Westin Perth and Hibernian Place's grand $500 million hotel debut in the east end

The end of the mining boom put a question mark over Perth's hotel industry, with room prices plummeting and still many new hotels in the pipeline. But with the introduction of Qantas' direct Perth-London flight and the city's sparkling new stadium, hope sprang anew. And now, there's Hibernian Place, the city's $500 million new east end development, with a 2000-square-metre outdoor plaza and the Westin brand's debut in the Western Australian capital.

The hotel is also an optimistic statement of Marriott International's push into the Australian market – this is the first of four new Westin properties opening here, with Brisbane set for later this year, then Darwin and Coolum.

The Perth property adds 368 guest rooms to the CBD market including 10 Club Suites, eight Westin Suites, five Executive Suites and one Presidential Suite. It's in a previously languishing part of Perth, upon which the state government is spending dollars to breathe new life as it's home to a number of historic buildings, which are sadly lacking in other parts of the city . But hopes are pinned on this development to accelerate progress and the Westin has its own gastronomic drawcard, as it's home to restaurant, Garum, Guy Grossi's first outside Victoria, housed in Hibernian Hall, an historic building incorporated into the hotel's design by Melbourne firm BAR Studio. (Credentials there include overseeing the Rosewood Beijing and several Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt properties around the globe.)

The Haven Lounge, located in the hotel lobby, serves cocktails and high teas.

Special opening rates on rooms start at $285 including breakfast for two in Garum. See starwoodhotels.com