Western Australia (WA) is a place filled with extraordinary natural wonders, global industries and some of the world’s best minds. Around the size of Western Europe, WA accounts for one-third of the Australian continent. It boasts over 12,500km of coastline, the world’s oldest minerals and a host of natural wonders found nowhere else on Earth.
Of the State’s population of 2.7m people, around three-quarters live in the Perth region. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Perth is Australia’s sunniest capital city and the outlook is also temperate for conferencing with a range of high-quality conference and meeting options, including an abundance of outdoor spaces that capitalise on the sunny climate.
The opening of new premium venues and experiences, such as Elevate at the WA Art Gallery and the redeveloped Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip add to Perth’s developing appeal as a business events destination. CVB Business Events Perth reports 315 national and international business events secured out to 2030. They represent A$339.6m in direct delegate expenditure are are expected to occupy 277,534 room nights. These figures are now above pre-pandemic performance.
Western Australia’s world-leading universities and research institutes and proximity to Asia add to the destination’s appeal for hosting business events. Multi-national companies like Shell, Chevron Australia, BP, Rio Tinto and BHP have major offices here, and Western Australia’s renewable and extractive industries mean WA exports more to Asia than any other Australian state or territory.
Riding the WAVES
Business Events Perth aligns its key priorities with the Western Australia Visitor Economy Strategy 2033 (WAVES), the aim of which is to develop the region’s status as an economic powerhouse in South-East Asia. In terms of key sectors, the WA government identifies the following that provide significant opportunity for growth: Mining & METS, Health & Medical Life Sciences, International Education, Primary Industries, Space Industries, Energy, Tourism, Events & Creative Industries and Defence Industries.
Perth highlights Health & Medical Life Sciences and the Mining and the Primary Industries as key sectors offering huge potential for the business events sector. Western Australia hosts numerous innovative start-ups and world-renowned medical research institutes, making it an attractive destination for conferences focused on technology and scientific advancements. Additionally, the interconnected scientific community ensures WA remains at the forefront of groundbreaking research, innovation and collaboration.
Healthcare-related conferences are particularly robust in Perth due to the presence of prominent researchers and institutions like the Marshall Institute, Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research, Perron Institute and the universities. The Marshall Institute, founded by professor Barry Marshall, Noble Laureate recipient in physiology of medicine 2005, is a great example of the local research and partnerships forged in WA. Professor Marshall’s CHRO (Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms) research, beginning in 2005, led to the successful hosting of CHRO 2024 in Western Australia.
Growth goals
Business events are seen as a crucial component of diversifying Western Australia’s economy and enhancing its tourism industry. The state has a declared aim of leveraging these events to stimulate local economies, support jobs, and increase tourism spending in local businesses.
As WA targets building its status as an economic powerhouse in the South-East Asian region, it plans to attract more international business events. Two mega familiarisation tours organised by Business Events Perth were evidence of the groundwork being done here. Re-aWAken (Association) and Be-reWArded (C&I) are home-grown events that bring international and national key decision-makers to Western Australia. Re-aWAken 2024 has confirmed A$19m in DDE with a further A$60m in pending or under development. Be-reWArded is in its inaugural year was staged November in 2024.
The strategy emphasises developing a sustainable business tourism sector that can provide long-term economic benefits and resilience against future disruptions. And the pipeline for business events is strong, with over 400 national and international events secured out to 2030 so far, generating substantial delegate expenditure and hotel room nights.
Billions of dollars have been spent transforming Perth in recent years, which means delegates can now explore major developments like the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium (voted the world’s most beautiful stadium in the 2019 Prix Versailles international architecture awards), the A$1bn Perth Airport redevelopment, over 30 new hotels and the new A$400m WA Museum Boola Bardip that opened in November 2020, which is filled with unique event spaces.
Sustainability
Western Australia is implementing various strategies and initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact including in events. Business Events Perth reports it is engaging in collaborations that exhibit social responsibility aimed at fostering community engagement, environmental sustainability and economic development for the local community.
The bureau’s initiatives are designed, it says, to connect people, nature and ultimately communities to the place they visit. Sustainability efforts are focused on eco-friendly practices and carbon footprint tracking. Business Events Perth makes ongoing contributions in support of Gondwana Link’s initiatives, including supporting work in reconnecting local Indigenous groups with the land and returning it to their care.
Many of the PCO’s in Western Australia are offering carbon-neutral ticket options and offsetting event emissions by contributing to carbon offsetting projects.
The next big thing
Lucky Bay campaign image without the hands and cameraWith event planners prioritising investment in event technology, the Business Events Perth team says the focus of the sector is shifting towards interactive and immersive experiences, with technology being the top priority for additional event expenditure.
“We have seen a continued improvement and upgrade of facility technology in Perth which can be shown through PCEC’s upgrade of a 20-metre LED Screen, Optus Stadium with its 284sqm screens and technology partners contributing to the upgrade of hotel conferencing capabilities, like Pan Pacific Perth, The Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges and The Westin, among others,” the Business Events Perth team says.
With the industry’s high receptiveness to technology advancements, AI could play a bigger role in personalising attendee experiences, the bureau believes, from tailored content recommendations to AI-powered networking. “These trends indicate that the next big thing in Australia’s events industry will likely be a combination of advanced technology integration, sustainable practices, and innovative event formats that prioritise attendee engagement and measurable business outcomes,” the Business Events Perth team says.
Returning to the key question of why international event organisers and meeting planners should consider Perth as a destination for events, the bureau underlines that WA is a place where key decision-makers can access world-leading expertise in resources, technology, and professional services, and where delegates can experience wondrous landscapes that ignite innovation and creativity.
As an economic gateway from the West, WA occupies a strategically important position. Perth and WA are often the first part of Australia seen by incoming air passengers from the West and, as they pass over the coastline, they can see from their window the otherworldly phenomena and dreamlike landscapes with supernatural contrasts of colour and texture. Quite a first impression of Australia.
These majestic landscapes can also provide inspiring backdrops for creative thinking, opportunities for memorable teambuilding activities in awe-inspiring wilderness and unique venues for off-site meetings or gala dinners in natural settings.
As home to one of the world’s oldest continuing living cultures, Western Australia offers cultural experiences that can be integrated into event programmes. Providing opportunities for Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremonies, adds a depth and meaning to event openings and Aboriginal-led tours and experiences can enhance delegates’ understanding of the region.
The state is one of many in Australia boasting a top reputation for premium food and wine, with regions like Swan Valley and Margaret River. Produce from these areas can be incorporated into event catering and teambuilding activities as well as post-conference tours.
Popular destinations for such tours include the Pinnacles in the Coral Coast, Wave Rock in the Golden Outback and Boranup Forest in the South West. Incentive travel options include new bridge climb and zip line options in Perth, wild seafood cruises where you can wrangle in your own Australian Rock Lobster, and opportunities to cruise or fly around the quaint Rottnest Island.
Perth Hills hike with The Hike CollectiveIncreasing investment and airlift
Invest and Trade Western Australia is the ‘front door’ one-stop shop designed to assist investors and businesses to engage with established industries and gather critical information to make it easier than ever to do business in and with Western Australia.
Strategically positioned to do business, Western Australia shares a time zone with some of the fastest growing economies in the world, including major cities like Singapore, Beijing and Hong Kong. The Western Australia gateway provides non-stop connections to 20 international destinations.
Perth will soon be home to a world-class new airport terminal under a commercial agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport. The new terminal will support Qan
