The meeting was the first outside of the United Kingdom and it happened as a result of Conventions Malta’s professional relationship with the HBAA.

HBAA is the trade association for the hotel booking agency, apartment and venue community and has more than 300 member organisations including over 80 agency and 225 venue members who work collaboratively in the accommodation, meetings and events sector.

Therefore, directors and managers participated in order to share insights on issues that agencies are facing in the industry. A number of talks and panels were held during the event.

The HBAA also held a session for the local trade, where Angie Mason, Chair of the association and Juliet Price, Consultant Executive Director, talked about meeting spends and trends and the agency market place in the United Kingdom. Peter Vella, Director for Malta Tourism Authority United Kingdom and Ireland introduced all the speakers. 

The guests had the opportunity to visit numerous cultural spots and MICE venues of Malta. 

In addition, private dinners were included in some of the locations, such as the Courtyard of Vilhena Palace in Mdina and a cultural tour of Valletta. The agents also participated in a Rolling Geek tour of the Three Cities followed by a typical meal from the 18^th century served at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu, as the press release says.

“I thought our hosts were superb, they went out of their way in their own time to look after us and made sure we saw as much as possible that Malta has to offer for our clients. I will definitely return and hopefully we will have business to place there in the future,” said Sian Sayward from Inntel, Chair of the HBAA Membership Committee.

“Malta is a fabulous value for money Mediterranean destination and flight/airport plans will be a tremendous help to sell as a destination,” commented Jo Egan from, Hotel Desk.

The post Malta hosts 1st international HBAA Agency Engagement Retreat first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Code of Police Laws stipulates that it is not lawful to exercise masonry without a licence, which requires to give assurance to the architect in charge of the project and confirms that such a person is qualified to carry out such operations as having received the appropriate training.

“If any mason, through unskilfulness, imprudence or carelessness, shall, in the construction of any work entrusted to him, and appertaining to his trade, cause any injury to any person or property, it shall be lawful for the Court of Magistrates to interdict such mason from the exercise of his trade for any time to be stated in the sentence, ordering, at the same time, the withdrawal of the licence,” The Code of Police states, according to the Kamra press release. Therefore, the responsibilities arising out of the code are clear and no lesser legal instrument can be used to infer otherwise, the association says.

In addition, the publication of the list is welcome and it is expected that the BRO will not permit works to continue on any site where masons are found not to be on the list, the Kamra underscores.

Moreover, the Civil Code places the onus for the structural integrity jointly on the architect and the contractor. The Building Regulation Act also places the obligation on the BRO to issue licences and registration of masons, fire consultants, other consultants in the building industry, building contractors and tradespeople, the press statement says, the Kamra reminds.

The Kamra tal-Periti held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Friday, June 21, to discuss the state of the Maltese construction industry, after the review of the Avoidance of Damage to Third Party Property Regulations draft and the interruption of all demolition and excavation activities on 13 June 2019. The Kamra says this very EGM was the largest in the history of its existence. This meeting was attended by approximately 400 architects, declaring the urgent intervention of the government in order to collaborate with the Kamra and to ensure the safety of people as a first priority.

In fact, after the EGM and following discussions, the Kamra tal-Periti reiterates its willingness to support the Maltese government in setting up systems for the registration and licensing of contractors in accordance with the BRO’s obligations as set out in the Building Regulation Act, according to the press release.

The post Kamra tal-Periti applauds public list of masons first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.