that will help both large and small production companies simplify their operations and focus on what matters most: creating great content. Experience Changes Everything, after all, is our philosophy.
Sustainability in production travel
Sustainability is also a growing part of what we do. The film and TV world is rightly becoming more conscious of environmental impact, and we’re proud to help productions measure, offset, and reduce their travel footprint. We use advanced reporting tools to provide insights and options that align with greener production practices, because efficiency and responsibility should always go hand in hand. We are also fully Albert Accredited so you can rest assured that we will follow those standards on every production.
A small role in something bigger
What I love most about this role is seeing the bigger picture: knowing that our logistical precision and passion for service play a small but meaningful part in the creative process. Every flight we book, every last minute schedule we reshape, every crew we reunite in a new location, it all contributes to getting that next great story on screen.
If I couldn’t become a famous film critic or screenwriter, I can happily settle for this small contribution to the film industry. Seeing our company name in the rolling credits? For me, as a lifelong film buff, it doesn’t get much better than that.
