Travel Planning Procedure

Purpose

The Senior Leadership Team ( SLT ) has agreed on a range of initiatives to further streamline the travel bookings process, beginning 14 June 2021. This Policy/Procedure should be read in conjunction with the memo issued by SLT.

To set out the University's expected procurement methods for travel.

Organisational scope

These procedures apply to all staff, students and Council members of the University of Otago and all staff in controlled entities where they are travelling at the cost of the University of Otago or its controlled entities, and all other bookings made by the University of Otago.

Definitions

AoG

All of Government Agreement

Approved Supplier

University appointed supplier

Australia/Pacific Travel

Travel to Australia or South Pacific Islands (excludes Hawaii)

MTA

University appointed Mandatory Travel Agent

Off-line bookings

Travel bookings made via the MTA without using the respective MTA online booking tool. i.e., in person, via email or telephone.

On-line Bookings

Air Travel bookings initiated via the respective MTA web based booking service. MTA online booking tools can be used for Domestic Travel.

PCard

University Purchasing Card that can be used for the payment of accommodation, ground transport, meals and other incidental cost associated with travelling on University business.

RSL

Research and Study Leave as defined by the University's Research and Study Leave Policy.

University Representative

Staff, students, Council members of the University of Otago and its controlled entities as well as any other persons travelling at the expense of the University and controlled entities of the University.

Content

Please note that this document is currently under review.

1.Travel Risk

1. As detailed in the Insurance Procedure, the University of Otago has subscribed to an international security and medical alert advisory service, Healix Travel Oracle.  Travellers are strongly encouraged to install the Healix Travel Oracle App and select and read the Healix Travel information associated with the countries they are planning to travel to.
   Healix Travel Oracle App guide (PDF) - requires staff login
2. All Domestic and International travel purchased through the MTA is loaded into the University's Travel Tracker programme (Healix) which allows the University and its insurers to know where staff or other University representatives are in the event of an emergency.

2.Staff Travel Approvals

1. Before booking travel, staff should ensure that they have obtained the necessary approvals as required by their respective divisional travel approval process.

3.Booking Air Travel

1. Those approving air travel should ensure that travel is necessary given the impact air travel has on climate change, as well as the financial implications.
2. Staff should ensure they book air travel via the most economical air travel class and route (in line with current policy requirements) in order to minimise the overall cost of travel to the University.
3. All air travel should be booked through the MTA .
4. All bookings made through a MTA must be made using a University Purchase Order for off-line bookings and include the appropriate GL/PL account code for on-line bookings.
5. Travellers and travel bookers are encouraged to use the MTA online tools, where appropriate, to make their bookings to avoid any undue delay in the booking process.

4.Land Travel

4.1 Booking Land Travel

1. Land Travel includes rental cars/taxis/trains/buses and ride sharing applications such as Uber.
2. Land travel (including connections) may be booked as follows:
   1. Domestic via an MTA or be directly booked with the service provider subject to the conditions below.
   2. International via an MTA except as provided at section 6 below.

Note: When using an MTA , bookings should be made at the same time as any associated flight bookings to avoid additional MTA fees.

4.2Rental Cars

1. Rental car bookings (not being made in conjunction with Air Bookings) can be booked using the University's approved supplier(s) in the first instance, using either the supplier's web reservation system (with payment made via the travellers' PCard) or via the University's MTA (which can be charged back to the University via the MTA 's consolidated invoice). Rental car bookings required in conjunction with Air Travel bookings should be booked via the MTA at the same time as the respective flight bookings.
2. To reduce cost and greenhouse gas emissions staff should select the lowest emissions option suitable for their journey. This should include consideration of Electric Vehicles ( EV s) where available. When considering EV s, the total cost of fuel/charging and rental should be used when comparing costs.
3. No direct bookings (quoting a University Purchase order) for rental cars are to be made that would be directly invoiced back to the University.
4. Where the approved supplier is unable to meet the booking requirement, the next most cost effective supplier should be used.
5. When hiring a rental car, staff or other University representatives should not select the pre-paid fuel tank option as there is no credit applied for any un-used fuel remaining in the vehicle at the end of the hire period. To avoid a refuelling service charge, including higher fuel cost, staff or other University representatives should ensure the rental car fuel tank is full before returning it to the car rental company.
6. If staff wish to use their private vehicle in lieu of a rental car, they should first familiarise themselves with section 7 of the Travel and Travel Related costs policy.

4.3Taxis, Shuttles and Shared Ride Apps

1. The use of Taxi, shuttles and ride apps is permitted to be pre-booked or obtained as required directly with the service provider or via the MTA .
2. Bookings for these services must be made noting the requirements in Section's 7 & 8 of the Travel and Travel Related costs policy.

4.4Other

1. For all land travel, including road or rail, staff should use the best available pricing on the day.

5.Booking Accommodation

1. Accommodation can be booked (in order of preference):
   1. Using an MTA (as part of an overall travel booking for Domestic and International Travel). When arranging a booking, travellers are free to specify the required standard of accommodation to the MTA ;
   2. Directly with an accommodation provider, when:
      • The booking is for domestic travel only;
      • There is no associated air travel component to the itinerary;
      • The booking can made using a recognised internet reservation system (eg trivago, booking.com) or directly with the accommodation
      • The payment for the accommodation will be via PCard
2. All 'Airbnb for work' bookings must be made through the MTA .  A PCard cannot be used to pay for AirBnB as these bookings must be made via an MTA .
   To initiate an AirBnB for work booking:
   1. Go to https://www.airbnb.co.nz/work
   2. Enter your 'firstname.surname@otago.ac.nz' email address and follow the prompts to register with the University of Otago AirBnB Account
   3. Search for properties that are suitable for your needs based on the following minimum selection criteria:
      • Type of Place: “Entire Place”
      • Amenities: Has a “Smoke Alarm”
      • User rating of 4.5 or above
   4. Email the link for the property to your University Travel Agent to book the property on your behalf and add it to your travel itinerary
3. For locations where AirBnB properties with the minimum criteria options are not available, AirBnB properties may only be used on the specific prior approval of the University Health and Safety Manager on a case-by-case basis.  A copy of this approval will be required to be provided to the Travel agent to enable them to make the booking.

6.Arranging Travel during period of RSL

1. It is recognised that where staff are on extended periods of RSL , it is often impractical to efficiently book incidental intra-continental travel via the MTA . Staff on RSL are free to book (and use their PCard for payment for) short-term/internal travel associated with their RSL provided:
   1. The staff member has downloaded the Oracle Travel App and has “watch-listed” the countries they are intending to travel to.
      To do this:
      1. Open the Travel Oracle App
      2. Click into the 'Country Profile' section
      3. Scroll to and 'select' the country you are intending to visit
      4. Select 'Watch Country' box located at the bottom of the screen
   2. The requirement for this ancillary travel was not identified/required at the time the initial RSL travel bookings were made with the University Travel Agent.

7.Associated Private Travel

1. Where private travel is undertaken in conjunction with University business travel, or where family members or other non-business associates accompany staff members or University representatives on University business, the private part of the air travel and/or accommodation must be disclosed at the time the reservation is made and will be charged separately by the MTA . Private travel at discounted rates is not offered by all the airlines under the AoG agreement. Staff members or other University representatives should check with the MTA s prior to making a booking.
2. Private travel or related costs are not to be charged to the University. This includes the charging of private travel costs to the University which is subsequently reimbursed by the staff member, or other University representatives. Any variation to this instruction requires the prior approval of the Chief Financial Officer.

8.Insurance

1. All persons travelling internationally (including Australia and the Pacific Islands) on University business must have approved travel insurance.  See the Insurance Procedure for more information.
2. For vehicle rentals within New Zealand, staff or other University representatives are to decline the rental agency's insurance cover when hiring vehicles for Otago University business purposes.  The University maintains insurance policies that provide coverage for the hire of rental vehicles used for University business purposes within New Zealand.
3. Where a vehicle is hired outside New Zealand, staff or other University representatives must purchase comprehensive vehicle insurance from the rental agency. As not all hire contracts are structured the same, the staff member or other University representative must ask the rental agency to confirm that the insurance includes vehicle damage, third party, and public liability cover. Staff or University representatives should not pay an increased premium to secure an excess below NZ$6,000 (the University travel insurance policy will cover an excess up to this amount).
4. Any questions regarding travel or vehicle insurance should be directed to Travel Insurance bookings, Divisional Services and Administration:
   Email travel.insurance@otago.ac.nz

Related policies, procedures and forms

• Travel and Travel Related Costs Policy
• Insurance Procedure
• Approved Suppliers
• Research and Study Leave Policy

Contact for further information

If you have any queries regarding the content of this policy, procedure or guideline or need further clarification, contact:

Stephen Hall
Manager Procurement
Email stephen.hall@otago.ac.nz