Palazzo Parisio to upgrade catering outlet

Naxxar, 28/06/06 - The coffee shop at Palazzo Parisio will be closed throughout August. The outlet is being upgraded, enlarged, refurbished and rebranded and will reopen in September as the Café Luna.

New furniture and furnishings will be minimalist in style and this facility will be able to cater for 100 covers, indoors and al fresco.

As of next year the Café Luna will be open to the general public for supper on certain evenings and for brunch on Sundays.

No top 10 placing for Malta as a MICE destination

Mosta, 28/06/06 - Meetings and Incentive Travel, a UK-based trade magazine, recently contacted around 50 of Britain's more prominent event agencies to assess the type and number of overseas events they had organised over the last 12 months.  Here are some of the findings:

• In the short haul sector Spain was the number one destination, closely followed by France. The top four countries of Spain, France, Italy and Germany remained unchanged over the previous year's results. Hungary, however, moved into tenth place from fourteenth.

• In the long haul category the really significant change was the UAE that registered third spot, as opposed to number six last time (whilst, as an individual destination, Dubai climbed from eleventh place to second). The two top countries, the US and South Africa, maintained their positions with the United States by far the leader. Brazil and Malaysia also increased in popularity. Toronto, as an individual destination, jumped from thirtieth to equal-seventh place.

Maltese appointed GM of Cape Town hotel

Cape Town, 22/06/06 - Cape Grace, a five star hotel situated on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, has appointed Nigel Pace as its new general manager.

Azzopardi appointed GM of Waterfront Hotel

Gzira, 20/06/06 – Brian Azzopardi has been appointed general manager of the four star Waterfront Hotel in Gzira.

Malta's restaurant survey now available online

Mosta, 16/06/06 - For the first time regular diners have the opportunity to participate in the The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants annual survey online at www.restaurantsmalta.com. The online survey allows participants to return to the survey, at any time before the deadline, to continue voting for favourite restaurants, or even amend one's rating.

Alternatively one can still fill in the survey that is being distributed to The Definitive(ly) Good Guide database and to anyone who would like to register to participate in the survey. To register write to info@restaurantsmalta.com or call and leave a message on 21802383.

The Definitive(ly) Good Guide Restaurant survey is distributed annually and asks eaters out to rate all the restaurants frequented in the last 12 months on a scale of 1 to 10 for food, service and ambience.

MHRA and HCIMA Malta announce closer collaboration

Sliema, 16/06/06 - The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) together with the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) Malta have agreed to cooperate in areas of training, human resources development and continuous learning practices and programmes, so that there is more effective opportunities to those working or studying for a career in the tourism industry.

The MHRA, founded 50 years ago, is the leading organisation  representing hoteliers as well as  restaurateurs.  It is well represented on several governmental  boards and committees including the Malta Tourism Authority as well as the MCESD.

The HCIMA was established in the UK in 1971 as a result of the merger between the Hotel and Catering Institute (HCI) and the International Management Association (IMA). The joint cooperation between the MHRA and the HCIMA Malta will include the monitoring of all training and continuous learning needs in the tourism industry as well as the organizing of courses and educational programmes.

HCIMA Malta was chosen to undertake this role on behalf of the MHRA since the core competency which the HCIMA focuses on is human resource development.

This initiative should create important synergies for the future of tourism and competitiveness in Malta and Gozo. One of the first tasks undertaken through this agreement was the preparation of proposals for the ETC to setup specific courses for operational personnel in the hotel industry.

MTA signs three year deal with MOC

Valletta, 16/06/06 - The Malta Tourism Authority has signed a  three year agreement with the Malta Olympic Committee to support the MOC financially and "through other forms of assistance".

Signing the agreement on behalf of the MOC, Kirill Micallef Stafrace, director of marketing, emphasized that as sports ambassadors, athletes endeavour to achieve success, not only for themselves, but also for their country.

Events such as the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the COJI Island Games in Sicily and the forthcoming Games of the Small States of Europe, the European Youth Olympic Festival and the Olympic Games in Beijing serve as a platform to promote Malta. Maltese athletes mingle with others and promote their home country. The MOC ensures that where possible the athletes are kitted out in national colours with emphasis given to Malta's national identity, with the Maltese Cross and the name Malta put on all the kits thus giving prominence to the team and country at all times.

MTA executive chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud, confirmed that through this agreement the authority would be fulfilling another one of its objectives in generating more awareness for Malta and targeting specifically the international sporting market. The MTA through organizations such as the MOC and its affiliates will also endeavour to see how sports tourism can be developed and how Malta can be put on the map as a sports destination. "It is hoped that with MTA's help, the MOC and its 47 affiliated associations will be able to successfully bid for international sporting events, congress meetings and general assemblies of international sporting organizations to be hosted in Malta", Lungaro-Mifsud added.

KM, MTA and Maritim Malta organise incentive for travel agents

Frankfurt, 03/06/06 - Air Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa and Travel One - a German travel trade magazine - recently organised a rafting race for 40 German travel agents. The event was held on the rapids of the Lech River in Austria.

After a morning training session the participants had to run with their rafts for pole position. The skill and team spirit of the agents was put to a tough test during the two-hour event as they fought their way through the river's icy water.

Speaking about this event Air Malta's manager for Germany, Arthur Grima said: "this event was a success and the agents thoroughly enjoyed it. The winners of will be flying to Malta next month for a three-day adventure holiday hosted by the MTA and the Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa. They will experience what Malta offers in terms of sports and activity based holidays.