australia business traveller

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Business Customs

AnchorAnchorAnchorConducting business in Australia is relatively easy for American companies due to the similarities in language, cultural environment, business practices, and customer expectations. Australians pay attention to advance planning, promptness, follow-up, and are generally direct in their business dealings. They typically conduct business on a first-name basis and exchange business cards for information purposes, but without any special ceremony. Token gift exhange is not common; however, luncheon and breakfest meetings are common. Australians do not typically schedule business functions on weekends. Business attire is the norm for the cities, and rural areas are slightly more informal.

Travel Advisory

Please check the Australian Embassy in the U.S. for the latest information on entering Australia.  For further State Department Travel Advisory information on Australia, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s travel website . 

Website for the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia is: U.S. Embassy in Australia

Visa Requirements

AnchorAnchorAmericans traveling to Australia for business and/or leisure must hold a valid U.S. passport and either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Information is available at 

https://usa.embassy.gov.au/travel-australia or immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia/can-i-go-to-australia . For the location of the nearest Australian diplomatic facility, please refer to https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/our-embassies-and-consulates-overseas .

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has extended the use of SmartGate to U.S. citizens on arrival in Australia. SmartGate is a simple way for eligible travelers arriving into Australia’s international airports to self-process through passport control. Further information is available on U.S. Customs Trusted Traveller Program website.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign business persons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. For information, visa applicants should go to the following link(s):  State Department Visa Website

Australia’s local currency is the Australian Dollar.  Credit cards are accepted throughout the country and ATM’s are readily available.  Additional currency information is availabe on the australia.com website.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure is well developed.  Cell phone network coverage is available across Australia, however coverage may be limited in some remote areas.  Australian telecommunications providers include: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. All the cell phone carriers run 4G networks. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have started to activitate 5G networks in limited areas around the country and will continue widespread expansion.  You will need to make prior arrangements with your communications carrier or service provider to ensure you are able to use your cellular phone in Australia. Power voltage is 240 volts/50Hz.

Australia and New Zealand use power terminals that differ from those used in the United States. Adaptors can be purchased at airports or specific electronic stores.

Internet access is widely available at hotels, internet cafés and libraries. There are many Wi-Fi hotspots in the central business districts (CBDs) of the biggest cities.

Transportation

It is a 14-hour non-stop flight from the West Coast of the United States (San Francisco or Los Angeles) to the East Coast of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane).

Several international airlines service the trans-pacific route including Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines with flights departing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York  and Honolulu to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  Please refer to airlines’ websites for updated flight options, availability and information.

Most flights depart from the United States late in the evening and arrive in Australia early morning, with a day lost at the International Date Line. Travel to or from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa from Australia is also convenient.

Australians drive on the left side of the road. Major U.S. and Australian car rental agencies operate throughout the country. Reservations are available through airports, hotels, travel agents, or directly, using a credit card and a U.S. or international driver’s license.

Public transportation is well-developed throughout urban areas. Convenient bus, rail, and air services are available between cities and country towns.

Air Travel Times Within Australia

Sydney to Melbourne - 1 hour

Sydney to Brisbane - 1 hour

Sydney to Perth - 4 hours

Sydney to Canberra - 35 minutes

Sydney to Adelaide – 2 hours

Melbourne to Brisbane - 2 hours

Melbourne to Perth - 4 hours

Brisbane to Perth - 6 hours

Australia is an English-speaking country.

AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAustralia has no notable health risks and public tap water is safe to drink. There are active campaigns to encourage the population to protect themselves from exposure to Australia’s strong sun and to use sunscreen.  Medical and dental services, and all types of health facilities, are comparable with those in the United States. Visitors can easily receive medical attention, but may be required to pay for services immediately, either by cash or credit card.

Local Time, Business Hours & Holidays

Australia has three time zones: Eastern, Central, and Western. Not all Australian states observe daylight savings time and the dates for the switch to and from daylight savings time varies.

Office business hours are generally between 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Most shops in major city centers are open on Saturday and Sunday and at least one night a week for evening trading. Banks are open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, with 24/7 ATM service. Restaurants and convenience stores are typically open for extended hours.

Australians generally take annual vacation in December and January, combining Christmas/New Year with the school summer vacation period. Consequently, business slows down and it may be difficult to schedule business appointments during this time. Business travelers should ascertain whether their contacts are available during this period before scheduling trips to Australia.

A list of Public Holidays in Australia can be found on the Australian Government website.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Certain goods may be brought into Australia on a temporary basis for a period of up to 12 months without the payment of duty or taxes. These goods are referred to as temporary imports.  Approval for temporary imports is granted under Section 162 or Section 162A of the Customs Act 1901.

Goods that qualify as temporary imports may also be imported under carnet, where a security is lodged with a carnet issuing body overseas, or under security, where a security is lodged with the Australian Customs Service (Customs) at the time of import. The nature of the goods, what they will be used for while they are in Australia, and who is importing the goods will determine whether or not the goods will qualify.

There are conditions placed on temporary imports.  The most important condition is that you export the goods within the time limits approved.  If the goods are not exported within the time limit you will have to pay to customs an amount equal to the duty and taxes that would have been payable if when you first imported the goods, the goods had not been treated as temporary imports.

For further information, please visit https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/temporary-imports

Latest Corporate Traveller data shows Aussie ‘Bleisure’ boom

Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller’s latest data shows a significant shift towards flexible work and travel integration, as Australian business travel defies global trends, almost doubling the international average with a six-night stay. The figures were released following exclusive analysis of flight booking data from October 2023 to March 2024, which revealed a five per cent rise in the average bleisure stay length.

Fuelled by flexible working trends and a continued appetite for travel following the pandemic, The Aussie ‘Bleisure’ boom contrasts sharply with global counterparts, with an average business trip spanning only 3.5 nights.[1] the figures show Australian’s are combining business and travel far more compared with the same period in the previous year.

Additional figures from the Global Business Travel Association reveal that more than six out of 10 (62%) of travellers blend business and travel more than they did in 2019, with 79 per cent choosing to stay at the same accommodation for both work and play.

Australia’s Total Business Travel Spending (BTS) forecast for 2023 was put at $23,519 million USD, up from $18,538 million USD in 2022, which highlights Australia as an important market in the global business travel industry, while further reflecting recovery and growth in business travel spending.

“Prior to the pandemic, mixing business with pleasure while away for work was a real luxury and not necessarily the done thing, but that has all changed in the last couple of years,” said Australia-based Global Managing Director for FCTG’s Corporate Traveller, Tom Walley. “Corporates have now realised that extending trips for themselves or having their family come along to join them after a trip has ended is a great way to build upon health and wellness in the workplace.”

He adds that cost of living pressures could also be behind Australian business travellers embracing bleisure trips as it offers a cost-effective way to enjoy a destination while saving on expenses. Organisations are also benefiting from this trend as it is leads to higher employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention – without additional costs to the company[2].

“This data also delivers a valuable insight into Australian business travel trends, providing organisations an opportunity to cater to the evolving needs of their employee’s business travel requirements. The bleisure travel trend isn’t going anywhere, and given the growth we’ve recorded, it’s clear we need to ensure we’re continuing to meet that demand.”

[1] GBTA Beyond Rebound: Charting the next course for global business travel. March 2024 [2] https://markwideresearch.com/bleisure-travel-market/

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TM staff writer

The Travel Monitor ‘First News of the Day’ is delivered to subscribers Monday to Friday, arriving in inboxes at 7am.

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What Australia’s Business Travel Managers Should Know

Business travel in Australia has made a strong comeback after the decline previously caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resurgence greatly boosts the country’s economy, as businesses return to interstate and international collaborations and face-to-face meetings . 

This is having a stimulating effect on various sectors, from the hospitality industry to transportation services and beyond. Business travel operations from SMEs, which 97% of all Australian businesses according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, are heavily contributing to this resurgence.

But as we navigate this new landscape, what should Australian Business Travel Managers know to maximize this upturn successfully? This article will delve into key insights and strategies for capitalizing on the current business travel trends in Australia.

In this article, we'll take a look at:

The high number of interstate flight cancellations

Now, onto flight cancellations. According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) .

• Nearly one in 10 flights from Melbourne to Sydney were cancelled in March.
• Jetstar had the highest cancellation rate at 7.1%, followed by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 5.6% and Qantas at 3.6%.

Yikes! That many cancellations are a lot. The culprits? A mix of:

• Bad weather conditions
• Supply chain issues
• Staffing availability concerns

Plus, Sydney Airport is struggling with its own challenges, such as the slot system and the 80-20 rule, which govern the allocation of flight slots. Thankfully, a helping hand is in sight. The Federal Government’s Harris Review aims to reform legislation concerning Sydney Airport’s demand management.

Cheaper flights soon

Who doesn’t enjoy finding a good deal ? The time might be ideal if you’ve been holding off on booking that business vacation. Why, you ask? Let’s dig into some exciting trends and data in the Australian aviation industry.

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics :

• Passenger numbers in Australia are bouncing back to pre-2020 levels. This signals renewed confidence in air travel.
• As the aviation industry recovers, airlines are increasing their capacity, meaning more available seats on flights.

What’s the impact of this increased capacity? Simple economics, really:

• An increase in supply (seats on flights) often leads to a decrease in prices.
• This means there’s a high likelihood of cheaper seats in the coming months. It’s music to any budget-conscious business traveller’s ears!

Sure, the journey hasn’t been without turbulence. Airlines like Qantas have faced their fair share of diversions and delays recently. But hold up – this doesn’t suggest a failing industry. Quite the opposite, in fact!

The clouds are parting after a difficult period, and the Australian aviation industry is poised for takeoff. It’s an exciting time for business travellers and a promising sign for Australia’s golden triangle.

The New Tourism Taxes

Let’s talk about the proposed Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) . From July 2024:

• The federal budget will increase the PMC by $10 to $70.
• The additional charge has been widely criticized as a “tourism tax”. This policy could cause a hike in travel charges for Australians and inflate the expenses for international tourists looking to explore Australia.
• The extra $10 charge on outbound flights is projected to generate an astounding $1.38 billion in revenue in 2024/25.

Not everyone is cheering about this change, though. The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is forecasting an added cost of $520 million for the industry over the span of the next five years due to this hike. Some are even calling for a five-year freeze on future increases to provide certainty for the industry and more transparency on how the PMC revenue is allocated.

This change comes at a time when travel levels are still 30% below pre-Covid levels. The travel industry, still nursing the effects of the pandemic, faces an uphill battle.

How Sustainability Affects Business Travel Choices

Now, let’s pivot to a subject that resonates with many: sustainable practices. In a survey conducted by Corporate Traveller , a fantastic 58% of Australian SME business owners are planning to reduce carbon emissions and waste through their travel policies in 2023.

Sounds promising, doesn’t it? And what are the top sustainability features they’re looking for? They include:

• More direct flights
• Electric vehicle (EV) car hire options
• Airlines with carbon emissions reduction programs
• Accommodation close to meeting venues to facilitate public transport use
• Airlines that offer carbon-offsetting options

In Australia, the transportation and aviation sectors together are responsible for 17% of the nation’s emissions. Hence, there’s a push towards using sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and renewable energy sources to curb these emissions.

The takeaway here? We must learn from successful sustainability initiatives in other markets and adopt or invest in them locally. It’s a responsibility we all share!

TruTrip: Australia business travel management companion

Navigating the complexities of modern business travel doesn’t have to be daunting. A modern travel management company like TruTrip can help you streamline your operations, leverage data for informed decision-making, and personalize the travel experience for your travellers.

Not only can we help Australia business travel managers overcome the challenges of flight cancellations in interstate business travel, but we can also assist you in capitalizing on the trend of cheaper flights. Additionally, we’re committed to supporting your sustainability initiatives, providing solutions that minimize carbon emissions and promote environmentally friendly practices.

We also understand the implications of new tourism taxes and are ready to help corporate travel managers navigate these changes effectively. We aim to make business travel as optimized, cost-effective, and sustainable as possible for all parties involved. If you’re ready to take your business travel management to the next level, we invite you to book a demo or sign up for a free trial with TruTrip today.

Upgrade your travel management programme now!

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2023 SME business travel outlook

The travel industry was back in full force in 2022 thanks to a return to face-to-face meetings, events and workplaces. Australian based Global Managing Director for Corporate Traveller, Tom Walley, said the sector’s recovery had paved the way for several trends in travel and business, which he expects will emerge from 2023.

“Flight Centre Travel Group’s corporate divisions, including Corporate Traveller, recovered healthily in 2022, with transaction volume returning to around 90% of pre-COVID levels,” Tom said. “From 2023, I’m forecasting the business travel industry will continue capitalising on its post-COVID growth as businesses and their employees gain more confidence and motivation to return to the office and the skies. The travel journey will become event more digitised and new industry partnerships will emerge to broaden the choices available to travellers.”

Below, Tom shares seven SME business travel trends for the year ahead -:

• Domestic travel costs will decrease while international costs will remain high until Chinese carriers return. Domestic travel costs in the US have started to plateau and fall. It’s expected the same trend will occur in Australia this year. Rex Airlines has been helping by providing more Golden Triangle flights and increasing domestic competition. More significant, however, is an anticipated fall in international travel costs. Tom predicts Chinese carriers will return in the first half of 2023, bringing competition back to the market and flight capacity back to circa 90% of pre-COVID levels by mid-2023. As a result, the cost of Australia-Europe and Asia routes will decrease, while Australia-US routes will be slower to fall. More hotel and car rental capacity will come online early this year.
• Middle management will return to the skies. Through 2020 and 2021, business directors and essential workers have been doing most of the travelling, as businesses travelled only for essential reasons. Corporate Traveller expects middle management to make a strong travel comeback next year.
• Businesses will book travel further in advance amid easing infection and restriction fears. A global survey late 2022 found that 4% of business travellers would limit or cancel their travel 2023 due to COVID risks. [1] It’s anticipated that Australian businesses will no longer regard COVID as a top travel concern. Fears of infection risks and Government restrictions will continue to drop. As a result, Tom says more businesses will book their travel well in advance. “We are beginning to see businesses booking travel 40 days in advance at Corporate Traveller – from 30 days during the height of the pandemic – as a result of improved confidence and a way to reduce travel costs.”
• ‘Work from anywhere’ policies will increase. As the tight labour market continues, Tom predicts more companies will offer ‘work from anywhere’ policies to retain people. This will motivate more executives to take working holidays. Travelling to meet and build rapport with other team members will be offered by businesses to improve employee relationships, morale, and retention. One company doing this well is eCommerce platform Shopify, which offers remote working with programs that foster in-person connection and team building. Its ‘Destination90’ program allows staff to work from any location for 90 consecutive days and encourages them to meet and work with other Shopify teams face-to-face in other cities. [2]
• The travel journey will become more digitised. We’ll be hearing ‘digital ID’ more frequently in 2023 in the move to protect individual identities and to help create digital, seamless services – including travel. Incoming passenger declaration cards have moved online this year, and Tom forecasts passports will be next in line to becoming digitised.
• Travel providers will tap into the gig economy. Tom expects more travel providers will draw on the gig economy for selected services. For instance, hotels will replace in-house dining options through food delivery partnerships, such as UberEats. It is a phenomenon Tom has already seen emerge. The Little National Hotel chain, for instance, has replaced in-house dining with an UberEats partnership, offering UberEats gift cards for purchase as part of their accommodation package. Rooms are equipped with tablets, allowing guests to order in-room dining options easily, simply inputting their gift card number upon ordering. [3] Tom also expects partnerships with gig economy providers to expand to include additional perks, such as discounted or free delivery.
• More workers will return to offices, but hybrid arrangements will remain. Office occupancy rates in major cities lifted slightly in October to an average of 63%. [4] Tom anticipates occupancy rates will continue to grow but fluctuate in 2023, as more businesses return to the office full-time, for collaboration and accountability reasons, while others will maintain hybrid working arrangements with at least three days in the office – particularly as COVID variants continue to emerge. Flight Centre Travel Group has had such a strong return to the office this year it has introduced hotdesking to house all returning employees. Tom says new flexible arrangements will be a benefit to new parents. “It’s never been a better time for parents to return to the workforce and we may see more coming back earlier, as there is less of a requirement to come into the office, thus helping families save on childcare costs.” 

[1] Global Business Travel Association, October 2022, gbta.org/wp-content/uploads/Business-Travel-Recovery-Poll-October-2022-v3.pdf

[2] Shopify, shopify.com/careers/work-anywhere

[3] Uber, uber.com/en-AU/blog/anz-uber-for-business-little-national-hotels/

[4] Property Council of Australia, 9 November 2022, research.propertycouncil.com.au/blog/october-2022-office-occupancy-result

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Booking.com under fire over failure to refund australian man’s $3800 double-booking error.

Man left waiting months for Booking.com refund

A Melbourne man who made a simple but costly error while booking a flight has been waiting eight months for a refund.

Every Wednesday morning for the past eight months, Scott Mitchell has logged onto his computer and sent an email.

He is taking on third-party aggregator, Booking.com, over a double booking which left him out of pocket $3,800.

“I’m being dogged in my pursuit of it,” he told 7NEWS.

In December, Mitchell purchased a last-minute United Airlines flight so his son’s partner could join the family on a trip to the US.

When he did not receive a confirmation email for the booking, he booked the same flight again.

However, both payments ended up going through.

“I checked both Booking.com and United Airlines return policies to make sure if there was a double booking they were refundable,” he said.

United Airlines’ system spotted the double booking and refunded the money within 24 hours.

But not into Mitchell’s back account.

“(Online travel agency) Gotogate do the bookings for Booking.com and Gotogate had the refund, and they had elected to put a travel credit against the flight not a refund,” he said.

Eight months later, the money is still with the booking agency as a credit.

After spending hours speaking with chat bots, he has now enlisted the help of Adam Glezer from Consumer Champion.

“It’s been an absolute disaster, and a game of cat and mouse,” Glezer said.

“If you book through a third party and there are issues with refunds, more often than not it’s going to be a lot more problematic than when you book direct.”

Glezer has dealt with similar cases and wants to see more transparency from third party agencies.

“If he booked direct not only would he have got his money back, but it would have been a painless experience rather than going through months and months of the whole ‘he said, she said’,” he said.

Booking.com told 7NEWS it was “sorry to hear” about Mitchell’s situation.

“In this specific instance where the customer has made a duplicate booking, they need to request a refund based on the terms and conditions that the airline will then need to authorise,” the company said.

“We have followed up to offer our assistance in this matter.

“Flights offered on Booking.com are via our flights partner Etraveli and their brand Gotogate. When a customer books a flight on Booking.com, the booking process transparently shows that Gotogate provides the flight reservation and that customers enter an agreement with our partner.

“In addition, the detailed terms and conditions as well as fare rules by the airline are also provided before the final booking and payment step.”

Mitchell said he will never use a third-party service such as Booking.com again and will instead book direct.

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