NEWS / REGIONAL
Middle East eyes Maltese delights
Malta’s GDP will be bolstered by Middle East business travel in future. While leisure travel to the tiny Mediterranean island is the top generator of tourism euros – accounting for EUR1.1 billion in 2012 – business travel spending is growing. Figures from the WTTC
predict a two percent annual growth from EUR111 million last year to EUR135 million within a decade. Malta’s Mediterranean
Conference Centre (MCC) is one of the most impressive conference centres in Europe, with imposing architecture and a fascinating history. One of the first buildings in Valetta, Malta’s capital, the venue over- looks the Grand Harbour, and is perhaps the linchpin in the island’s MICE offering. The centre’s sales and mar-
keting head, Rosette Micallef, said the MCC enjoyed great success last year, but is increas- ingly eyeing the Middle East markets for business. “We have a great deal to offer
in terms of unique facilities, cost effective meeting space, a temperate climate and excellent infrastructure,” she said. The MCC plans to target
trade fairs, fam trips and other avenues to reach out to the Gulf’s MICE sector. “We have identified great potential in the Middle East,” she said.
Republic Hall This potential is reflected in
the figures – the meetings and incentives sector has seen year- on-year growth of around 22 percent since 2009. Emirates, Egypt Air, Tunis Air and Libyan Airlines use Malta International Airport, while more recently, Air Malta strengthened its offering after inking a code sharing agree- ment with Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways. Built in the 16th Century, for
more than two centuries the Mediterranean Conference Centre was the ‘Sacra Infermeria’, or Holy Infirmary, of the Order of St. John. After restoration in 1979, and conver- sion into a modern conference
MEA hotel update
There are 480 hotels totalling 118,023 rooms in the pipeline in the Middle East and Africa, according to the STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released in January 2013. The data, which only
covers projects that are cur- rently in construction, or in the planning stages, also revealed that Oman has the largest expected supply growth (+63.9 percent) if all 4,613
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rooms in the country’s total active pipeline go on to open. Five other countries are
expecting room growth of more than 30 percent, includ- ing Saudi Arabia (+53.2 percent with 27,783); Algeria (43.9 per- cent with 1,887 rooms); Qatar (+39.6 percent to 6,205 rooms); United Arab Emirates (+33.6 percent with 31,827 rooms); and Kuwait (+33.5 percent to 2,069 rooms).
centre, the site won the coveted ‘Europa Nostra’ Award for its ‘superb restoration’ and tasteful blending of ancient and mod- ern. The Centre can accommo- date more than 2,300 delegates, with ten halls and nine syndicate rooms covering 7,000 square metres. The halls vary in size, so are suitable for a range of events. The largest and most impressive - Republic Hall - seats 1,400 peo- ple in theatre style. The smallest, La Cassiere, caters for 60 people. The imposing Republic Hall has been constructed in place of what once was the main courtyard of the ‘Sacra Infermeria’. Its covered 728 square metre space is Malta’s largest auditorium. With a
Room with a view
The world's tallest hotel – the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, is now open. The 355 metre tower took the title from its neigh- bour, the 333m Rose Rayhaan by Rotana Hotel. The hotel, owned by the
Emirates Group, spans 72 storeys and occupies two towers, and only the first is open. The second is expected to open next year.
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
seating capacity of 1,400, this elegant theatre-style hall is the largest in the conference centre. The 155 metre long Sacra
Infermeria Hall – one of the longest in Europe - is the cen- tre’s main exhibition hall. This magnificent hall is also regu- larly used for banquets, accom- modating up to 1,500 seated guests; more than 2,500 for standing cocktail receptions. It covers a total area of 1,700 square metres. La Valette banqueting hall, with a unique vaulted ceiling, seats 900. Restored frescos adorn the walls; while coat-of- arms of the Knights of Malta set the scene for formal din- ners and elegant banquets.
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