Perth Evolving to be Style Capital Says Josh Goot

PERTH is evolving into Australia's style capital, according to one of the country's hottest designers.

Internationally adored, Sydney-based designer Josh Goot said Perth had a growing fashion culture and a "captive consumer".

"There is a burgeoning domestic market in Perth, as well as tourist dollar that I'm sure is alluring established international brands," Goot, who flies into WA next week to open the new-season runway show for high-end fashion boutique Ricarda, said.

"Perth, like Sydney and Melbourne, has great relevance as an Australian style capital.

"It has a unique and Australian identity, plus great proximity to the rest of the world."

Goot's comment comes as Leederville  one of the metropolitan area's emerging centres of cool  prepares to hold its first fashion festival on Thursday night.

Vincent Mayor Alannah MacTiernan said the event, "Constellations", was a chance for up-and-coming local designers to show their work. Models will replace mannequins in shopfront windows displaying the latest fashions from a selection of WA designers from 5pm.

A fashion runway show will also be held in the Laneway between Funky Bunches and Kailis Restaurant at 7pm.

Among the emerging designers in the festival are Ariana Davis, Stott & Sims, On A Whim, SeaWolf Design, Katherine Young, Emily Murco, Dear Maurice, Chaka Leyla, ARA, Nicole Marrington and Jewel Designs.

The designs will be showcased by models from SCENE Models.

There will also be an after- party upstairs at the Leederville Hotel from 8.30pm-10pm.

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PCB Welcomes Perth Hotel Expansion

Metro Hotel Perth will increase its room capacity by almost 50% as management looks to capitalise on ever increasing demand for Perth hotels.

Following a $3.5 million renovation to all 94 rooms in 2009, Metro Hotel Perth is embarking on a new project which will include major renovations to the lobby area, hotel, pool area and restaurant.
Forty-six new rooms will also be completed by the end of the year, bringing the property’s offering to 140 rooms.

Making the announcement yesterday, Metro Hospitality Group chief operating officer George Bedwani said the additional rooms were vital to address accommodation shortages in Perth, where occupancy currently stands at 85%.

“We believe the hotel industry in Perth will remain buoyant over the next five years as there continues to be capacity constraints due to few major hotel developments being built in Perth,” he said.

“This hotel is in high demand [and] we are now going the next step to ensure we benefit from the anticipated growth and demand over the next 4-5 years,” Bedwani added.

With the latest Deloitte Global Performance Review predicting that Perth occupancy will peak at 89% in 2014, Perth Convention Bureau chief executive Paul Beeson said the additional capacity comes as a fitting time for the MICE market.

“The effects on MICE will be positive, with an increase in room stock and by extension more competitive rates,” he told The Nibbler. “The WA government’s efforts to incentivise hotel development continue to stimulate additional room stock, and The Metro Hotel is a direct result of this.”

Construction will commence mid year and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. Management has promised the development will cause “minimal disruption” to guests.

Jetstar Launches New Link Between WA and China

Jetstar has launched a new four-times weekly connection between Haikou, the capital of the Hainan Province in China, and Perth via a technical stop in Singapore. 

Passengers on these flights will have a short layover of two hours in Singapore each way, and will be re-boarding the same aircraft. Jetstar has operated low fare services between Haikou and Singapore since 2009, and is working with the Hainan Provincial Government to market the one stop service to Perth. 

Hainan is home to more than eight million people, providing WA with an opportunity to gain greater access to the China market.

New Barbagallo Raceway to Host V8 Supercars

Motorsport fans will see a 'new look' Barbagallo Raceway when they visit for the V8 Supercars from May 4 to 6, thanks to a $10.4 million dollar redevelopment of the raceway. Construction work includes a new in-field pit lane and garage facility, a pedestrian bridge to link the in and out fields, a driver briefing room and media interviewing area, stewards' facilities, race and timing control, commentating and spectator viewing area, and administration facilities.

The 2012 Trading post Perth Challenge will offer another great line-up of world-class motorsport over three days with the V8 Supercars being supported by the V8 Supercar Development Series, Porsche City Index Carrera Cup, Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series and QBE Australian Superbike Championships. The event is proudly supported by Eventscorp.