Australians and New Zealanders lead the globe in domestic business travel
Australians and New Zealanders travel more often for business than almost any other nation.
Our global survey across our flagship corporate businesses reveals that more than a third (36.5%) of ANZ businesses now send employees on at least one work trip a week. This is a considerable leap from the proportion of businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (23%), Asia (21.7%) and even the Americas (31.8%) who send their employees on one trip a week.
Tom Walley, our Global Managing Director, says the figures represent a growing shift in how Australian and New Zealand businesses travel post-COVID, with domestic travel trends in the region shaped by numerous factors including the decentralisation of businesses, surging internal regional migration,[1] and even the regional infrastructure boom[2].
“Since pandemic restrictions eased, there has been well-documented internal migration from major capitals, such as Sydney and Melbourne, to regional Australia with coastal hotspots such as Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast seeing an influx of professionals calling the regions home[1],” he says.
“Despite our relatively small populations, Australian and New Zealand businesses are leading the charge in domestic travel. And given Australians and New Zealanders have long valued personal connections, it’s not surprising this extends to the approach to the way businesses approach travel.
Tom adds: “Interestingly, as flexible work arrangements have grown it has amplified the need for domestic travel, with ANZ businesses demonstrating the importance of keeping teams connected with regular trips across the regions.”
Our survey shows the global average for weekly business trips is almost 32 per cent, with 42 per cent of most companies sending employees on monthly work trips. In comparison, almost half of ANZ companies (44%) send employees on work trips once a month, while only 12 per cent said their staff to travel for work once or twice a quarter. A little under seven per cent say their employees travel once or twice a year.
Corporate Traveller’s customer, Metricon, had team members frequently travelling interstate, and said that face-to-face time was critical in getting business done.
Metricon’s Simone King said: “As Australia’s largest builder with over 2,500 team members and offices across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia, Metricon teams travel frequently to support cross-office collaboration, oversee major projects, and execute national initiatives. Travel frequency varies by role but is particularly common for our management teams.”
“Travel is typically focused on regions where we have offices. Key destinations include Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia”
"Travel is critical for us in getting business done - given we're a national company, with employees spread across Australia, keeping connected with each other and with our customers and other business stakeholders has always, and will always be important to us.
"The pandemic definitely changed a lot of things, particularly in our industry, but it hasn't had much of an impact on the way we travel. We've always found that having time face-to-face with each other, our customers and suppliers is the best way to do business, which is why we've always maintained and even grown the amount our key team members travel."
Tom continues: “Enhanced regional airports, improved transportation links, and the development of business-oriented accommodations reflect a commitment to supporting domestic mobility, helping to make domestic travel more accessible and efficient.
"As we move into 2025, we expect ANZ businesses to continue leading domestic travel, leveraging it as a proven tool for business success and a way for flexible work teams to connect, network and engage on a far more impactful level.”
On average, how frequently do travellers in your company travel domestically for (primarily) work purposes?
| Answers | Average | Americas | ANZ | Asia | EMEA |
| Weekly | 31.7% | 31.8% | 36.5% | 21.7% | 23.5% |
| Monthly | 42.2% | 40.0% | 44.1% | 52.2% | 37.8% |
| Once or twice a quarter | 14.6% | 16.5% | 12.3% | 17.4% | 17.3% |
| Once or twice a year | 9.6% | 10.6% | 6.6% | 0.0% | 17.3% |
| Never | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 8.7% | 4.1% |
