Metro Inn Albany: Breakfast Special at Metro Inn Albany @ Metro Inn Albany - Metro Hotels

Book this Breakfast Special for $85.00* at Metro Inn Albany and receive:

Stay in a Standard Room
Continental Breakfast for 2 persons
Complimentary glass of beer/wine when dining in the restaurant*

Metro Inn Albany: Breakfast Special at Metro Inn Albany @ Metro Inn Albany - Metro Hotels

Perth Tourism News: Sydney Hotels Flat, Perth Hot and Cairns in Trouble

The latest STR Global statistics for the six months to June 2011 reveal that Sydney remains flat, Perth is the hot market and Cairns is in trouble as a strong Australian Dollar continues to significantly affect the hotel industry.

Revealed at the 11th annual Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Hotel Industry Conference (ANZPHIC) at Hilton Sydney this morning (July 18), the STR statistics show Sydney’s occupancy for the year to date at June 2011 is down 0.1% to 82.2%.

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Perth Tourism News: Sydney Hotels Flat, Perth Hot and Cairns in Trouble

Revelation Film Fest - Final Weekend Perth Events)

Huge Night for Local Industry
With around 500 people attending our regular local short film showcase, a great night was had by all - and congratulations to the local industry More

Fest Discoveries For the Weekend
Coming into the home stretch here's what we think are some of the films and programs that we think you should discover. If you do, there's rich rewards especially with Mars and Meeks Cutoff - both truly unique films of the moment.

Sessions Guaranteed to Sell Out
With 10 sell-out houses so far we know what's going to be big and what you'll need to get in early for. If you don't want to miss out this spot will let you know what's hot. You can download a program PDF here too.

Rev Guests and Discussions - Updates
We've got guests from around Perth, from around Australia and from around the world. Find out what they're up to, where they'll be at and how you can be part of their experience. Things change.

Most Excellent Opening Weekend
Our first weekend was packed with live performances, talks, lots of arguing in the bar, brilliant films and guests coming out of our ears. Here's our thoughts on the highlights

Fnd out all the info

WA's Multi-Billion-Dollar Windfall to Come at a Costt

Western Australia stands to gain billions of dollars in extra revenue - the most of any state in the country - under a free trade agreement being negotiated this week between Australia and India, economists predict.

But analysts warn that while overall the deal would particularly benefit WA, some jobs would be at risk if there was greater competition from Indian imports and cheaper labour.

Bilateral negotiations will begin in Canberra this week to nut out a comprehensive agreement that could include services, agriculture, resources and energy, and - according to the Centre for International Economics - add more than $40 billion to the economic output of each country by 2030.

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University of Western Australia economist Michael Dockery said WA would likely be the biggest winner in a trade agreement with the rapidly developing country.

"If the resources boom keeps going the way it is, I would certainly think WA would be the main beneficiary," he said.

"[In] both India and China ... for years to come the growth is going to be phenomenal.

"We don't have a significant manufacturing base so ... some other states would experience the negative effects more than we would, so we ought to get more of the upside."

Premier Colin Barnett said there had already been a surge of business between WA and India and a free trade agreement would strengthen the economic relationship even further.

"India is rapidly becoming involved with the WA economy through LNG [liquefied natural gas] purchases, the Perdaman Urea project in Collie, and Lanco's purchase of Griffin Coal adding to the Birla Group's Nifty copper mine investment," he said.

"Western Australia's exports to India were valued at $7.2 billion in 2010 and India is Western Australia's fourth largest trading partner."

Mr Barnett called for the agreement to include agriculture, which would increase trade because the harvest seasons were complementary.

However, India is reportedly unlikely to give many concessions on agriculture, in particular rice and wheat, which are heavily protected.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia international trade services manager Keith Seed also said reducing or removing tariffs on agriculture, including wine, would be a windfall for WA.

He warned some businesses, particularly in manufacturing industries, would cry foul over a free trade agreement but overall it would boost the state.

"A lot of people think there might be down sides with free trade, I don't think so," he said. "It opens up trade and communication between the countries.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/business/was-multibilliondollar-windfall-to-come-at-a-cost-20110504-1e82t.html#ixzz1SnnyQh12

Western Australia to host 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships

Perth has added another international event to its future sporting calendar after being awarded the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships.

Perth was named the host city of the 2016 championships following a vote by the World Masters Athletics General Assembly in Sacramento, USA early Friday morning, Perth time.

The 2016 championships will be a major event for Perth and Western Australia and is expected to attract thousands of athletes and spectators.

Perth had bid for the 2015 championships however following changes to the World Masters Athletics constitution two championships were up for grabs with Western Australia winning the 2016 event. Lyon, France will host the 2015 event.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The changes mean that following the 2015 event the championships will be held every even numbered year, starting with 2016, instead of the current odd-year schedule.

The result is a testament to the hard work of the bid committee, which submitted a top-class presentation to the assembly.

The bid process has been a collaborative effort between Eventscorp, Masters Athletics Australia, Masters Athletics Western Australia, Athletics Western Australia, Athletics Australia, the Department of Sport and Recreation and VenuesWest. Visit the bid website for more information.

Whale Tour Package @ Metro Inn Albany - Metro Hotels

Metro Inn Albany is offer this Whale Tour Package for $165.00 per night including:

Accommodation for 2 adults in a Double room
Continental Breakfast for 2 adults daily
Whale Tour for 2 adults
Complimentary glass of wine or beer when dining in our restaurant

Whale Tour Package @ Metro Inn Albany - Metro Hotels

Plenty of Whales But no Tourists - WA Tourism News

There have been many whale sightings in Albany in the first month of the season, but not many tourists to see them.

Albany Whale Tours operator John Woodbury claims tourist numbers are about 20 per cent down on last year, but those who have come for a glimpse of the world’s largest mammals have been thrilled to see humpbacks, orcas and two blue whales.

Albany Ocean Adventures skipper Paul Guest, who has taken a few stunning snaps of breaching whales this winter, said he had seen as many as 20 whales on a trip.

“Humpbacks are travelling through at the moment, we’ve had a few southern rights http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcome into King George Sound, but it was probably a pregnant cow looking for somewhere quiet to have a baby,” he said.

Mr Guest said trips to spot the whales were cancelled last week because of bad weather but he hopes tourist numbers will pick up in the school holidays.

Mr Woodbury said most of the humpback sightings had been near Michealmas and Breaksea islands.

Book Albany Accommodation with Metro Inn Albany

(Source: Albany Advertiser July 8, 2011)