The centrepiece of the visionary mixed-use project features a 102 storey tower, set to become one of the world’s tallest buildings, on the Sheikh Zayed Road near the celebrated Museum of the Future.

The property is owned by Dubai General Properties LLC, which specialises in real estate projects in the UAE, while Corinthia Hotels will provide management and expertise to operate a luxury hotel having approximately 120 bedrooms and provide branding and servicing to luxury residences being developed in the towers.

Another Corinthia Group subsidiary, QP, a multidisciplinary design and project management firm, will provide project management and design services to ensure seamless execution.

Simon Naudi, CEO of Corinthia Group, said: “Corinthia is delighted that two of its principal companies are partnering with Dubai General Properties to create an iconic project at a prime location in the UAE.

“Our involvement in this special development marks another step forward for the Group in line with our strategic vision to build and enhance our global reputation in the luxury hospitality and residential sector.”

The Corinthia Group has entered an exciting phase in recent months: two iconic hotels flying the Corinthia flag were opened in Brussels and New York at the end of last year, while the company also announced that it has entered into a partnership with Kuwaiti-based Action Real Estate Company to explore investment opportunities for luxury hotels and real estate at prime locations in the Americas and beyond.

The Dubai project will showcase the five-star luxury Corinthia Dubai, alongside Corinthia-branded serviced penthouses and apartments, each offering breathtaking views and elegant interiors.

With a total built-up area expected to be 330,000 square metres, the towers will provide stunning vistas of the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, and Jumeirah Beach. The pièce de resistance will be the world’s highest outdoor sky pool, soaring over 500 metres with panoramic 360-degree views, making Corinthia Dubai hotel and residences one of the most exhilarating addresses in the region.

Simon Casson, CEO of Corinthia Hotels, said: “We are proud and honoured to be bringing the Corinthia brand to Dubai. This architectural gem honours the ambitious vision set forth by the inspired leadership of Dubai and is made possible by our valued partnership with Dubai General Properties.”

Reuben Xuereb, CEO of QP said:“We are honoured to be helping deliver this game-changing project for Dubai General Properties and Corinthia. We have pioneered the project concierge service, bringing an integrated approach to design and development with our dynamic and capable team ensuring every detail is expertly managed.”

Jassim Al Ali, Managing Director of Dubai General Properties, commented: “It is a true privilege to introduce this bold and visionary statement to our city, right where our journey in property development began. Dubai stands as a pioneer in luxury tourism, and we are thrilled to unveil an innovative new concept that not only elevates our hospitality standards but also captivates both our people and the world.”

The post Corinthia Group announces partnership to develop and operate iconic hotel and residences in Dubai first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

International hospitality brand IBB Hotel Collection has recently opened a new hotel in Vittoriosa Malta – IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina Malta. A historic boutique hotel right in the heart of the Three Cities, also known as the Cottonera region, the IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina features 13 luxuriously furnished rooms. This is the third hotel that the IBB Hotels brand has added to the Cottonera region, with Cugó Gran Vittoriosa set to open its doors later in 2024 and Cugó Gran Macina being the go-to boutique hotel in the area.

The hotel offers elegantly appointed rooms and suites that boast modern amenities and stylish decor, providing a serene retreat for travelers. Guests can indulge in an exquisite breakfast, where skilled chefs craft delectable dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Additionally, IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina offers a rooftop pool and jacuzzi, allowing guests to unwind and rejuvenate. The attentive and professional staff is committed to delivering personalized service, creating a memorable and enjoyable stay for every visitor.

The unique environment at the hotel is created by the thoroughly restored architectural details and the beautiful surrounding marina. The rooms combine ancient with modern and offer an optimal stay both for guests looking for a luxury historical dwelling with a certain flair and for those searching for an elegant, modern, and progressive solution. The hotel, which has expanded the IBB Hotel Collection brand portfolio to a total of 8 hotels, features a large panoramic terrace, complete with a swimming pool, solarium and jacuzzi, overlooking the beautiful marina. The convenient location of the hotel is only a boat ride away from the capital city of Malta, Valletta.

“We are delighted to have brought the IBB Hotel Collection experience to Malta. The hotel marks the third property in this vibrant Mediterranean island destination, having opened the Cugó Gran Macina back in 2018 and with Cugó Gran Vittoriosa set to open its doors later in 2024,” said Samuel Santos, CEO at IBB Hotel and Cugó Gran Collection. “We wanted to offer yet another unique environment steeped in history in this beautiful part of the island and can’t wait to share an unforgettable experience with all our guests.”

Palazzo Bettina: A palazzo steeped in history
The hotel is steeped in history and its restoration has been carried out with true passion. The building appears to date back to the 17th century and has a long and varied history serving as a residence for several distinguished individuals and families, in particular, Elizabeth Muscat Dorell (1741-1829), known as Lady Bettina, who also gave her name to the building. The palazzo also served as a British military hospital in the second half of the 19th century and St Ġorġ Preca, the founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine. The Third Order Carmelite also made use of the property as one of the seats for the Society of Christian Doctrine in the inter war years.

In 2017, Palazzo Bettina was purchased by the Sormani family, who were charmed by the history of the building. With the extensive experience in recovering and renovating ancient buildings with the objective of returning them to their original splendour, they undertook this new adventure. The result of the investment can be seen in the complete renovation of the building, transformed into a luxury boutique hotel. Bought in 2023 by Bettina Investments Limited, the restoration of the Palazzo was completed back in the summer of 2021 and included the creation of 13 rooms fitted with every possible comfort and luxury.

The post New hotel IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina opens in Malta first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

ACE said it is very concerned about the negative financial impact such power shortages are having on the catering industry. A negative financial impact caused by the loss of raw materials as well as abrupt loss of sales during peak season.

Many establishments in various localities have reported no power supply for whole day long stretches, which seriously cripples their daily sales and storage of refrigerated supplies. The fact ACE members are having to close for business and refuse bookings in peak July is unacceptable.

A negative impact which adds to the multitude of challenges the industry is already facing which includes human resources issues and a discriminatory work regulation order, the challenges and costs incurred experienced by the introduction of the BCRS scheme, and to add insult to injury various road works all over Malta and Gozo during summer disrupting their day-to-day business.

Whilst ACE expressed solidarity towards its members, it called on the government and Enemalta for prompt action and stressed the need for a clear energy strategy to avoid similar situations in the months and years to come.

The post ACE expresses concern on negative financial impact caused by power outages first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

AX Hotels, part of the wider AX Group, today announced the launch of their brand-new destination concept AX ODYCY Hotel, at the former site of the Seashells Resort at Suncrest in the coastal town of Qawra. Welcoming its first guests in the coming weeks, the hotel has been designed as a year-round destination and is set to revitalise the seaside promenade with a multi-million Euro investment.

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

AX Hotels is the largest local hotel brand operating on the island, with 40 years’ experience in hospitality, hosting travellers from all segments of the international market. The company has also acted as a training ground for a significant portion of Malta’s workforce in the hospitality sector and remains committed to enhancing its reputation as an employer of choice. Through ODYCY, AX Hotels is committed to elevating the quality of experiential travel in accommodation as well as food and beverage. 

“We are thrilled to reveal the launch of the AX ODYCY Hotel, which is a vision for Qawra that we have been working on for some time,” says Claire Zammit Xuereb, Director of Hospitality and Care at AX Group. “We hope that this destination will make a positive impact on the local area and will be a much sought-after destination that puts Qawra firmly back on the map. As a Group, we have always been committed to the progression of Malta’s hospitality industry and ODYCY will be at the very forefront of this. There will be many exciting facilities, restaurants, bars, and entertainment options as part of this concept for all to enjoy, and we look forward to seeing it come to life in the coming weeks.”

Denise Xuereb, Director of Construction and Development, commended the teams that have been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life. “It has been quite a journey so far and everyone from all departments and divisions within AX Group have pulled incredible weight to get us to where we are today. This final phase is the most exciting yet, as we wrap things up to welcome our first guests and showcase the quality and value that we’re injecting into Qawra once again.”

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 many other facilities and dining options including ‘Medusa’, the unique level 10 skybar, ‘Sidestreet’, the hotel’s new sophisticated lobby bar, the hotel buffet restaurants ‘Deck & Keel’, various adults-only and family pools, and more.

“Everything about this project will do things differently, with quality and genuine character infused in every step,” says Chairman of AX Group, Angelo Xuereb. “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. We hope this new venture is one that will be enjoyed by generations to come, as we breathe new life into Qawra once again,” the chairman concludes.

The ODYCY Hotel is a significant landmark development that forms part of the AX Group’s extensive portfolio of successful hotels. The Group is known for its innovation, creativity and foresight in various local industries, including development, construction, healthcare, hospitality, real estate and renewable energy.

As the opening of the much-awaited ODYCY Hotel approaches, the general public is encouraged to follow the various social platforms of the hotel.

For further information and career opportunities please visit, www.odycymalta.com

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Athina Luxury Suites wins at World Travel Awards 2022

The boutique hotel distinguished for the world-class services it offers, with breathtaking views of the Volcano, received the most important award in its history to date as “Leading Boutique Hotel in Greece 2022” at the 29^th annual World Travel Awards, presented in Mallorca, Spain. World Travel Awards™ was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards™ brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

International recognition at World Luxury Hotel Awards 2022

At the same time, Athina Luxury Suites also excelled and has been recognized among the finest establishments in the world, at the 16^th annual World Luxury Hotel Awards by winning the “Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Southern Europe” award, as part of the annual awards ceremony held in Antalya, Turkey. World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300,000 international travelers vote each year, during a four-week period to select the winners.

In the context of this year’s awards, Mr. Panagiotis Iglesis and Ms. Artemis Argyrou, owners and general managers of Athina Luxury Suites, stated: “We are very proud. These awards indicate the fruition of our efforts throughout the year, to be able to offer high quality services to our customers, in this beautiful and unique destination of Santorini. Our total of 25 luxurious accommodations are designed for discerning guests looking for a perfect combination of serenity and adventure. This is the highest honor we have received so far and fills us with joy and strength to continue reaching even higher”.

The successive awards of Athina Luxury Suites prove the commitment of the hotel and its management to further development, its continued consistency, hard work and level of service. Just a few meters away from vibrant town center, Athina Luxury Suites immerses guests in tranquility. Breathtaking views, world-class services and exquisite accommodations all combine to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each suite at Athina Luxury Suites offers its own unique set of luxury amenities. Moreover, an unforgettable dining experience awaits guests at the Esperisma bar-restaurant, where guests can find Mediterranean and Greek cuisine inspired by the freshest local ingredients, at a place where luxury meets gastronomy.

The post Athina Luxury Suites at the top of the World Travel Awards & World Luxury Hotel Awards first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The luxury hospitality sector has formed a huge part of Ms Pisani’s life. Having grown up around hotels and spent her early years at Corinthia Palace, she received an invaluable education in the quality-of-service guests have come to expect from a Corinthia hotel.

With Corinthia Palace leading the way in five-star amenities and premium customer service in Malta and beyond, Ms Pisani had the opportunity to learn from the best. Travelling with her family in her formative years, she was immersed in the world of hospitality by her father Alfred Pisani, the eminent founder of the Corinthia Group. Mentored by managers of Corinthia hotels, teams, and projects, she discovered her passion for service and hospitality, which has fuelled her successful career to-date.

Ms Pisani had her first taste of on-the-job training in internship positions at Corinthia hotels in a variety of locations, before training at the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, the highly regarded hospitality management school in Switzerland. Having worked in Human Resources for Corinthia London, she went on to work as the Quality and Standards Manager for the Corinthia Group, a role that gave her the opportunity to further develop the Group’s landmark standards and quality approach. Now, having most recently worked as the Hotel Manager for Corinthia Palace, Ms Pisani is eager to announce a series of exciting developments for the property in the New Year.

“I’ve come in as General Manager at a very exciting time,” Ms Pisani shares. “Next year marks the 60^th anniversary of the Corinthia Group – a now-global company that was started right here at Corinthia Palace in 1962 by my father and his brothers. Today I am proud to continue that legacy.”

New developments have already begun, marking a time of change for the luxury hotel. Josephine’s speciality coffee concept recently opened in the hotel lobby, and it has been announced that Michelin-starred Maltese restaurant Bahia will soon make the move from its Lija location to the Corinthia Palace.

“This hotel is a special place. Not only is it a charming retreat, but it’s also unique to Malta. Currently in its history, it’s time for a rebirth. We want Corinthia Palace to be the best in Malta – and the best of Corinthia. I am thrilled to lead this wonderful team on that journey as we continue to celebrate and craft the real magic of Malta.”

For more information on Alexandra Pisani’s appointment or Corinthia Palace, contact us or visit Corinthia.com. You can also follow @corinthiapalace on Instagram.

The post Corinthia Hotels appoints Alexandra Pisani as the new General Manager of the Corinthia Palace first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

He brings an international hospitality experience of 33 years, mainly in luxury properties where he spent 20 years with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and more than 13 years with hotel companies such as Accor, Rotana and other privately owned hotels. He eventually worked in Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE.

Before arriving to Malta, Carlos held the position of General Manager for 4 years at the iconic InterContinental Jordan, a heritage hotel considered as ‘’La Grande Dame of Amman’’ and the largest property in Jordan.
Carlos will provide leadership and strategic planning to both hotels, supporting a service culture, to elevate guest experience. He is looking forward to being the ambassador for the brand and for the hotel.
He speaks four languages, including Arabic, French, Greek and English. He is married for almost 30 years and has three daughters. His wife Lina is an international teacher and is working with the French institute.

Finally Carlos is passionate about music, the Mediterranean, and loves co-piloting airplanes in real flights and flight simulators

The post Cluster General Manager for Intercontinental & Holiday Inn Express Malta appointed first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The hotel, which took an investment of €45 million to set up, will open its doors on Saturday after being granted an operating license by the Malta Tourism Authority.

The certificate to operate as Malta’s first five-start hotel superior was presented by Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli to the hotel’s leadership on Friday during a visit to the Baystreet complex as part of industry meetings before the 2021 Budget.

The hotel has around 150 rooms and employs over 100 workers.  Hyatt International Group has hundreds of renowned hotels around the world, and this hotel in St. Julian’s is one of their newest.

Farrugia Portelli praised the investment, and the success in turning the Covid-19 pandemic into an opportunity to improve one’s product and offer a higher quality service which fits into the government’s desire to offer sustainable tourism.

She said that the €45 million investment gives faith to the tourism industry and the Maltese economy, and remarked that this investment has already created more than 100 jobs besides other work which was executed by local contractors and their workers.

Albert Galea, the CEO of the Baystreet Group, expressed his satisfaction in the name of the group, and said that he is honoured with the classification granted to the hotel.  He said that the Hyatt brand needs no introduction, and that they are optimistic from the day that the hotel officially opens its doors today.

The be.Hotel, which is also part of the Baystreet Complex, was also visited, with this hotel being upgraded from four-stars to four-star superior, reflected the investment made to improve the hotel during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Group said that they have had an average occupancy of 68% since restrictions related to tourism were relaxed.

The post Watch: First five-star hotel superior in Malta opens its doors first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

DZS  a global provider of fixed and mobile packet, optical transport, and connected premises solutions to leading service providers and enterprises, today announced that it is working with Tektraco Telecom (Tektraco) to transform Malta into a global technology leader with numerous gigabit-ready hotels/facilities and a country-wide, fiber-enabled water monitoring system. With tourism in Malta accounting for over 27 percent of the country’s GDP and visitors and residents alike expecting lightning-fast broadband, extensive Wi-Fi coverage, and top-notch video and voice services, Tektraco and DZS have delivered. The two partners have leveraged the multi-terabit DZS FiberLAN portfolio to deliver world-class fiber-based solutions. Results have been outstanding, allowing Tektraco to win the “2019 SME Company of the Year” at the Malta Best-in-Business awards and positioning the company as a key partner to Malta’s growing hospitality and utility sectors.

“We are at a crossroads in Malta where older coaxial cable and copper lines are not meeting the communications needs of global travelers – paving the way for new future-proof, Gigabit-ready GPON and FiberLAN technologies,” said Ing. Paul Salnitro, Head of Telecoms Division for Tektraco. “DZS has proven to be the partner of choice to assist us in transforming Malta’s aging communications infrastructure – providing a broad portfolio of affordable, gigabit-capable GPON solutions that are easy to maintain, require a low energy and space footprint, and are capable to expand to 10 gigabit services in the future as needs continue to grow.”

A favorite in utility and hospitality sectors of Malta, the DZS FiberLAN portfolio is recognized for its high performance and efficiency when deployed in a variety of demanding environments. In 2017, Tektraco and DZS built Malta’s first enterprise GPON network at the Mellieha Holiday Centre before working with a number of top hoteliers in the region, including The Palace and The Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa. DZS and Tektraco are also working together to support a country-wide smart irrigation/agriculture system that utilizes FiberLAN to monitor and manage water usage for farmers and other commercial uses across the country.

“Tektraco and DZS came to us with a unique value proposition that offered an advanced networking infrastructure, and the technical expertise to ensure that we meet the needs of our international guests today and into the future,” said Hamdi Aburab, CEO at the Mellieha Holiday Center. “We were impressed that the technology could handle longer distances between bungalows, with smaller space and energy footprints than competitive solutions, at a lower cost. Tektraco has also provided excellent service and has been a long-term partner for our business.”

State-of-the-art DZS FiberLAN solutions are filling in a key gap in the fiber revolution around the world. An ideal solution for enterprise networks, FiberLAN delivers significant cost equipment savings, improved network performance, increased productivity and improved security. The platform is designed around a dual star design with redundant ultra high-speed links to each subscriber line card slot for future-proof support of today’s and tomorrow’s bandwidth-hungry fiber-based subscriber services, including triple play and 10 gig business services.

“As travelers from around the world grow accustomed to being hyper-connected wherever they go, we are pleased to work with our elite partner Tektraco to bring a world-class infrastructure to the island of Malta that future-proofs their key industries and allows them to both compete and stand-out at a global scale,” said Kai Uebach, Executive Vice President for DZS EMEA. “Malta can be a particularly difficult terrain to transform given centuries’ old buildings, weather-worn infrastructure and its isolated position in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s exciting to realize that both DZS and Tektraco are still in the early stages of fiber proliferation across Malta and the Mediterranean region, and that these two companies and their FiberLAN solution will have a key role in transforming Malta for a gigabit-ready future.”

About Tektraco Telecom

With over 30 years’ experience, Tektraco Telecom is a leading systems integrator and equipment provider serving Libya and Malta. Tektraco is the brainchild of three veteran electrical engineers with telecoms industry experience, who together with another two entrepreneurs, set it up in 1990. The company currently specializes in GPON, Test & Measurement and Hospitality projects. For more information, visit https://www.tektracotelecoms.com/

About DZS

DZS Inc. (NSDQ: DZSI) is a global provider of fixed and mobile packet, optical transport, and connected premises solutions to leading service providers and enterprises. A pioneer in disaggregated platforms, SDN, and virtualiza-tion, our customers look to DZS for the innovation that leads to future-proof networks and outstanding perfor-mance. Over 1,200 service providers, operators, and enterprises in over 120 countries have leveraged DZS innova-tion, open solutions, and agility to arm them with the network resources and deployment freedom they need to lead in their markets and deliver an unrivaled communications experience. With manufacturing, engineering, service and support centers of excellence spread across the globe, DZS is positioned to bring next-generation technologies and world-class solutions to service providers and enterprises who are poised to transform, compete and win. For further information see: www.DZSI.com.

The post DZS and Tektraco Transform Malta with Hyper-Connected, Gigabit-Ready Projects first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to manage such a landmark hotel on the island as well as the talented team that makes it so exceptional. Following just a few days of my arrival in Malta, some critical decisions had to be taken rapidly – namely; the decision for our hotel to remain partially open and honour our long terms guests throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, thus rapidly placing hygiene measures in place to guarantee the highest level of safety for our Guests and Team Members. It has not been easy, but during the last few weeks we have learned how to maintain social distancing while maintaining the warmth of hospitality. A communication tool was set up to maintain close contact with our Team Members, who suddenly, found themselves displaced from their place of work. ‘We’ll come back stronger’ became our internal slogan, firstly starting off as an internal campaign  compiling over 70 projects aimed at helping us continue developing our product and service.

This slogan also became a source of hope and positivity for our Team. The idea was to use the opportunity of this special period to keep our team connected and develop new ideas for the future. It takes many years to build a winning team, keeping & continue developing the talent, will make the difference in the years to come.  As from today, we have added to our accommodation proposal, part of our food & beverage offering as well as our outdoor pool, following an extensive safety and certification process. We have introduced all-encompassing safety measures which start with a guest’s arrival at the hotel and right through their entire stay, by using the experience from these past months. This, we believe, is the right balance between re-welcoming tourists to Malta, the safety of the population and sustaining our economy.” said Mr Richard Cuello, General Manager of Hilton Malta.

The post Hilton Malta’s recently appointed General Manager on getting through unforeseen circumstances first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.