Destination Perth

Our Trade Lead Wendy O'Shaughnessy is attending Tourism Australia’s, Marketplace in Xi’an China this week with 125 other Australian sellers and meeting with 106 buyers from across China over the three day event. Conversations with buyers are diverse, with some buyers very knowledgeable about Western Australia, having visited many times, others are new to selling Australia or have been sending guests to the East Coast and are now interested in expanding to Western Australia as a mono destination. While historically there has been a focus on ADS groups (Approved Destination Status scheme) and replicating existing itineraries there is a noticeable shift to tailor made itineraries for small FIT and group tours including families travelling together or couples. 

Today we launch the fifth episode of Destination Perth brand campaign - People of Perth.   Shot on Rottnest Island, the video features Chara Forrest, Operations Manager at Quokka Coaches.   Chara and her team help visitors uncover the best of Rottnest through guided tours and shuttle services, sharing local knowledge and insider tips to make every moment count.   After two years on Rottnest, "I couldn't imagine working and living anywhere else" - Chara.

The 2025 AHA Hospitality Awards for Excellence were held on Monday, and we were absolutely thrilled to see many of our members recognised for their outstanding contributions to Western Australia’s hospitality scene. 🏆 Stories – Perth’s Best Hospitality Venue 🏆 Optus Stadium – Training Initiative Award 🏆 Stories – The Lion Bar Presentation & Service Award 🏆 The Marina Mindarie – Tourism Initiative Award 🏆 Boundary Island Brewery – Casual Pub Dining Award (Metropolitan) 🏆 The Henley Brook – Family Dining Award (Metropolitan) 🏆 KARLA at Stories & The Shorehouse – Restaurant Award (Metropolitan) 🏆 Gibney – Superior Dining Award 🏆 Gibney – Wine List Award 🏆 Aidan Skraha, Optus Stadium – Rising Star Award 🏆 James Cole-Bowen, Gibney – Head Chef Award 🏆 Luca Fiordi, Gibney – Restaurant Manager Award A special congratulations to The Shorehouse on its induction into the Hall of Fame for the Restaurant Award (Metropolitan), and to Nokturnl for making history as the first WA operator to win Perth's Best Hospitality Venue across three different precincts, following previous wins with The Beaufort and The Old Synagogue. We’re incredibly proud of all the winners and nominees who continue to raise the bar for hospitality in our region. Congratulations to everyone on an inspiring night of celebration!

What an incredible evening at the 2025 Perth Airport Tourism Awards presented by Tourism Council Western Australia!   It’s always such a special night when the WA tourism community comes together to celebrate one another’s achievements. We’re incredibly proud of the following members and partners who were recognised with awards across their respective categories.   🥇 WA Museum Boola Bardip - Major Tourist Attraction 🥇 FRINGE WORLD - Major Festivals & Events 🥇 City of Subiaco - Subi Blooms x Gather - Festivals & Events 🥇 Willie Creek Pearls - Tourism Retail & Hire Services 🥇 Swan Valley Visitor Centre - Visitor Information Services 🥇 Crown Perth - Business Event Venues 🥇 Rottnest Island Authority - Tourism Marketing & Campaigns 🥇 Heyscape - Self Contained Accommodation 🥇 Off The Beaten Track WA - Excellence in Accessible Tourism 🥇 City of Swan - Excellence in Local Government Award for Tourism   🥈 Perth Zoo - Major Tourist Attraction 🥈 City of Mandurah - Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest - Major Festivals & Events 🥈 WA Museum Boola Bardip - Cultural Tourism 🥈The House of Honey - Tourism Retail & Hire Services 🥈Off The Beaten Track WA - Tour & Transport Operators 🥈Holiday Inn West Perth - 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation 🥈This is Fremantle - Tourism Marketing & Campaigns 🥈Crown Towers Perth - 5 Star Luxury Accommodation 🥈City of Subiaco - Excellence in Local Government Award for Tourism   🥉Matagarup Zip + Climb - Tourist Attractions 🥉City of Joondalup - Joondalup Festival 2025 - Major Festivals & Events 🥉Star Track Astro Events - Cultural Tourism 🥉Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges - Business Event Venues 🥉Off The Beaten Track WA - Adventure Tourism 🥉Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges - 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation 🥉Pan Pacific Perth - 5 Star Luxury Accommodation 🥉WA Museum Boola Bardip - Excellence in Accessible Tourism   A special mention to WA Museum Boola Bardip which was inducted into the Hall of Fame for achieving Gold for the third time in the Major Tourist Attraction category. We'd also like to extend a big congratulations to all the winners and nominees from across the evening. It's so inspiring to see the passion, creativity, and dedication that continues to make Western Australia such a diverse and extraordinary destination. 

Last week, we attended a wonderful ATEC Meeting Place 2025 in Perth / Boorloo. From an inspiring Rottnest Island welcome event to productive B2B meetings at Crown with representatives from Australia’s inbound tour operators (ITOs), our team shared Perth’s newest experiences and updates to buyers. Alongside the formal meeting schedule, speakers and panel members shared their insights around ESG as a competitive edge, First Nations engagement, the impact of AI and evolving buyer expectations for authentic, sustainable experiences. Key insights - There are strong tourism export growth opportunities for Western Australia in South East Asia and India with rising middle classes, large populations, proximity to Perth and an appetite to travel. - A First Nations panel spoke about celebrating First Nations culture, nature and wildlife and the responsibility to build partnerships with authenticity and respect. - Environmental, social and governance reporting is not about making big sweeping changes but small steps and measuring that year on year. #DestinationPerth #ATECMP25 #InboundTourism

Perth isn’t just where you live – it’s your playground! We are seeking an experienced Content Coordinator to help locals discover flavour and fun…right on their doorstep. If you’re a dynamic social media and content specialist, with a passion for adventure and discovery, we look forward to hearing from you!

We’re thrilled to see The West Australian feature Perth Hills WanderFest, a hiking series proudly delivered by Destination Perth and Perth Hills Tourism Alliance! 🌿   A big thank you to Sue Yeap for capturing her wonderful experience at WanderFest. Sue beautifully describes her journey through vibrant wildflowers and towering trees at FR Berry Reserve, before a stop into the charming town of Gidgegannup and a visit to Mahogany Inn and Distillery for their classic fish and chips.   Perth Hills WanderFest celebrates the natural beauty of the Perth Hills and invites both locals and visitors to explore its diverse trails - and, like Sue, make a full day of it!   👉 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gTQUXv8p

Know someone interested in joining the tourism industry or looking to upskill their professional profile? The Hotel School Australia invites you to its Perth Info Evening, a chance to explore study pathways, connect with industry professionals, and learn about the new Perth campus opening in 2026. 📅 Saturday, 15 November 2025 🕑 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM 📍 The Westin Perth Join The Hotel School team to discover how you can elevate your career in hotel, tourism, hospitality and event management. 👉 Register now to secure your place https://lnkd.in/gMRShSep

Last week we hosted our Annual General Meeting and October Member Mingle in the vibrant setting of The Adnate Perth. ✨   It was a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of the past year and connecting with our valued members. The newly opened Alma function space and terrace provided the perfect backdrop for the occasion.   The evening was also bittersweet as we farewelled our outgoing Chairperson, Professor Ross Dowling AM, and thanked him for his incredible dedication and contribution over his six-year term. We now look forward to welcoming the wonderful Chrissie Maus GAICD, FAMI as Destination Perth’s new Chairperson, commencing January 2026.   We'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members and industry professionals who joined us. It’s been an incredible year, and we truly appreciate your continued support. Here’s to another fantastic year of showcasing everything our amazing region has to offer! View the event photos here: https://lnkd.in/g7hM7jgT

What a fortnight it’s been for the Destination Perth team - the past two weeks have been full of activity, connection and inspiration across our region (and beyond!). 🎥 Kate, Raani and Georgia headed over to beautiful Rottnest Island to capture some exciting new campaign content — we can’t wait to share what they’ve been working on. 🌿 Sonja, our CEO, travelled to Adelaide for the Australian Regional Tourism Conference and National Agritourism Conference in the stunning Adelaide Hills. The conferences offered valuable insights from regional leaders across Australia and highlighted exciting opportunities to further connect tourism with our local agricultural industry — showcasing the provenance that makes our region so unique. 🤝 Back home, we hosted our Annual General Meeting and a fabulous Member Mingle at The Adnate Perth. It was a wonderful evening celebrating our members and saying a heartfelt thank you to Professor Ross Dowling AM, our incredible Chairperson, who will be stepping down at the end of December after years of dedication and leadership. And we won't be slowing down any time soon...next week, Wendy is preparing for ATEC Marketplace at Crown Towers Perth — another fantastic opportunity to showcase our destination and connect with trade partners.