As I stand on the terrace of the Crystal Club executive lounge watching the sun set over the city skyline opposite me, it becomes apparent that a business stay here must be as much a pleasure as it is a necessity. I arrived at the property a matter of minutes ago and did not waste any time making my way up here to catch the sunset from what appears to be the best vantage point in the city. From the outside looking in, the property stands out thanks to its shimmering box-shaped facade and resort-like feel. The circular driveway up to the entrance is reminiscent of a royal residence and as each car pulls up the door, red-vested bellhops spring into action taking care of the luggage and guiding guests like me through to the check-in counters. Check-in can be taken care of here with the masses or up in the executive lounge if you are booked into premium or executive club rooms. From my position on the 15th floor of this 500-room establishment, I’m afforded a sweeping view of the glassy Swan River below and the city’s newest pedestrian footbridge and 60,000-seat sports stadium. The hotel is the largest in Perth and part of the James Packer-owned Crown entertainment complex that has two other hotels (Crown Metropol and Crown Promenade), a 2,300-seat theatre, a dining precinct, luxury spa and a nightclub. As day turns to night, I make my way down to my premium king room three floors below. I’m immediately impressed by the generosity of space and the floor-to-ceiling windows, doing their bit to emphasise the location and position of the hotel. From here ,it’s an easy 20-minute drive to the airport and just six-kilometres by foot into the central business district. The iPad-controlled lighting and curtains are welcome modern conveniences, but it doesn’t take long for me to discover that the Wi-Fi, while “free”, is frustratingly slow. Faster internet costs guests extra AUS$16 (Dh41) a day. There’s a good-sized desk as well as a sitting area from which to enjoy the outlook - in my case the banks of the Swan River, the hotel’s helicopter pad and the Promenade pool below. The storage and hanging space is adequate and the bathroom plenty big enough, all decked out in white marble. Overall, it’s a slick, well-thought-out space that provides an immediate sense of comfort, something regular travellers will appreciate. There are eight room categories to choose from, deluxe king or twin is the standard extending up to the one-bedroom crystal villa. For AUS$25,000 a night you can choose to live the high life by booking a stay in the chairman’s villa, which offers 360-degree views of the city. As much a hotel for leisure travellers as business ones, Crown Towers certainly ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to meeting and conference spaces, function needs, and/or executive dining and lounge facilities. The business centre, located off the lobby, offers computers and internet access along with services like printing, photocopying, scanning, faxing, binding and laminating. There are two meeting rooms for hire - a boardroom for up to 10 people and a meeting room ideal for small gatherings of up to four. Additional equipment like laptops and whiteboards can be organised for a cost. The Crystal Club is a great location for an early morning breakfast meeting or late afternoon aperitif or high tea. The private lounge offers friendly, professional service and all meals can be enjoyed in a refined custom designed environment. There are indoor booths and terrace lounges to make use of, and additional guests are welcome at a cost. Equally as impressive is the list of restaurants in the complex. From casual snacks and coffees to fine-dining options, there are 39 eateries and bars to choose from, most of which can be found at the adjoining properties. World-renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu and Rockpool Bar & Grill by Neil Perry are the most popular by far, each with its own celebrity appeal and furnished as such. A word of warning though, book at least a day in advance if you want to dine here or you will be disappointed like I very nearly was. You’d be mad if you didn’t try the first-ever Nobu Teppanyaki experience which consists of eight different dishes at a price of AUS$120 per person. Signature menus outside of this offering cost AUS$150 per person and are the best way to sample a selection of the menu. For those who haven’t visited Perth before, this thriving city is the capital of Western Australia and home to just over two million residents. It has long been an attractive destination for tourists, with the world’s longest non-stop flight – London to Perth - testament to that. New airline routes are being added from other destinations regularly and as a result, the city that dates back to 1829 continues to boost its hotel stocks. In the past seven years, 30 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in and around Perth adding more than 2,900 new rooms, and there are more to come. For now though, it must be said that Crown Towers is up there with the best of what’s on offer. Rooms at Crown Towers Perth start from AUS$299 (Dh768) a night.
