Maritim Antonine looking forward to 'good' autumn

Mellieha, 24/09/07 - Autumn bookings look good for the Maritim Antonine Hotel and Spa, says general manager Peter Rieks. "Considering that it is difficult to forecast because of last minute online business, it's looking good.

"We have enjoyed an increase in internet bookings as opposed to traditional business", says Rieks.

Coupled with low cost carriers - whose primary point of sale is a computer monitor - there is no doubt that internet business is booming, and its dramatic growth has shaken traditional tour operating business as more people book their own travel online. However, Rieks feels that within two to three years online bookings will stabilise. Meantime, he is a happy man.

Not only does Rieks run one of the more successful four star properties on the islands, he also manages one of Malta's finest restaurants - The Arches.

Last January Adrian Buttigieg, owner of the Maritim Antonine, bought The Arches - conveniently located across the road from the hotel - and had it restyled "with a more contemporary design that exudes elegance".

Today, Maritim operates the award-winning restaurant, although no company logos or identification are evident.

Voted as having the best Maltese wine list in 2007 and renowned for stocking the finest wines in the world, The Arches is "an unforgettable dining experience" where hotel residents on half-board basis get a 15 per cent discount whilst those on B&B only get five per cent knocked off the bill. Non-residents pay the full whack!

Meanwhile, another 62 rooms were added to the property two years ago, when the former La Salita Hotel was incorporated as an extension of the Maritim.

The 82 rooms of the Salita were reduced to 62, so that guest rooms are that much bigger, and were furnished to the same standard as the Maritim except that they have flat screen TV sets. Moreover, the top floor was converted into a penthouse complete with kitchen, swimming pool and whirlpool.

"The old Salita has been brought up to Maritim standard and now it is one hotel housed in two buildings", says Rieks. A tunnel that runs beneath Mellieha's main thoroughfare links the buildings.

With Maritim being German-owned, it is not surprising that the bulk of its clientele is German; 60 per cent of guests are German, 30 per cent British and the balance is made up of other nationalities, explains Rieks. Most guests are on holiday.

Although the Maritim does have conference facilities this is not an important market segment. With 170 rooms, the property does not have enough accommodation available to cater for both the leisure and meetings market simultaneously, says Rieks. Surprisingly, the local corporate market considers the hotel too far from the commercial and business centres on the island.

Cruise liner traffic up 26 per cent

Valletta, 24/09/07 - Forty-one cruise liners called at the port of Valletta in August, carrying a total of 78,521 passengers. This was a 16 per cent increase on cruise passengers compared to August 2006; the total number of passengers from January to August, meanwhile, was 297,129 or 26 per cent higher than in the first eight months of 2006.

Friday continued to be the busiest day of the week with five vessel calls on 17 August, which also happened to be the busiest day in terms of passenger movements with 9,514. Four ships called on one Friday with the remaining Fridays seeing three vessels berthing in Grand Harbour.

September has also been a busy month; with an expected 48 cruise calls by 33 different vessels by month's end.

Star gazing at Riu Seabank

Mellieha, 24/09/07 - There is still just under a week to go before the Hotel Riu Seabank's early booking, winter saver promotional ends. People making a reservation up to the end of September will get a 15 per cent discount for stays at the hotel between 7 November and 24 March 2008.

And there is no reason why this four star property should not continue to perform well this winter.

"We did well this summer", says sales and marketing manager Trixie van der Kooi. Rates were higher, release dates were substantially lengthened and the possibility of overbookings carefully monitored; this led to greater balance in the supply and demand equation.

In June the Seabank closed with an average 95 per cent occupancy, in July it went up three points to 98 per cent, and this was maintained in August. September is expected to close at 98 per cent occupancy as well.

Because of its beach location, the Seabank has been popular since it opened. "One of our problems in the past was that demand was greater than supply", explains Van der Kooi. The addition of a new wing, bumping up roomage to 285 from 160, helped. Affiliation, in the form of a franchise, to Spain's Riu Hotels and Resorts in 2005 helped generate even more interest in the property.

"Riu has traditionally had close business links with Tui, so there has been substantial demand from that operator", says Van der Kooi and adds: "naturally, we've also got good relations with other tour operators as well".

Moreover, the brand has a dedicated client base that is repeat guests. In fact, 35 per cent of all Riu guests are repeat clients.

Like most other hotels on the islands, the Seabank's principal market is Europe with the UK and Germany as the prime sources of business, especially in summer. It is also well established as a favourite on the domestic market, especially for its F&B outlets - particularly its jungle theme restaurant and pizzeria.

"During the summer the Maltese do not stay here, but in winter it is popular with locals for weekend breaks from Friday to Sunday", explains Van der Kooi. Throughout winter the hotel enjoys an average 12 per cent occupancy by Malta residents, this shoots up to 21 per cent in December.

In mid-July the Riu Seabank along with the San Antonio Hotel and Spa - the owners of the former are shareholders of the latter - launched the Star Guest Card. Aimed at the local corporate market and individuals and costing Lm10 per person per year, membership offers 10 per cent discount on a raft of facilities at both hotels.

Ten per cent is knocked off cardholders' room rates at both properties, 10 per cent discount at all food and beverage outlets at both hotels and a similar discount at the respective spas - the Atrium Health and Fitness Centre at the Seabank and the San Antonio's Ilios Spa and Wellness. "The feedback has been very positive", says Van der Kooi.

The Seabank is in an enviable position, and further expansion is on the cards. Two years ago it was reported the hotel's owners were be planning a Lm15 million investment in another extension to the property plus the creation of a water theme park. Both projects are on hold now.

Hilton shareholders approve Blackstone acquisition

Beverly Hills, 24/09/07 - Hilton Hotels Corporation shareholders have approved the merger agreement with investment funds affiliated with the Blackstone Group. Over 98 per cent of the shares that voted were cast in favour of the merger.

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all required regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, Hilton expects the transaction to be completed by the end of October 2007. All required regulatory approvals have been obtained other than the receipt of clearance from the European Commission under the EC merger regulation. A notification was filed with the European Commission on 14 September.

Following the closing of the merger, Hilton's stockholders will receive $47.50 (Lm14.43) in cash, without interest, for each share of Hilton common stock held.

Ryanair to operate Venice-Malta route, as government waits more takers

Valletta, 19/09/07 – It’s all very odd! This morning Ryanair deputy chief executive Michael Cawley announced that the Irish low cost carrier would be operating a service from Venice to Malta from 13 December.

Tomorrow, Thursday, the government is to officially publish a call for proposals from airlines to operate the Venice route three times a week. The call will be open until 18 October (see Government seeks operator for Venice-Malta route).

Why go through the formality of calling for proposals when a deal with Ryanair has already been struck?

Tourism and culture minister Francis Zammit Dimech is quoted in today’s Times as saying that “we know for a fact that Ryanair has already expressed its interest in the [Venice] route”.

Expressing interest and announcing the start of scheduled services are different. In fact, Ryanair is already selling the service - which will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – on its web site at €10 each way, exclusive of taxes and charges. It will also give away 25,000 seats to kick-start the frequency.

When asked if there is a market for a second airline to operate to Malta from Venice, Cawley said there is. The potential is huge, he told Island Travel Trader Online. Air Malta, meantime, is to discontinue its weekly frequency to Venice. And no other airline has shown a whiff of interest for this route, although if one did “it will obviously be considered on a fair and equal playing field”, Zammit Dimech is reported as saying.

The Venice service - which will operate from Treviso, 30 kilometres distant – will be flown by a 189 capacity, B-737-800. The aircraft will fly from Frankfurt to Venice, disembark all passengers and then operate the Malta route as a different flight. The return sector will be handled in the same way.

Regarding other routes, Cawley said Ryanair would be interested in increasing frequencies from Valencia, Spain, Although this three-times-a-week route is due to start on 30 October, “bookings look good”.

With eight routes served, Malta is rapidly becoming important to Ryanair and “the ultimate goal is to have a base here”, says Cawley.

The airline has “generated unprecedented growth for Malta and demonstrated that while others talk, we deliver”, comments Ryanair’s deputy CEO.

“This growth is just touching the surface of what could be achieved by opening many more low fare routes.

“We hope the Maltese government will now take the initiative and unlock the islands’ true tourism potential by supporting rapid development of low fare routes for the benefit of the islands, people and economy of Malta”, says Cawley.

Air Malta announces Bologna route

Luqa, 18/09/07 - Air Malta is to operate a twice-weekly frequency to Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi airport from mid-December.

When asked when the carrier expects to start services, Island Travel Trader Online was told "the days of operation are not exactly known, but...will be known by the end of this week or early the next". Apparently, KM is still waiting slot clearances from Bologna airport.

Tickets sales for the Bologna route are expected to start next week, says Air Malta and the destination will be included in its current Thank God For Wednesdays promotion whereby the carrier offers three destinations a week at Lm3 one-way fares (excluding taxes and fuel surcharge).

Bologna will be KM's eighth scheduled destination in Italy, and is being launched after Meridiana stopped its flights from the Emilia-Romagnan city.

The Maltese airline now operates three daily frequencies to Rome; it introduced direct services to Venice and Naples and increased its intra-European flights from its Catania base. To enhance its marketing and distribution penetration in the Italian market, Air Malta recently code-shared its Rome services with Italy's largest privately owned airline - Air One.

"These services show our expansionist vision for Italy. We strongly believe that the Italian market holds exciting opportunities for Air Malta, and we are ready to take advantage of these new market developments and opportunities", says KM's chief executive officer Joe Cappello.

Air Malta's announcement comes less than 24 hours before an expected introduction of new services from Italy to Malta by Ryanair and 48 before the official publication of a government call for the introduction of a Venice-Malta route (see Government seeks operator for Venice-Malta route).

Government seeks operator for Venice-Malta route

Valletta, 18/09/07 - The government will be is issuing a call for proposals from airlines to operate a three times a week service to Malta from Venice.

The call will be published in the Malta Government Gazette on Thursday and will be advertised on international trade web sites. The call will be open until 18 October.

Details of the government's call will also be available on the Department of Information's site at www.doi.gov.mt from Thursday.

Phoenicia goes Heuston Hospitality

Floriana, 18/09/07 - Dublin-based Heuston Hospitality is now operating the iconic Phoenicia, Malta’s oldest five star hotel.

The management contract with Le Méridien has been terminated and the 136-room property has reverted to its original name of Hotel Phoenicia Malta.

Following the Phoenicia's buy-out from Starwood Hotels and Resorts in July, Heuston will operate the hotel under management contract and advising investors on extensive development plans.

The hotel's telephone and fax numbers remain unchanged. The hotel's new web site is now at www.phoeniciamalta.com.

The Palace to officially open in November

Sliema, 17/09/07 - You've seen the adverts of that rabbit that never runs out of steam, powered by those batteries that go on and on, seemingly forever? Well, Claire Xuereb is powered by those same batteries; she's perpetually on hyper drive and perpetually enthusiastic.

When talking of The Palace - the just opened five star hotel she manages - Xuereb's enthusiasm for the property shines bright.

The Lm9 million Palace - that opened on 1 August, just two months late - is a 162-room property that oozes luxury. "The name itself is a statement", she says, "it implies luxury, classical ambience with a dash of the 70s.

"We've used classical items in a modern way that produce a 'wow' effect", explains the ever-smiling Xuereb. "A lot of thought and commitment has gone into the concept of this hotel which is recurrent in the architecture, the decor and service. The dream has become a very tangible reality".

But the hotel is not just visuals, although it does have an art gallery featuring contemporary art and sculptures.

Its rooms, the raison d' etre of a hotel, come in a selection of sizes and design. There are 28 comfort rooms measuring 33 square metres each; 57 de luxe rooms, each measuring 38 square metres; 55 superior rooms at 43 square metres each; six junior suites at 51 square metres each and eight executives suites measuring 63 square metres each. Another eight suites, of 55 square metres each, are housed in the 19th Century Capua Palace, located adjacent to the hotel. Previously managed by the Victoria Hotel, Capua Palace has been transferred to The Palace.

All guest accommodations have climate control, telephone and WiFi internet access, a plasma TV, safe, mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, trouser press and pretty swish en suite bathrooms.

The first floor, meantime, houses an executive lounge where guests can express check -in and -out, relax and catch up on the news, have breakfast and drinks throughout the day.

The top three floors, on the other hand, are dedicated to leisure facilities. These include indoor and outdoor pools, a gym plus a spa and well-being centre. These facilities are expected to be ready by end November, for The Palace's official opening, and will be available to residents of The Victoria Hotel.

The Palace has food and drink outlets that aim to make it the "number one destination". The curiously named Talk of Town Café "is the place to be seen in the heart of Sliema"; the TemptAsian Lounge Bar, on the eighth floor offers panoramic views, will open in October and serve a fusion of Asian and western cuisines. The Tabloid is the hotel's main restaurant offering Mediterranean fare.

Meeting facilities include four halls, seating from 240 to 70 theatre-style plus break-out rooms. The hotel also sports a fully equipped business centre and an all-important underground car park.

There is no doubt this is a classy and stylish property. The owners, AX Holdings - owned by Claire's father, Angelo - have managed to open an art gallery disguised as a hotel.

Yet this "gallery" has to earn its keep. One of the markets targeted are special interest groups, specifically culture oriented ones during the off-peak season, explains Claire Xuereb.

Another important market segment is, of course, business travel, including the conference sector, and corporate business; the latter, primarily from Malta. Leisure, holiday and FIT traffic are expected to make up the balance.

What is the attraction of a city centre hotel, such as The Palace, to holidaymakers? Would they not prefer to be closer to the sea?

Xuereb believes Sliema is in great demand, irrespective of a hotel's location, but more importantly she is passionate that the service offered at The Palace will exceed guest expectations - and this, she believes, will ensure the hotel's success.

For more information, contact: The Palace, High Street, Sliema SLM1542. Tel: 21333444 Fax: 22621000 Email: business@thepalacemalta.com Site: www.thepalacemalta.com

IPL launches 2008 editions

Mosta, 17/09/07 - Island Publications, publishers of this website and of the Malta Hotels Directory and Island Travel Yearbook, have just launched a sales blitz for their 2008 editions.

The 2008 edition of the Malta Hotels Directory, produced on behalf of the Malta Tourism Authority, will be published in December.

The directory is the official accommodation listing for the Maltese islands. In print since 1999 it lists all licensed properties and their facilities. Included are hotels, aparthotels, tourist villages and guest houses.

The directory is distributed worldwide by the Malta Tourism Authority (see Island Publications).

Island Travel Yearbook, meantime, is described as the travel industry's bible. Published annually since 1991, it has become the principal reference tool used by Malta's travel trade and by businesses abroad wanting to or doing business here. The 2008 edition will be published next March.

The yearbook lists just about everything one could think of relating to travel to Malta - country information, airlines operating to the islands, accommodation, foreign tour operators that programme the islands, local travel agents and tour operators, car rental companies, English language schools, diving schools, conference centres including floor their plans, statistics and the only photographic who's who of industry leaders.

"The yearbook is a veritable mine of information", says publisher Terence Mirabelli, "so much so that many other local publishers reprint our material as is because they know it's accurate and up to date.

"It's also an infringement of our copyright", adds Mirabelli.

Needless to mention that advertising in either the Malta Hotels Directory or Island Travel Yearbook benefits companies. And the 2008 editions are no exception.

"We offer massive market penetration at affordable prices", says group advertisement director Josephine Mirabelli. "Our advertising rates are competitive - in plain English, cheap - and we also offer discounts for those choosing to book in both titles".

Readers interested in more information may download a media pack by clicking here or writing to Josephine Mirabelli at jomirabelli@travelmalta.com.

Outbound travel up 11.5 points

Valletta, 17/09/07 - In July an estimated 34,937 Malta residents travelled abroad. The majority, 30,080, went to EU destinations, principally Italy and the United Kingdom the national Statistics Office reports.

In the first seven months of the year, meanwhile, 152,326 residents travelled internationally, an increase of 11.4 per cent over the same period last year.

Given the air and sea links from the islands, it is not surprising that 87 per cent of those who travelled abroad went to EU destinations between January and July 2007.

During this period, male travellers exceeded females, the former accounting for 59.6 per cent of the total.

The largest proportion of travellers - 46.5 per cent - were aged between 25 and 44, followed by those in the 45 to 64 age bracket, who accounted for 38.8 per cent of total.

NSO statistics, however, do not show how much Malta residents spend on their travels.

ChooseMalta to drop suit against MTA

Pieta, 17/09/07 - Inspire Ltd, operator of the ChooseMalta.com website, is dropping its court case against the Malta Tourism Authority, says sales director Jonathan Shaw. The Pieta-based online travel agent claimed the MTA was competing unfairly with its Visitmalta.com site (see Travel agent files judicial letter against MTA).

Inspire is licensed by the MTA to operate as a travel agent, and does so electronically with its ChooseMalta.com site which also incorporates a booking engine.

In its suit, lodged in late January, Inspire claimed the MTA, as the regulator of the tourism industry, should not involve itself in travel agency functions - selling travel and accommodation services.

By setting up a company to operate a website that contains a booking engine the MTA was acting incorrectly, claimed Inspire.

Not to be outdone, the MTA filed a counter suit against Inspire on 30 January (see MTA files counter suit against travel agent).

Now, eight months later the parties "have agreed to disagree", according to Shaw.

A compromise has been reached whereby the MTA will continue to operate the booking engine on its Visitmalta site, but it will also feature any other locally-based booking options as well. In other words, a link to ChooseMalta - and any other locally based booking engine - will be available on the MTA's site.

Excelsior Grand (finally) opens

Floriana, 10/09/07 - It opened today, and it has already changed names. The Grand Hotel Excelsior is now the Excelsior Grand Hotel; and the reason for this is that the five star property intends to excel, says recently appointed director of sales and marketing Julian Diacono.

The hotel was due to open at the end of June, but because the arrival of essential items from China was delayed it was postponed to this month - its first guests checked-in this morning - with an official opening slated for the first quarter of 2008.

The Excelsior opened with 121 rooms - out of its total of 424 - and one restaurant, "but the balance will come on stream shortly after", says Diacono.

The Excelsior, undoubtedly the longest build for a hotel in Malta, has 269 rooms and suites on seven floors plus 153 upgraded executive rooms and suites on three floors. A specially equipped executive lounge is available for guests staying in premium accommodation.

To cover itself diplomatically, the Excelsior also offers one royal suite and a presidential suite.

All rooms are air-conditioned, have a flat screen TV, telephone and internet access, a safe, mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, a balcony or terrace and, of course, full en suite facilities.

On the F&B front the Excelsior has four restaurants and four bars. Castaway Bar and Restaurant is the hotel's main buffet-style restaurant; the a la carte Admiral's Landing, just off the huge lobby and offering panoramic views of Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island, is the property's more intimate "dining experience"; whilst Fountain, next to the pool deck, serves snacks. Olives, located across from the main entrance, offers Maltese and Italian favourites.

Conferences and incentives play an important part in the Excelsior's business plan, consequently the property offers a vast array of venues and layouts to meet any requirement.

The grand ballroom, on the seventh floor, has a capacity of 800-seated theatre style or 1,150 for a reception. The exhibition hall, meanwhile, located on the second level and with street access can cater to product launches where the product, say a car, can be easily driven on to the premises. The hall can also be used for banquets, seating up to 390, or receptions for up to 900 guests.

"Most meeting areas offer natural light and fantastic views of the harbour and the hotel's marina", says Diacono. "Complementing these facilities is a business centre and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that all events are a success", he adds.

Most importantly, the Excelsior has its own underground car park for up to 120 vehicles.

Finally, no five star hotel can do without a selection of leisure amenities, and the Excelsior Grand is no exception.

A 30-berth marina is already in use whilst the water sports and dive centre will be open from summer 2008. A tennis court will also be available next year. For the more sedate there are two free form pools, an indoor and an outdoor with a large sun deck. Indoors, a fully equipped gym, massage rooms, beauty treatments, sauna and steam bath will shortly be available.

Meantime, apart from conferences and incentives, the Excelsior is looking at a client mix that will include business travellers, holidaymakers, special interest groups - "we're located on Valletta's doorstep, we're the obvious choice for this market segment" - and corporate traffic originated locally. The hotel also plans to make heavy-duty use of e-commerce, "particularly for the leisure segment", explains Diacono.

The Elliott family of Hong Kong owns the Excelsior Grand Hotel; and owner's son Graham Elliott is general manager.

The property is already a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts - the referral service for more than 120 hotels worldwide.

For more information, contact: Excelsior Grand Hotel, Great Siege Road, Floriana FRN 1810. Tel: 21250520 Fax: 21250522 Email: sales@excelsior.com.mt Site: www.excelsior.com.mt