Upcoming Perth Events 2013

Pen in these following events coming soon to Perth! 

Venus Williams and John Isner sign up for Hopman Cup

Venus Williams and John Isner will represent the USA at the 2013 Hyundai Hopman Cup, the first to be staged at the new Perth Arena. Former world number one Williams is one of the most successful female athletes on tour, boasting seven Grand Slam singles titles, and Isner is currently world number 10. 

The event has attracted a great field so far, which includes current world number two and winner of three Grand Slam events Novak Djokovic, French Open winner and current number 12 Ana Ivanovic, French world number six Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Aussie young gun Bernard Tomic. The event will be held from December 29, 2012 to January 5, 2013.

W: hopmancup.com 

Rooftop Movies returns

From the producers of Perth's Fringe World festival, Rooftop Movies returns to Northbridge for an extended Perth summer season. The pop-up venue is now open with the season running until April 2013. Expect more old-school film favourites, cinephile classics, cult and arthouse movies every night of the week. Rooftop Movies is located on the top floor of the City of Perth Roe Street Carpark. Access for vehicles is from 68 Roe Street Northbridge. Pedestrian access is via an elevator off James Street, opposite the Northbridge Piazza.

W: rooftopmovies.com.au

Jamie Oliver set to open in Perth

Jamie's Italian is set open in Perth's CBD in early 2013. The new restaurant, to be located in the one40william precinct, will feature the renowned Jamie's Italian signatures of a unique pasta machine (producing fresh pasta daily) and the legendary planks of anti-pasti too. Boasting a spacious dining and bar area, the Martin Brudnizki designed space will definitely leave Perth diners having experienced the Jamie Oliver wow factor.

W: one40william.com.au

Duyfken is docked

The Duyfken 1606 replica has returned to its home of Fremantle. The ship commenced its voyage from Sydney in April and sailed 5,500 nautical miles (10,000km) via Darwin to Fremantle, nearly a six month journey to get home. The ship, which was built in Perth, is now going to become a tourist attraction and 'living history' educational facility.

W: duyfken.com

(Source: Travmedia.com 29/10/12)

Your Perth This weekend

This week Perth city is home to a group of Aussie music superstars and for those willing to travel a little further out of town, a coastal delight awaits you.

'Grey nomads' and coastal adventurers of all ages are invited to embark on an outback musical journey to the Sounds Outback (...to Reef) Festival in Exmouth from October 5 to 9.

Some of the state's most picturesque locations will set the scene for the likes of Etica Ensemble, Stephen Pigram, Defying Gravity and Jon Rose across several stunning venues including Shothole Canyon, offering breathtaking views of Cape Range National Park.

This is a fabulous mid-spring getaway option for lovers of music and the outdoors.

For more information and accommodation options visit the website.
Meanwhile back toward the city, Aussie rock's old favourites Regurgitator are at The Astor on Sunday October 7.

Now in their nineteenth year together, the band is bringing the hits of Tu Plang and Unit back to WA, with this one off show.

A few tickets are still available, head to BOCS now.
Also this week, Pridefest WA kicks off a month's worth of festivities with the City of Perth Pride 
Fairday on Saturday October 6.

Folks of all genders and sexual persuasions are invited to pack a picnic and enjoy live entertainment, including live Drag Shows and the Pridefest dog parade.

Plus join in for a bunch of fun activities like novelty races, tug-of-war and water-pistol duels – just to name a few.

For more information on this weekend's fair and to check out the other events running until November 6 for Pridefest visit www.pridefestwa.com.au.

Enjoy your Perth this weekend!

View Source

'Vibrant Perth' Bid to Draw Tourists

Perth will be rebranded under a campaign to attract interstate visitors, while almost $8 million will be spent on tourism marketing in the regions, the State Government will announce today.

The Tourism WA campaign, to be launched in Sydney and Melbourne next week, will feature a 60-second cinema advertisement and eight shorter versions for digital and social marketing. They focus on Perth's music, arts and cultural scenes, nightlife and beaches. Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the new brand reflected the energy and vibrancy the city now exuded.

The State Government will also announce a new marketing campaign for regional WA, committing $7.9 million over four years through Royalties for Regions.

The funding will go towards a new 1001 Extraordinary Experiences campaign and produce two new commercials to entice interstate and local visitors to the regions.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said this season would be "make-or-break" for many operators.

Mr Hall said interstate tourism contributed $1.4 billion to the WA economy last year.

JLO - Dance Again World Tour (Jennifer Lopez)

 Thursday 06 December - Perth Arena

The wait is over! The Frontier Touring Company is thrilled to announce that global superstar Jennifer Lopez (a.k.a. JLO) will be touring Australia for the first time ever in her impressive 13 year long career!

JLO will be touring down under as part of her 'Dance Again World Tour' which has already visited countless cities across North America, South America, Europe and Asia in recent months.

On the 'Dance Again World Tour', JLO will be performing hits from across her expansive and impressive career, which features seven studio albums that have sold more than 70 million records worldwide.

Those lucky enough to attend one of JLO's Australian performances will be treated to songs that brought JLO to the world's attention including 'If You Had My Love' and 'Waiting For Tonight' as well as those that have introduced her music to a new legion of adoring fans like 'I'm Into You' and 'Dance Again'.

JLO's impressive catalogue is also celebrated on her recently released greatest hits collection Dance Again...the Hits (out now through Sony Music Australia).

JLO is a woman who knows how to get the party started with her signature blend of killer vocal hooks, pulsing beats and storming synthesizers.

Her arena shows in December are destined to be amongst the dance parties of the year, don't miss the opportunity to join the fun on JLO's first ever Australian tour!

"Jennifer Lopez was glitz and glam through her set. At 43, Lopez is in perfect shape, and it showed through her stepped up choreography." - Edge, Boston

Perth International Puts Western Australia On The Map

With prize money of $2 million, the event will become Australia's richest and world number nine Jason Dufner is another who will appear at Lake Karrinyup.

With prize money of $2 million, the event will become Australia's richest and world number nine Jason Dufner is another who will appear at Lake Karrinyup.

"It's the biggest purse in Australia and we are pushing for more big names in the run-up to the event," spokesperson Janine Pittaway told Reuters on Friday.

"The event is supported by the tour of Western Australia and the plan is for it to become a long-term tournament for Western Australia, like the Heineken Classic and Johnnie Walker Classic."

South African Schwartzel has already won seven times on the European Tour, culminating in his stunning victory at the 2011 U.S. Masters, where he became the first player to birdie the final four holes to win at Augusta.

The 27-year-old will be bidding to emulate countrymen Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who are all past champions at Lake Karrinyup.

"I have always enjoyed the people and the culture (in Australia) and the great sporting rivalry between our countries in cricket and rugby," Schwartzel said in a statement.

"I am looking forward to visiting Perth and hopefully I can continue the South African success at Lake Karrinyup."

Dufner has been a model of consistency this year, the 35-year-old runner-up at the 2011 U.S. PGA Championship and boasting seven top 10 finishes this season.

"I have a real affinity for Australia and have heard a lot of great things about Perth and Western Australia," said Dufner, set to make his Ryder Cup debut next month.

"Hopefully I can continue my good play Down Under," added the American. "I am excited to have the opportunity to play in Western Australia for the first time."

The event is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour and the winner of the event will receive an exemption to the World Golf Championships, the HSBC Champions.

All Smiles As Perth Annies Step Up

As the two Perth girls playing the red-headed heroine in the musical Annie know all too well, you are never fully dressed without a smile.

It was fun and games when Lilli De Nardi, 11, and Claudia Fitzgerald, 10, tried on their costumes for the first time.

Clowning around with pooch Dudley, standing in as the character's furry friend Sandy, the alternating Annies wore the chirpy child's 1930s orphanage uniform and the party dress she wears to celebrate her adoption by benevolent billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

"Wearing the curly wig for the first time was kind of weird," Claudia said.

Claudia, Lilli and 16 other Perth "orphans" have been rehearsing five days a week but were still doing their schoolwork, Claudia said.

"It has been good learning new stuff but sometimes it's been tough keeping on your American accent because some words are really hard to pronounce," she said.

Annie opens at the Burswood Theatre on August 24.

Retirees And Chinese Students New Tourism Workers

EARLY retirees, Chinese students and indigenous Australians will be targeted as employees in a plan to boost often-criticised service standards in the tourism industry. 

Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson also wants to facilitate greater foreign investment in Australian tourism, train local tourism operators to be more digital savvy and improve the quality of accommodation, particularly in regional areas.

Mr Ferguson said the strength of the economy and the resources boom made it hard for the tourism industry to compete for workers.

"The rates of pay are just way beyond tourism operators,'' he said.
"A lot of them are small and medium sized businesses going from week to week.

"You have a pool of Australians out there who are work ready - people who have retired early and the share market is down.

"We have to start to think about employing these people in a variety of positions.''

Mr Ferguson also wants to see a greater focus on indigenous tourism in Australia, with subsidies for the training and employment of indigenous people.

"We have a huge potential workforce which we have neglected for a variety of reasons,'' he said.

With China the fastest-growing market for Australian tourism, Mr Ferguson also sees an opportunity to recruit Chinese students living in Australia, who are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week as part of their visa conditions, to the tourism industry.

Despite the challenges of the strong Australian dollar and economic uncertainty in the US and Europe, there was a five per cent rise in overseas visitors over the past financial year.

The biggest rise was in Chinese tourists, up 17 per cent over the year to more than 580,000 visitors.

It is now the third largest source market, closely behind the UK.

While Australians are taking a record number of overseas holidays, domestic tourism is also up.

The most recent National Visitor Survey showed Australians took 73 million overnight trips in the year to March - a five per cent rise on the previous year.

The biggest growth is in the short breaks market, with Australians choosing longer resort holidays in destinations such as Bali and Thailand and long weekends away in Australia.

"You can't say to Australians 'you can't go overseas','' Mr Ferguson said.

"But the short breaks market is just as important.''

While he agrees with businessman James Packer that Chinese tourists are attracted by casinos, Mr Ferguson believes they will also come to see natural attractions.

"The development of the Chinese market is no different to the development of the Japanese market - initially it will be group travel and they will come here for a few days and be attracted to the major cities,'' he said.

"Then they will start venturing off and over time they will want to go and do something themselves.''

Mr Ferguson said he was pleased with Mr Packer's announcement of plans for a luxury hotel in Perth, and wanted to see similar investment in other states.

He said Australian tourism needed to chase foreign investment in tourism attractions and hotels.

"We haven't done enough in the past to promote Australia as a good place for investment,'' he said.

"We have high occupancy rates and not bad tariffs. You only have to go places like Perth to see how much it costs for a night.''

As well as becoming more digitally savvy, Mr Ferguson said Australian businesses could also cater more to the Chinese market by adapting shopping hours to suit Chinese tourists, who love taking gifts home to family and friends.

He admitted some tourist attractions and was tired - particularly in regional areas - and wants to help improve standards through funding grants.

"I travel a lot in Australia and the accommodation quality is variable, but I have seen some improvements,'' he said.

"We're not just about increased numbers - we're also about high yield tourists.''

Mr Ferguson said high-end tourist attractions and resorts like Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania and Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in South Australia were especially attractive to high yield tourists.

"The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart is a primary example... visitation to MONA is now higher than Port Arthur but they're working in partnership to try to help one another,'' he said.