The Point to Point Transport Commissioner has partnered with the NSW Taxi Council to support visitors to Sydney travel confidently and understand the fare-related taxi rules in NSW through new Taxi Fare Hotel cards for Sydney hotel patrons travelling in taxis.
Taxis play an important role transporting guests to and from hotels when visiting Sydney especially during the upcoming busy Christmas period and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The Taxi Fare hotel card helps to ensure that tourists and visitors, particularly from overseas and interstate where there might be different laws, have the peace of mind and confidence whenever using a taxi.
The trial commenced with two hotels in Sydney CBD – the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel and the Fullerton Hotel Sydney. Due to interest, the trial quickly expanded in September, to include an additional 12 hotels.
The Taxi Fare hotel cards have also been popular with hotel patrons as they help visitors to Sydney feel more confident with how rank and hail taxi fares work in NSW by providing information on fare-related rules, such as the requirement that all taxis providing rank and hail services must use the meter. The cards also contain information regarding their taxi trip along with a QR code linking to the Hotline phone number (1800 500410) and online form if they were to make a fare-related inquiry or complaint.
When a hotel patron is arriving or leaving a hotel in a taxi, the Concierge writes down the time, date and the taxi’s number plate on the card providing an easy reference to the trip. This interaction also allows patrons to ask any questions about their trip with the driver and Concierge - meaning even better communication between everyone!
Due to the success of the initial trial the scheme will soon be open to all hotels across NSW.
The hotel card has been a great initiative with success across the hotel sector in Sydney through the partnership between the Point to Point Transport Commissioner and NSW Taxi Council.