Perth hotels lure the locals
There has never been a better time to be pampered in a posh hotel.
Lower occupancy, cheaper rates and attractive packages suddenly have made one of Perth's elite hotels more accessible.
Joe Oxley, owner of five-star The Richardson, said spending a night at a city hotel was foreign to many Perth people.
"This is changing," he said.
"With more shows, dining options and live music coming to Perth, more locals are escaping to a hotel for a night, be it for the convenience or the indulgence of a mini-holiday without the travel.
"A night or two at a top hotel is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or just to take a break."
Until recently, Perth had the highest hotel occupancy and room rates in Australia. It was almost impossible to find a room midweek and only slightly easier at weekends. But the declining business market has turned this around.
Occupancy fell in August, the first time in four years. And with empty beds came cheaper rooms.
In fact, the latest hotels.com price index found the 8 per cent decline in Perth room rates in the first half of this year was among the biggest falls in the world.
Seoul in South Korea had the biggest fall (22 per cent), followed by Buenos Aires in Argentina (17 per cent) and Warsaw, Poland (17 per cent). Perth was ninth.
To arrest the decline, some hotels are looking to the local market and are offering discounted packages as incentives.
A stay in each of seven of Perth's top hotels showed what they could offer locals willing to spend a few hundred dollars on a night out.
From the hive of activity at Crown to the tranquil sophistication of The Richardson and the intimacy of The Terrace, each offered a very different experience.
Prices varied a lot but you clearly pay for what you get in terms of both room size and service.
The best views were from Fraser Suites, the best location is the Parmelia Hilton, The Richardson has the best restaurant, Crown the best pool and Pan Pacific the decor.
The Crown experience was the most exciting; The Terrace the most relaxing.
Parmelia Hilton general manager David Constantine said a night in the city was a great way to explore the exciting new eating places, bars and shops that had made Perth a vibrant weekend away.
