Whether you agree with all – or none – of M. F. K. Fisher’s views, eating solo in restaurants is one of those things – like paying tax and realising that Santa isn’t going to visit forever – that all grown-ups eventually have to confront.

Dining & Drinking Alone in Melbourne is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

Travelling for business reasons can both be a pleasure and a stressful time for all involved. Whether they’re short or long, business trips can be tedious, but they need not be. Being organised is one of the keys to having a successful business trip. But how do you stay organised on your travels when you just want to focus on your work? Luckily, there’s a selection of apps that can help make your business travel a breeze. We took a look at some of the most popular business travel apps (and some hidden gems) and selected our favourites.

TripIt

If you’re constantly losing your hotel reservation numbers, flight itinerary and travel details, this is the app you need. Just forward any confirmation emails of bookings from hotels, flights and car hire, and the app will organise all of your travel details to give you a one-stop master itinerary that you can access on all devices. You can also share the itinerary with friends, family and colleagues so that they can follow where you are and ensure you are safe and on time.

GateGuru

Especially if you’re travelling around the US and Europe, this app will help you to get a good feel of an airport layout before even landing there. The app can help you track down a quick bite to eat, an ATM or a store in duty free. The app also has flight information details for each airport, so you can easily track if your flight is on time, delayed or cancelled.

Skype

The well-known calling and messaging service is available as an app on most smartphones. If you’re travelling across Australia or overseas, this app will help you stay in touch with family back at home for a fraction of the cost (even cheaper if you have access to wi-fi at your accommodation). Save money on excess calls and texts and Skype home instead.

HopStop

If you’re going to be commuting on subways or trains in America, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries around the world, you may need HopStop. This app will give you peace of mind as you make your way through different stops and stations. It will tell you the best route via train and bus and can also provide timetables for those stations. More countries and transport options are being added regularly.

Routehappy

If you do not have the pleasure of being able to fly business class, you need to be able to stay happy in economy class. This is where Routehappy can help. It can provide you with a happiness score based on the plane age, in-flight entertainment, Wi-FI, travel time, food, seating arrangements and reviews from other users. It can help to ensure you’re not going to have a bad time on a flight thanks to no power outlets for your devices or poor quality food.

Boingo

Free Wi-Fi is always useful when you’re travelling for business. Boingo gives you the opportunity to find local free Wi-Fi hotspots – great for those on the run who quickly need some Internet to catch up on emails through their lunch break.

Expensify

Keeping track of expenses can be difficult, especially if you lose receipts and invoices. The app Expensify can help to streamline the whole process. It allows you to take photos of any receipts or invoices and store them digitally on your phone. You can even create PDF files of any information stored onto the app which can be emailed from the app. Gone are the days of holding onto a pile of paper receipts.

Seatguru

If you want the best seats on your next flight, download and install Seatguru on your device. This app can show you the best seats and layouts of popular flights and planes. Accessibility to power outlets are also shown, making it an ideal app for those wishing to work whilst flying. Or, if you want the best seat to see the in-flight movie, this app will help with that too.

AwardWallet

If you want to track all your flight points and loyalty programmes in the one place, then AwardWallet can help you with that. Hotel and credit card points, frequent flyer points and awards can all be stored and displayed here, to help you know how many rewards you have (and where). This is a great app if you want to avoid having multiple apps for different programmes.

Uber

If you want to make an impression on clients or colleagues all while avoiding the often hassling experience of hailing down a cab, then get Uber. Track your car, be greeted by a professional driver and you can even take care of the payment through the app. There’s a range of vehicles you can choose, from a basic model small car, right through to a luxury vehicle to take you from A to B. It’s the most convenient (and can be the most stylish) way to get to where you need to be.

10 Apps to Make Travelling on Business So Much Easier is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

When you’re racking up the air mileage on business travel, you are probably using a lot of the same services and accommodations multiple times. Flights, hotels, restaurants and transportation are all common expenses and there are various ways to reap the benefits of spending on When you’re racking up the air mileage on business travel, you are probably using a lot of the same services and accommodations multiple times. Flights, hotels, restaurants and transportation are all common expenses and there are various ways to reap the benefits of spending on these.

Even if you are a ‘million miler’ business travel expert and your company covers your expenses, below are a few tips and perks to make flying the friendly skies a little friendlier.

Get a corporate credit card

Most companies agree that miles and points earned through corporate travel should be owned by the individual. You can get great perks through these depending on the card you go with. Anything from cash back, airline miles and free meals, and free hotel stays are just a few options credit cards offer.

Look into dining reward programs

Besides credit card points, some restaurants and booking engines allow you to double up on points to earn more free meals. You can’t say no to free food from the establishments you love!

Check in late for a better chance at a hotel upgrade

Most hotels full will upgrade your room for the same price if you check in late and they haven’t sold their rooms out for that day.

Make it an early start

If you book an early flight, airlines are more likely to be on schedule, as delays of the day haven’t had an affect on them.

Scan your important documents and email them to yourself

Scan your passport, airline tickets and anything else that might be of huge importance if it goes missing.  Proof of identity and of where you’re supposed to be are never a bad idea when traveling.

Make sure you’re all charged up

In a world where our technologies (mobile phone, laptop, and iPad) are extensions of bodies, make sure your battery isn’t in the red and likely to fail when you need it most. Most airports have power points to plug into as long as you have your charger. That being said, pack a double adapter. You know a million other people are in need of the same charger you are and there are only so many outlets. It’ll also come in handy in your hotel room if you need to charge all your devices at once.

Hang shirts in the bathroom when you arrive at your hotel

Who needs dry cleaning when the steam and moisture from your morning ritual can help decrease those wrinkles?

Speed up your check in

Many hotels now offer online check ins up to two days before your stay, so you needn’t wait in line when you arrive. You simply receive your key, hand it back at the end of the stay, and receive your invoice by email. For even more convenience, the new Apple Watch is expected to allow wearers to bypass check-in completely, via a digital code sent to the Watch that unlocks your room with a simple swipe of the wrist.

Carry on whenever possible

Avoid the horror stories of lost baggage. Just make sure to check with your airline for size and weight regulations.

Say goodbye to taxi ranks

Travelling business or first class? Airlines such as Qantas and Emirates offer complimentary chauffeur-driven transfers to and from the airport on some major flights. Get picked up in luxury wheels and whisked to the airport or back home after your trip – now that’s comfort.

BYOB

Airports restrict the size of what liquids you can carry on but what’s in the container doesn’t matter. If you fancy a nightcap whilst on your flight, you could save yourself some cash by making your drinks yourself once you board.

To make your business travel more enjoyable, follow these tips, research frequently and remember, you can bring booze on airplanes!

these.

Even if you are a ‘million miler’ business travel expert and your company covers your expenses, below are a few tips and perks to make flying the friendly skies a little friendlier.

Get a corporate credit card

Most companies agree that miles and points earned through corporate travel should be owned by the individual. You can get great perks through these depending on the card you go with. Anything from cash back, airline miles and free meals, and free hotel stays are just a few options credit cards offer.

Look into dining reward programs

Besides credit card points, some restaurants and booking engines allow you to double up on points to earn more free meals. You can’t say no to free food from the establishments you love!

Check in late for a better chance at a hotel upgrade

Most hotels full will upgrade your room for the same price if you check in late and they haven’t sold their rooms out for that day.

Make it an early start

If you book an early flight, airlines are more likely to be on schedule, as delays of the day haven’t had an affect on them.

Scan your important documents and email them to yourself

Scan your passport, airline tickets and anything else that might be of huge importance if it goes missing.  Proof of identity and of where you’re supposed to be are never a bad idea when traveling.

Make sure you’re all charged up

In a world where our technologies (mobile phone, laptop, and iPad) are extensions of bodies, make sure your battery isn’t in the red and likely to fail when you need it most. Most airports have power points to plug into as long as you have your charger. That being said, pack a double adapter. You know a million other people are in need of the same charger you are and there are only so many outlets. It’ll also come in handy in your hotel room if you need to charge all your devices at once.

Hang shirts in the bathroom when you arrive at your hotel

Who needs dry cleaning when the steam and moisture from your morning ritual can help decrease those wrinkles?

Speed up your check in

Many hotels now offer online check ins up to two days before your stay, so you needn’t wait in line when you arrive. You simply receive your key, hand it back at the end of the stay, and receive your invoice by email. For even more convenience, the new Apple Watch is expected to allow wearers to bypass check-in completely, via a digital code sent to the Watch that unlocks your room with a simple swipe of the wrist.

Carry on whenever possible

Avoid the horror stories of lost baggage. Just make sure to check with your airline for size and weight regulations.

Say goodbye to taxi ranks

Travelling business or first class? Airlines such as Qantas and Emirates offer complimentary chauffeur-driven transfers to and from the airport on some major flights. Get picked up in luxury wheels and whisked to the airport or back home after your trip – now that’s comfort.

BYOB

Airports restrict the size of what liquids you can carry on but what’s in the container doesn’t matter. If you fancy a nightcap whilst on your flight, you could save yourself some cash by making your drinks yourself once you board.

To make your business travel more enjoyable, follow these tips, research frequently and remember, you can bring booze on airplanes!

Worth Every Mile: Tips for Better Business Travel is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

Even when you’re away from your local gym or fitness class, there’s no reason why you can’t maintain your health and fitness. There’s one thing that anyone can do to look after themselves anywhere – whether they are a business traveller or a true local – and that is to run. Running not only burns calories and clears the mind, but it also allows you to see another side of a city. Whether it’s to reset after a busy day in the boardroom or just to get some much needed time to yourself, here are some runs you should try in Melbourne.

Princes Park

Image Source

As a flat track, this is one of Melbourne’s most popular running spots. The 3.2km circuit runs around the park, and you can choose from asphalt or dirt for your preferred running surface. If you find yourself finishing work late and still want to run, this is a perfect choice as it is well lit during the darker hours.

Abbotsford Convent

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Running along the Yarra River, this popular run is as scenic as it is grand. The convent is uninhabited, and makes every run feel like an adventure. This is the perfect run if you want to make a change, as it feels like a very free space with many trails available for you to explore.

Albert Park Lake

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An iconic and popular circuit, the lake run covers 4.7km and has markers so you can keep track of your progress. There are always plenty of other people around, so you won’t get lonely. It can get very windy by the lake, so on days there’s a bit of a breeze you’ll have some extra resistance to push your training to that next level. There are also exercise stations where you can stretch and get some other resistance training in while you’re at it.

Mentone to Beaumaris

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This is a challenging route with plenty of hills and stairs, but the views from the cliff top are worth it. If you get too hot, have a refreshing dip at Beaumaris Beach.

This run is usually quieter than some of the others, but the views of Melbourne are inspiring.

The Tan Track

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What used to be a horse carriage path is now a beautiful running track, where you can lose yourself in the shade of the green trees and feel some old world charm while exercising. The track leads all the way to the Old Melbourne Observatory, and being just south of the Yarra means it is conveniently located for many.

Fitzroy Gardens

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Perfect for beginners or just a relaxing run, the 3km circuit is just across the road from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The gardens are beautiful, with soft grass and plenty of greenery to help you feel at one with nature.

The Beach

With all the structured tracks and specific running routes on this list, we thought it would be wise to include something for the free spirits. Drive down to the beach and just start running … The horizon is endless and, if you’re feeling fit, soft sand will burn many more calories!

1000 Steps

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The Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is one for the true fitness fanatic. It consists of 2.8km of grueling work, and a 1,000 step journey to the top. This is a great place to run if you’re adventurous, and the views at the top are amazing. Many runners do this one on a regular basis and keep track of their times for bragging rights or just personal progress monitoring.

No matter what trail or circuit you choose, Melbourne has plenty to offer the avid runner (or walker). Clear the mind and condition the body on any of these and you’ll be sure to feel happier and healthier, no matter how stressful a day (or week) you’ve had!

Melbourne’s Top Tracks and Trails for Running is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

The success of a conference can depend on the venue in which its held, and Melbourne has a whole host of options for conferences of any size and theme. Whether you are looking for a large function centre with breakout rooms, or a more intimate venue to inspire creativity, you have plenty of options. Here are some of our favourite conference venues in Melbourne:

Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Image via ACMI

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is located in Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square. With award-winning architecture, it’s the perfect place to hold a conference for anywhere between 20 and 400 attendees.

There are a number of beautifully designed spaces available for hire, from cinemas to studio rooms, ensuring a multitude of conference setup options, for both main conference rooms as well as breakout rooms.

Eureka 89

Image via Eureka89

Known for its revolving restaurant, Eureka 89 sits 300 metres above sea level at the top of the Eureka tower. This is a venue that will definitely wow your attendees.

With a suite of audiovisual equipment on hand, conference can be executed with ease. While there are two rooms available, Eureka 89 is ideal for conferences with a small number of attendees – 150 seated in the main room.

Leonda by the Yarra

Image via Leonda

Overlooking the iconic Yarra River, Leonda by the Yarra is a stylish conference venue located in Hawthorn, only 4km from Melbourne CBD. This makes it a convenient conference location, with easy public transport and free onsite parking. To really impress your attendees you can even arrange boat transfers.

The venue has two event spaces which can be set up accordingly. The larger room holds 300 seated, and the smaller room holds 100 seated. While its floor to ceiling windows provide a great water view, there’s also an outdoor courtyard which is suitable for breaks.

Zinc at Federation Square

Image via Zinc

Located very centrally in Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square, Zinc is a premium venue able to accommodate anywhere from 100 to 1000 attendees. Facing the riverfront with views of the Yarra, the large central space can be split into two individual studios.

Perfect for conferences of 400 attendees, as each room holds approximately 200 seated depending on the layout. A great option for a medium sized conference where quality is key.

The Park

Image via The Park

With full audiovisual facilities and plenty of layout and configuration options, The Park is a popular conference venue, particularly as it’s only 10 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. International attendees will love that it’s close to hotels, (just 10 minutes from Living Corporate’s apartments), and local attendees will appreciate its proximity to public transport. The lakeside deck offers a great place for attendees to regroup during breaks.

Encore St Kilda

Image via Encore

With a well seasoned conference team, the Encore is a great choice for businesses looking for a turnkey option. The venue can even assist with activities and entertainment.

Perfect for a beachside conference to inspire the team, the Encore has meeting rooms to cater for all.

Two Ton Max

Image via Two Ton Max

For something a little different, this is an industrial warehouse in North Melbourne.

The venue provides a blank canvas that can be set up for any configuration and any type of event. Best suited for smaller conferences of 200 attendees or less, there are full audiovisual capabilities available. A great alternative to run of the mill corporate spaces.

Melbourne has so much to offer, and planning your next successful conference will be a breeze with these venues.

7 of the Best Melbourne Conference Venues is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com
When considering Australia’s best cities, Sydney tends to grab the limelight and garner attention for being one of Australia’s most beautiful cities. But when it comes to Australia’s most liveable city – you can’t go past Melbourne. Here’s why.

Friendly people

Melbournians have always considered themselves to be a friendly bunch, but if there was ever any doubt, Melbourne was officially voted the world’s friendliest city by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in 2014.

Whether you’re a tourist or a local, you’ll always be greeted with a smile and often a chat, making Melbourne living a true pleasure. A real sense of community develops from this friendly streak, so it’s no surprise that Melbourne took official top honours.

Bike paths

Cycling is fast becoming a key feature of the greatest and most sustainable cities of the world. Melbourne leads the charge from an Australian perspective, with interconnected bike paths and cycleways ensuring that all residents can get around on two wheels. Those that cycle in the city are also deemed to be happier and healthier than the rest of society.

Multicultural

Melbourne truly is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city – not just relative to other Australian cities, but compared to cities internationally as well.

The various ethnic groups that form part of Melbourne’s multicultural society are the source of inspiration for the many festivals and events celebrated throughout the year in Melbourne. From the Indian festival of Diwali to the colourful Latin Summer Festival, the city honours its diverse population and incites a sense of community.

Arts, culture, and festivals

Melbourne is famous for its vibrant scene when it comes to the arts and culture. From art galleries and jazz festivals to the International Comedy Festival, Melbourne has plenty to offer those with an appreciation of the arts, whether it’s fine arts, street art, or performing arts. Perhaps one of the most lauded festivals is the Moomba Festival, a chance for Melbournians to celebrate their phenomenal city, held every Labour Day with over one million attendees.

Musical identity

Melbourne has always been famous for its musical talent, and recently the ‘Melbourne sound’ has become an official term in the global dance music scene. It may be hard for some to really understand what this ‘Melbourne sound’ actually means or sounds like, but rest assured it has received international attention, becoming the focus of many chart topping dance tracks this year. That adds one more to the list of things Melbournians should be proud about, and gives them another reason to dance away in one of the city’s top notch clubs.

The world’s best coffee

Earlier this year, a survey conducted by Booking.com revealed that Melbourne serves the best coffee in the world. Melbourne’s coffee and coffee culture are now world famous, giving the city yet another perk that adds to its liveability. Simply living in Melbourne will eventually equip you with a taste for and knowledge of specialty coffee.

Airport connections

Although Melbourne is such a cosmopolitan city, sometimes a holiday to other domestic cities is still a good idea. For these moments, the city has excellent links with its airports. The SkyBus is a hassle free way to get from the airport to the city centre, and it operates 24/7 including public holidays.

Shopping

As a famously trendy and fashionable city, it should be no surprise that Melbourne has a lot of shopping on offer. You’ll find high scale fashion boutiques and department stores, but perhaps the most interesting are the many op shops and independent stores that offer one of a kind (and very affordable) pieces. The global trend of retro pieces from op shops is certainly satisfied in Melbourne.

As one of Australia’s most modern and cosmopolitan cities, there’s obviously a lot going for Melbourne. When examining and combining all of those little things that make the city special, it’s easy to see why Melbourne is the place to live in 2015.

Why Melbourne is Australia’s Most Liveable City in 2015 is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

Whether you’re travelling to Melbourne for business, pleasure, or a mixture of the two, being prepared in advance will help you enjoy your stay to the fullest. Download these apps and you will never be stuck for a way to get around, you won’t be left searching endlessly for the perfect coffee, and you definitely won’t wonder what to do with a night off.

Getting Around

Melbourne is fairly easy to navigate, with the streets having been designed in a grid formation. But with so many transport options available, you’ll be needing a few of these apps to help you get from place to place.

Melbourne Airport – Free

This app provides you with everything you need to know about Melbourne Airport. From terminal maps to food and drink options, and perhaps most importantly, live flight information.

Ingogo – Free
Never fight for a taxi again. This app allows you to book a taxi and see where it is in real time. Payment is made through the app, making it even easier to get to your destination.

Spot Cycle – Free
This app works in many great cities around the world, providing you with information on bike share availability. What better way to see Melbourne than to hop on a bicycle?

tramTracker – Free
This app will show you where the trams are in real time, as well as notify you of any service disruptions. A must-have for even the most seasoned Melbourne tram traveller.

Go – Melbourne Train Timetable – Free
An easy to use app showing you all the timetables for Melbourne’s trains. Find out when the next train is at the touch of a button.

Melbourne Metro Train Status - Free
Determine if trains are running on time or if any of the lines are experiencing disruptions.

Melbourne Bus Finder – Free
Find which bus to catch and what time it is due to arrive. Keep a tab on approaching buses for any route to ensure you’re never waiting around for no reason.

Traffic Alert Melbourne – Free
Victoria is famous for its speed cameras, and this app will alert you of nearby speed cameras while you’re driving around Melbourne. You will be warned in advance, so as to have enough time to slow down and avoid fines.

Melbourne Transport Alarm – Free
Have you ever fallen asleep on public transport and missed your stop? This app wakes you up before you reach your stop so this never happens again.

Sightseeing

This city is full of amazing things to see. To get you started, check out these apps.

Melbourne – Free
This app will help you discover Melbourne attractions, and even book accommodation. All you need for a short visit to Melbourne.

Melbourne City Guide – Free
This app by TripAdvisor shows you the top Melbourne attractions and user reviews. It even works without an internet connection.

Melbourne Travel Guide – Free
Learn all about what Melbourne has to offer a visitor, as well as its cultural history. The app has maps for daytrips to take outside of Melbourne.

Melbourne Haunted Tour - $1.09
Fancy taking a different look at Melbourne? This app will show you all of Melbourne’s haunted sites. Even the locals won’t know what lurks underneath Melbourne’s daily life.

Melbourne Essential Guide – $3.79
This app helps you discover all that Melbourne has to discover, from tourist sights to the places that locals consider the best. Think of it as having a little Melbournian in your pocket.

Melbourne Now – Free
This app, from the National Gallery of Victoria, will help you explore events, tour artworks, and even watch behind the scenes videos from exhibited artists.

Melbourne Map and Walks – Free
The best way to see a city is on foot. This app includes several self-guided walking tours so you can explore Melbourne.

Melbourne Pocket Guide – Free
Voice guided tours, on your smartphone! These tours are guided by locals, and you can even share your experiences with others.

Melbourne Guide Map and Hotels – Free
A great way to see and discover what’s around you, and even find yourself the best nearby hotel to check into.

Melbourne Visitor Guide – Free
This is Melbourne’s official visitor app. It has offers for attractions, and useful tips and insights for your visit.

VIC Heritage – Free
Learn about the history behind Melbourne from an official source. This is a unique way to learn about Victorian Heritage.
Whether you’re travelling to Melbourne for business, pleasure, or a mixture of the two, being prepared in advance will help you enjoy your stay to the fullest.

Culture

Melbournians are famous for their lively and diverse culture, loving a good bar or restaurant opening and praising their coffee almost religiously. To live like a true local, you’ll need to know where the locals hang.

Melbourne Music City – Free
It’s all about the music with this app. Learn about Melbourne’s music festivals and find out about upcoming gigs as well as music friendly accommodation.

Beanhunter – Free
Melbourne is famous all over the world for its coffee. This app will tell you exactly where to find the best coffee on offer.

Melbourne’s Bars and Pubs – $6.99
A guide to Melbourne’s world-class pubs and bars. Discover the gems that locals like to keep to themselves, and cash in on deals and vouchers provided through the app.

Broadsheet Melbourne Directory – Free
Get the lowdown on the hippest restaurants, cafes and bars in Melbourne. This app is highly curated, so only shows you the places that are considered the best in town.

myMarkets VIC – Free
Markets are a great way to experience the lifeblood of a city. This app will help you identify all the different markets in the Melbourne area, and even tell you how to get there.

Handmade in Melbourne – $1.29
Melbourne is famous for its creative types and artisans. This app lets you get to know these crafty creators and where to purchase their products.

Detour Melbourne Streetart Guide – Free
The creative theme continues with this app that guides you through Melbourne’s most famous street art, a truly modern cultural experience. The app even provides you with information behind each piece of work.

There’s no shortage of apps to help you discover Melbourne and all that is has to offer. Get downloading and enjoy this wonderful city!

When in Melbourne: 27 Apps You Need is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

You finally get home from work to pack for that anticipated business trip… and you don’t know where to start. Make sure you remember all the essentials with these 11 tips for packing for a business trip.

• Make a checklist of what you plan to take, so that it can easily be ticked off as items are packed. This can also be used as a reference to take with you so that when it comes time to pack up and head home, you can ensure you have everything that you took with you and don’t leave anything behind.

• Communications are important while you are away so don’t forget to take your iPad, tablet, laptop or whatever it is you use. Ensure they are fully charged for use in the airport, and also pack your chargers (including your phone charger). Taking a double adapter will help if they all die at once while you’re in an airport, hotel, or conference room.
• It’s worth buying a decent set of headphones for your device if business trips are a regular occurrence, to help you block out the world and focus on work.
• Try and make sure that equipment is as lightweight and as durable as possible, especially if you are on the road a lot.
• Reduce the amount of time spent ironing creased clothing before conferences. Always pack heavier clothing on the bottom of the bag to save things from getting crushed.
• Make sure you’ve packed enough clothing. While you may think ‘I won’t know anyone where I’m going’, you never know when some networking might be appropriate, and you don’t want your newfound friends to see you at a 3 day conference wearing the same shirt every day. Consider the destination and whether you’ll get time for any recreational activities and pack accordingly. Always include an extra pair of shoes, some after-hours clothes, and extra underwear.
  
• Prepare for the worst – include the items you most need in your hand luggage in case your hold luggage doesn’t meet you on the other end. Important meeting notes, your laptop, extra underwear, deodorant and a professional outfit are all included in this category.
• Invest in a good briefcase or laptop bag that can fit all your business items in it. These include extra business cards, note paper and biros, breath mints (yes, seriously!) and any other tools of your trade.
• Consider investing in a mobile Wi-Fi router. Not only is it handy for those airport stopovers, but let’s face it – hotel room Wi-Fi is usually fairly slow with limited data usage, and is sometimes expensive. Having your own portable device allows a greater amount of freedom and reliability while you’re travelling.
• Don’t forget toiletries and anything you need to keep you looking your best. Deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner are essentials to begin with. If hair gel is part of the daily get-ready-to-knock-them-over routine, pack it. Also, don’t forget the shaving kit.
• If you are going to an unfamiliar city, get some maps before you leave and keep these with your tickets and personal ID. Make sure you know the address of your destination, whether it’s a conference centre or a motel. Knowing where this is in relation to the airport is a good way to orientate yourself with the layout of the city or town.
• Something to read, emergency snacks and a bottle of water are essentials for any airport, train station or bus terminal.

Social: Going away on #business? Our #packing tips will ensure you have everything you need to succeed while away.

11 Bag Packing Tips to Make Your Business Trip Successful is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

So you’ve made it to Australia, and you are officially an “expat”. You may be here to work in Australia for a period of time. If so, you must have a valid Australian visa with work rights – either a working holiday visa, student visa or 457 visa (essentially where an employer sponsors you to work in Australia).

Once here, there are rules of performance on your visa and as well as rights you have as an employee.

Your workplace health and safety rights

Every worker in Australia is entitled to basic employee entitlements under state workplace, health and safety laws. State laws mean that if you are working in NSW, then NSW workplace laws apply to you. If you are in South Australia then their workplace laws apply and so on for each state.

No matter what state you are in and no matter what type of visa with work rights you have, if you are an employee then your employer must ensure your health and safety in the workplace. If your health or safety has been breached because of your employer’s failure to meet that duty of care to you, then you may be entitled to worker’s compensation. This is an amount of money you are entitled to for days of work you have had to miss because of injury or ill health (which was caused by your employer’s negligence). For more information visit the relevant state workcover websites applicable to you. For example, in NSW visit WorkCover, in Western Australia visit Workcover WA and in Victoria visit Victorian Workcover Authority.

Tax and money matters

You will be taxed on any income you earn in your employment in Australia. There are different levels of tax depending on what your total earnings are for the year. Visit the Australian Tax Office (ATO) website for more details. To ensure you abide by Australia’s strict tax rules it is important to apply for a tax file number (TFN). This number can ensure that the ATO keeps a proper record of your income earnings and taxes you the right amount.

You may also be entitled to superannuation. This is where your employer must set aside an aspect of your wages toward a pension fund.  You cannot access this fund unless and until you retire in Australia, or you may be able to claim the funds if you are returning home permanently. Again, visit the ATO website for details of how to do this.  Be aware that your superannuation should be a minimum of 9% your income.

It is also important to set up a bank account. Employers are not allowed to pay expats in cash so your income must be paid into a bank account. In addition, your own life will become incredibly more convenient with a debit card as most retail outlets these days allow for payment via ‘PayPass’ merchant facilities. This is where you, the customer, simply tap the PayPass machine when paying for your product and the payment is processed.

If you have questions that affect your visa or how you live here, Australian government websites are the most reliable sources of information for you. There are many websites set up to answer almost any type of question. Then it will be time to enjoy the benefits of Australian workplace life – and of course, life outside of work too!

Working As An Expat In Australia: Employee Rights and Money Matters is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments

A successful business meal requires a lot of thought, planning and attention to detail. Your table manners will be observed and evaluated by a client or recruiter while you engage in a professional conversation over a meal. The business meal will test your character – it can show a client that you’re a poised and sophisticated executive or it can show a future employer how you might interact with clients.

For dining success, the following will look at the rules of business dinner etiquette, foods to eat, and where to eat in Melbourne.

Dining etiquette

Before attending a business meal, know these rules of dining etiquette:

• The host is responsible for every part of the business meal and ensuring it goes smoothly. This includes choosing the restaurant in consultation with the guest, and facilitating ease of access for them, as well as paying the bill and taking care of tips.
• Make your guest comfortable by familiarising yourself with the menu beforehand and reviewing difficult menu terms. You should be able to suggest several menu items, which can reveal how much you’re willing to spend on the meal, and also offer tips on restaurant favourites and house specialities. Knowing how to pronounce food names and what certain foods are is also a must.
• Don’t monopolise the conversation. Get to know your client and ask thoughtful questions. Find out in advance what topics may be of interest to them, so you know what to talk about. Also speak in a relaxed manner for a smooth conversation.
• Drink from your own water glass and stay away from your client’s bread plate. Remember that your drink will be placed on your right, above the knife and soup spoon, whereas the bread plate will be placed on your left, above the fork(s). As for your salad and entrée plate, they’ll be placed in the middle of the utensils, below the bread plate and water glass.
• Keep in mind that salt and pepper are married. If someone asks you for salt, make sure to pass both the salt and pepper. This indicates that you’re familiar with dining etiquette and also extending a courtesy to your guests.
• Eat a little of everything on your plate. Don’t just eat your steak and potatoes, also eat your peas and carrots (so long as you have no allergies). This way, you won’t come across as unsophisticated and juvenile.
• If you have something undesirable in your mouth, cover your mouth with your right hand and then remove it with your fork or with the index finger and thumb of your left hand. If you feel uncomfortable, excuse yourself from the table and go to the restroom to remove the obstruction.
• If you leave the table during the meal, excuse yourself and then place your napkin on your seat and push the seat back under the table. You don’t need to say where you’re going or what you’ll be doing when you get there, especially when you’re going to use the restroom.
• Direct a cough or sneeze into your left shoulder, shielding it with your left hand. This will keep your right hand germ-free for the goodbye handshake at the end of the meal. Don’t use your napkin as a tissue either.
• If an accident occurs at the table, handle it and then move on. If you spilled tea in your lap, for example, ask your server for assistance and then forget about it by diverting the attention to something positive.
• Keep a dropped utensil on the floor. Don’t dive under the table to retrieve it. If it poses a hazard, kick it out of the way so other guests won’t trip or slip. Ask your server for another utensil and encourage your guest to continue eating or continue with the conversation.
• Use the meal to build or foster a relationship rather than to make a sale or close a deal. A client doesn’t want to feel pressured throughout the meal – it should be a relaxing process.
• If you’re a guest, follow up with a thank you note. Give your host a handwritten thank you note. This will foster goodwill and distinguish you from your competitors.

Foods to eat

If you’re a guest, here are some key things to consider when ordering food:

• Follow the lead of the host when in doubt of what to order.
• Don’t order the best or most expensive item on the menu, as this will send a message that you’re taking advantage of the free meal.
• Don’t order too little either, as this will send a message that you’re nervous or unsure.
• Order simply – don’t ask for a range of variations to your meal, as this sends the message that you’re picky.
• Avoid finger foods or foods that will be difficult to eat.
• Never order alcohol at a business meal unless the occasion calls for it.

Where to eat in Melbourne

Melbourne is full of great restaurants for business dinners and conversations. Here are a few good options:

Circa, the Prince

2 Acland St, St Kilda

With ingredients grown in their own kitchen garden, the food at this restaurant will serve as enough of a talking point if the business conversation runs dry. This restaurant also offers valet parking, to help impress your guests.

Café Di Stasio

31 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

If you need to do a little more schmoozing, try Café Di Stasio. It’s great for long, get-together meals, with a side of gentle business conversation.

Vue de Monde

Rialto, Level 55, 525 Collins St, Melbourne

If you’re really looking to impress, head to this sky-high restaurant (if you can get in). It’s the pinnacle of fine dining in Melbourne, and as such, it’ll cost you. But your clients are sure to leave wowed.

Flower Drum

17 Market Lane, Melbourne

This Chinese restaurant has a grand private room at the back that will impress your client (even more so than their initial invitation to ‘the Drum’. If you’re on a strict budget, consider eating in the main dining room.

Pure South

3 Southgate Ave, Southbank

Overlooking the Yarra, this restaurant has a semi-private dining area which means you can still feel the buzz from the restaurant, whilst also having some privacy to talk business.

With these helpful tips, you can spend your time focusing on the business at hand. Bon appetit!

Business Dining: Etiquette, What to Eat, and Where to Eat in Melbourne is a post from: Living Corporate Serviced Apartments