The Qantas Cards That Unlock Business Potential and Personal Travel

As the business brain behind Queensland interior design firm Studio Collective, Melissa Park uses her American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card to pay bills from suppliers for multi-million-dollar fit-outs, leveraging its cash-flow benefits and earning Qantas Points for future work trips. She also chooses the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card for personal use, unlocking points for holidays and a world of other travel perks.

The Card that helps unlock business possibilities

“We’ve grown our business through word-of-mouth referrals and relationship building; our clients come to us for elevated, timeless interiors and stay with us because of the consistency and care we bring to every project,” says Melissa Park (right), who co-founded Studio Collective with friend Casey Talbot on the Sunshine Coast in 2015. The pair met through their mums and saw an opportunity to combine Talbot’s interior design expertise with Park’s operational and business management qualifications.

It’s proved to be a winning combination. In 10 years, Studio Collective has grown to a team of 13 with up to 40 projects on the go at any one time, taking them from their new Brisbane HQ to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and regional Australia.

Their work spans everything from multi-residential developments and high-end homes to retirement villages and aged care facilities. Each development shares the group’s signature aesthetic: minimalistic design, quality craftsmanship and the creative use of natural light.

Park says the company’s ongoing strategic growth is supported by the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card, which unlocks flexible spending power¹ while also earning Qantas Points² to help take the business to the next level.

Flexible funding to help fuel growth

Big projects mean big expenses for Studio Collective. “Right now we’re working on a $40 million building project and the furniture fitout costs are about $2.5 million,” says Park. “A huge benefit of our American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card is its flexible spending power¹, which allows us to pay large invoices.” 

The spending power of the Card can grow with the business and is determined by a variety of factors. In Studio Collective's case, it’s given them access to a line of unsecured funding.¹ “The bigger our business and projects get, the more challenging cash flow becomes because we’re dealing with such large amounts. Having flexibility with the Card has been very beneficial. Plus there’s the bonus of earning Qantas Points.”

Build relationships and trust around payment terms

“Our commercial clients roll out projects one after the other and this repeat business has been fundamental to our growth,” says Park. Likewise, the studio’s team of loyal suppliers has been built on a foundation of trust and reliability. “We pride ourselves on paying our bills on time.”

Having up to 51 days to pay for purchases³ on their American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card helps. It means the business can settle supplier invoices quickly while allowing time for client funds to land in their account. “We’ve been working with the same suppliers and clients for years now. We’ve found our groove for how we work – even when it comes to managing really large invoices I’m comfortable knowing our clients will pay us swiftly.”

Enjoy the rewards of success

Each Studio Collective employee uses the Card for business expenses, which helps Studio Collective earn an average of around 80,000 Qantas Points a month. Up to 99 complimentary Employee Cards⁴ can be added to the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card and they all earn Qantas Points at the same rate. “The team has the flexibility to buy what they need for a job, no questions,” says Park. “When they’re travelling, they put rental car, fuel, accommodation and meal expenses on the Amex, which simplifies the process because all costs are then captured in the one place.” 

The business earns 2 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Qantas products and services and up to 1.25 points per $1 on everyday business spend² – and this bank of points is reinvested into business trips. “Casey and I love to travel and we save up points for big work trips. In 2022, we used our points to conduct research in Switzerland and to go to a window furnishings conference in Abu Dhabi in 2023. We’re planning on attending the Milan Design Fair next year.”

Points come in handy for the Studio Collective crew to get around, too. “We like to take the team on educational trips, such as trade shows in Melbourne or art fairs in Sydney, and we use our business points to book flights and accommodation.”

The Card that unlocks personal adventures

Just as she’s conscious of balancing work and home life, Park is diligent about keeping personal and business expenses separate. “I have a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card for my personal spending, which makes that easy,” she says. “It helps me build my own Qantas Points balance for holidays and there are some great travel bonuses, too.” Here, Park shares how she uses her Qantas American Express Ultimate Card both at home and away – and how it unlocks a little bit of extra luxury.

Save your points for upgrades

Park doesn’t necessarily slow down when she’s on holiday but she does treat herself. “I’m a snowboarder and I used my Qantas Points to fly to Niseko, Japan this year. I went there last year, too, with Casey and loved it so much I had to go back again. This year I had enough points to fly Business class by putting all of my everyday expenses – food, clothes, make-up, petrol – on my Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. When I’m travelling, everything goes on it.”

Card Members earn 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible Qantas products and services and up to 1.25 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases with the Ultimate Card⁵.

Treat yourself with travel credit and lounge access

Park’s Ultimate Card comes with benefits including an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit⁶, which can be used on eligible domestic or international flights. “It’s great for booking a quick escape,” says Park, who also receives two Qantas Club Lounge Invitations⁷ and two complimentary entries to The Centurion Lounge⁸ at Sydney and Melbourne International airports each year. “It’s nice to relax away from the bustle of the airport. It adds another level of comfort to the trip.”

Take advantage of complimentary travel insurance

By using the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card to pay for eligible return travel, Card Members get complimentary domestic and international travel insurance for themselves, their partner and dependent children. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age-limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits)⁹. Before using the insurance on an overseas holiday last year, Park took the time to ensure she was properly covered. “I checked the insurance’s conditions closely and found it was right for me,” she says. “I didn’t need to buy any other insurance, meaning I saved money to spend on my holiday instead.”

SEE ALSO: How This Sydney Mum Built a Global Interior Design Business