Australia & Pacific: Encore
ENCORE is the leading Destination Management Company in Australia. The company has opened in 2002 and has grown and developed over the years delivering high energy incentive experiences and well executed conference and event experiences.
ENCORE’S vision is to provide the best advice and service delivery – on time, every time. Our team will get to know you personally so that our service response to you is seamless and ensuring that your project is outstanding in every way.
We proudly display our ISO:9001-2008 quality certification – our promise of compliance and guaranteed excellence at all times.
Our team of dream weavers are not just good; they are exceptional and love what they do.
Website: encorebt.com
Key Contacts
Paulette Crowder, Managing Director
Caroline Borland, Director of Sales
Deb Saunders, Director
Sydney - Destination Factfile
Flying Time from UK London Sydney approx 22 hours
Main Airport Sydney International Airport – the airport has both International and Domestic terminals.
(Note that international gateway airports are located in every capital city of Australia – Brisbane, Queensland: Melbourne, Victoria: Perth, Western Australia; Darwin, Northern Territory; Hobart, Tasmania; Adelaide, South Australia.)
Transfers The airport is approximately 9 km from the city centre. Travel time is approximately 25 – 30 minutes.
Immigration Passports must be valid for no less than 6 months beyond your date of departure from Australia. Children can no longer travel on a parent’s passport, they must carry their own separate passport. In addition, all visitors, other than New Zealand citizens, are legally required to hold a valid visa to travel to Australia.
If you have not secured a visa, visit www.immi.gov.au/visawizard for additional information.
If you lose your passport, contact the local immigration office to determine the procedure for replacing your passport. ENCORE can assist you in this process.
For further advice contact the Australian High Commission in the UK as follows:-
Australian High Commission
Australia House
Strand
London WC2B 4LA
(corner of Aldwych and the Strand)
Tel: 020 7379 4334
Fax: 020 7240 5333
Visa office hours: 9.00 am to 11.00 am, Monday – Friday
Australian High Commission (London) website
Visa Information - Australian High Commission (London) website
Custom Regulations Customs regulations and limits for returning citizens vary from country to country. Gifts, alcohol, wine or cigarettes with value above specified amounts may be subject to import taxes. The allowance of carrying Duty-free liquor products on board the aircraft varies between countries of disembarkation.
Official Currency AUD – Australian Dollar
Coins: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2
Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50, $100
Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank or by visiting www.xe.com
All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia.
ATMs providing withdrawal services for foreign cards in Australian dollars are available at convenient locations throughout the city. Money can also be exchanged at the front desk of most hotels.
Banks in Australia are open from 9.30am – 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am to 5.00pm on Fridays. Most banks are closed at weekends.
Language English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language.
Climate Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters and approximately 340 sunny days each year. Average daytime temperatures in the month of June are 64F/18C and night-time temperatures are 51F/11C. For up to date temperature charts please visit www.weatherchannel.com.au
Local Time GMT + 10
Electricity 240V, 50Hz. The connection for appliances is a flat, 3-pin plug of unique design. ENCORE can assist your team with adaptors on request and your hotel will provide adapters for your use during your stay.
Official National Holidays
1 January (New Year’s Day)
26 January (Australia Day)
Good Friday
Easter Monday
25 April (Anzac Day)
Queen’s birthday holiday (on the day on which it is celebrated in a state or territory or a region of a state or territory)
25 December (Christmas Day)
26 December (Boxing Day)
These are the official national holidays; additional holidays vary between each state/territory.
Health Advice No specific vaccinations are required for travellers from the UK/Europe to Australia.
Drinking water from taps is safe to drink.
It is recommended that you consult your physician regarding your medical needs before your departure. We advise packing all prescription medication in your carry-on luggage.
Make sure you review your insurance policies to be sure services are covered while you are travelling. If you are taking medication, we recommend you carry a copy of your prescriptions and a letter from your doctor in case you need additional supplies.
The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway or the Netherlands you are covered for the duration of your approved visit to Australia.
Visitors from Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia require their European Health Insurance card to enroll in Medicare. They are eligible until the expiry date indicated on the card, or to the length of their authorised stay in Australia if earlier. Visitors from Malta and Italy must be residents and citizens of those countries, and will be covered by Medicare for a period of 6 months from the date of arrival in Australia.
Safety Australia is generally a safe place to travel but you should use the same precautions you would in any unfamiliar city. If you are inside the hotel and need emergency assistance, please dial the hotel operator. If outside the hotel, dial 000 from any phone (fire, police, ambulance, search and rescue).
Communications
Emergency number: Police/Ambulance/Fire is 000
International calls from a land line in Australia:
Dial 0011 + the country code of country calling + area code + telephone number
International calls from a mobile phone in Australia:
Typically just add a plus sign (+) in front of the country code & phone number.
Operator assistance: 1234
Collect call: 12550
Directory Assistance: 1223 for numbers in Australia / 1225 for international numbers
Dialling code from UK to Sydney: 00 61 2
Australia operates on a digital network, therefore analogue mobile or cell phones cannot be used. If your mobile phone has roaming capability, you will be able to use this in Australia. Check with your mobile phone company that it is activated before you depart for Australia. You can also rent mobile phones at the airports.
ENCORE can assist with mobile phones while on site for your project management team.
Taxes Australia has a goods and services tax (GST) of 10% on most goods and services and this is typically included in the displayed price. Tourists can claim a refund on the GST charged on items purchased while in Australia. To claim a refund you must spend at least AUD$300 (including GST) in the one store and receive an original tax invoice, buy goods no more than 30 days prior to departure from Australia and pack them in your carry-on luggage or wear the item onboard the aircraft. Claims can be made at the airport up to 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.
Gratuities Gratuity is not generally considered to be a part of Australian culture. At any time, tipping is your choice. Service charges are not automatically added by hotels and restaurants with the exception of group dining or dine-around experiences; however this will be advised to you at the time of booking. You may tip hotel porters and restaurant wait-staff (up to 10% of the bill) if you wish to acknowledge exceptional service. Bar staff in pubs are happy with loose change. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but it is usual to `round-up' the fare to the nearest dollar or two - a little more if you have plenty of luggage or the driver has been particularly helpful.