Travel Updates

BCD Travel advises against all non-essential travel to Japan

Clients scheduled to travel to Japan are urged to reconsider following Friday’s earthquake

SYDNEY, 14 March 2011 – BCD Travel continues to closely monitor the unfolding events in Japan resulting from the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. The latest update from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises to reconsider any travel to Tokyo and surrounding earthquake-affected districts

More MICE at Australian hotels

Occupancy rates at Australian hotels are improving, particularly in major markets such as Sydney and Brisbane, according to the Chair of the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Hotel Industry Conference, John Smith. Not only is domestic patronage up but we’re also seeing more guests from overseas.

Mr Smith said the past two years have been difficult for the hotel industry

Book corporate travel early to avoid World Cup rush

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa begins on June 11 and will run through to July 11. Corporate travellers intending to fly on the South African route during this time should book their business travel flights as soon as possible, with seats already limited due to the large volume of leisure travel taking place during this period.

Major

BCD Travel’s Brisbane Business Travel office open on Labour Day

The Brisbane business travel office of corporate travel management company, BCD Travel, will be open as usual on Brisbane Labour Day, Monday May 3.

The Brisbane business travel office is located at Level 8, 400 Queen Street, Brisbane. Call 1800 015 573 or 07 3229 3511.

Making your money go further in travel

BCD Travel knows that travel – despite the current economic downturn – is still key to getting, and growing, business. That’s why we’re adding to our Making your money go further podcast library – a series of destination guides that’s been created with the budget conscious-business traveler in mind.

These podcasts aim to help business travelers be more cost-effective by

BCD Travel Recommends: Warsaw

For anyone who hasn’t visited Warsaw in the last 10 years, the city may conjure up images of a cold, grey architectural wasteland. But Warsaw has grown into a modern metropolis with a truly impressive cultural scene and some of the best nightlife in Central Europe.

World War II caused widespread devastation across Warsaw, and 85 percent of

Exceptional facilities for corporate travellers in Virgin Lounge

Virgin Blue will open a new 500 sqm lounge at Perth Airport with a seating capacity for 120 business travellers and holidaymakers. ‘The Lounge’ will open in December on the ground floor of the Virgin Blue terminal immediately through the security screening point.

‘The Lounge’ will provide corporate travel members with business facilities including complimentary wireless internet access; private workstations

Corporate travelers to save time with Jetstar’s SMS check-in

Jetstar is trialling world-first technology enabling boarding passes to be sent via text message to corporate travel passengers who check in online for domestic flights.

While other airlines are already offering a similar service for passengers with WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) or internet-enabled mobile phones, Jetstar says its technology will be the first to communicate with standard mobile phones via

Hertz First To Offer Online Check-In For All Customers Worldwide

Hertz is the first car rental company to launch a worldwide Online Check-in service for all of its customers. The service will speed up time at the counter for customers because their rental forms are completed in advance online. With Online Check-in, all Hertz customers can submit their profile details on the company’s secure website at their own convenience before

Passport control just got even smarter

Australia’s passport control process is becoming more streamlined with the introduction of a new automated solution, SmartGate. If you have an Australian or New Zealand ePassport and are aged 18 years or over, SmartGate gives you another choice over the way you are processed. All Australian passports issued or renewed after 24 October 2005 are ePassports. SmartGate uses the data