Daily News & Opinion

Metro Perth Hotel will be clearing a spot in its trophy cabinet after snagging WA’s Best Mid-Range Accommodation Hotel award at the AHA 2018 Perth Airport WA Accommodation Awards. The win comes off the back of a $14 million redevelopment in 2016, which included a newly-built 53-room ‘Aspire Wing’, a new Red Bill restaurant and bar and new function rooms. The hotel is located less than five kilometres from the Perth CBD and around two kilometres from the Crown Perth entertainment precinct. 

Following the two major earthquakes which took place this year, bookings to Indonesia have suffered a set back of 26 per cent. The findings, which were put together by ForwardKeys, discovered that prior to the earthquake, bookings from January 1 were up 10 per cent on the equivalent period in 2017. Bookings for Bali, which is located adjacent to the earthquake-ravaged Lombok, have fallen by 42.9 per cent. Bookings from Australia in particular have plummeted by 19 per cent.

On September 3 at the MCEC, the next ‘Melbourne Edge’ instalment will take place, exploring the theme ‘Diversification in Business to Stay Ahead of the Game’. The Melbourne Convention Bureau knowledge forum will feature two keynote speakers: digital expert and CEO of VidCon Jim Louderback, and influential media commentator and Head of Women’s Football at the Australian Football League, Nicole Livingstone. Attendees will hear case studies and receive tips on marketing and engagement.

Century Group’s luxury brand St Regis Hotels & Resorts is set to make its first Australian mark with the opening of a Melbourne property in 2022. Located in the Flinders Bank precinct on the corner of Spencer and Flinders Streets, the hotel will span 33 storeys and include 168 luxurious guestrooms and suites, an Iridium Spa and wellness centre and refined dining options. We’ve also been told it will be an ideal setting for corporate gatherings.

It’s not a bird, or a plane, or baby Trump blimp. It’s a Ruby red sign that has Gold Coast visitors fanning their eyes and gawking up at the skyline. The sign is affixed to the new Ruby Apartments, slated to open within the next few months and set to change the way people visit the region. The sign was created by local company Creations Group and was named after developer William O’Dwyer of The Ralan Group’s daughter Ruby.

Heading up to the reef once the weather warms up? You may want to try out ‘Riley’, Cairns’ very own Crystalbrook Collection resort, due to open on November 6. The property will be the first five-star hotel to open in the region in 20 years, and will boast a bevy of event planning drawcards, including meeting zones, in-room iPads, a modern restaurant and close access to the Great Barrier Reef Departure Terminal (a 10 minute stroll, to be exact).

The past few years have seen strong demand for Australia amongst Chinese incentive planners, and Tourism Australia has risen to the occasion, announcing its first major incentive showcase for the Chinese market. The showcase, which will be held in Melbourne between November 26 and 27, has previously been held in China, but the inaugural onshore setting will allow the 60 Greater China buyers to experience Australia first hand. Some of the suppliers will include convention bureaus and centres, accommodation and attractions.

A 53-storey mixed use tower set to create 2300 jobs and house one of the Gold Coast’s largest luxury hotels has broken ground in a sod-turning ceremony on Broadbeach Island today. The $400 million development at The Star Gold Coast will also herald the entry to Australia of the internationally-acclaimed Dorsett hotel brand. The property is expected to open in 2022.