Australia’s sports industry is booming, with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup generating $1.32 billion and 86,000 visitors. Our 2024 report shows how rising participation and the 2032 Brisbane Games are fuelling future growth.
New data reveals 41% boom in retail sector business travel
- Business travel bookings in the retail sector rose 41% YoY Jan-Sept 2024.
- February is the top month for travel in the sector
- Top three international destinations are New Zealand, China, Hong Kong
When connecting the dots behind this trend, it’s clear the retail sector’s sheer scale and dynamism are fuelling the travel momentum.
Over 155,000 businesses employ nearly 10% of the Australian workforce, while face-to-face interactions that span store walkthroughs to supplier meetings remain at the heart of the industry’s success.
Our analysis also revealed that retail trips in 2024 averaged five days, highlighting that retailers aren’t just travelling more; they’re travelling smarter. These extended trips allow businesses to maximise their return on investment, blending multiple objectives like attending trade shows, meeting suppliers, and training teams into a single journey.
Adam Moon, our General Manager, says:
“With consumer confidence on the rise, it’s crucial for retailers to stay ahead of emerging trends. Attending buying trips and trade shows is essential for staying at the forefront of industry product developments and anticipating future trends.
“Additionally, in-person meetings and connections are important in the retail industry, regardless of economic conditions or their sales performance. Retailers know they need to be on the ground at their stores – whether it’s for store walkthroughs, merchandising refreshes, training teams and customer events – while also representing their brand at key trade shows and building relationships with suppliers. There are multiple boxes retailers often have to tick when travelling.”
Our data further revealed that in 2024, retailers travelled most in February, which just happens to be when the peak of consumer sales begins to normalise. We also collected high flight booking volumes in March and May (tied), then August and July.
Sydney proved to be the most popular travel destination in the sector, followed by Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, which are central hubs for retail industry activity and networking.
Meanwhile, overseas trips by this industry ticked the box for supplier locations and markets of strategic importance. New Zealand was the top destination in 2024, followed by China, Hong Kong, and then the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States and Thailand.
Adam says:
“Retailers are also saying yes to taking part in more trade shows and conferences, locally and overseas, with a recent survey showing this was the reason for 54% of Australian and New Zealand business travel.”
Adam adds retailers are actively pursuing international opportunities and that’s where networking comes in. “Taking part in international events, visiting overseas suppliers, and scoping for new markets makes sense for retailers keen to stay competitive and responsive to new trends. So, while it may look like the retail sector has been sluggish during the current cost-of-living crisis, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that’s bolstering that travel momentum,” Adam says.
With strong momentum heading into 2025, retail is proving that being there in person is more important than ever.
