New GM for San Pawl Hotel

St Paul’s Bay, 22/11/06 - Joseph Attard has been appointed general manager of the three star, 175 rooms San Pawl Hotel.

Introducing Attard to the hotel’s staff, managing director Frans Spiteri said “the coming months are tough months”, but he is confident that with a new GM “and team work” the San Pawl Hotel “looks with confidenceto the future and is taking this lean period of the year to continue upgrading the product and service”.

Malta's Borg Olivier re-elected UFTAA president

Mosta, 07/11/06 - The United Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA), during its 40th anniversary congress held in New Delhi recently, unanimously re-elected Joseph Borg Olivier (left) as its chairman.

In his address to the general assembly, Borg Olivier noted with satisfaction that the federation was once again growing with old and new members joining and playing an active part. The federation now comprises agency associations from more than 80 countries spreading from China and Indonesia to Argentina and Mexico; from Zimbabwe and Cameroon to France and Bulgaria. He announced that there is a good development in the Gulf and India.

He attributed this growth to the more "commercially oriented" direction adopted by the board during the past year - creating new technology projects and programmes to the benefit of both associations and the individual grassroots travel agent and also to the healthy financial situation.

JBO, as he is known as in Malta, stated that UFTAA is on course with the three-year plan adopted a year earlier in Mauritius. The main working plans for the coming year will focus on the industry database, training and education and software programs. These will help UFTAA's membership, its grassroots and affiliates in being more efficient and productive. The federation is also committed to be in the forefront when it comes to industry negotiations; this will be conducted together with other recognized associations.

Al Qaeda operative worked for Air Malta

Luqa, 07/11/06 - Air Malta has issued a statement about Dhiren Barot, the Al Qaeda operative who planned to blow up key buildings in New York and landmark London hotels. Barot was sentenced to life in prison today by a British court and must serve "at least 40 years".

In its statement, the airline says that Barot (34) worked for Air Malta from 1991 to 1995 as a junior ticket and reservations agent at the airline's office in London's Regent Street. Barot was 19 years when he joined the airline.

Air Malta states that Barot was charged for activities he carried out five to six years after terminating his job with the airline. During his employment, the airline received no reports and had no reason to believe any wrongdoings by Barot. The company's last contact or association with Barot was on 29 September 1995, the date he resigned.

The airline says it "has fully cooperated with the police in its investigations on the matter".

MHRA elects new president and council

Sliema, 06/11/06 - Following its 48th annual general meeting, the newly elected council of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) met late last week to elect officials for the coming year.

Josef Formosa Gauci was elected the association's president. The new council includes Michael Zammit Tabona as senior vice president, Anthony Chircop as vice president and Claire Xuereb as treasurer. The other members of the council are Joseph Attard, Michael Camilleri Kamsky, Mario de Celis, Kevin de Cesare, Noel Debono, Alex Incorvaja, Paul Pisani, Rosemarie Stagno Navarra, Charles Yeomans, Winston Zahra and Justin Zammit Tabona. Lawyer Hugh Peralta was confirmed as secretary general.

In his maiden speech, the new president thanked Justin Zammit Tabona and the outgoing council for their work and commitment in what was "without doubt one of the most difficult years for our tourism industry".

He expressed the hope that the industry will soon experience a long awaited turnaround. And reiterated the MHRA's firm belief that "the three pillars required for this to be built upon are an upmarket product, suitable and sustainable marketing and adequate seat capacity".

Formosa Gauci referred to the report presented by the government tourism advisory group and said that the MHRA was hopeful that the recommendations put forward would be considered favourably and an action plan laying out how they will be implemented be prepared in the shortest possible time.

He concluded by saying that the new council looked forward to working closely with the main stakeholders in the industry. Namely the government, the MTA, MIA and Air Malta, so as to ensure that 2007 will be a much healthier year in terms of number of arrivals, bed nights spent in hotels and income generated from tourism.