Mike Xuereb, the owner at Hotel 19 Rooms in Valletta, is working together with his team towards becoming the first carbon neutral hotel in Malta.

This was shared by Singular Places, a berlin-based, impact and sustainability driven travel booking site, which said the company is proud to be part of Hotel 19 Rooms’ journey, “as they continue to grow towards sustainability and on to regeneration”.

19 Rooms is the only Maltese hotel to be listed on the sustainability-focused booking site, and has passed a set of criteria to make it onto the platform. Criteria assessed include power saving initiatives, water saving measures, plastic avoidance, ecological construction, waste policy, use of local suppliers and more.

In comments shared with Singular Places, the hotel’s owner, Mike Xuereb, remarked:

“Hospitality for me is about exceptional service and being an enabler for your guests’ experience to help them get the most out of their holiday or business trip.

“Sitting on top of that is the need to have an eco-friendly and sustainable operation, were we recognise the realities of climate change and focus on reducing our footprint and being a responsible part of our community.”

Respected local architecture firm Archi+ has released the first photos from a project it worked on, establishing Malta’s first branch of the well-known multinational ibis hotel chain.

The project was worked on in collaboration with Archi+ partner construction firm Elbros.

Delving into the design process, the architecture firm. which worked as Design Consultant on the project, reflects that while the architectural shell was set, it was briefed to work alongside ibis’s “proven guidelines and standards to ensure that the hotel’s interiors are “perfectly functional” and “elevated with a confident design aesthetic.”

This aesthetic was largely informed by the rugged textures and warm colour palette of natural Maltese landscapes, Archi+ reflects, with exposed off shutter concrete.

Additionally, steel mesh furniture was softened with the use of arched elements and a recurring prickly pear theme, achieving an interior space that acknowledges the sensibilities of the tourism sector whilst retaining a “strong design narrative.”

This will be the first time the economy hotel chain has come to Malta, although its parent company, Accor, does already have a presence on the island’s shores, with its Mercure St Julain’s establishment.

Additionally, in mid-2020 it was reported that the group had signed an agreement with local Stivala Group to develop a new hotel in Sliema, although this does not yet seem to have materialised.

Ibis is one of the world’s leading hotel brands, with 2043 hotels worldwide, across all six inhabited continents.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/archi-gives-glimpses-of-project-bringing-first-ibis-to-malta-s-shores

The project will cost approximately €28 million, with the initial phase being cofinanced by the European Union as part of the European Fund for Regional Development for the sum of €10 million. The subsequent phase, at a cost of around €18 million, is being financed by the Maltese government. The initial phase is expected to be completed by the end of next year, with the entire project being ready by 2025.

The restoration of the palace’s corridors is part of the initial phase of this ambitious project which, once completed, will offer visitors a totally different experience of the palace to the one enjoyed previously.

Hosts Global are thrilled to announce their new Hosts Global Members and Affiliates that will be curating breathtaking events in Greece, Jamaica, and Malta. Welcome Conceptours, Glamour DMC, and Colours of Malta! These destinations will have your guests dreaming of Azul waters, warm breezes, unmatched architecture and culture, and cuisines that will leave them speechless.

“We are proud to welcome Conceptours, Glamour DMC, and Colours of Malta to our Hosts family. This addition to our portfolio is a continuation of our ongoing plan to bring best in class solutions globally to our clients,” said Kurt Paben, CEO for Hosts Global. Hosts Global offers over 250 destinations around the world to partner with you to create meaningful and memorable events.

Find out more about Hosts Global here: https://hosts-global.com/

Roberta Metsola has officially won the election to become the next European Parliament President.

Metsola beat out three other candidates in the first round of voting, getting the required 50%+1 majority from all MEPs. Metsola had the support of three of the biggest EU political parties, the EPP, the S&D, and Renew.

She won 458 votes of 616 eligible votes in parliament, winning on the first round of voting.

Lovin Malta is informed that Metsola will give a press conference at 12pm.

Metsola has made history today, by not only becoming the youngest ever President, but by occupying the most important role any Maltese person has had on the international stage.

She will occupy the role for at least another two and a half years.

Article credits: https://lovinmalta.com/ewropej/roberta-metsola-wins-european-parliament-president-election/

What does it mean to be well? Our health and well-being rely on a number of factors, including the environment we live in, the exercise we get, and the ability to relax and enjoy the simple things in life. Now, in light of COVID, it seems that we are all seeking to be the healthiest that we can be.

The GAP Jeans Department decided to carry out a study to reveal the wellbeing hotspot of Europe. Obviously, in the hope you would wear your favorite skinny jeans as you comfortably globe-trotted around the world!

The study analyzed 28 capitals of the EU and the UK, investigating several factors that contribute to wellness, with Valletta, Malta named the winner. The criteria included:

· The amount of air pollution in each city
· The percentage of green space in each city
· The number of running clubs in each city per capita (per 100,000 people)
· The number of gyms in each city per capita
· The number of spas in each city per capita
· Google searches for healthy food and snacks in each city per capita
· The hours of sunlight in each city
· Drinking water quality in each city

The analysis dives into each factor, finally measuring a total score to find the best European capital for wellness.

Hitting the top of the charts for wellness is Valletta. The Maltese capital scores 100 on the wellness index thanks to its health and fitness fanaticism. In fact, Valletta achieves high scores across the board, including a large number of running clubs (21), 13 spas, and hours of sunlight.

Brussels and Helsinki took second and third on the index with scores of 88 and 87.

Back to Malta – there is a lot to love. This archipelago located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, has been acclaimed for its luxurious accommodations, warm climate, and 7,000 years of history. A visit to Malta is to immerse oneself in centuries of history while enjoying the very best of modern life and curated experiences to meet each traveler’s personal desires. Malta has been acclaimed for its posh accommodations, including luxury hotels, historic boutique hotels, Palazzos, private villas, and historic farmhouses. You can stay in a restored 16^th– or 17th-century palazzo, delight in luxury accommodation built into fortifications of an ancient city, with views across the Grand Harbour, or seek out the character of the many beautiful boutique hotels dotted throughout Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage capital, as well as throughout Malta and its sister island of Gozo.

The Malta Michelin Guide highlights the outstanding restaurants, breadth of cuisine styles, and culinary skills found in Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The winners of the first stars to be awarded in Malta are:

•De Mondion – Chef Kevin Bonello
• Noni – Chef Jonathan Brincat
• Under Grain – Chef Victor Borg

In addition to the Michelin starred restaurants, Malta, of course, also offers travelers a diverse culinary experience, from the traditional plate of eclectic Mediterranean food curated by a relationship between the Maltese and the countless civilizations that occupied the island. One can also enjoy gourmet meals cooked by a private local chef at your luxury villa or historic farmhouse in Gozo. Menus are changed frequently according to season, availability, or the chef’s impulse.

Many historic sites can be booked for after-hour private tours.  St. John’s Co-Cathedral Tours is one example. Completed in 1577, The St. John’s Co-Cathedral was designed by Girolamo Cassar, a praised Maltese architect also responsible for building the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta.

And don’t forget a trip to the vineyards! Now winning accolades in international competitions, Maltese vineyards are renowned in particular for their high-quality boutique wines. Connoisseurs will especially appreciate the indigenous Maltese grapes – the girgentina and the gellewza.

To your health!

Article credits: https://www.forbes.com/sites/debbikickham/2021/12/06/valletta-malta-named-as-the-best-european-city-for-wellness/?sh=7478e40136f1

The film industry in Malta generated €98 million between March 2020 and December 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malta Film Commission said on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 31 productions were filmed in Malta.

Film commissioner Johann Grech, speaking at the Malta Film Studios in Kalkara, said recent productions in Malta included feature films, television series, documentaries and reality shows.

Last year, a total of 22 productions took place on the island and generated €68 million for the economy.

He said that a cash rebate scheme managed by the commission had enabled foreign productions to benefit from a rebate of up to 40% of expenditure.

Read the full article here: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/98-million-generated-by-the-local-film-industry-despite-the-pandemic.927106

Housed within the 17th century Xara Palace Relais & Châteauxis boutique hotel, Mdina fine-dining join ‘de Mondion’ is hands down a staple for any foodies living in Malta.

The restaurant is particularly known for its inimitable take on Mediterranean cuisine, so much so that it was recently awarded a Michelin star.

As if that wasn’t enough praise, acclaimed international restaurant guide La Liste ranked it amongst the top 600 restaurants around the world.

A knights-era water reservoir has been discovered beneath the entrance to St Andrew’s Ditch in Valletta, a few metres down from the Hotel Excelsior.

An opening was discovered by accident on Sunday, and then another was found. Each has a depth of some 7.5m. The structure was found to be one of a number of reservoirs built by the knights for water storage in the fortified city. The structure, however, is in a sorry state with broken slabs and missing arches that have rendered it unsafe and unstable.

The gaping hole that turned out to be the entrance was discovered by architect Ruben Paul Borg who said it appeared dangerous since cars park in the area every day.

The reservoir, although forgotten, had been documented by the British. It had a capacity of 343,000 gallons

Subterranean Valletta has been the focus of recent public attention, with Heritage Malta opening a series of 500-year-old tunnels beneath the city for public viewing.

The tours include another reservoir, right beneath Great Siege Square, that dates back to the 16th century. At the time, owing to a shortage of water, the authorities in the city banned private gardens and required water reservoirs to be built under all houses.

The knights, showing great engineering skills, had built the aqueduct system to carry water from the Rabat area to Valletta, but the system was vulnerable to enemy attacks in uncertain times.

One small freshwater stream does flow into Valletta however. It emerges in the large basement of the Archbishop’s Palace.

Read the full article: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/knights-era-reservoir-found-under-valletta-ditch.922855