New Australia Properties Worth Checking Out

Australia used to be considered an exotic destination for international meeting groups. Thanks to globalization and affordable air travel, however, the land "down under" is more accessible than ever -- and it's enjoying a hospitality renaissance because of it.

The latest in a string of new and future hotels is QT Perth, a new property that will open in Perth next month, Sydney-based hotelier QT Hotels & Resorts announced yesterday.

Located in the heart of Perth's central business district, near the Swan River and Murray Street Mall, the 18-story QT Perth is QT's first hotel on Australia's west coast. It will have 184 guest rooms featuring handmade ceramics by local craftspeople, a signature bar and restaurant serving a Mediterranean menu utilizing local ingredients, a rooftop bar that will be the highest rooftop venue in Perth, a café and seven meeting rooms comprising approximately 3,200 square feet of meeting space for groups of up to 315 people.

Perth isn't the only Australian city that's seeing the benefit of new hotels, however. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane also are flush with new properties. Here are four that meeting professionals should consider for their next Aussie event:

• Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour opened in December 2017 and is the first new-build, international luxury hotel to open in Sydney's central business district this millennium. Located opposite Sydney's International Convention Center, the $500 million, 35-story hotel has 590 guest rooms, three bars, a signature restaurant, an outdoor infinity pool, a fitness center and nine meeting spaces comprising over 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

• W Hotel Brisbane: W Hotel Brisbane opened in June and marks W Hotels' return to Australia, which it exited more than a decade ago when it closed the W Sydney in the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo. Located in Brisbane's central business district, where it overlooks the Brisbane River, the hotel has 312 guest rooms, three bars and restaurants, a rooftop pool, and nearly 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

• Four Points By Sheraton Sydney, Central Park: Scheduled to open Aug. 8, Four Points By Sheraton Sydney, Central Park, is located in the Central Park precinct in Sydney's southern central business district. It has 297 guest rooms, a fitness center, a bar specializing in snacks and international craft beers, and seven meeting rooms comprising approximately 600 square feet of meeting space.

• Novotel Melbourne South Wharf:Novotel Melbourne South Wharf opened in April in Melbourne's South Wharf neighborhood. Located adjacent to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre -- which has just completed a US$205 million expansion -- the 26-story hotel has 347 guest rooms, a signature bar and restaurant, a café, and a 24-hour fitness center.