Hotel and holiday bookings have been in decline on the Mediterranean island of Malta, but the hope is that 2007 will see new life breathed into her hotel and holidays industry.

The Malta hotels and holiday industry are major players in the island’s economy, and with unemployment already high, a further drop in the number of visitors next year could have a negative impact not just in tourism but for Malta as a whole.

Throughout the year the monthly statistics for the number of tourists visiting Malta have made depressing reading for the Malta hotels, and the next twelve months will be pivotal as to whether the island can stay in the mainstream of holiday destinations, or be relegated to niche travel status.

The island was rife with rumours earlier in the year that a UK tour operator was going to withdraw the island from their 2007 brochures, and a survey in the island’s biggest market showed that Malta would be more expensive for British tourists than the Canary and Balearic Islands for equivalent holidays next year.

But more recent news has brought hope to the holidays in Malta market that 2007 will see an arrest in the decline of visitor numbers seen this year, with MyTravel surprising the holidays in Malta market by announcing an increase in the number of winter visitors it will be taking from the UK to Malta.

But the most positive news has come from low cost carrier RyanAir, who have started cheap flights to Malta from London and Dublin.

Between announcing the Dublin and London routes and the maiden flight to Malta, Ryanair sold 30,000 tickets. And the new competition has spurred Air Malta, the island’s national airline, to make offers of its own. A successful campaign saw two tickets a minute being sold recently.

‘This is all good news,’ say Malta hotels and holidays guide http://www.yourmalta.com, ‘Earlier in the year it looked like there was only one way that the visitor figures for Malta were going for the future, and that was in a continuing downward spiral.’

At one stage earlier in the year there were real doubts cast upon whether the Malta Government would approve the new low cost flights at all. Air Malta is a major employer and some in the tourist sector felt that too much of a protectionist attitude was being taken at the expense of a possible upswing in new visitors.

‘Unfortunately,’ continue YourMalta, ‘The Malta Tourist Authority and The Malta government seem to to make life as difficult as possible for the island’s hotel owners and those involved in the holiday industry. A privately run company like Ryanair will achieve more and bring more money on to the island than the Tourist Authority can ever dream of. And Ryanair will probably make a profit out of it while the Tourist Authority is using taxpayers money. We’re just waiting for the first set of figures where tourism has risen, and for the Malta Tourist Authority to claim part or all of the credit. In reality if tourist figures do rise it’s despite the Tourist Authority, and not because of it’.

Holidays in Malta

Speaking on a visit to Malta recently, Ryanair’s Chief Executive Michael O’Leary declared himself pleased with their new Luton route, and predicted that their Dublin route, due to start operating in February, would be even more successful. He believes that Ryanair could take some 85,000 visitors to the island in 2007.

‘If Ryanair do deliver 85,000 visitors to Malta in 2007 it will stop the perpetual decline in overall tourist numbers,’ say YourMalta, ‘It depends of course on whether a large number will be new visitors or simply those who would have visited Malta anyway. We believe the likelihood is that a good deal of the 85,000 will be new visitors who hadn’t considered a Malta holiday before. With Air Malta fighting back and having successful promotions too there is every reason to feel confident that 2007 will prove to be a good year for Malta tourism. Hopefully it will prove to be a turning point and not a delay in the downward spiral of the last few years’.

The real estate industry in Malta also produces a good deal of inward investment for the Malta economy, and increased visitor numbers often correlate to an increase in Malta property prices.

According to Tribune Properties, a UK based company who specialise in Malta property for sale, property inflation could be in double digits next year.

‘Malta property buyers from overseas start as tourists, and with new tourists arriving next year in increased numbers we do expect this to have some impact on the market overall. The weather in Malta is always a plus point when potential buyers are considering where to buy a holiday home. But ease of access is a critical factor, and with the new flights at reduced prices it makes spending a few long weekends on Malta as well as the traditional week and fortnight holiday a realistic possibility for more people.’

Travel guide YourMalta do offer a cautionary note, urging the Malta authorities to invest in better roads and other infrastructure.

‘It’s important that holidaymakers want to return to the island in future years, and not just visit once – never to look at a holiday brochure and a map of Malta with good memories and return. The Malta hotels are on a par with the rest of Europe, but if they step outside to dangerous pavements, unclean beaches and a timeshare tout around every corner ready with a high pressure sales pitch they won’t return. Hopefully the Malta Tourist Authority will be doing as much as they can ensure a pleasant Malta holiday experience’. YourMalta.com offer details of flight times to Malta and cheap flight to Malta information.swarovski crystals

The Hotel Majestic has been awarded the Grand Luxe category, thereby placing it among the elite of the maximum luxury hotels of Barcelona.
Located at 68 Paseo de Gracia, this hotel has received this recognition as it meets all the standards laid down by the General Board of Tourism of the Generalitat de Catalunya in order to become a five stars GL hotel.
The ongoing training of its personnel, its comprehensive hospitality and the comfort offered, together with the spaciousness of its installations and the magnificent quality of its entire hotel services have been some of the factors taken into account.

Its modern installations, its advanced technology and the Michelin guide star awarded to its Drolma restaurant (located in the hotel) are other arguments which made the Majestic deserving of the Grand Luxe category. Jean-Louis Dulau, the general director of the Majestic Hotel Group, already achieved the fifth star for the Majestic three years ago and now he is proud of the efforts and work put in by all his team in order to earn the Grand Luxe status.
Coinciding with this change, work has begun on the MAJESTIC SPA, which will soon be opened on the ninth floor of the emblematic building. Recently, and this is something which reaffirms the top quality of this establishment, the Hotel Majestic, owned by the Soldevila family, was distinguished with the award for the Best Hotel and Best Suite in Spain at the prestigious World Travel Awards, as well as being conferred with the 5 Star Diamond Award, which it has been achieving year after year since 2003, and which is a prize that only the best luxury hotels in the world can aspire to.
Epoque Hotels congratulates Hotel Majestic for this great success.

Epoque Hotels is a collection of 300 avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels in over 100 destinations worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, Florida the company also has sales offices in Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain and China. For reservations or more information visit www.EpoqueHotels.com Meditation For Beginners

Epoque Hotels is a collection of 300 avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels in over 100 destinations worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, Florida the company also has sales offices in Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain and China. For reservations or more information visit www.EpoqueHotels.comGesundheit hat ein Zuhause – Praevention

Miami, FL October 1st, 2007 – Epoque Hotels is proud to announce its partnership with the eclectic hotel Dream in Bangkok, Thailand. This trendy hotel is part of a fashionable, fresh line: Avantgarde Hotels. Dream, Bangkok is a sister hotel to one bearing the same name and concept in New York, USA. Both properties allow its guests tranquil, neon-sophisticate experiences in their respecting cities.
Located on the fashionable Sukhumvit Road, this brilliantly designed contemporary hotel encapsulates Bangkok with its 100 rooms. Each room here is like a translation of a dream, all outfitted with the latest in hotel technology, including complimentary WiFi connectivity, huge plasma TVs, iPod player and digital sound, and ethereal lighting—even a glowing, under-bed light. Available amenities are like cherries-on-top to each stay, especially the soft 300 count Egyptian bed linens and comfy bathrobes.
A hospitable staff welcomes Dream’s guests with first-rate service and smiley multilingual staff, who assures any need is fulfilled during stays, from giving tips on what to do and where to be in the city to childcare services. They will even gladly allow, upon request, a mobile phone as a convenience to guests.
Exquisite meals at the hotel’s restaurants, lounge and bars are very ‘Flava’ful. Flava Restaurant and Lounge allows its guests to contemporary Thai cuisine. The divine tastiness even extends to the rooms, with 24 hour room service, and a homemade cookie plate in each room made fresh every afternoon. For cigar connoisseurs, the Pipe Dreams cigar bar features some of finest cigars.
For a unique spa experience, the Dream’s Avatar Spa is an extraordinary setting, where treatments are so exceptional that they are often prolonged. Its gym is even equipped with high quality equipment for the fitness minded, and an indoor pool and sauna to fulfill a vacationing swimmer. Also for those traveling for business or conference matters, two well equipped meeting rooms are available.

About Epoque Hotels:
Epoque Hotels is a collection of worldwide avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels based in over 100 destinations. With its 300 + hotels in its portfolio, divided in two lines: Avantgarde Line and Epoque Classic, it is rapidly establishing itself as the leading reference in the segment of boutique hotels. Headquartered in Miami, the Company has also sales offices in Italy, UK and France.
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