Vote for a public convenience and win a holiday

Valletta, 30/05/06 - Forget voting for your favourite hotel or restaurant or even what you consider the 'best' to be. This year the categories for best tourist product include public toilets, market stalls and village squares.

Speaking at the launch of the 2006 edition of the Special Thanks And Recognition scheme (STAR), Malta Tourism Authority executive chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud said it was important for the MTA to kick-off the scheme so that public recognition is given to those who provide an exceptional service in the tourism industry.

The STAR 2006 scheme is divided into two: a Service Brand Champion and a Product Brand Champion.

On the Product Brand Champion, aimed at the tourist product on offer on the islands, this is divided into the following six categories: best market stall/kiosk; best festa stall/kiosk; best fixed non-catering kiosk; best tourist shop; best well kept public convenience; and most attractive village/town square.

The winner in each category will be given a cash prize, and nomination forms are available from local council offices.

Regarding the Service Brand Champion, there will be information and nomination leaflets in four languages available in places that are popular with tourists such as museums, restaurants, hotels, buses and taxis. Tourists will then be in a position to nominate those "who really made a difference during their stay in Malta".

A Service Brand Champion will be awarded in 18 categories including, accommodation, restaurants, bars, museums and historical sites, tourist guides, travel representatives, drivers, airport staff, airline staff, public officers and all those who come into contact with tourists.

Each winner will be awarded a cash prize and a gold lapel badge to be worn on the job.

"In this scheme it is the tourists themselves who nominate the winners", explained Lungaro-Mifsud. "We have tried and tested it for the past year on a restricted scale as a pilot project. Following careful analysis, we are now launching a new, wider and better scheme. We did this after consultation with the entities and associations involved, as we appreciate that all the key players have a valuable contribution to give."

As an incentive for tourists to participate, Lungaro-Mifsud said that a prize of travel and accommodation for two persons - courtesy of Air Malta - would be drawn every year amongst all those who nominate someone for the STAR scheme winner.

Explaining the STAR concept, Lungaro-Mifsud said that each and every tourist destination offers a particular product, but it is the level of service rendered which makes it unique.

"This means that because Malta has no tourist-only zones, all those who visit us are in constant contact with us locals. This makes all of us ambassadors for our country. This was the reasoning which led us to the branding message: You are the Brand...Live it!"

He insisted, "we need 400,000 brand managers [ie, the population of the islands] because in the branding process we are all promising to enrich the lives of those who visit our islands, through the core values of heritage, diversity and hospitality".

He also referred to all those who work in the industry as the front liners who are in constant contact with tourists 24 hours a day and thus are those with the major onus.

"Those working in the industry are super brand managers, because it is especially they who have to breathe and think the hospitality core value. They have to be constantly aware of the great responsibility they are shouldering," added the chairman.

Palazzo Parisio Gardens at Chelsea Flower Show

Naxxar, 30/05/06 - Amongst the 600 exhibitors at this year's edition of the Chelsea Flower Show in London were the gardens of Palazzo Parisio, who were participating with Grandi Giardini Italiani (Great Italian Gardens). They are the only gardens that are member of this organisation not actually in situated in Italy.

Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and other members of the British Royal family were amongst those attending the official opening of the 84th Chelsea Flower Show. Every year the cream of British and foreign garden design descends on the Royal Hospital in Chelsea for a five-day celebration of gardening excellence and, despite the unseasonably cool wet weather, the show was again completely sold out in advance with more than 160,000 visitors flocking to it.

The Grandi Giardini Italiani stand was awarded a certificate of commendation for outstanding presentation from the Royal Horticultural Society - and Justine Pergola, whose family own Palazzo Parisio, was manning the stand throughout the week. "We had interest and enquiries from all over the world as well as a lot of media interest from Europe, America and Australia," she said.

"So many people are keen to take gardening tours and they were particularly intrigued to find Malta was represented. At Palazzo Parisio we are keen to work with specialised garden tour operators, perhaps offering two-centre - Italy and Malta - tours for horticulturalists and garden lovers."

The two walled gardens at the palace are a fine example of classic baroque formality mixed with the vivid colours and scents of the Mediterranean, with seasonal appeal all year round.

MTA holds in-house marketing motivational

San Lawrenz, 30/05/06 - The Malta Tourism Authority recently held a two-day working meeting at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Gozo for its marketing and sales staff, including those based in its offices in Germany and the UK, as well as the contracted agencies that represent the MTA in France, Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, Russia, Spain and Japan.

The participants were welcomed by MTA executive chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud and marketing and sales director Jeffrey Cutajar who gave an overview of the situation of the tourism industry both local and abroad, as well as a research-based view of the targets being set by the authority.

All those attending were also given a presentation on Malta's performance during the first quarter of this year as well as forecasts for the second quarter and summer of 2006 by MTA's head of research and business Leslie Vella.

In another session, Lungaro-Mifsud updated participants with the branding of Malta.

On the following day, the foreign representatives made a presentation on the market situation in each country or region they work in, giving insights into the prospects and trends from each country.

The final session was addressed by Minister for Tourism and Culture Francis Zammit Dimech, who stressed the need for having a dynamic and aggressive attitude in promoting Malta. He augured that such meetings are held on a regular basis as they are a good tool for Malta's sales team to keep abreast with the overall situation in other markets.

InterContinental introduces battery-powered beach shuttle

St Julian's, 23/05/06 - The InterContinental Malta has just launched a new service - a unique means of transport to shuttle guests some 100 metres from the hotel to its beach club and Paranga restaurant.

The battery-powered, open air Club Car carries nine "in both an environmentally friendly and entertaining manner".

The open sided vehicle will operate for 12 hours with an average load, allowing the hotel to shuttle its guests in "comfort and style throughout the long hot summer days and evenings".

Christophe Laure, general manager of the InterContinental Malta, dreamed up the idea after the government introduced an exemption of registration tax for electric cars, thus making the running of this vehicle economically viable.

"In addition to the comfort for the hotel guest, is the environmentally friendly nature of the vehicle which, being battery powered, means it is both silent and exhaust free", says Laure.

Shannon takes over at Le Méridien St Julians

St Julian's, 18/05/06 - Michael Shannon has been appointed general manager of Le Méridien St Julians, the latest hotel opened by Le Méridien worldwide, and the first since the brand was acquired by Starwood earlier this year.

Shannon has held various positions with Starwood in Germany, The Netherlands, Croatia and Russia. He was also manager at the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel in London. After spending some time in New York with the W brand, he moved to W in Sydney, his most recent post.

Shannon arrived in Malta earlier this month and is "thrilled with his re-location back to Europe and is looking forward to taking on the challenge of a new brand within the Starwood portfolio".

Michael Shannon is married to Christina and they have two children, Maja 6 and Liam 4. He is Canadian from Victoria, British Columbia.

Amedeo Minghi chooses Ramla Bay Resort to unwind

Marfa, 18/05/06 - Popular Italian singer and songwriter Amedeo Minghi chose the four star Ramla Bay Resort as his base whilst in Malta to perform last weekend.

Minghi arrived last Friday and stayed in one of the resort's new panoramic suites. During its Lm2.5 million refurbishment and renovation programme last year, 70 new rooms were added to the resort including 19 upscale panoramic suites. Works also included the rebuilding of the lobby and most of the public areas plus the construction a completely new conference centre and spa.

Minghi, meanwhile, chose the Ramla Bay Resort because of its idyllic location and the relaxing atmosphere is exudes - a must for singers and performers before a big performance.

Minghi, who was in Malta for the first time, played to a packed Valletta Waterfront last Saturday. He left the island on Sunday, 14 May.

Corinthia Hotels International elected to Africa Travel Association board

Mosta, 18/05/06 - Malta-based Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) has been elected to the international board of directors of the Africa Travel Association (ATA). The elections were held recently in Accra, Ghana, at ATA's 31st annual international marketing congress hosted by Ghana's Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City.

Karmenu Vella, CHI chairman said "Corinthia is proud to take an active role on the ATA board of directors. We feel very confident about the future of tourism to Africa. With CHI's extensive experience in developing and managing hotels on the continent, we feel we can make a valuable contribution to the continued growth of tourism in Africa through ATA. The timing for Corinthia's involvement on the ATA board is excellent. CHI is currently expanding and strengthening its sales and marketing presence in the US, one of Africa's major business and leisure travel source markets; and the recent announcement by the United States that it will renew full diplomatic ties with Libya will enable us to add Libya as one of ATA's featured African destinations."

Fumeke Sarr, general manager of the Corinthia 2 Fevrier Hotel in Lome, Togo, who will represent CHI on the ATA Board, added, "the Corinthia in Lome has already hosted a group of ATA travel agents prior to the congress in Ghana, the first such group to visit Togo in years."

Mira Berman, ATA outgoing executive director, said, "thanks to Corinthia's involvement in ATA, we had a Togolese ministerial representation for the first time in years attend the congress in Accra. This is an excellent example of how the private sector can help bring in the public sector to open the country to new tourism markets. ATA will without a doubt benefit greatly from having CHI as an active member of the board."

The Africa Travel Association, headquartered in New York, is an international not-for-profit professional travel industry association dedicated to the promotion of tourism to Africa.

98 and still flying high

Luqa, 18/05/06 - It is not an everyday event for Air Malta to host a 98-year old passenger onboard its aircraft. Since her first visit to the islands, more than 30 years ago, Rose Martin, from Burwell, Cambridge in the UK has been a regular visitor always choosing Air Malta for her travels to the island. The airline treated Martin with an unusual welcome on her latest visit.

To her surprise, Martin accompanied by her daughter, was upgraded to club class on checking-in for her flight to Malta in London. On her arrival in Malta she was greeted by two Air Malta employees who presented her with a bouquet and a bottle of champagne. "This was really a surprise, I never expected such treatment. Thank you", were her first comments after arriving at Malta International Airport.

"I love Malta and its people. My love story with the islands began over 30 years ago when I first visited Malta. Over these years I have been a regular visitor to the islands travelling on Air Malta. I am very thankful to the airline for its hospitality and congratulate them on their excellent standards of service both on the ground and in-flight. This reception is very typical of the Maltese culture. I am honoured with such a welcome," she added.

Air Malta has been operating uninterruptedly to the UK for 32 years, ever since its inaugural flight to London Heathrow in April 1974 operated with a leased Boeing B-720B.

Malta to host world's tennis playing doctors

Mosta, 09/05/06 - Malta will host the 36th edition of the World Medical Tennis Society Annual Congress, to be held from 14 to 21 October, the president of the local Medical Tennis Association - Prof Angelo Psaila - announced this afternoon.

The eight-day get-together incorporates an international congress on sports and preventive medicine - which will be held at the Hilton Malta - and a world doctors tennis championship, open only to physicians and dentists.

Michael Abele, general manager of Valletta-based Mondial Travel and the congress's co-organiser, said that more than 350 delegates are expected to attend out of whom some 250 will be taking part in the tennis competition. These will be coming from 25 countries including Japan - with players in their 80s, Indonesia, the United States, Argentina and, of course, Europe.

"No stone is being left unturned to ensure that these doctors and dentists will return home to their respective countries highly satisfied with both the congress as well as the sporting events and other social events being programmed for that week", said Abele.

With such a large turnout, some 600 tennis matches are expected to be played in seven days and this entails a massive challenge and professional organization. Abele announced that the tennis tournament would be spread over three venues - the Marsa Sports and Country Club, the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club and the Tennis Club Kordin.