August/December 2009
Corinthia appoints GM for London hotel • ESE joins FELTOM • Air Malta appointed the official carrier for archivists meet • Corinthia’s Carroll takes seat as VP of Africa Travel Association • KM to fly Maltese athletes to international meets • US embassy nominates Westin Dragonara for corporate excellence award • Ardiles holidays at Ramla Bay resort • Westin appoint new sales manager • Promotional chopper flights from Heli Tours • Abakus Solutions revamps travel suite software • Prince and DJ stay at Golden Sands • Kempinski San Lawrenz hosts Wii sports launch • Oprah Winfrey buys brass knockers • The Palace recognizes top producers • Le Méridien presented with Travelife gold award • VISET for global awards

Corinthia appoints GM for London hotel

Floriana, 09/09/09 - Corinthia Hotels have appointed Matthew Dixon as general manager of the Corinthia Hotel in London, which is scheduled to open in late 2010.

The property will be Corinthia’s latest five star property with 300 bedrooms and suites, three restaurants, a large central courtyard foyer, tea lounge, destination bar, a ballroom, conference and boardroom facilities and London’s largest luxury hotel spa complex.

Dixon is Savoy trained and gained knowledge of hotel marketing and operations at Claridges Hotel in London. He also held executive roles with Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and in Manila. He then spent time with Rocco Forte hotels as general manager of the Hotel de Russie in Rome and was general manager of Brown’s Hotel, London.

More recently, and after the opening of the Grove - a hotel and golf complex - Dixon joined the operation as general manager and until recently developed and operated this five star property.

He starts work for Corinthia on 21 September 2009.

ESE joins FELTOM

St Julian’s, 01/09/09 - The European School of English (ESE) has become a full member of FELTOM – the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta.

By joining FELTOM, ESE feels it can contribute in helping to maintain and improve the standards of English language programmes while also promoting Malta as a destination for learning English.

ESE, established in 1996, offers a full range of courses at all levels and to all ages and is open year round.

Air Malta appointed the official carrier for archivists meet

Luqa, 20/08/09 - Air Malta has been appointed the official carrier of the 41st International Conference of the Round Table on Archives (CITRA). More than 250 delegates from some 100 countries are expected to participate in this event that will be held in Malta between from 17 to 21 November.

This conference gives archivists the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in their field. It is an event organised by the International Council on Archives, a body that reaches out to a network of over 1,169 archival institutions and 211 individual members from more than 190 countries. This year’s conference titled, “imagining the 21 century archivist: new strategies for education and training” will concentrate in how to cultivate a new generation of archivists in the era of the internet, especially by the widespread use of search engines like Google and the You Tube archive.

The National Archives of Malta are organising this year’s conference with the backing of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, under which it operates.

Corinthia’s Carroll takes seat as VP of Africa Travel Association

Mosta, 14/08/09 - Glenn Carroll, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Malta-based CHI Hotels and Resorts, took his seat as vice president of the international board of directors of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) at the 34th International Conference held in Cairo recently. ATA is the New York-based professional travel industry association promoting tourism to Africa.

Carroll, who spoke on the hotel industry panel at the conference, said, “I am very pleased to represent CHI on the ATA board, especially since CHI is on a major expansion track in Africa through its joint venture agreement to operate the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Africa, as well as managing its own Corinthia hotels luxury brand.”

KM to fly Maltese athletes to international meets

Luqa, 12/08/09 - Air Malta and the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) have renewed their reciprocal co-operation programme by signing an agreement aimed at assisting the MOC with its travel requirements. Air Malta is once the MOC’s official carrier for the next three years.

Air Malta will assist the MOC in its travel related requirements as athletes and officials represent Malta abroad. This agreement facilitates all MOC contingents’ participation at various international competitions including the Games of Small States of Europe (Cyprus 2009 and Lichtenstein 2011), the Commonwealth Games (Delhi 2010), the Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010), the Mediterranean Games (Pescara 2009) and Friendship Games (Sicily 2010) and Les Jeux des Iles (2009 and 2011).

US embassy nominates Westin Dragonara for corporate excellence award

Floriana, 10/08/09 - Jason Davis, chargé d’affaires of the US embassy, announced the mission’s nomination of the Westin Dragonara Resort for the “secretary’s award for corporate excellence”.

Davis presented general manager Michael Camilleri Kamsky with a certificate in honour of the Westin’s selection as Malta’s nominee for this international award.

The US secretary of state's “award for corporate excellence”, established by the state department in 1999, recognizes the important role US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens. The award honours corporate social responsibility, innovation, exemplary business practices and democratic values worldwide, and is intended to highlight US government efforts to increase outreach and cooperation with the local business community, as well as to promote public-private partnerships. The award recognizes the contributions businesses make which improve the lives of local and global communities. Past winners include both multinational and small-to-medium size enterprises.

US companies operating overseas are nominated by the American embassy in the country where they are present, and the winners are chosen by the state department principals' award selection committee.

Ardiles holidays at Ramla Bay resort

Marfa, 11/08/09 - Football legend Osvaldo 'Ossie' Ardiles and his wife Silvia chose the Ramla Bay Resort for their recent visit to the Maltese islands.

Just before leaving Ardiles thanked the management and the staff of the four star resort for his “fantastic and relaxing stay”. He also expressed a wish to visit Malta and the Ramla Bay Resort again.

Ardiles is best remembered for his part in the 1978 Argentina world cup squad.

He also had a role in the classic football film Escape to Victory along with football legends Pele and Booby Moore and actors Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.

Westin appoint new sales manager

St Julian’s, 05/08/09 - Chiara Ellul has been appointed corporate sales manager at the five star Westin Dragonara Resort.

Ellul holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration hospitality management and graduated from the Glion Hotel School in Switzerland in 2004. She was previously events and corporate sales executive at the Westin, and was later promoted to events manager in June 2006.

Ellul then moved to Australia, where she worked at the Westin Sydney as a business development executive.

“The addition of Chiara to the team will further enable the Westin to strengthen our partnership with our corporate customers – we are extremely proud to have Margaret Sciberras, Wendy Mckay and Chiara on board”, says Edward Bonello, director of sales and marketing

Promotional chopper flights from Heli Tours

Luqa, 04/08/09 - Heli Tours is offering around Malta helicopter tours at the promotional price of €65 per person throughout August.

The tours, using a four-seater Robinson R44, start at Malta International Airport and overfly iconic landmarks such as Dingli Cliffs, Mdina, Valletta and the Grand Harbour and the island’s fortifications (see Heli Tours orders second helicopter).

To book, call 23696442 or email helitours@heli-link-Malta.com.

Abakus Solutions revamps travel suite software

Pieta, 02/08/09 - Abakus Solutions, a web applications development company based in Pieta, are expanding their strategic alliance with Booking & Co, an international company in the business of online solutions to the travel and tourism industry.

The original alliance came around with Abakus Solutions being contracted for the web development components of Addajet, the internet booking engine that plugs into any travel website and combines room inventories with flights from various markets to any destination.

Today’s announcement brings about the facelift of the Abakus Travel Suite which has been renamed Travelsuite Pro and is now being marketed and distributed internationally by Booking & Co.

Travelsuite Pro is an online booking engine for travel service providers and is available in three flavours, the hotels edition for single and multiple accommodations, the excursions edition intended to sell tours online and the airport transfers edition intended to sell airport transfers.

Other editions planned include a flight charter edition, boat charter, events, Cruises and car hire editions.

Prince and DJ stay at Golden Sands

Golden Bay, 01/08/09 - Newly weds Prince Christian zu Schaumburg-Lippe of Denmark and Lena spent their honeymoon at the Radisson SAS Blu Golden Sands Resort & Spa. Prince Christian married Lena Giese on 25 July in a religious ceremony at Glücksburg Castle in Germany.

Meantime, Dutchman Tijs Michiel Verwest, better known as Tiesto and recently voted number one DJ in the world, also chose the Golden Sands Resort & Spa for his stay in Malta. Tiesto was in Malta for a concert.

Comments hotel general manager Raphael Cauchi: “It has once again been a pleasure to be of service to such distinguished guests at our resort. We are committed to do our utmost so that all our guests leave the island impressed with the overall product and levels of service”.

Kempinski San Lawrenz hosts Wii sports launch

San Lawrenz, 01/08/09 - The Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz was the venue for the European launch of Nintendo's latest addition to its Wii game console: Wii Sports Resort, which comes bundled with the brand new MotionPlus accessory.

The launch weekend saw the Kempinski's il-Kappella conference hall buzzing with activity, where international journalists were invited to try their hands at real-life games such as table-tennis, Frisbee and basketball, before sampling their amazingly realistic Wii equivalents which come with Wii Sports Resort.

Besides table tennis and basketball other games in Sports Resort include golf, bowling, swordplay, archery, cycling, wakeboarding and canoeing.

Oprah Winfrey buys brass knockers

Gzira, 01/08/09 - P&A Sullivan organised private tour arrangements for Oprah Winfrey and about a dozen of her friends during her recent visit to Malta. Winfrey was a passenger aboard the Norwegian Gem cruise liner, which had had a number of cabins demolished and converted into a luxury suite to accommodate her.

Although advised some months ago of the visit, the programme was only approved after consulting with Winfrey after her arrival in Malta.

During the day Winfrey visited St John’s Co-Cathedral and museum, the Grandmaster’s Palace, the Valletta market (where she bought a number of brightly coloured head bands from one stall and a pair of Maltese brass knockers for her New York home), the Mdina Glass outlet at Ta’ Qali and then had lunch at Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar.

Robert Pullicino of P&A Sullivan said Winfrey was “very impressed with the Island’s long history and hoped to return for a longer stay sometime in the future”.

The Palace recognizes top producers

Sliema, 01/08/09 – The Palace, the five star boutique hotel, celebrated its second anniversary last night with an eclectic party on its rooftop. Guests included the prime minister and his wife, politicians and the senior management of Malta’s travel industry.

During the evening, Group Hospitality Director of AX Holdings-owned hotels Claire Zammit Xuereb thanked her father, her staff and the trade for their support in helping make The Palace one of the most sought after hotels on the islands.

She also announced that a performance recognition ceremony would henceforth be held annually to reward top producers.

Mementos for best producer at AX-owned properties were the presented to Thos Cook UK for the business it gave the four star Seashells Resort at Suncrest, Thos Cook Germany for The Victoria Hotel, Aviation Seat Brokers for its bookings at the Sunny Coast Resort and Holiday Malta UK for its contribution to The Palace.

Le Méridien presented with Travelife gold award

St Julian’s, 01/08/09 - Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa has been presented with the Gold Standard Award by Travelife.

Travelife is an independent auditor working on behalf of the International Federation of Tour Operators, which represents 13 national associations in Europe. Travelife audit all the various aspects of the hospitality industry, including hotels. The audits focus on energy saving practices, waste management, emissions and environment sustainability principles.

The award is given after an on-site inspection by health and safety auditors, followed by a series of questions to ensure that the benchmarks and criteria established are met. The hotel achieved a total of 456 points out of a maximum of 492, and this high score determined the achievement of the gold award. Participating tourism organisations can automatically reflect the award status with a logo in their brochures, on websites and in other marketing materials.

The driving force behind Le Méridien St Julians’ successful application was Joseph Zammit, chief security officer and also the hotel’s health and safety executive. Asked for his comments, Zammit said: “It is extremely satisfying to achieve such a prestigious award. The process was incredibly detailed, and I feel very proud that the hotel has received this certification.”

Le Méridien’s general manager Angela Saliba was also instrumental in giving her advice and feedback: “Apart from the satisfaction and kudos gained, this award underlines Le Méridien St Julians’ commitment towards the brand’s goals to score highly in environment sustainability in the hospitality sector”.

VISET for global awards

Valletta, 01/08/09 - VISET Malta has been shortlisted for Lloyd’s List Global Awards 2009. As operators of the Valletta Waterfront and the cruise and ferry terminals, VISET is a finalist for the port operator award, following considerable investment during the past year.

The ceremony, to be held in London on 8 September, will see 22 awards presented to industry achievers from all segments of the maritime business, with a special lifetime achievement award going to the person who has dedicated his life to the cause of business excellence, safety and environmental issues.