ENERGY is a buzzword in Western Australia thanks to the state’s association with mining and the role the City of Perth plays in hosting conferences and events geared towards the industry.
While China and the world continue to seek Australia’s minerals and rare earths, Perth’s conference expertise, its unique venues, hospitality and stunning scenery are being used to tap into a different type of energy.
The West Australia state capital is extending its conference expertise to attracting more overseas groups beyond the mining realm. So it’s about the energy that inspires delegates in the meeting room, then revitalises them with a choice of group-bonding activities that empower. All this alongside a majestic waterfront, impressive cuisine, a storied-based heritage, scenic post-conference excursions and more.
To preserve that conference group energy, there is Perth’s enviable location. The city may be time zones away from Australia’s east coast, but event delegates in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and the rest of China barely have to redial their watches!
Perth’s time-friendly location is also well connected travel wise with direct flights serving key cities such as Bangkok and Tokyo, which have just a one-hour time difference, while sharing the same time zone with the likes of Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Perth is more connected than ever, with non-stop services to around 50 destinations across nearly 20 countries, including major hubs across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. With a AU$5 billion airport infrastructure program underway and further international routes on the horizon, that global connectivity is only set to grow.
Having direct routes to Asia’s major markets, where conference organisers are eager for fresh destination ideas, puts Perth on a par with the world’s best business event cities. Planners and their delegates have a winning formula for a successful event by adding West Australia’s appeal as a visitor experience, along with the expertise provided by Business Events Perth.
Let’s see how Perth’s venues, unique charm, conference capabilities and its amazing surroundings will work for your conferences and corporate events…
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
For international conference organisers, Perth offers something increasingly valuable: a compact, walkable business events precinct where convention facilities, hotels, restaurants and transport links are located within minutes of one another.
Foremost among the precinct venues is Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC). Located on the banks of the Swan River in the CBD, the venue combines major conference, exhibition and meeting facilities under one roof. Its position adjacent to Elizabeth Quay Station also simplifies delegate movement, an important consideration for international planners managing large delegate numbers.
PCEC’s standout asset is the 2,500-seat Riverside Theatre, Perth’s largest tiered theatre. The venue is designed for conference keynotes, major ceremonies, and entertainment, so provides extensive staging, back-of-house facilities, loading bays and production infrastructure to support complex event requirements.
The centre’s six exhibition pavilions can be configured individually or combined to create more than 16,000 square metres of exhibition space, allowing organisers to accommodate trade shows, association congresses and large-scale corporate events under one roof.
To ensure a smooth operation, each event organiser has a dedicated PCEC account manager working with them.
PCEC’s award-winning in-house culinary operation is geared towards serving events ranging from executive meetings to gala dinners for thousands of delegates. Organisers can work directly with venue staff on menu development, while the centre’s emphasis on Western Australian produce allows planners to incorporate authentic local flavours.
UNIQUE VENUES
Perth offers a choice of distinctive venues for organisers seeking memorable settings for off-site meetings, cocktail receptions and gala dinners. At the heart of the city, the Perth Cultural Centre provides an energetic backdrop, placing delegates within walking distance of galleries, theatres and public spaces that can be incorporated into networking and social programmes.
A standout venue within the precinct is WA Museum Boola Bardip, where contemporary event spaces are complemented by exhibitions showcasing Western Australia’s natural, cultural and scientific heritage. The museum can host events ranging from small executive gatherings to larger cocktail functions and dinners.
For a sense of refined luxury, COMO – The Treasury combines heritage architecture with elegant hospitality in Perth’s historic State Buildings precinct. The hotel’s collection of event spaces, restaurants and private dining rooms creates opportunities for small meetings, executive dinners and networking events in the heart of the city.
Beyond sporting fixtures and concerts, Optus Stadium offers extensive corporate event facilities, banquet spaces and premium function rooms with views across the playing field on one side and over to the city skyline on the other. Packages can also incorporate behind-the-scenes stadium experiences with customised catering and entertainment for delegates.
To arrive in style, a fleet of stretch limos can be arranged straight from hotels greeted by a brass ensemble to get delegates in the mood for a memorable evening. The celebratory atmosphere continues in the stadium’s corporate hospitality spaces as pre-dinner cocktails, canapés, DJs and dancers add even more glamour to your event.
EXCURSIONS
Perth provides a range of excursion and group activities that showcase Western Australia’s coastal lifestyle and heritage. A popular choice is the historic City of Fremantle with its heritage buildings and ferry links to Rottnest Island, the home of the cute quoka marsupials. Rottnest also offers unique venues for offsite meetings and business events, while delegates can also enjoy its beaches, resorts, wildlife encounters, and bike and Segway tours.
To start the day at Fremantle, al fresco breakfast in the courtyard of Moore & Moore’s heritage warehouse is, as they say locally, the way to go.
Delegates can explore Fremantle’s rich maritime history through visits to the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison and Fremantle Port, which also serves as the main departure point for ferries to Rottnest Island.
Post-conference tours can also be extended to the Swan Valley where wineries, gourmet food and local produce give delegates a relaxing experience of rural Perth. Another distinctive destination choice is the seaside suburb of Scarborough, where beachfront meeting and event spaces combine conference facilities with ocean views and easy access to Perth’s coastal wonders.
HOTEL SELECTIONS
Perth’s hotels have entered a new era as more properties open and others emerge from extensive renovations to welcome international delegates. Among those having undergone recent upgrades is Pan Pacific Perth with its 2,500 sqm of event space, including a convention level, being transformed along with the hotel’s 488 guest rooms and suites, the lobby, and the Pan Pacific Lounge.
Ibis Perth is another CBD hotel revealing a fresh new look with upgrades to its 192 guest rooms and the Chelsea Social F&B venue. The Ibis offers convenient access to Perth Cultural Centre and the vibrant Northbridge precinct.
Meetings and events space at Duxton Hotel Perth underwent a series of upgrades that covered the 300-guest-capacity Grand Ballroom and the dedicated conference floor with a range of meeting rooms for board meetings, workshops and breakout sessions. For planners looking to host executive dinners or networking events, there are six private dining rooms including Duxton 5, located on the hotel’s dedicated function floor and the Swan River Lounge with views over Perth’s famed maritime scenery.
On Rottnest Island, The Lodge Wadjemup has recently opened conference and event venues. Of The Lodge’s 109 guest rooms, 46 are newly built offering lake, pool or island views while 63 have been refurbished. Two F&B venues are also attracting groups: Sunsets Rottnest serves Mediterranean-inspired all-day dining while the Pelican Kiosk offers a drop-by option for visitors.
Another new addition to the CBD is Hyde Perth, which has an emphasis on music and culture. The 121-guest room hotel offers full-venue hire with exclusive use of dining and event space, while the poolside can be made available for cocktail receptions.
Novotel Perth Langley has developed a meetings and events program centred around its dedicated conference floor. The pillarless Riverside Ballroom can accommodate up to 600 attendees and be subdivided for smaller events. Additional spaces, including the Silver Room, boardrooms and meeting suites, give organisers a range of options for breakout sessions, strategy meetings or training programs.
Conveniently located near PCEC, Parmelia Hilton Perth is a mainstay for business and conference travellers. Event space includes the Argyle Ballroom with boardrooms and meeting rooms capable of hosting events from executive gatherings to conferences. An outdoor piazza offers an alternative setting for receptions and social functions.
Business Events Perth Team:
info@beperth.com
