AX Hotels, part of the wider AX Group, announced the launch of its brand-new destination concept AX ODYCY Hotel, at the former site of the Seashells Resort at Suncrest in Qawra.

The group says that the new hotel will welcome its first guests in the “coming weeks” and has been designed as a “year-round destination” which is set to “revitalise” the seaside promenade with a multi-million Euro investment.

Spearheaded by AX Group and designed by architecture firm Box Concept Studio, the group says that the destination will reignite interest in the area, create employment opportunities, and also contribute significantly to the local economy.

The extensive redevelopment and rebranding of the former renowned Suncrest adds four storeys to the existing structure, making it one of the largest hotels on the island and increases the number of hotel rooms to 600. These range from family-friendly and economy options, to luxurious, unique suites, along with other facilities and dining options. These include Medusa, a new level 10 skybar, Sidestreet, a new sophisticated lobby bar, the hotel’s new buffet restaurants, Deck and Keel, and other amenities.

“Everything about this project will do things differently, with quality and genuine character infused in every step,” AX Group Chairman Angelo Xuereb said.

“We’re excited to share it with the public and add another landmark to our portfolio that our team can be proud of. After all, it is thanks to them and their loyalty that we have achieved all this, together with the many people who have been part of the Suncrest story over the decades,” he added.

“We hope this new venture is one that will be enjoyed by generations to come, as we breathe new life into Qawra once again,” he concluded.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/ax-group-to-launch-new-600-room-hotel-at-former-site-of-seashells-resort-at-suncrest-in-qawra

The gateway to luxury in Malta, is thrilled to announce the completion of a sustainable friendly project whereby the hotel’s main outdoor swimming pool now features year-round heated fresh water.

With its state-of-the-art water heating system, the Dragonara’s open-air pool can maintain a comfortable temperature no matter the weather outside!

This means that guests can enjoy an invigorating swim or a relaxing soak in the water, even on the coldest of days.

It also offers a generous swimming area that can accommodate both proficient swimmers and families looking to have fun. A spacious deck area for sunbathing and relaxation and kid-friendly features, including a shallow area and accessible design. Also includes access for wheelchair users.

“We are excited to be able to offer this new heated outdoor swimming pool to our guests. Whether our guests are after a pool to exercise in, have fun with family, or simply bask under the sun, our Bay View pool has something for everyone,” said Michael Camilleri Kamsky, General Manager of The Westin Dragonara.

“We are consistently investing in upgrading our offerings thereby delivering elevated experiences. This new development, which is unique in the five star offering in Malta, will allow our guests to enjoy year-round outdoor swimming,” he said.

Standing apart on a natural peninsula fringed by the sea, The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta brings warm-hearted, luxurious Mediterranean living to a vibrant, historic island. A jewel of the Mediterranean, it is where fabled dragons roar, giving the peninsula and property their distinctive name.

Maximising on its exclusive and enduring appeal, the property has an enviable beachside position and is accessed via private gateway, inscribed with Virgil’s thoughtful proverb, “God made this gem for us”.

Article credits: https://lovinmalta.com/sponsored/the-westin-dragonara-resort-malta-announces-its-new-heated-open-air-pool/

The Forbes Travel Guide has returned for another year, awarding the world’s best hotels, restaurants, spas and cruises. And as for the luxury hotel department, one Maltese destination nestled right in the capital managed to yet again win the highest possible honour: a five-star rating!

Malta had 10 hotels featured in the 2023 Forbes Travel Guide, with five making the Recommended List and another four being awarded Four Stars. But in the end, the top honour went to only one: Iniala Harbour House, overlooking Valletta’s Grand Harbour.

Last year, the luxurious boutique hotel became Malta’s first and only to receive the top rating, with everything from beautiful bedding and helpful housekeeping to memorable drinks and thoughtful guest room amenities being among the things taken into consideration.

More than 2,000 properties in 70 different countries are asseessed, with up to 900 standards being taken into consideration. “Only the best of the best achieve the coveted five-star, our highest rating,” Forbes Travel Guide editor Jennifer Kester had said back in April 2022.

With 23 rooms and a Michelin-star restaurant, Iniala Harbour House offers everything from private plunge pools and jacuzzis to fully-equipped kitchens… and it sure looks like it’s managed to retain the top honour it won just last year!

Meanwhile, the Corinthia Palace Hotel managed to retain its four stars from last year, while the Hyatt Regency was bumped up from the Recommended list to four stars. The Phoenicia and The Westin Dragonara Resort, meanwhile, debuted on the list with the impressive four-star rating.

Situated in The Strand, Gzira, opposite the Manoel Island, this 106-roomed hotel strategically enjoys easy access to a plethora of nearby top-notch cafés, bars, and eateries for all tastes and budgets and is only a few minutes walk from Sliema, the leading shopping and dining centre in Malta. Guest rooms dimensions vary from 28 square meters for Superior Double Rooms to the 47-square-meter Deluxe Suite Double.

Facing the sea and a popular walking promenade, enjoying a Valletta backdrop and a vibrant Marsamxett Harbour Area, Hotel Verdi can be said to command a relaxing sight to view and enjoy. The Ferry service to Valletta is within a short walking distance.

Naturally, the Food and Beverage Areas have been entrusted to Corinthia Caterers for their operation, including the all-day dining restaurant and 24/7 room service.

Hotel Verdi includes two fully equipped boardroom-style meeting rooms which accommodate up to 12 guests.

Guests can enjoy a fully equipped fitness centre, a decked wooden sauna together with an indoor heated splash pool and an outdoor pool.

The management of Hotel Verdi will be incorporated within Corinthia’s centralised structure at the Peninsula Hotels.

Take in stunning views of the Portomaso Yacht Marina whilst relaxing in your own private hot tub located on the spacious terrace furnished with sunbeds and dining area. The room features a large king-sized Hilton Serenity bed and an elegant bathroom with walk-in shower or bathtub. Watch a movie on the 43-inch LCD TV or catch up with work at the desk with WiFi access.

Special touches include a fully stocked minibar, a welcome amenity, complimentary bathroom amenities and tea and coffee making facilities.

The Terrace Spa Suits will be completed in the coming weeks!

The Phoenicia Malta Ambassador Neville Juan Cardona featured on BBC World News on Monday morning, discussing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s visits to the hotel during her time on the island.

Mr Cardona spoke to BBC reporter Lucy Williamson about the Valletta hotel’s Grand Ballroom, where Prince Philip and the then-Princess Elizabeth “danced away many moons ago”.

He showed Ms Williamson the guestbook from the Queen’s stay at the hotel, featuring a number of photographs, during a time when “her signature simply read, Elizabeth”.

Queen Elizabeth II spent two years living in Malta while Prince Philip served as a Royal Navy Officer, a time that she described as some of “the happiest days” of her life. Just two years later she returned to London and prepared to become Queen, yet Ms Williamson remarked that while she will be remembered as “Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Head of the Commonwealth, and Queen, to Malta, she’s simply Elizabeth”.

Following her death on Thursday, The Phoenicia Malta recalled the Queen’s fondness for Malta, which “has long been known”, also expressing its condolences with The Royal Family and everyone around the world mourning her loss.

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World organisation, The Phoenicia Malta is an iconic 136-bedroom hotel located on Valletta’s doorstep that has “long been regarded as a national treasure”.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/phoenicia-malta-recalls-queen-elizabeth-ii-s-dances-in-its-grand-ballroom

AX The Saint John, a boutique hotel in the heart of Merchants Street, Valletta, is the recipient of Booking.com’s Traveller Review Award 2022 with a score of 9 out of 10!

A Traveller Review Award is won by having an average review score between 8 and 10 with at least three reviews left by Booking.com travellers by 1^st December of the previous year. AX The Saint John managed to obtain a fantastic score, rendering the boutique hotel a recipient of this prestigious award.

Once a former merchant’s residence and shop, the accommodation was reformulated as the successful and hospitable setting that it is today but never losing its rich history. Rooms at AX The Saint John combine luxury, technology and style – ideal for the smart and independent traveller.

Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa has been recognised by parent company Marriott International for its customer service delivery through a distinction for its Intent to Recommend score for July 2022.

Marriott International was full of praise towards the Malta-based hotel for the achievement, a sign of a “truly outstanding performance”.  It also thanked Malta Marriott for the service it provides to customers, with a priority on making them feel “safe, secure, and welcomed”.

“Lasting memories are created through great customer service, and we have a team that cares about that as much as you do,” Malta Marriott said.

“We are proud of our associates for their dedication to delivering hospitality and creating experiences that will last a lifetime,” the hotel added.

The hotel launched in January 2020 after an investment of €30 million for extensive refurbishment, and he has since become known for the “joyful experience” it offers its guests every time they visit.

Similar to other hotels, Malta Marriott was forced to halt its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdown restrictions just a few months after its launch, before it reopened at the start of September of that same year.

Article credits: https://whoswho.mt/en/malta-marriott-hotel-spa-recognised-for-excellence-in-service-delivery-by-marriott-international

Summer 2022’s well on track to be the season where travel makes a huge comeback, so it’s no surprise that competition in the hospitality industry’s just growing fiercer and fiercer…

The latest honour which hotels and restaurants around the globe have been fighting for is none other than the Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) Star Award.

Every year, this internationally followed travel site gathers the best and most luxurious hotels, resorts, restaurants, and spas from all over the world into one list. Every listed establishment then receives one of three ratings: recommended, four-star, or five-star – the latter being the most prestigious.

This year saw FTG publish its 64th annual list, in which critics reviewed establishments from a handful of new destinations, such as the Canary Islands, Greece, Ibiza, and Malta!

It’s safe to say that Malta kicked off its entry into the FTG Star Awards with a bang, as seven hotels around the islands were deemed good enough to make it onto the list. Here are the seven local hotelswho won the FTG awards as follows:

• Corinthia Palace Malta – 4-Star
  “Like a set from the 1960 movie ‘La Dolce Vita’, the Corinthia brand’s first hotel – with 147 rooms, including nine suits, six Executive Suites, and two Palace Suites – is a place for those who enjoy classic architecture, traditional décor, formal service, and culinary excellence.”
• Hyatt Regency Malta – Recommended
  “With more than 10 stories, plus a ‘barrier-free’ roof deck (it’s surrounded by glass panels), Hyatt Regency Malta has one of the best views in town.”
• Iniala Harbour House – 5-Star
  “Like a place you’d imagine Romeo and Juliet holding secret rendezvous, the Malta hotel’s ancient vaults are magical. The best way to enjoy one of these vaults is a soak in the spa’s indoor pool.”
• Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz – Recommended
  “Kempinski San Lawrenz makes a wonderful base from which to explore the island’s beaches, bays, and historical sites. If you need a ride, the hotel offers a complimentary bus to capital city Victoria and Ramla Beach.”
• Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa – Recommended
  “Throughout the property, from the open dining terraces to the seafront-facing rooms, you are treated to a view of Balluta Bay, the beach, and the stunning neo-Gothic architecture of the Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, along with landmark art nouveau and art deco buildings.”
• Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands – Recommended
  “Everywhere you look at Radisson Blue Resort & Spa, Golden Sands, the beautiful Mediterranean Sea calls, with gentle waves of pristine saltwater lapping against the shore of Golden Bay Beach.”
• Rosselli – AX Privilege – Recommended
  “Each of the rooms is striking and uniquely decorated in black, white, and grey hues. Furnishings look like they were curated by the Museum of Modern Art.”

Click here to see the full list of international winners.

Article credits: https://www.guidememalta.com/en/these-seven-maltese-hotels-won-forbes-travel-guide-s-2022-star-awards

The walled city of Valletta, founded in 1566, is the capital and was built on a peninsula between two natural harbours. It’s full of Baroque character and was recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

If you want to take in the full majesty of the city, then you need to see the Grand Harbour in all its splendour – and if you want to also enjoy a great meal whilst doing so, then you should consider making a booking at ION – The Harbour, a proud holder of a MICHELIN Star.

It’s found on the 4th floor of the Iniala Harbour House hotel and, when you are a restaurant fortunate enough to be able to offer tables on a terrace that provide such spectacular views, then it makes sense to use it as much as possible – and that’s exactly what it does.

However, don’t think that your eyes will simply stay focused on the vista – the stunningly presented food directly in front of you will compete equally for your attention.

It’s fairly clear that this a kitchen that was classically trained but it is also one that understands elegance and refinement. The balanced and appealing set menus all make great use of the finest produce from nearby countries, be it lobster from Brittany used for the pithivier or Sicilian red prawns served with aged Kaluga caviar. The best local ingredients are also showcased and these include line-caught lampuki which here comes with dill and smoked cream. From the delicate canapés that kick off proceedings to the exquisite desserts, this is food that tastes as good as it looks.

And it’s not just the cooking and the setting that make ION – The Harbour such a special place. The service also ensures you feel truly looked after – it’s attentive and detailed but never overbearing or starchy. Similarly, the wine service is helpful, engaging and enthusiastic and the wine list itself offers plenty of depth, which includes an interesting selection by the glass.

Read the full article: https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/michelin-guide-malta-ion—the-harbour-valletta?fbclid=IwAR3Knx0YRhMVYU9TRcE1edUyXvzaot0drbn9RoSXYfnLj8uQCxy8UgPZp_8