Press Room: Media Releases

BRISBANE – 23 May 2008 : When it comes to budgeting for business travel, it’s a battle of origin, according to Wotif.com’s annual Business Traveller’s Survey, with results revealing daily travel allowances vary greatly, depending on which state you’re from.

The results indicate that Tasmanian business travellers have the leanest budgets, with an average daily accommodation allowance of $125, a figure that falls well below the national average of $200 per night.

In contrast, a large proportion of respondents from the Northern Territory indicated that no restrictions were placed on their accommodation budget when they travelled, with some indicating they had frequently spent more than $500 a night on domestic accommodation when travelling for business.

Discussing the survey, which questioned more than 700 business travellers*, Wotif.com spokesperson Saskia Moon said the varying allowances was unexpected.

“Rather than relating to the industry they worked in – which was our original hypothesis – we discovered this state of origin phenomenon,” Saskia Moon said.

“Given that on most days you can book a four star room for less than $125 on Wotif.com, these budgets are unlikely to affect someone’s ability to travel. Instead, we view the smaller budgets as good business practice – one that encourages staff to look around for a good deal.”

Wotif.com’s survey also asked respondents about the frequency of their business travel. And while the national average was four business trips per year, Canberrians sat well above this figure, with the vast majority indicating they travelled at least once per month and a quarter declaring they travelled more than 25 times each year.

The results showed Western Australians and Tasmanians were the groups least likely to travel for business.

“Regardless of how frequently they travelled for business, 99% of respondents indicated that they enjoyed the travel component of their job and said they’d be keen to maintain or increase the frequency of their business travel,” Saskia said.

Who’s got the biggest budget?
According to State/Territory of Origin - listed smallest to largest. Figures based on state's average.

1. Tasmania ($125)

2. Queensland ($168)

3. South Australian ($182)

4. West Australian ($198)

5. Australian Capital Territory ($211)

6. Victorian ($248)

7. New South Wales ($250)

8. Northern Territory ($367)

Average number of business trips per year.
According to State/Territory of Origin - listed most to least.

1. Australian Capital Territory (16 trips)

2. Victorians (9 trips)

3. Northern Territory (7 trips)

4. New South Wales (6 trips)

5. Queenslander (6 trips)

6. South Australian (4 trips)

7. Tasmanian (3 trips)

8. West Australia (3 trips)

- Ends -

*Notes to the Editor: Wotif.com’s Business Travel Survey gained 954 completed responses. 732 of these respondents had travelled for business at least once in 2007. Only responses from these 732 people have been used to calculate these findings.