Welcome and thanks for choosing Malta

Luqa, 28/09/05 - Tuesday, 27 September, being World Tourism Day the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) organised a special welcome for tourists arriving at the airport. This was possible in coordination with some of the association's main sponsors: Malta International Airport, Air Malta, Simonds Farsons Cisk and Bank of Valletta.  Officials from these organisations were present to welcome tourists as they disembarked and thanked them for choosing Malta for their holiday.

Malta's own soft drink, Kinnie, and canapés were served to arrivals at the busiest time of day. Air Malta organised a raffle for all passengers, whilst Bank of Valletta offered vouchers waiving processing fees for all forex transactions until 8 October.

MHRA president Justin Zammit Tabona commented that "at the end of the day we should all be grateful that tourists choose to spend their holiday in Malta over the many other destinations available to them. As Maltese we should make sure that our guests leave our islands with a sense of having enjoyed a memorable holiday experience, worth recommending to family and friends and continue to choose Malta as their preferred destination."

Historic cities festival slated for 10 days from 6 October

Valletta, 28/09/05 - The Malta Tourism Authority is organising the second edition of the Malta Historic Cities Festival, to be held from 6 to 16 October. An intensive programme of pageantry, musical entertainment and folklore will highlight the history and heritage of Valletta, Mdina, Cottonera and Victoria.

During this year's festival, there will be three major re-enactments; one in Vittoriosa, Victoria and in Mdina. The latter will focus on the mediaeval period and will tell the arrival of Count Roger in 1091.

The highlight of this year's festival will be the Valletta Military Tattoo, which will be held on 15 and 16 at 18:30. This will include the participation of three British bands - the Pipes and Drums Band of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, the South Yorkshire Police Band and the 3rd (Cadet) Battalion Royal Regiment of Wales.

Also taking part are the Armed Forces of Malta Band, the Malta Police Precision Drill Team and the Malta Police Band. The event will also include a youth marching band from Czechia that comprises a number of majorettes, as well as pageantry and military drills by various re-enactment groups. Tickets will be on sale from the MTA ticket booth at City Gate, Valletta from 2 to 16 October.

Corinthia rewards top providers

Valletta, 28/09/05  - Red carpet treatment awaited guests from travel trade at the stunning Valletta Waterfront, as they disembarked from Hera II to attend Corinthia Hotels International's (CHI) annual travel trade awards and gala night recently.

The impressive waterfront venue, with its spectacular harbour views on the one side and the multi-coloured Pinto stores on the other, lent itself perfectly for a night under the stars with the travel trade stars - the winning travel companies present.

Guest of honour was minister for tourism Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, who presented the awards to the top performing business providers, namely best individual leisure business providers were Location Malta, Robert Arrigo & Sons and Holiday Malta; best individual MICE business providers were EC Meetings, Events Travel & Incentives and Colours of Malta; best overall leisure business provider was Holiday Malta and best overall MICE business provider was Colours of Malta; best overall event catering business provider for CHI's Event Catering section was won by the Alliance Group; best MICE business provider for Corinthia hotels overseas was United Travel. A special award in recognition of event catering support throughout the year went to Hera Cruises.

InterContinental and Colours of Malta sweeten flu conference

St Julian's, 28/09/05 - The InterContinental Malta was the venue for the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza held in mid-September. More than 850 flu experts of different disciplines from Europe met at the InterContinental with the aim to combat the impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza. Several scientists, government representatives and opinion leaders in health care were invited to the meeting to exchange information and to discuss their findings in workshops, plenary meetings and informal gatherings.

The plenary meeting was held at the Eden Arena and a further 10 of the hotel's conference rooms were used for various workshops.

Sliema-based Colours of Malta was responsible for organising the congress.

This is the second time that Colours of Malta was contracted to handle this event. The first flu conference took place in Malta in October 2002. Following the success of that meeting, the organising committee of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza was eager to hold the second conference once again in Malta.

"Once again Malta has been placed on the map to host high profile European and international conferences. We have been given the opportunity to prove ourselves once again as role players in the international conference and incentive market", Colours of Malta managing director Davide Cachia and Christophe Laure, InterContinental general manager agreed.

Absolut(ly) Paranga

St Julian's, 28/09/05 - The new Absolut Vodka Bar was officially opened earlier this month at the Paranga Restaurant at the InterContinental Beach Club in St George's Bay.  This new lounge bar, with a comfortable contemporary design, is situated right over the sea.

"As a creative brand, Absolut is always on the lookout for distinctive ideas," said Pierre Stafrace, general manager of Wands Limited, importers and distributors of Absolut.  "Combining this brand with a spectacular location within the stunning Paranga complex  is a perfect blend to give our customers a new experience."

"Since it first opened its doors this summer, the Paranga Restaurant has been a great success with guests having dinner in the cool breeze of this sophisticated restaurant or simply lounging by the bar at the water's edge.  To add to this chic atmosphere, the Absolut Vodka Bar has now been incorporated to complete the harmony of services," said InterContinental Malta general manager Christophe Laure.

World Tourism Day programme highlights tourism’s importance to islands’ economy

Valletta, 23/09/05 - The Ministry for Tourism and Culture has commissioned the Malta Tourism Authority to co-ordinate a programme of activities, together with partner organisations, to commemorate World Tourism Day on Tuesday.

The programme is aimed at generating greater awareness about the importance of tourism’s contribution to the community. Commemorating this day also gives industry service providers the opportunity to lay out a special welcome and create added value for visitors to the islands as well as local patrons.

As part of the official programme for World Tourism day, minister for tourism and culture Dr Francis Zammit Dimech and MTA executive chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud will be visiting hotels in Sliema and St Julian’s as well as inspecting embellishment works at Spinola Gardens as part of the tourism zone management programme.

The MTA is also co-ordinating a series of activities which will take place in Valletta, including re-enactments and folk-dancing performances.

Air Malta, meanwhile, will be hold a lottery draw for two free flight tickets, while Malta International Airport will greet arriving passengers with a welcome drink in the arrivals hall.

Heritage Malta will lower entrance fees to a number of sites. And a number of NGOs are also contributing to the programme, including Din l-Art Helwa, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, the Malta Aviation Foundation and St John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum. Meanwhile, the Gozo Tourism Association, in collaboration with the MTA, is also co-ordinating a number of events to coincide with World Tourism Day. The Malta Union of Tourist Guides will be putting together three special walking tours.

Local councils which are preparing events and activities to take place on or around 27 September include of Rabat (Gozo), Rabat (Malta), Sliema, St Paul’s Bay, Vittoriosa, Qormi and Zejtun.

Among the attractions that are participating in the World Tourism Day programme through a variety of initiatives, are Gozo 360° - Island of Joy, the Great Siege and the Knights of St. John, the Limestone Heritage, the Mdina Dungeons, the Mgarr Shelter and the Wartime Experience.

Tourism projects rewarded for standards and sensitivity

Floriana, 15/09/05 - The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) recently presented two awards for tourism related projects that maintained high architectural standards and sensitivity for the environment.

The InterContinental Malta, a project submitted by architectural firm Bezzina and Cole on behalf of the Eden Leisure Group, received the special award for engineering solutions and urban design. The panel commented that "the marriage of design and function sought to maximise the use of the space for the lower floors. This was a unique feature for the project. A number of unusual design and engineering steps were taken through the construction of a series of arches spanning approximately 30 meters. This novel feature not only completed the conquest of space but also provided the solid foundations for an upper level garden."

The Sea Passenger Terminal in Valletta won the award for conservation. This project, which was proposed by Architecture Project on behalf of Viset plc, was considered to be one which added value and prestige to an area which had hitherto been neglected. The restoration and partial reconstruction of Pinto and Forni stores, after destruction by enemy action in the Second World War, led to the rehabilitation and reuse of this prime site.

The Environment Planning Awards 2005 were presented by George Pullicino, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment.

The Westin Dragonara Resort aids Katrina victims

St Julian's, 15/09/05 - Starwood is planning to hold a W Happening Event with a live and silent auction to raise $100,000 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund, to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The event will be held at the W Los Angeles Hotel on 22 September around the pool with an anticipated attendance of 500 guests.

For this event, the Westin Dragonara Resort is donating a seven day voucher on half board basis including airport transfers in a de luxe room for two as well as two more vouchers, each offering a three nights stay in the newly launched Dragonara Luxury Bay Suites, including airport transfers and buffet breakfast.

These vouchers will be auctioned at the fund raising event together with other holiday getaways all around the world as well as unique items like a piece of the Berlin Wall.

Nosing a football above the clouds puts Lufthansa one up

Mosta, 15/09/05 - As World Cup 2006 heads Germany's way next year, the temperature of football fans is nearing fever pitch. Reason enough for Lufthansa to kick off football year 2006 by launching its first Airbus with a "football nose" onto a heavenly pitch. Painted in black and white, the nose-tip of the Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 automatically has all the semblance of a football above the clouds. And the message it heralds to football fans around the world from is Welcome to Germany.

"Germany is hosting the World Cup for the first time in 32 years. Fans the world over will travelling to Germany to support their national teams playing at soccer stadiums around the country. The Lufthansa aircraft with the football nose will act as football's ambassadors inviting all to enjoy their stay here," said Lufthansa executive vice president marketing and sales Thierry Antinori.

The first A340-300 with the football nose operates on all long-haul routes in the Lufthansa network. About 30 other aircraft of different types in the Lufthansa fleet will have their nose similarly painted in the next few weeks prior to resuming scheduled flights to destinations within Germany and the rest of Europe.

MTA launches photo competition

Valletta, 15/09/05 - The Malta Tourism Authority is organising its annual photographic competition and exhibition. This year, the competition's theme is Our Historic Cities - The Gems of our Cultural Heritage.

The MTA invites the public - residents and visitors - to participate in this competition, which is organised by the authority in collaboration with the Malta Photographic Society.

Participants, says the MTA, are encouraged to "look at the multi-dimensional character of Malta's historic cities" and to "capture their uniqueness in all respects". The definition of historic cities for this competition includes Valletta, Mdina, Cottonera region, and the Citadel in Victoria, Gozo.

The closing date for entries is the 17 November. Prizes include flights and weekend breaks provided by Air Malta and the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort.

Entry forms may be collected from the Malta Tourism Authority at the Auberge d' Italie, Merchant Street, Valletta, and from the MTA's information centres at City Gate, Valletta and in Victoria, Gozo.

MTA trains UK travel agents to raise awareness of the islands

London, 15/09/05 - The Malta Tourism Authority's London office recently joined forces with tour operator Cadogan Holidays in organising eight road shows throughout Britain. These were aimed at raising awareness about the Islands amongst UK travel agents.

Meanwhile, the MTA has trained 100 First Choice agents at their Manchester call centre, with the help of Manchester United's Gary Neville, with whom the MTA has a celebrity endorsement agreement. Training sessions were also carried out with a number of First Choice regional managers in Bristol, as well as 180 agents in Bournemouth, during an event held together with Palmair and Bath Travel to help launch the new Malta-Bournemouth route.

Further training activities were focused on Scotland, with more than 110 TUI UK agents being trained at their Glasgow call centre. Presentations were also made by the MTA to First Choice regional managers and hypermarket outlets in Perth and Edinburgh.

Vicky Williams, MTA's London office marketing manager said: "Although we have a fantastic online training programme aimed at educating UK travel agents, it is still extremely valuable to support this service with face-to face-training."