What's Hot in Western Australia in July

South West to take off with airport upgrade

Interstate visitors will soon be able to fly directly to WA's South West region, with the State Government announcing the $59.7 million expansion of Busselton Regional Airport. The airport's infrastructure developments will allow for new interstate airline routes, including direct flights from Australia's east coast. The South West is home to the popular Margaret River region and premier tourist attractions and events including the Margaret River Gourmet Escape, Drug Aware Pro and Cinefest Oz. A surge in visitor numbers is expected following the completion of the airport's transformation in mid-2018.
www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2015/06/Busselton-opens-up-for-interstate-visitors.aspx

Como Hotels makes first entry into Australian hotel market

Cathedral Square precinct

Singapore's COMO Hotels and Resorts will make its first entry into Australia's hotel market on the site of Perth's Old Treasury Buildings, in the soon-to-be-completed Cathedral Square precinct. The luxury 48-room hotel will be complemented by wining, dining, and retail outlets, including a rumoured landmark rooftop restaurant housed in a glass box. The precinct has undergone a period of significant transformation including the restoration of the State Buildings, a new office tower, the new City of Perth Library, construction of the new St George's Chambers, an upgrade to St George's Plaza plus new commercial and public spaces. Located in the Perth CBD bordered by St Georges Terrace, Barrack Street, Hay Street and Pier Street, Cathedral Square is a $584 million development. It's scheduled for completion in the second half of 2015.
www.cathedralandtreasury.com.au

The whales have arrived in Western Australia

whale watching

Another bumper whale watching season is on the cards for WA. Margaret River tour boat operators Legend, Naturaliste, All Sea Charters and Whale Watch Western Australia have officially commenced whale watching tours from the new $36 million boat harbour in Flinders Bay, Augusta. Up to 35,000 humpback and southern right whales, and even the occasional rare blue whale, travel through the waters on their northern migration. Whales watching tours have also started in Broome and will run through to October. The world's largest pod of humpback whales, estimated up to 40,000, mate and give birth in the Indian Ocean around Broome at this time of year, making Broome one of the best spots to watch humpback whales in the world.
www.margaretriver.com/tours/
www.visitbroome.com.au/to-do/tours/whale-watching

Major Elizabeth Quay updates revealed 

Elizabeth Quay

Plans have been unveiled for an 18-storey hotel at Barrack Square on the eastern gateway to Elizabeth Quay in Perth city. The DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront Hotel will have 229 rooms and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city and iconic Swan River. Forward works are due to start in the next three months. Meanwhile, a 29-metre sculpture designed to represent ripples and to link the Swan River, land and sky has been selected as the major artwork at Elizabeth Quay. The $1.3 million sculpture is made from steel and carbon fibre and will be located on The Landing at the northern end of the quay. Stage One of Elizabeth Quay construction is due to be completed later this year. Elizabeth Quay is a $2.6 billion project which plans to revitalise central Perth and return the city's focus to the iconic Swan River.
www.mra.wa.gov.au/projects-and-places/elizabeth-quay