International hospitality brand AC Hotels by Marriott has announced the opening of its first hotel in Malta, AC Hotel by Marriott St Julian’s. The hotel is located close to St George’s Bay, Bay Street shopping complex and other entertainment hubs that populate that area.

The new “lifestyle hotel”, designed by Italian-based architecture and design association Fabris & Partners, was described as retaining a Maltese colour scheme throughout the public spaces and guestrooms, a palette that “took inspiration from the natural and urban environment around the hotel.” The hotel offers 106 contemporary guestrooms and suites.

Matthew Boettcher, Vice President and Global Brand Leader said that the company is “delighted to be bringing AC Hotels’ design-driven guest experience to Malta. The hotel marks Marriott Bonvoy’s third property in this vibrant Mediterranean island destination.”

AC Lounge, located on the rooftop terrace overlooking the St Julian’s skyline, will feature a menu with “cocktail and European tapas.” Other facilities include a heated outdoor rooftop pool, an indoor pool, a meeting space with seating for up to 40 people, and a gym.

Read full article: https://whoswho.mt/en/ac-hotels-by-marriott-announces-the-opening-of-its-first-hotel-in-malta

Corinthia Hotels Limited on Monday announced that Villa Corinthia, the restaurant at Corinthia Palace in Attard, will be taken over by renowned Italian Chef Francesco Mazzei in June.

The culinary expert will be bringing a taste of Southern Italy to the restaurant up until autumn, serving a menu of some Italian classics together with a number of signature favourites.

The announcement comes just a few weeks after the restaurant closed for refurbishment, and is set to reopen at the start of June.

Mr Mazzei was brought up with a deep-rooted passion for food, being a regular presence in the family kitchen. His first experience in the culinary world was when he worked at his uncle’s gelateria where he mastered Italian cakes and gelato by the age of nine, before taking on his first chef role at the age of 14. Over the years, he has been recognised as “one of the great Italian chefs”, having worked in five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East.

Commenting on the news, Mr Mazzei said: “Spending time in Malta has been a goal of mine for several years, given its rich history and proximity to Italy.” “Partnering with the iconic Corinthia Palace is a very exciting project,” he added.

The menu will contain a selection of “colourful antipasti, a fritto misto featuring seafood and seasonal vegetables from the Maltese shores and soil, and a show-stopping Orecchia di elefante”. The dishes will be rooted in Italian tradition and flavours, yet Mr Mazzei and his team will also draw inspiration from local seasonal produce to create a “memorable and modern dining experience”, Corinthia Palace’s management remarked.

Corinthia Palace first started out as a restaurant, opened in 1962, in a century-old restored country villa. The hotel was constructed in the villa’s gardens just some years later, and was inaugurated as Corinthia Hotels Limited’s first hotel in 1968. The hotel contains 147 rooms, and boasts dining, meetings and spa facilities to complement its accommodation offering.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/renowned-chef-francesco-mazzei-to-serve-up-italian-classics-at-villa-corinthia-this-summer

Hospitality, entertainment and lifestyle group Eden Leisure has teamed up with hospitality entrepreneur Mark Weingard to bring Anantara, a luxury hotel brand, to Malta, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Eden Leisure Group is owned by the De Cesare family, who have, together with Mr Weingard, submitted the highest bid to take over the Evans Building in Valletta. The concession is meant to see the renovation of the building into a top hospitality establishment, with the aim of attracting more tourism activity to the lower end of capital.

The parties involved have yet to confirm any details about the deal.

Eden Leisure is behind a number of brands like Eden Cinemas, Eden SuperBowl, Cynergi Gym, Eden Esports, a radio station (89.7 Bay), a casino (Casino Malta) and two hotels – the InterContinental Malta and the Holiday Inn Express.

Mr Weingard is the founder of Iniala Group, a group of hospitality companies with luxury offerings in Thailand and Malta.

The Thai connection might have been crucial to this deal – Anantara is a high-end hotel brand finding its beginnings in Thailand. It forms part of Minor Hotels, a company based in Thailand operating over 500 hotels around the world.

The joint venture, named Valletta Luxury Properties, put in a bid worth €78 million – far higher than the second-highest bid by Katari Hospitality Joint Venture, which came in at €41 million.

Last week, it was the Katari bid that was reported to be the highest.

However, it has since been reported that Valletta Luxury Properties’ bid was for the amount to be paid annually (€1.2 million). When calculated over the full term of the concession period (65 years), the total comes to €78 million.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/eden-leisure-and-mark-weingard-partner-up-to-bring-luxury-hotel-brand-anantara-to-malta

Check out the highlights of events taking place on the Maltese islands in the coming days, in the Music, Film, Visual Art and Miscellaneous categories, by The Times of Malta:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-gozo-week-15-21.1031567

The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux are thrilled and honoured to be nominated for the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 – a testament to their commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and creating memories that last a lifetime.

Visit the CN Traveller website to find out more: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-hotels-resorts-europe

The Malta Tourism Authority has announced a partnership between VisitMalta and Giro d’Italia 2023.

The MTA will be the official sponsor for Giro d’Italia which will have the VisitMalta brand featured around the event in Italy in the coming weeks, starting from the 06^th until 28^th May 2023.

The MTA said that Malta will be promoted as a tourist destination, given international visibility, and will have the brand name amplificated on various media platforms.

Giro d’Italia was established in 1909 and has been a prestigious event within the cycling world ever since. The Giro d’Italia is also one of the most followed events internationally. In fact, the event is broadcasted in around 200 countries worldwide, reaching around 650 million TV viewers. In addition, social media sees around 4.2 million followers combined on all the event’s channels.

This year’s Giro will offer race coverage of a total of 3,448.6km, starting from Costa dei Trabocchi and finishing in Rome. VisitMalta will be featured on television, on multiple media platforms, and on the field visibility. There will also be a stand at the Open Village finish area where VisitMalta will welcome visitors.

During the press conference, Mr. Valerio Agnoli, former pro-cyclist and Visitmalta coordinator in Eolo-Kometa Sponsorships, presented the Giro d’Italia trophy won by Mr. Ivan Basso, two-time winner of the Giro d’Italia.

“Sports tourism forms an integral part of the diversification of our tourism product. This tourism niche will surely help us attract a different type of tourist who is interested in visiting the splendour of the Maltese Islands or moreover participate in a sporting event. By hosting sports events and providing facilities for visitors, Malta can continue attracting international athletes and coaches, which can help to raise the standard of sports in the country,” remarked Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo.

Mr. Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority added that, “we are proud to showcase the VisitMalta brand at the Giro d’Italia 2023. This agreement falls within the parameters of Malta’s Tourism Strategy which is to strive for a stronger and more competitive tourism industry for the Maltese islands. By partnering with Giro d’Italia, the Malta Tourism Authority would be exposing the VisitMalta brand name to millions of viewers within the cycling world, whilst also focusing its efforts to enhance the Sports Tourism Niche in Malta and Gozo”.

“I am very happy today to announce that Visitmalta is our partner in Giro d’Italia. It will be a grand chance for us to have VisitMalta as a sponsor. I think that it will give Malta great visibility, by joining one of the best production of the Giro and of Italy together with Malta. Thank you very much and have a good Giro d’Italia,” stated Mr. Paolo Bellino, Sports Managing Director of RCS.

Article credits: https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-05-03/local-news/VisitMalta-becomes-an-official-partner-with-Giro-d-Italia-2023-6736251553

A vacancy for an Italian-Speaking Account Executive has arisen at Colours of Malta.

Are you an experienced and enthusiastic person with a passion for event organization ?
Colours of Malta is seeking an Italian-speaking account executive to join our team and help us promote our amazing destination to Italian-speaking clients.

As an Italian-speaking account executive, you will be responsible for managing existing client relationships and managing the operations for their events . You will work closely with our local partners, suppliers, and operators to design and sell customized travel packages that meet the unique needs and preferences of our clients.

To succeed in this role, you should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a strong sales background, and a good understanding of the Italian travel market. You should also be a creative problem solver, a strategic thinker, and a team player who is committed to delivering exceptional customer service.

At Colours of Malta, we offer a dynamic and supportive work environment, competitive compensation, and ample opportunities for growth and career development. If you are passionate about event management and eager to join a fun and dynamic team, we would love to hear from you!

Requirements:
• Fluent in Italian and English (both written and spoken)
• degree in business, tourism, or a related field
• Proven track record of sales success in the travel industry
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter in Italian and English to [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you!

One of the capital’s largest open spaces has been adorned with colourful flowers and evergreen trees as the Valletta Green Festival begins. The popular festival at St George’s Square will continue until Sunday.

In previous years, the large open space in front of the President’s Palace would showcase a large flower display, usually depicting an animal, but this year trees and plants create a trail, for people to walk around and enjoy.

The temporary garden showcases over 18,000 trees and flowers, including pink, red and yellow Hydrangea flowers and large white Viburnum plants.

This will be the 10th edition of the Valletta Green Festival, which Valletta Cultural Agency chair Jason Micallef said is the largest so far.

“We are aware that Valletta lacks green lungs, so we transformed this large open space into a garden of dreams,” Micallef said.

He said while the garden can not become permanent due to the number of national activities that take place in the square, he said that the benefits of such an open green space can already be seen.

People were seen walking around the garden, taking pictures and sitting on the benches enjoying the greenery.

A drum band entertained people of all ages at the opening ceremony.

Micallef said the Agency makes an effort to be environmentally conscious in its activities.

“My word of advice to authorities, especially local councils, is that we can do so much more to make our open spaces, no matter the size, more green,” he said.

On Wednesday, the festival will host several stands for environmental entities such as Ambjent Malta, ERA, Project Green and others.

There will also be an eco-market along Old Theatre Street selling Maltese organic produce over the weekend.

The plants were provided by Derek Garden Centre, and at the end, leftover flowers will be distributed to the general public and local councils.

Article credits: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/valletta-green-festival-turns-st-georges-square-garden-trail.1028786

Exciting news! The team at Colours of Malta will be attending IMEX Frankfurt 2023 between 23rd and 25th May at stand number D120. If you’re interested in learning more about our creative approach to event planning and our commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences for our clients, we’d love to meet you!

Our team of experienced professionals will be available to answer any questions you may have and discuss how we can partner with you to create unique and authentic MICE experiences for your clients.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the Colours of Malta staff at IMEX Frankfurt 2023. Come and visit us at stand number D120. We can’t wait to see you there!

Contact us via email at [email protected] or directly on Imex portal on https://imex-frankfurt.com/newfront/exhibitor/colours-of-malta