City of Perth category scholarship winner, Associate Professor Judith Fordham (centre) with Deputy Mayor John Tognolini and PCB Managing Director Christine McLean

Each of the winners plans to use their scholarship to attend international conferences or symposia in subjects ranging from engineering and preventative medicine to law and geology. Several will lodge bids for future conventions while the others will canvass support for Perth to be a future meeting destination.

PCB Managing Director said that this year's program had identified potential convention business worth more than $55.60 million in estimated direct delegate expenditure.

"The collaborative scholarship program assists our academic community to attend overseas conferences, to forge relationships with their international peers, showcase their cutting edge research and strengthen Perth and Western Australia's case to bring these conventions here.

"Our aim is to secure business events that align with Western Australia's many industry strengths such as health, mining, resources, agriculture and education, enabling us to make a solid contribution to the global knowledge exchange," Ms McLean said.

The Greenhouse, a new bar restaurant, provides a welcome contrast to busy St Georges Terrace. Made entirely from recycled materials and featuring exterior 'living walls' lined with hundreds of strawberry plants the rooftop bar and vegetable garden can be used for private functions.

New retail ventures offer a diverse range of fashion, art and gifts from the latest runway creations of West Australian designers to the stars, vintage records and music memorabilia to stunning strings of lustrous Broome pearls.

To learn more about Perth's creative spaces see the new guide 15 Blocks produced by Perth arts organisation FORM.

Western Australia's profile as a business destination has increased significantly over the last few years and the decision to hold the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting here in 2011 is testament to our reputation for delivering world class events.

It is expected that Perth's hotels and service providers will be in high demand during this time however no confirmed business events have been displaced.

	Intercontinental Perth Burswood just one of the Perth hotels upgrading their product

The lobby's Atrium Restaurant is being refurbished and is set to redefine the buffet experience, with live cooking stages adding a theatrical dimension to dining. The Atrium and a new lobby bar will open this December. Also among the exciting changes planned is the launch of a new signature restaurant in early 2011. Internationally renowned Australian chef Neil Perry will open the third of his famed Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurants at the hotel.

Meanwhile, Hyatt Regency Perth's $9 million room refurbishment continues, The Richardson Hotel & Spa has opened a new guest lounge and extended their wine cellar, Holiday Inn Burswood has updated their guest rooms and lobby, Rendezvous Observation City has completed a soft refurbishment of its main conference venues and Duxton Hotel Perth has just approved its biggest refurbishment in the hotel's 14 year history set to begin in August.

Rottnest offers a relaxing atmosphere, pristine natural environment, and a seaside village charm that makes for the perfect destination to work, stay and play.

Conference, restaurant and accommodation facilities on the island have recently undergone significant rejuvenation including the renovation of the Rottnest Island Country Club and Conference Centre, the stunning transformation of the historic Governors residence now known as Hotel Rottnest and the opening of a new restaurant, Aristos Waterfront Rottnest. For more information visit the Rottnest Island Authority website.

Perth was one of six Australian cities on the list and followed Sydney which came in at number 10 and Melbourne which was number 18. Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane all fell after Perth at 26, 32 and 36 respectively.

Austria's Vienna won the top spot with Zurich and Geneva coming in second and third most livable. Auckland and Vancouver were tied at number four most livable cities.

Other well—known cities on the list are San Francisco at 32nd, Paris at 34th, London at 39th,
New York at 49th and Rio de Janeiro at 116th.

Article source: Emily Morgan, WA Business News, June 2010

	Buyer workshops at the Melbourne event
	Thomas Hill and Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia draw the lucky winner

The Western Australian suppliers participating in the initiative included Abbey Beach Resort, Australia's South West, Broome & The Kimberley Holidays, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, Cape Lodge, Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat, Eco Retreat Karijini, Home Valley Station, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef and Virgin Blue. The event was supported by PCB and Business Events Australia.

Tanya de Groot of Event Alliance International Sydney was the lucky winner of the 7 day holiday for two to Broome and Margaret River drawn by Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director Tourism Australia.

Here is what some of the buyers had to say about the roadshow:

"Wonderful opportunity to be introduced to the fabulous properties and activities of WA"

"WOW what a wonderful part of the world. Can't wait to sell the destination"

For more information on the diversity, accessibility and freedom of WA for business events connect with the team at PCB.

Through digital publishers Realview, who created the online version of the guide which can be viewed via the PCB website, the publication can now be read by meeting planners anywhere, anytime using the iPad.

PCB is hosting a 'Green Forum' for its members next month focusing on environmental imperatives in the business events industry with presenters from Earthcheck, Carbon Conscious and Perth Zoo, and already Western Australia's venues and operators are achieving new environmental standards, with many undertaking green accreditation processes and carbon reducing programs in line with world's best practice.

The 5th Asia—Pacific Conference of Transducers and Micro—Nano Technology
6 — 9 July 2010

13th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors 2010
11 — 14 July 2010

Australian College of Health Service Executives National Congress 2010
14 — 16 July 2010

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia 13th Winter Congress 2010
29 — 31 July 2010

National Marine Safety Conference 2010
22 — 24 August 2010

For a full list of conferences coming to WA visit the PCB website
Please note that the details of corporate events are not made public.