The webinar will follow up on the theme of the first session and will elaborate on machine learning specifically focusing on anti-money laundering (AML).

Mr Vella is a lecturer within the Department of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Malta, mainly responsible for the MSc AI-fintech stream. His main areas revolve primarily around AI, machine learning and computational finance.

The members of the bitpod’s founding are George Mangion, Senior Partner at PKF Malta and Marilyn Formosa, Head of Legal at the firm.

“These webinars are an offshoot of our home-grown bitpod concept, launched earlier this year, which is a quasi-lab that contributes to the Maltese startup ecosystem by offering a readily available space to startups, and holding informal meet-up sessions for industry, startups and investors,” said Ms Formosa. 

“We have received great feedback on our first six sessions as well as several suggestions on topics to cover in our future bitpod webinars. Our last session in July was the first featuring a Malta-based crypto operator where we welcomed Adrian Kreter, co-founder of Instacoins, a Bitcoin brokerage firm that is minded to apply for a license under the new VFA Act,” Ms Formosa added.

The post PKF Malta to hold 7th bitpod webinar session first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

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.