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From July 31, 2006, it will be illegal to smoke in enclosed areas of any public space in Western Australia with the exception of the Burswood International Room. (more…)

The two heavyweights of the Australian and New Zealand backpacker industry have today announced their intention to merge. ACB Group Holdings Limited, known locally as Beyond Backpackers and controlled by leading Australasian private equity investor Ironbridge Capital, and base Backpackers, have joined forces to offer the largest and most dynamic network of privately owned hostels in Australasia. (more…)

Stockland property group plans to use the capital raised from the sale of its Saville hotel management business to generate high returns in its key operating divisions. (more…)

Telstra Rally Australia tickets on sale
Tickets to Telstra Rally Australia go on sale on Wednesday 26 July from Ticketmaster. See the world’s top rally drivers race each other and the clock in Australia’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship. This is the last time the Australian round of the championship will be held in Perth, so get ready for what is sure to be some of the most exciting motor sport action you’ll ever see. For tickets to Telstra Rally Australia call Ticketmaster on 1300 136 122 or visit www.rallyaustralia.com    

Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference  
Get in now for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) and receive a discount for your ‘early bird’ registration. This year, the AITC will be held in Alice Springs from 19-22 September and will include two international Indigenous keynote speakers, Wally Stone and Dawn Madahbee. For more information or to register, visit www.aitc2006.com

Seven Days with the Black Olive
Spice Magazine brings you a once-only opportunity to be part of the ‘Seven Days with the Black Olive’ food workshop in Italy with Aboriginal chef Mark Olive. The week-long workshop from 14 - 21 October will showcase a fusion of Italian and Native Australian cuisine using outback produce. For further information contact jeff@spicemagazine.com.au or visit www.spicemagazine.com.au

‘Freedom’ Poetry Festival
This year’s WA Spring Poetry ‘Freedom’ Festival will be held at Perth’s Forrest Place and the Bakery from 1 – 10 September incorporating National Poetry Week. The festival will highlight the connection between poetry, health, communities and the public and will include workshops, performances, book launches, readings and discussions. For more information visit www.thewordisout.net . 
  
FACET Forum 
Don’t miss FACET’s ‘Getting Real About Ecotourism: Out of Africa into WA’ Forum on 19 July. The forum will be held at St George’s College at the University of WA and provides a global insight into ecotourism. For more information on the Forum contact Pauline McMullan on 9448 8150 or email facetinc@iinet.net.au

Accor won the ‘Best Hotel/Resort Group’ award in the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) for Excellence – for the third time since the awards commenced a decade ago.   

The 2006 annual awards were announced on the weekend at a black-tie function in Melbourne.

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The value of Sydney hotels continue to rise and are now at their highest point in two years, according to the latest Property Council of Australia Hotel Valuation Index (HVI).

The latest quarter results for December 2005 show that for a typical 4-star Sydney hotel, the average annual income return was 9.57%, up from 9.33% in September 2005. The average capital return was 7.72%, up from 5.96% in the previous quarter.

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