Last year, Malta welcomed the annual conference of Swedish cosmetics firm Oriflame, hosting 5,000 delegates in 13 four- and five-star hotels. The event is estimated to have generated some €8 million, and that a Mediterranean island of 316 sq km can attract a gathering of that size says a lot about its status as a meetings destination.
“Being English-speaking is a crucial selling point,” says Alex Incorvaja, director for the UK and Ireland at the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). “When conference organisers are looking for a cost-effective and convenient solution, being three hours from London is an advantage. Other plus points are the weather, the island’s attractions and being small – it is easy to get from A to B. We also have 7,000 years of history tied into modern infrastructure in facilities such as hotels, the convention centre and IT.”
Malta has more than 2,000 five-star hotel rooms within walking distance of one other, and most of the properties’ meeting rooms have natural light. There are also numerous interesting venues, a supply that is ever-evolving thanks to the support the government gives to business tourism, allowing just about any public space to be used for events.
Water sports, sailing, Turkish gulet cruises and other sea-going options are great for incentives, although it’s worth noting that this writer’s trip in early July fell foul of a force six wind that prevented even a short trip across the harbour from the Corinthia St George’s Bay to the Hilton for dinner, and put paid to a visit to the sister island of Comino.
Unrest in Libya, 350km south of Malta, has not affected the island’s equanimity. “When conflict broke out, some decision-makers were concerned about Malta’s proximity but this was mostly down to misinformation,” says Nadine Brincat, marketing manager for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) at the MTA. “Malta was used as a hub to evacuate 15,000 workers, who went home on civilian planes, and it went smoothly. For a couple of days the airport was very busy but no scheduled flights were cancelled.”
Brincat adds that the MTA is also on hand to offer logistical advice and help event planners get in touch with local suppliers.
Go to visitmalta.com/miceuk
Mediterranean Conference Centre
Housed in the converted 16th-century Knights’ Hospital in the capital, Valletta, is the MCC. Two former wards are now large halls – the Sacra Infermeria, which holds 1,500 delegates for a banquet or 2,500 standing, and La Vallette (900 banquet, 1,500 standing). These are complemented by a 1,400-capacity auditorium, plus a number of other rooms. Because of the variety of spaces, it lends itself well to a major event with breakout sessions or teambuilding activities, but it is also a superb venue for a gala dinner – its long halls are impressive even before they are dressed for the occasion.
- Valletta; tel +356 2559 5215; mcc.com.mt
Malta Fairs and Convention Centre
A huge marquee on a disused military airport in the centre of the island, the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre has three moveable steel arches, which bear 35 tonnes each, to provide a stable anchor for lights and other equipment. Its isolated position makes it suitable for occasions where organisers want to remove groups from all distractions. It seats 10,000 people theatre-style or 4,000 for dinner, and the Malta Tourism Authority’s Nadine Brincat says work will start “within a year” on an identical permanent structure that will replace the tent.
- National Stadium, Ta’ Qali; tel +356 2141 0371/2; mfcc.com.mt
Montekristo Estates
This venue opened three years ago in the countryside, surrounded by its own vineyards, and is only five minutes from the airport. It provides modern underground facilities in a traditional-style building, constructed from old stone. Spaces include a 580-capacity arena and the Renaissance Hall, for 5,000 delegates standing – it has a tiled mosaic floor, three bars and technology allowing the speakers to be turned off except in the central dance area, allowing non-dancers to talk. Old wine cellars provide further event space, for 500 people seated, and a courtyard has a raised stage for dinners and receptions. The venue is also planning to develop further conference space.
- Hal Farrug Road, I/o Siggiewi; tel +356 2203 3000; mkleisure.com
Palazzo Parisio and Gardens
In the village of Naxxar, in the north of the island, is Malta’s own Château de Versailles, with well-tended gardens perfect for pre-dinner drinks (for 1,000 people) or dinner (for 400). Indoors are various rooms that could be used for dinner, lunch, a concert or drinks. The ballroom’s opulent rococo decorations might make for a rather distracting meeting venue (it holds 150 delegates theatre-style) but it works well for a gala dinner (for 120). For smaller groups, Sala Lombarda displays Italian elegance – again, it’s better for dinner or a reception (for 60 or 100 respectively) but is also available for meetings. The Pompeian dining room seats 24 guests at a long, elegant table, while grotesques, putti and trompe l’oeil views add interest.
- Victory Square, Naxxar; tel +356 2141 2461; palazzoparisio.com
Hilton Malta
The 404-room Hilton, located on St Julian’s Bay, has the one of the largest purpose-built conference facilities on the island – the Portomaso suite holds 506 delegates theatre-style – and the meeting spaces are accessible directly from the hotel. Its 21 complementary spaces range in capacity from 20 to 260 people. In the hotel, Classic rooms were refurbished last year to be more eco-friendly standards and are spacious, with sea views. The Blue Elephant Thai restaurant is well suited to groups, with excellent service (if not the obvious choice for a taste of Malta), and is one of five restaurants, two of which are outdoors.
- Portomaso, St Julian’s; tel +356 2138 3383; hilton.com
Westin Dragonara Resort
Also on St Julian’s Bay, the 340-room Westin was refurbished last year. It is modern and light with a great feeling of space, three restaurants – two with outdoor dining – two bars and a club lounge. In addition to a good variety of meeting spaces adjacent to the main lobby – the largest of which holds 600 guests theatre-style – the hotel seats 1,000 by the large pool.
- Dragonara Road, St Julian’s; tel +356 2138 1000; westindragonaramalta.com
Corinthia St George’s Bay
The 180-room Corinthia also has ground-floor meeting facilities, including a 550-capacity plenary room and three venues for up to 155. The hotel is on a hill and the gardens and outdoor pools are built on terraces sloping towards the bay. A roof terrace with a barbecue is great for group dining. There is an indoor pool, spa and eateries ranging from a speciality grill to Café 24.
- St George’s Bay, St Julian’s; tel +356 2137 4114; corinthia.com
Grand Hotel Excelsior
Designed for the corporate and MICE markets, the 239-room Excelsior opened in Floriana, just outside Valletta and close to the MCC, three years ago. Meeting space comprises ten rooms (the largest holds 560 delegates theatre-style) and restaurants can be made available to groups of 150 or more for exclusive use. Some 1,200 sqm of exhibition space was added in 2009, and there is a spacious spa.
- Great Siege Road, Floriana; tel +356 2125 0520; excelsior.com.mt
Five activity ideas
- A treasure hunt with clues and a map takes delegates around Valletta and encourages them to interact with locals and take photographs.
- A day trip to Gozo to see the salt pans, source of Gozo sea salt, the inland sea and to do some off-road driving, before abseiling down the rocks at Dwerja.
- Divide delegates into three groups and with the help of a chef, each prepares one course of a meal before everyone sits down to enjoy it.
- Anything concerning the Knights of Malta, whose presence pervades the island, including investiture ceremonies and events themed around secrecy.
- Pirates of the Mediterranean, where delegates divided between two gulets attack each other’s boats with water-filled, biodegradable balloons.
Luxury on a budget
Suzanne Macdonald-Buchanan, managing director of UK events organiser NICE, took a group of 45 people to Malta last year and the style of the incentive, matched to the cost – €45,000 – proves you can plan a trip in regal style on a Blackpool budget.
“On the second day, we went to Gozo on speed boats and did a treasure hunt,” she says. “We ate at Ta’ Frenc [tafrencrestaurant.com], which is fantastic, and one of Malta’s artists exhibits there. You can buy a perfectly good bottle of wine for €12 and if you put that into the budget, it goes further.
“We did a mini tour of Mdina by horse and carriage, which hold four people and cost €40 to hire. It’s a bit of a squash but it’s fun. We ate at Xara [a Relais and Châteaux property in Mdina, xarapalace.com.mt], where we had a simple salad and some nice wine for €30 a head.”
The group’s gala dinner at Palazzo Parisio exceeded expectations, but the “wow” factor started outside the door of the Phoenicia Hotel Malta (phoeniciamalta.com), where they stayed. “There is a big selection of vintage cars on Malta and we had them waiting outside – when the group came out, they gasped.”
She adds: “Palazzo Parisio cost us b2,500 to hire and that included furniture and standard dressing of the furniture. The menus were from b60, including canapés. Imagine doing something like that anywhere else in Europe in a property like that?”50.
Venue news
Palazzo Parisio plans to open a boutique hotel in the neighbouring stately home and convert the conservatory in the garden to a tea room. In May, Xara Palace (see overleaf) took over the Palazzo de Piro, a restored 17th-century building in Mdina, adjacent to the cathedral. Five interconnected rooms seat between 20 and 50 people, and a courtyard holds 40 for dinner. Xara is also building Xara Lodge, an events facility in Rabat, just outside Mdina, which opens in May with meeting rooms and outdoor spaces for between 20 and 7
