KM expands code share deal SN Brussels

Luqa, 09/06/09 - Air Malta has expanded its codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines. The agreement offers Air Malta passengers seamless travel connections to destinations not serviced by the airline by connecting through Brussels airport.

With this new deal in place - which allows each carrier wider access to the other’s seat inventory - Air Malta has started using its code on flights operated by Brussels Airlines to Copenhagen and Toulouse, as well as on the route Brussels-Catania-Brussels operated by the Belgian airline. Through this codeshare, both airlines are now able to offer their customers more connections through the Belgian capital.

Air Malta started the code sharing with Brussels Airlines way in November 2004. From a four-time weekly flight, Air Malta - the operating carrier on the Malta-Brussels-Malta route - has upgraded its frequency to Brussels to a daily flight.

Air Malta also concluded an agreement with Brussels airport whereby KM club class passengers may use of the Brussels Airlines’ lounge.

Commenting on the enhancement of the codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, Brock Friesen, Air Malta’s chief officer commercial said: “We are continuously enhancing the network of destinations offered to and from Malta. Sixty per cent of our flights are now code shared, giving additional benefits to our passengers whilst increasing accessibility to Malta to easier connections”.

Geert Scott, vice president communications at Brussels Airlines said: “SN Brussels has been working in close collaboration with Air Malta for the last five years. The extension to the existing code share agreement came as a natural step”.

Both airlines expressed their intention to further increase co-operation to other destinations if suitable connecting points in Brussels become available.

Cruise traffic slumps in April, but 23% greater in 2009

Valletta, 07/06/09 - While cruise passenger traffic slumped by 17.4 per cent in April, when compared to April last year, the first four months of 2009 saw an increase of 22.9 per cent over the corresponding period in 2008.

In April 37,934 cruise liner passengers disembarked in Malta, a drop of 7,990 compared to April 2008, according to the National Statistics Office.

In the first four months of the year, total cruise passenger traffic amounted to 69,747, an increase of 22.9 per cent over the comparative period last year. Passengers from EU countries accounted for 65.8 per cent of total traffic, the main markets being Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy. The American market registered a rise, representing 62.6 per cent of non-EU passengers.

The average number of passengers per cruise liner, defined as the number of passengers divided by the number of cruise liner calls, rose to 1,224 passengers per vessel for April. There were 31 liner calls in April, bringing the total for 2009 to 46, compared to 53 calls last year.

Serena Beach Club sold and renamed, seeks EU funding

Xlendi, 03/06/09 – The two star Hotel Serena Beach Club & Spa has been sold to All Season Holidays Ltd and has been renamed the Hotel Xlendi Resort & Spa. Its new owners now want to have it recategorised as a three star by the Malta Tourism Authority, are looking for EU funding and “have already approached international hotel chains for recognition and affiliation”.

All Season Holidays Ltd is a new company that is jointly owned by Joe Vella and his wife Mary Rose, who has been appointed managing director and sole director. Tony Coleiro, meantime, has been “entrusted with the operations of the hotel since 1 January 2009, in the capacity of chief executive”.

Joe Vella, who was charged with trying to defraud a French couple staying at the hotel last summer when he was MD of the Serena Beach Club “has no role whatsoever” in the new set-up, Coleiro told Island Travel Trader Online. “He decided on his own to retire from the scene”, he added.

Charmaine Vella, daughter of the owners, has been named sales and marketing manager whilst Dr Renzo Pace Asciak is now responsible for the “business development of the company and the health, spa and beauty centre”.

Coupled with the new management changes is an upgrading and refurbishment programme of this two star, 178-bed property. Two years ago a new wing was built that “consists of 12 presidential suites” (pictured left). And the “upgrade of the old part of the hotel has already started”, explains Coleiro, “six of the one bedroom suites are already done and in use”. The remaining is nearing completion.

Other embellishments include the “painting and redecorating of all apartments and hotel rooms and renewing all bathrooms…Changing upholstery, curtains, bedspreads, sheets and towels…The TV system has already been changed to digital, adding more than 200 channels and giving us the possibility to install five in-house movies to be provided in all rooms”.

Other general upgrades include renovating the restaurant, kitchen, modernising the buffet breakfast room and bar in the old part of the hotel. A new games room for adults, a children’s playroom and a crazy golf course, in the inner courtyard between the old and new wings, have been commissioned. And a new restaurant is due to open in the new wing.

A new launderette was due to come on stream by May so that “we will be doing our own laundry services instead of using third parties”. An energy saving solar heating system will replace electricity for heating water and the hotel intends to convert from electric power to photo voltaic power”, according to its new CEO.

Meantime, says Coleiro, since the hotel “has been undergoing structural and management changes, tour operating companies and DMCs showed interest to promote the hotel with their respective trade partners. Amongst tour operating companies, RCI has also endorsed such improvements and will re-negotiate a new contract with immediate effect.

“Furthermore”, he continues, “we have also applied for EU funds…for three star property embellishments in respect to enterprise-oriented EU funding opportunities arising from the forthcoming structural funds 2007-2013.

“Our objective is that by means of this structural and management changes, the Hotel Xlendi Resort & Spa will be one of the leading quality hotels in Gozo, which will definitely lead us to the opportunity to be internationally recognised for quality assurance and eco certification”.

Asked by Island Travel Trader Online whether this change of name is a consequence of the bad publicity the Serena Beach Club has had in the past year plus the bad press it has on TripAdvisor?

“When I was approached to take over the operations of the property”, replies Tony Coleiro, “I wanted to make sure that things will be changed. This was done through a legal process, and with the cooperation of everyone on board I managed to change everything. Besides, the property is undergoing a vast refurbishing programme, the new part is open for customers and the old part is undergoing this upgrading programme.

“The MTA product and planning [division] is informed of such progress and all is regularised through the proper sources; that is, Malta Financial Services Authority and the Malta Tourism Authority licensing department. Furthermore I have also initiated the process for reclassification to that of a three star superior.

“Regarding Trip Advisor, I am also taking legal action against them for the simple reason that they changed the name of the property and listed the same complaints under the new name without the company’s written consent.

Fortina introduces rejuvenation rooms

Sliema, 02/06/09 - The five star Fortina Spa Resort have just introduced wellness rejuvenation rooms. These rooms, all 14 of them, are equipped with the latest “sleep, wellbeing and fitness equipment including a personal Vibrogym” (pictured left).

The rooms offer the latest technology to help revitalise body and mind “by creating the perfect environment to soothe you into a deep healing sleep, leaving you to wake feeling refreshed and invigorated”.

Wellness rejuvenation rooms look and are furnished like most other upscale hotel rooms; however, look ‘under the bonnet’ and it’s another world.

For starters, beds come with magnetic and far infrared mattresses, which magnetise one’s “entire body, relieving it from all aches, pains and stress. The proven benefits are numerous and cover everything from encouraging deep healing sleep, to aiding the lymphatic system to release toxins. The anti-bacterial bedding kills dust mites - which is a great relief for anyone who suffers from asthma or sinus problems”.

Moreover, pillows are also magnetised; these help “reduce neck and shoulder pain, they also stimulate circulation resulting in healthier blood with increased oxygen and nutrients”.

The Fortina is the first hotel in the Mediterranean and Europe to introduce energised bedding.

Rooms also come with a Vibrogym – that look like personal transporters without wheels – and a body energiser. The former “provides the equivalent of a full body workout in just 15 minutes; benefits include improved blood circulation, muscle tone, cellulite reduction and weight loss”.

The body energiser uses a “patented rotation effect to produce a magnetic field that is dynamic rather than stationary. The energiser combines this with a soothing massage to help increase circulation, stimulate and helps relax”.

Rejuvenation rooms also have a water de-ioniser, to filter all the water in the bathroom for an “invigorating, soft, purified, mineral rich, perfectly PH balanced shower”. The showers cubicles in some of the rooms offer spectacular views of Marsamxett Harbour

Naturally, all rooms have an air purifier that removes contaminants from the air “including viruses and bacteria, great for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, giving mountain fresh natural air indoors”.

Spa entrepreneur and the Fortina’s managing director, Michael Zammit Tabona says:

“We are really excited to introduce the wellness rejuvenation rooms, a brand new concept which we have created to offer our guests an even wider range of health benefits which they can access in the privacy of their own rooms.

“We are always pushing boundaries and like to introduce the most advanced technologies available on the market to ensure that those seeking serious recuperation from the strains of modern life get just what they are looking for”.

Rack rate for a night in a rejuvenation room is €366 for two, inclusive of breakfast.

Mondial retails cheap Med cruises

Valletta, 02/06/09 – Cypriot-owned Louis Cruise Lines is now featuring Malta as a point of embarkation for its Mediterranean cruises. Available are six, eight and 12 day cruises to both sides of the Med aboard either the Orient Queen or Coral.

Cruises start in Genoa and the lead-in price for a 10-day Spanish Odyssey package, sold by Mondial Holidays – seven nights, all inclusive, on board the Coral and three nights in a three star property in Marseilles, inclusive of round-trip flights to the French city – is a staggeringly cheap €1,229 per person. The price also includes coach transfers, and airport and port taxes, Air Malta’s fuel surcharge.

Louis Cruises’ Malta general sales agent (GSA) is Mondial Holidays, or, to use the current trendy phrase, it is the “sole preferred partner.

Louis Cruises’ PR machine explains that it specialises “in itinerary-focused programmes, rather than in offering the floating resort concept of its mostly American-owned competitors, Louis offers what are arguably the most attractive cruise itineraries on the market…. A typical Louis one-week Mediterranean cruise itinerary normally incorporates seven or eight different ports whereby more conventional cruise lines usually offer just four or five at most.

“The fact that Louis’ fleet mostly consists of ships carrying no more than 1,400 passengers means that service on board is more personalised and the embarkation and disembarkation process runs smoother. In addition, the size of Louis’ ships and the size of the crew ensure that passengers are given much more personal attention, and the level of interaction between passenger and crew makes one feel more at home”.

One of the reasons why Louis’ ships carry fewer 1,400 passengers is because most of its vessels were built before the boom in cruising; hence their capacity is small. Built in 1971, the MV Coral, for instance, accommodates 924 passengers in 374 cabins. The older Orient Queen, built in 1968, has fewer cabins – 364.

But that is no bad thing, the ships are kitted out with all the mod cons found on newer liners. Cabins, on the other hand tend to be on the small and Spartan side.

Then again, these are all-inclusive bargain basement prices, and should prove popular on the Maltese market.

“The advantage of booking a ready-packaged group holiday that includes the cruise itself, flights, transfers, services of a tour leader and land-based hotel accommodation”, says a Mondial spokesman, “is that it costs less and that it makes it easier for passengers to travel”.

MIA-Ryanair charges row on the boil - again

Mosta, 29/05/09 – The ongoing tiff between Ryanair and Malta International Airport (MIA) is on the boil again.

Ryanair claims MIA is overcharging the Irish low cost carrier, whilst the airport operator says that because its prices have not been increased “for so long may easily be translated into a reduction in itself”.

This latest row was sparked on 19 May when Ken O' Toole, Ryanair’s head of route development, told a press conference the airline would base two aircraft in Malta if airport costs were reduced. “We need reduced costs to support reduced fares”, he said.

Also addressing the conference, Ryanair analyst Colin Casey claimed that Malta’s charges are an average of three times higher than other European airports’ and “this is a major constraint for low fares”.

Ryanair, O' Toole explained, wants a scheme that rewards those carriers that bring large numbers of passengers to Malta; “we want a fair and transparent cost base, were growth should be rewarded”.

Ryanair wants to base two of its Boeing B-737s here from October, and would fly to 12 new routes and “deliver 600,000 additional passengers” to the islands.

Having a base here would double the number of passengers Ryanair flies to Malta to some 1.1 million. It would generate an additional €275 million in income for the islands and provide direct employment for about 120 people.

However, O’ Toole added that Ryanair had not had talks with MIA about its plans, but with the parliamentary secretary for tourism Dr Mario de Marco and senior staffers of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).

“We discussed the potential of a permanent Ryanair base in Malta, and the benefits the islands would derive from it”, said O’ Toole.

“If the strategy we presented coincides with the government’s desire, then we can talk about numbers”, he added.

But, he continued, MIA’s costs need to be cut for the airline to place aircraft in Malta.

Although O' Toole was polite and diplomatic when telling the press about his meeting with De Marco and the MTA, the airline’s press release about the event was anything but.

“Ryanair”, it said, “has provided a rescue plan to the Malta Tourism Authority…. Today we call on the Malta Tourism Authority to work with Ryanair to promote the island internationally and allow us to deliver 1 million of high spending international tourists to Malta…and protect the future of those working in Malta’s tourism industry.”

Within 24 hours of reports of the press conference appearing in the local media, MIA responded with a release of its own. Malta International Airport, it said, had not increased fees since 2006, and these were “well within the European average”.

MIA, it continued, also welcomes the introduction of new routes, and in 2008 had spent €1 million on incentive schemes to promote new destinations. Routes that benefited from these incentives were Bari, Girona, Stockholm, Venice and Edinburgh – all routes served by Ryanair.

In retaliation, Ryanair called on MIA “to stop misleading the Maltese public by claiming that its airport charges are within the EU average”.

In a statement issued yesterday it says it paid an average of €7.80 per passenger in airport charges last year. However, “when MIA’s existing cost of almost €20 per passenger is combined with handling costs of €5 per passenger at Malta, the total passenger cost is more than three times Ryanair’s average cost.

“It is such excessive costs from a monopolist private company that are holding Malta’s tourism industry to ransom, with MIA only interested in lining the pockets of their shareholders”.

The release ended with a quote credited to Colin Casey who sais: “If MIA is genuinely interested in the Maltese economy, it should reduce its airport charges by offering a volume discount scheme in return for guaranteed growth. Such a scheme would be open to ALL airlines that achieve the necessary growth criteria, on a clear and transparent basis.

This would stimulate passenger traffic which will have a direct impact on the tourism and leisure industries whilst also improving the business prospects for Malta. Cost reduction schemes have recently been announced by the Dutch, Greek and Spanish governments in an attempt to reverse their declining tourism trends and Malta International Airport should follow suit”.

This biff is far from over. Not unexpectedly, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has come out in favour of a Ryanair base here, and the MTA and parliamentary secretariat for tourism are reported to be keen on the scheme as well.

No doubt something will be worked out – expect an announcement by the end of July or early August that Ryanair will be establishing a base here by October, when the winter schedules are introduced.

Travellers say economy, more than environment, makes them waste-conscious

White Plains, US, 27/05/09 - The faltering economy – not the fragile environment – is the biggest motivator for frequent travellers who have become “more conscious of waste”, according to a survey commissioned by Element Hotels, which is launching the Element Eco-Travel Index, an annual index of green travel habits among frequent travellers. Element is Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ newest lifestyle hotel brand and green trailblazer and innovation lab for environmentally sustainable construction, building and operational practices. Element is the first hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. To date, there are only five Element hotels, all in the US.

According to the Element Eco-Travel Index, nearly 78 per cent of respondents said they are paying more attention to wasteful habits like “leaving the lights on, leaving the TV on, [or] leaving the faucet [tap] running.” But more than 41 per cent say their vigilance about squandering resources is “due to the economy, while just 28 per cent claim it’s “due to the environment”.

Eco-conscious habits slip during trips, the Element Eco-Travel Index also reveals. Though nearly half (46 per cent) of frequent travellers say they “always” recycle glass and plastic at home, that number dips to 36 per cent on the road. Conserving water matters at home – more than 34 per cent say they limit shower time or lawn-watering – but only 20 per cent watch water consumption while travelling. Only about one-third of travellers surveyed consider themselves “outstanding” in their personal “green programs,” with most feeling more like “green beginners”.

“Whether they’re motivated by saving money or saving the planet, travellers clearly want the opportunity to follow green practices on the road,” said Brian McGuinness, Starwood’s senior vice president of specialty select brands. “That’s why we built green choices into the Element guest experience. The more accessible, intuitive, and enjoyable green options are, the more travellers are going to embrace them”.

Among other findings in the Element Eco-Travel Index, which polled 1,008 people who had stayed in a hotel at least three nights in the last 12 months and usually spend at least $100 (€72) per night on a hotel room:
• More than 65 per cent of respondents said they’re more likely to change sheets and towels daily in a hotel versus in their home.
• Women tend to take “green habits” on the road more than men do. Men were more likely than women to change sheets and towels daily and leave the lights on while sleeping.
• At home, just under 35 per cent of travellers said they always conserve energy by lowering the thermostat, but just 25 percent say they do the same on the road.

The Element brand’s green features are designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Element Hotels are equipped with energy-efficient, stainless steel appliances and lighting, amenity dispensers in the showers to reduce waste and water-efficient taps and fixtures. Guests can continue daily routines such as recycling paper and plastics, while those driving hybrid cars are rewarded with priority parking. Even the ubiquitous Do Not Disturb sign has been replaced with an environmentally friendly magnet. For more information, visit www.elementhotels.com.

EasyJet inaugurate Newcastle frequency

Luqa, 23/05/09 - EasyJet’s first flight from Newcastle landed last night at Malta International Airport, with a load factor of 90 per cent. As this was the maiden flight of this new route, disembarking passengers were welcomed with small gifts.

Carly Brear, easyJet’s commercial manager said: “We are delighted to have started flights between Malta and Newcastle, bringing our total number of UK destinations to three, along with our popular flights to London Gatwick and Manchester.

“It is clear from our load factors that people are embracing the chance to take advantage of easyJet's famously low fares on this route, whether it is to experience the vibrant city of Newcastle with it's many shops and bars along with access to stunning countryside or to bask in the beautiful Maltese sunshine”.

Malta Tourism Authority CEO, Josef Formosa Gauci expressed satisfaction that the route from Newcastle kicked-off so positively with a 90 per cent load factor, and hoped that the route would continue to be popular, “thus strengthening the flight capacity from Malta’s core source market, the UK”.

Easyjet operates flights to Malta from Newcastle on Mondays and Fridays.

European hospitality industry calls for a shift in EU policies

Stockholm, 12/05/09 – Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) representative George Micallef and Malta Business Bureau CEO Joseph Tanti were among the 40 hotel, restaurant and café associations from 25 European countries attending the 59th HOTREC general assembly in Stockholm.

Top of the agenda was the current economic crisis and participants discussed the challenges and threats faced by the European hospitality industry “during the worst economic crisis since World War II”.

All HOTREC member associations reported worrying business trends across Europe. On the eve of a major renewal of leadership within EU institutions, the president, Kent Nyström, called, on behalf of HOTREC, for a shift in EU policies, based on a triptych of sound economic principles to hasten the recovery: pro-business policies, no burdensome legislation but, instead, better regulation. Today’s deep economic crisis has put the hospitality industry under great pressure. As a result, many investment projects are being cancelled or postponed, access to credit almost evaporated and the sector is witnessing a sharp slowdown of demand.

While the hospitality industry needs to mobilise all its strengths to survive the economic slowdown, future EU leaders must adopt more favourable policies rather than burdening further a key industry for the EU economy, says HOTREC.

The pan-European association welcomed the outcome of the VAT saga on reduced rates, which should serve as an example of a healthy pro-business policy. On the other hand HOTREC considered the EU’s commission proposal of imposing food labelling requirements to restaurants as a clear example of a burdensome and inappropriate legislation and which should be withdrawn.

HOTREC also discussed the latest developments in relation to social affairs, and in particular the revision of the working time directive. Participants welcomed the fact that member states will retain the possibility to opt-out of the 48 hours weekly working time ceiling. Such possibilities are key to the sustainability of hospitality businesses in some states.

The general assembly also examined the progress carried out by the working party in charge of producing a charter for fire safety in hotels in Europe and the fire safety methodology promised by HOTREC to the EU institutions. This HOTREC initiative is a clear demonstration of the hospitality industry’s commitment to the provision of safe services to its clients.

The next HOTREC general assembly will be in Barcelona from 5 to 7 November 2009.

Hix markets hunting trips

Sliema, 08/05/09 – Hix Travel is organising a series of hunting packages to the Balkans. Available are four nights, five days programmes to Serbia’s northern region of Vojvodina at €1,300 per person. The price includes flights to and from Belgrade, taxes, transfers, full-board accommodation in a three star hotel and a bird hunt. Birds that can be shot are quails, pigeons and turtledoves. The first departure is scheduled for 6 August and the programme runs until September.

Wild pig hunting is also on offer in June only.

Eden Leisure Group reports revenues of €23million

St Julian’s, 08/05/09 - The Eden Leisure Group announced positive, preliminary results for the year ending 2008. Speaking at its annual meeting Ian De Cesare, chairman of the Eden Leisure Group and Eden Finance reported revenue in excess of €23 million and a consolidated EBITDA of €5.5 million.

The InterContinental continued to be profitable, however revenue and profit for the largest hotel in Malta fell when compared to 2007. Revenue for the hotel dropped by 11 pert cent due to many external factors including a significant 21 per cent increase in five star rooms, the international economic climate and the reduced value of the sterling, which is having an overall negative outcome on the tourism sector globally and Malta in particular.

During this downturn in tourism, and over winter, the InterContinental Malta “took the opportunity to invest in a planned €1 million refurbishment program of 110 club rooms funded through existing cash flows, in anticipation of the upturn in tourism”.

Overall the group’s entertainment business continued to grow, yielding a 7.6 per cent increase in turnover for the year as well as an 8.5 per cent increase in income before fixed charges. De Cesare said these results were particularly encouraging considering the economic climate in Malta and abroad, and given the challenges being faced by the entertainment segment including the large increases in costs attributable to energy and part time labour, as well as the continued issue of piracy affecting the cinema industry.

The group’s debt was serviced for the year and has also have embarked on a refinancing programme in anticipation of the bond due for redemption in 2010.

De Cesare said that while the prospects for tourism in 2009 are not positive, the group’s entertainment arm is expected to continue to grow. He added that the group’s strategy of diversifying its portfolios of strategic business units pays off, particularly during such times of international instability, and has placed the Eden Leisure Group in a strong position for the future.

MIA notches 1.4 point increase in April traffic

Luqa, 08/05/09 - In April Malta International Airport registered a 1.4 per cent increase in passenger movements. The first four months of 2009 resulted in an average decrease of 9.4 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year.

Total passenger movements on scheduled and non-scheduled flights in April were of 255,013, an increase of 3,442 passengers when compared to April 2008. Both the seat load factor and cargo and mail figures slipped 0.4 points and 23.9 per cent respectively.

Passenger traffic from Malta’s two core markets, the United Kingdom and Germany, experienced declines of 9.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively whilst Italy increased by 10.6 points. MIA registered increases of 15.1 per cent on the French market and 521.7 per cent from Cyprus.

The busiest day in April was the14th, in terms of passengers - with 11,931 movements - and the highest number of aircraft – 90 - in the same day.

Air Malta to abandon fuel surcharges next winter

Mosta, 07/05/09 – Air Malta will do away with its fuel surcharge from November, says chief executive Joseph Cappello.

Asked by Island Travel Trader Online why KM persists in adding this surcharge at a time when the price of oil has plummeted and most of its competitors have dispensed with this additional cost, Cappello answered by saying that fares are so low nowadays that “fuel surcharge is a misnomer…the quoted price on an airline ticket includes all charges".

Nevertheless, when booking online on the Air Malta site, a round-trip on its blue ribband route to London’s Heathrow on, for example, 7 July is priced “from €97” and the return, a week later, is tagged at “from €41”. However, under the “summary of fare selected” the total price tag is €241.70, broken down as follows”
• 1 adult €138 (€97 plus €41)
• Taxes €53.70 (departure/arrival tax of €23.92, UK air passenger duty at €11.29, airport security charge €2.19 and international passenger service charge of €16.30)
• fuel surcharge of €50.

The same routing on 7 November with a return seven days later, meantime, will set you back €124.82. As Air Malta’s CEO says, there is no fuel surcharge, but taxes have risen by €1.12. The UK’s air passenger tax will be €12.41, as opposed to the current €11.29.

According to Cappello, the fuel surcharge portion of its online booking engine is a “hang-over” from the past and it will be gone “from November”.

MTA to open Dubai office

Mosta, 07/05/09 - The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) is planning to open a representative office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, “to tap the regional market”.

With the number of tourist arrivals from its core European markets expected to decrease this year, the MTA is looking elsewhere to make up the numbers.

“Due to the tough global economic conditions, especially in Europe where leisure travel is affected, it will be difficult to match last year's numbers. Therefore, we are looking at India, Russia and the Gulf, especially the UAE, where we have a strong air connectivity through Emirates, to source leisure travellers”, MTA CEO Josef Formosa Gauci is reported as telling Gulf News.

"Dubai and the Gulf are a strong market for us, and we hope to attract more tourists from the region”.

The MTA's initial plan in Dubai, says Formosa Gauci, is be to create awareness of Malta by launching a promotional campaign in the coming months through the satellite office.

The MTA will facilitate familiarisation visits for travel and tour operators in partnership with hotels and airlines, he adds.

Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates’ Malta-based manager adds: "Malta has been focusing too much in the European markets, although the Gulf Cooperation Council states are a potentially strong market for the country, if promoted properly. We have to promote Malta in the Arab market together”.

Emirates serves Malta from Dubai with daily flights via Cyprus. And the airline is planning to offer a three-nights package starting from Dh2,000 (€416), including return airfare, bed and breakfast and airport transfers.

Paradise Bay Resort signs three-year deal with France’s Touristra

Cirkewwa, 05/05/09 – Paris-based tour operator Touristra will be programming the islands as of next year, after a break of more than 11 years “with the promise of bringing over 4,000 tourists in the first of a three-year deal worth an estimated €11 million”.

Touristra used to sell “thousands of holidays” at the Hal Ferh Holiday Village in Ghajn Tuffieha; but when its owners, Air Malta, closed the complex it pulled out of Malta.

Robert Arrigo - managing director of Robert Arrigo and Sons, who are also local handling agents of Touristra – says the French company will start operating to Malta next April. And last night it signed a deal with the four star Paradise Bay Resort Hotel in Cirkewwa for room allocations. It also penned an agreement with Air Malta for the advance purchase of airline seats.

According to Arrigo, who is also a member of parliament on the Nationalist Party bench, Touristra’s three-year deal is estimated to be worth between €10 and €11 million in sales, hotel bookings and excursions.

Attending the contract signing at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel were premier Lawrence Gonzi and parliamentary secretary for tourism Mario De Marco.

PwC warns travel faces long road to recovery

Mosta, 05/05/09 – The UK branch of PricewaterhouseCoopers has dismissed the idea of a short-term recession in the travel industry, and is warning the trade to prepare for three to five years of reduced activity, reports the Travel and Hospitality Industry Digest.

With an 80 per cent increase in travel company insolvencies from Q408 to Q109, the start of this year has mirrored the level of insolvencies last autumn, when 13 companies in the XL Group collapsed.

This time around no single group accounts for a large number of failures, there are simply more small travel businesses falling at the first hurdle.

Ian Oakley-Smith, director of business recovery services at PwC, said: “History shows that there has always been a strong correlation between total consumer spend and consumer spend on travel.

“Travel businesses should therefore expect this trend to continue, which is likely to mean that spending on travel will decline for some time yet.

“In the last recession, holidays were impacted at both volume and value levels. This is likely to recur and will take its toll on travel companies.’

He added: “The travel market has swollen with both supply and demand over the recent boom years, but we are now headed into a new reality. 2009 will be a journey of discovery to assess how deep the recession actually is and therefore how long it will impact travel.

“The fundamentals suggest that demand will not return to the previously high levels, quickly.

“Travel companies must avoid making any short-term decisions now and focus on guiding their business through a medium term industry recession. In turn this will help them create a sustainable business model for the years ahead – both good and bad”.

Radisson properties to go ‘blu’

Mosta, 04/05/09 – The two Radisson SAS properties in Malta will drop the SAS name next month and replace it with the word ‘blu’.

Radisson SAS was created in 1994 when SAS International Hotels (SIH) joined forces with the Radisson brand. But since November 2006, when the SAS Group sold its interests in the hotel company, it no longer held a formal connection with the Radisson brand.

The new name was announced by Kurt Ritter, president and CEO of the Rezidor Hotel Group – operators of the Radisson brand - in February at the opening of the first Radisson Blu at Zurich Airport, Switzerland. In the coming year, the new name will be transitioned throughout the Radisson SAS portfolio in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The €3 million name change only applies to Radisson hotels operated by Rezidor in EMEA and does not include Radisson Edwardian hotels in the United Kingdom or Radisson properties operated in the Americas, Asia Pacific or other parts of the world. The word ‘blu’ is a stylized, shortened version of the word ‘blue’, derived from the blue box that contained the ‘SAS’ name on the original Radisson SAS logo and signage.

"We are extremely proud to hoist the Radisson Blu flag”, said Ritter. "After many, very successful years as Radisson SAS, we are eager to fly the exciting new Radisson Blu name on an ever-growing number of destinations”.

Radisson Blu’s senior vice president and COO, Thorsten Kirschke, explained that the change from SAS to Blu would be a gentle evolution through into 2010. “We currently have more than 200 hotels in operation or under development, so the name change has been designed in such a way that it will avoid any unnecessary disruption but still create an impact”.

The renaming of the Island Hotels Group-owned Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort in St George’s Bay and the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa in Golden Bay is slated for June.

The Westin Dragonara upgrades kitchen

St Julian’s, 02/05/09 – The main kitchen at the Westin Dragonara Resort has been upgraded.

The overall upgrade included new flooring, soffits, the re-segmentation of various departments, and the introduction of energy saving lighting as well as a new kitchen range by Austria’s Ambach.

MIA posts a profit for financial 2008

Luqa, 01/05/09 – In 2008 Malta International Airport plc maintained almost the same profit levels as 2007’s, despite the difficulties set by the global scene that impacted the aviation industry.

Moreover, further to the net interim dividends paid of €4,059,000 (0.06 per share), MIA paid out a final net dividend of €0.057 per share which cumulatively translates into a higher dividend than 2007.

“In 2008 MIA may safely be considered to have achieved satisfactory results, notwithstanding worldwide economic obstacles that, already in the second half of last year, had started to affect our operations”, said MIA CEO Julian Jaeger (left) during the company’s AGM, held on 30 April at the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay.

“Beating the three million passengers mark”, Jaeger continued, “was no mean feat, especially considering that the registered increase of 4.7 per cent is being compared with 2007 which undoubtedly was a record year”.

In the light of the bleak financial environment such results warrant MIA to look ahead with confidence. This is substantiated with the investment afforded for the expansion project of the terminal, which is currently nearing completion and will be fully operational by the summer to generate additional income even in the short-term.

“Notwithstanding the turbulent times, we still stand by our forecast of 2009 ending with a minus 5.5 per cent of passenger movements, which in fact is less negative than originally expected, especially considering that for summer 2009 seat capacity should reach 3,063,060 and this means an increase of plus 0.8 per cent when compared to summer last year”, continued Jaeger.

“Moreover the month of April, until the 28th, shows our passenger traffic at a marginal increase when compared to this time last year which, in turn, means that this has brought us to a cumulative minus 9.5 per cent to date” reiterated Jaeger.

The modernisation of the terminal is intended to enhance comfort and services for both travellers and locals alike, suffice to mention that during 2008 MIA invested €4.5 million on this upgrading which has increased the retail landside area by 164 per cent and airside by almost 49 per cent.

More importantly the entire area allocated to retail concessions has been rented out on more lucrative terms that warrants an increased revenue from the commercial sector. This will be accentuated by the food and beverage area which, having been restructured and almost doubled in size, has allowed the addition of a food court with nine catering outlets and a common seating for some 400.

This year’s plan will also include works on the conference amenities, the expansion of the car park - to accommodate an additional 500 vehicles - as well as the Lufthansa Technik area which alone will generate a significant increase in yearly rent. MIA targets commercial revenue to increase its share from 19 per cent in 2008 to 30 per cent by 2010.

Fewer cruise passengers in March, but more liners

Valletta, 01/05/09 – In March there were 1,113 fewer cruise liner passengers than 12 months ago, according to the National Statistics Office. Total cruise passenger traffic totalled 5,053. Embarkations from and landings in Malta stood at 17 and 19 persons respectively.

In the first three months of the year, meanwhile, 31,831 cruise liner passengers visited Malta, an increase of 20,990 compared to Q1 of 2008.

Passengers from EU countries accounted for 58 per cent of total traffic, the main markets being Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. American cruise passengers represented 64.8 per cent of non-EU passengers.

On a gender basis, male passengers exceeded females by two per cent. The largest proportion of passengers - 48.5 per cent - comprised persons aged between 60 and 79, followed by those in the 40 to 59 age bracket - accounting for 29.0 per cent of the total.

The average number of passengers per cruise liner rose to 2,121 per vessel in March. There were three cruise liner calls in March, bringing the total for 2009 to 15 compared to six last year.

MIA retains seat capacity for summer, new carrier to come online

Luqa, 01/05/09 - In March there was a drop of 18.8 per cent in passenger movements at Malta International Airport. This result in an average decrease of 14.4 per cent for the first three months of 2009 when compared to the corresponding period last year, this was mainly due to a decreased seat capacity of 10.7 per cent.

Q1 of 2009 has been negative and this was mainly due to a lack of seat capacity, moreover comparisons are complicated by the general elections traffic in Malta in March 2008, as well as the timing of Easter, which also fell in March.

Julian Jaeger, CEO of Malta International Airport, reiterates that “the drop in passenger figures in the first quarter was expected, in actual fact in our forecast we even expected it to be worse, therefore we find no reason to rethink our predictions at this point whereby we have gauged minus 5.5 per cent by year end. In April we should be expecting to see a changing picture for the better, however summer will no doubt be crucial”.

Despite the current decline faced by other European airports MIA in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority has managed to secure last summer’s seat capacity. The estimated seat capacity for this summer is positive and is expected to reach 3,063,059 - an increase of 0.80 per cent when compared to last year’s summer period.

The analysed airline schedule for the beginning of the summer for more than 600 European airports shows that seat capacity is down by around 4.8 per cent, according to the Official Airlines Guide (OAG).

Meantime, Vueling, flying from Madrid, and Click Air, operating from Barcelona, have re-confirmed their routes for summer. Air Nostrum, a new operator, will provide three weekly flights from Madrid. (The Spanish industrial group Nefinsa owns 22 per cent of Click Air and 75 per cent of Air Nostrum.)

Moreover, Air Malta has repositioned its 12th aircraft in Malta and will be increasing frequencies on its network with additional flights to the UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria. The national carrier will also be launching four new routes - to Verona, Stuttgart, Paris CDG and Warsaw.

Furthermore, Ryan Air has replaced Bremen with Bari whilst flights from Trapani will double to four a week. The Irish LCC also introduced two weekly flights to Edinburgh. In July, Ryan Air will be adding Bristol to its routes and will offer the service twice weekly.

SAS has just launched flights from Stockholm, and will operate this route twice weekly. Besides easyJet’s current schedule, two weekly routes to Newcastle will be starting in May.

Credit crunch or not, more Maltese travel

Valletta, 01/05/09 – In February an estimated 16,840 Malta residents left the islands, just 202 fewer than 12 months ago according to the National Statistics Office.

The majority, 14,446, travelled to EU destinations, with the most popular being Italy and the United Kingdom; 2,394 chose destinations beyond the European Union.

In the first two months of this year, meantime, the number of residents travelling abroad totalled 36,595, an increase of 3.3 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

Cruise traffic up 268 per cent in 2009

Valletta, 01/05/09 – In February 14,180 cruise liner passengers visited Malta, an increase of 11,716 over the corresponding month last year. Embarkations from and landings in Malta stood at seven and 36 people respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.

The average number of passengers per cruise liner, defined as the number of cruise passengers divided by the number of cruise liner calls, decreased to 2,026 passengers per vessel for February. There were seven cruise liner calls in February, bringing the total for 2009 to 12 compared to two calls last year.

In the first two months of the year, meanwhile, 26,760 cruise liner passengers visited Malta, up from 4,657 in the comparable months of 2008. Put another way, there were 267.6 per cent more passengers in January and February this year than 12 months ago.

Passengers from EU countries accounted for 60.4 per cent of total traffic, with the main source markets being Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. On the other hand, the American market remained substantial, representing 63.9 per cent of non-EU passengers.

Promotional fares from Egypt Air for Malta market

Gzira, 13/04/09 - Egypt Air has introduced special fares to the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. Lead-in fares to Cairo start from €175, and to destinations such as Bangkok, Beijing, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Mumbai they start from €549 with a special baggage allowance of 30kgs. These fares, however, do not include taxes and are exclusively for the Maltese market.

Flights to and from Malta are scheduled twice weekly - on Thursday and Sunday - and are operated with an Embraer 76-seater.

For details contact Egypt Air on 21341548 or email the carrier’s Malta GSA on info@egyptair.com.mt.

Egypt Air, meantime, plans to introduce new destinations in the coming months, including a four times weekly service to Dar Es Salaam and expanding its network to Africa.

19th edition of Island Travel Yearbook published

Mosta, 11/04/09 – Need to know who the MD of Alpine Sterling is, or whether the Paradise Bay Resort has WiFi, or need to check the entrance cost at the Mdina Experience?

All these questions, and more, are answered in the nineteenth edition of Island Travel Yearbook.

Produced by Island Publications, Island Travel Yearbook has been in print since 1991 and is considered to be the most authoritative reference source on Malta’s travel and tourism industry.

Updated annually, the 178-page 2009 edition, published in early March, includes detailed listings of travel agents and destination management companies; accommodation facilities on the islands; conference venues, floor plans and incentive travel facilities; tour operators and the foreign firms they represent; airlines, both schedule and charter, that service Malta; shipping and cruise lines; car, coach and cycle hire firms; English language schools; diving schools and sports facilities; boat and yacht chartering; special interest travel; 20 year statistics showing the development of the industry…and much more.

This comprehensive directory ensures that Island Travel Yearbook is used on a day-to-day basis as an information source for the industry - in Malta and abroad.

A unique photographic who’s who of Malta’s senior executives, involved in all sectors of the travel and tourism industry and relevant government agencies, is also included.

Island Travel Yearbook is on sale at good book shops in Malta and Gozo – retailing at €25 - and available internationally by post from www.travelmalta.com.

Island Travel Yearbook is also available to download as a pdf file at a cost of €12 (to download go to www.travelmalta.com.)

Island Publications are also publishers of the Malta Hotels Directory. This annual title lists all accommodations available in the Maltese islands and is produced on behalf of the Malta Tourism Authority. The 2009 edition was published in December 2008.

Virtu Ferries order €60mn catamaran

Ta’ Xbiex, 08/04/09 - Virtu Ferries will be replacing the high speed catamaran Maria Dolores with a new, bigger vessel in August 2010.

The Ta’ Xbiex-based company has just signed a contract for the new vessel with Austal Ships of western Australia; the vessel will be one of the largest aluminium hull catamarans in Europe. Austal are the builders of Virtu’s Maria Dolores, delivered in 2006.

The new catamaran, an Austal Auto Express 107 will be named Jean de la Valette (see artist's impresseion, above ) and will be delivered to the owners in August 2010. She will replace the Maria Dolores on the Malta-Sicily route.

The Austal 107 was chosen following a long and rigorous selection process; it was judged the best vessel for the route due to her versatility and all round efficiency, as well as being tailor-made for the route’s requirements, based on passenger feedback.

The Jean de la Valette will have a seating capacity for 800 passengers on two decks, with three catering outlets and a central shopping area. The decks will offer a passenger-friendly seating density of two to three seats per row, as well as an upper deck lounge area overlooking the vessel’s bow. A central staircase will lead to a first class seating area featuring a separate catering facility and two VIP lounges. Outdoor seating will also be available for more than 110 passengers, in both economy and VIP lounges.

An additional new feature, specific to this vessel and at the request of Virtu, will be a dedicated lounge for truck drivers; the lounge will be furnished with full reclining seats with footrests.

The vehicle deck will have a capacity of 230 cars or 45 cars and 342 truck lane metres equivalent to 23 trailers. This will enable Virtu Ferries to service the growing need of private passengers with cars and campers, tour operators with coaches and commercial vehicles and trailers with accompanied cargo. The vessel will be certified to carry dangerous cargo such as LPG, diesel and petrol in bulk.

Henri Saliba, managing director of Virtu Ferries, says “demand for cargo traffic between Malta and Sicily - since we joined the EU - has exceeded our expectations. This is a €60 million investment that will cater for the demands of the Maltese commercial, industrial and tourism sectors into the future and provide a scheduled year round service”.

The Jean de la Valette will have a crew of 24 and will be powered by four diesel engines providing 50,000-horse power driving Rolls-Royce propulsion water jets, giving an approximate speed of 39 knots. The latest sea-keeping technology, Austal Ride Control, will be installed for maximum passenger comfort in heavy weather conditions.

The Jean de la Valette will fly the Maltese flag, like all other Virtu vessels.

Virtu Ferries have been operating high-speed ferries between Malta and Sicily since 1988. The Maria Dolores makes more than 500 round trips a year between Valletta and Pozzallo and Catania, effectively making Malta part of mainland Europe.

Venezia Lines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Virtu Ferries, has since 2001 operated a six months seasonal service between Venice and eight Adriatic ports in Slovenia and Croatia. Two high speed passenger ferries, San Frangisk and San Pawl are deployed on this service, with a third San Marco due to be introduced. Another high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry San Gwann operates between Bari, Italy, and Durres, Albania.