Magical Malta
At the end of March, I was invited on a FAM trip to Malta by DMC Advantage/Alpine Sterling to witness the island’s growing offering of events venues and hospitality locations.
Malta is one of the world’s smallest and most densely populated countries, with a population of over 475,000; smaller than Edinburgh but bigger than Cardiff. An archipelago of islands consisting of Malta, Gozo and Comino, Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea, about 58 miles south of the island of Sicily and 55 miles east of Tunisia and North Africa.
Getting to Malta is simple, and we landed around late afternoon after a three-hour flight from London. A 20-minute car journey later and we arrived at our base for the duration of our stay, the fabulous five-star InterContinental St. Julian’s in St. George’s Bay.
"Palazzo Parisio is a real architectural gem, with beautiful gardens complete with a pond of turtles”
Set in the exclusive beachside resort of St. George’s Bay, the InterContinental is just 7km from Malta’s capital, Valletta. The hotel enjoys the best of both worlds; a wonderful waterfront location complete with private beach as well as being just a stone’s throw away from some of the best shopping and entertainment on the island.
The hotel itself has over 480 bedrooms, from classic rooms through to suites. A range of event spaces can host everything from intimate events to receptions for up to 1,700 people, making it one of Malta’s largest hotels.
After dropping off our bags, we enjoyed a site visit and welcome drinks at the Palazzo Parisio, a stunning stately home built in the 18th Century by Portuguese grandmaster, Manoel de Vilhena. Now owned by the Scicluna family, the Palazzo is a real architectural gem and with beautiful gardens, complete with a pond of turtles, it really does have the wow factor! The venue and gardens can be hired out for events of any size, be it a corporate event, dinner party or fashion show.
Keen to show us the variety of transport on offer in Malta, we were then whisked away for dinner by the team at DMC Advantage in a Hummer limousine. Our destination was the fabulous 19th Century The Villa, one of the oldest structures in the Baulluta area and which enjoys unparalleled views over Balluta Bay.
The Villa offers two dining options: Taro at The Villa, which provides a relaxed, dining experience with Mediterranean inspired menus and Nori at The Villa, with its delicious array of Asian street-food. As well as gorgeous interiors, The Villa also has two spacious terraces, making it a lovely location for events.
The hotel itself has over 480 bedrooms, from classic rooms through to suites. A range of event spaces can host everything from intimate events to receptions for up to 1,700 people, making it one of Malta’s largest hotels.
After dropping off our bags, we enjoyed a site visit and welcome drinks at the Palazzo Parisio, a stunning stately home built in the 18th Century by Portuguese grandmaster, Manoel de Vilhena. Now owned by the Scicluna family, the Palazzo is a real architectural gem and with beautiful gardens, complete with a pond of turtles, it really does have the wow factor! The venue and gardens can be hired out for events of any size, be it a corporate event, dinner party or fashion show.
Keen to show us the variety of transport on offer in Malta, we were then whisked away for dinner by the team at DMC Advantage in a Hummer limousine. Our destination was the fabulous 19th Century The Villa, one of the oldest structures in the Baulluta area and which enjoys unparalleled views over Balluta Bay.
The Villa offers two dining options: Taro at The Villa, which provides a relaxed, dining experience with Mediterranean inspired menus and Nori at The Villa, with its delicious array of Asian street-food. As well as gorgeous interiors, The Villa also has two spacious terraces, making it a lovely location for events.
The next day, we sampled a unique way of exploring the island with a Tuk-Tuk iPad challenge, a treasure hunt across the island. A great team-building experience, the challenge certainly brings out your competitive side. The tuk-tuks are a brilliant way to really experience Malta and can carry a maximum of six passengers. With Malta being so small, you can cover the whole island in just a few hours, making this a great way for groups to get to know it in a more personal, yet exciting way.
After winning the tuk-tuk challenge (yes, our team absolutely smashed the challenge by 100 points), we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the Bacchus Restaurant in Mdina. The restaurant dates back to Roman times and still retains a lot of its character, making it a perfect venue for small groups looking to relax and enjoy a delicious meal after a few hours exploring Mdina.
After lunch we headed outside, where we were pleasantly surprised to see our transfer vehicles parked up, six vintage cars to take us to Valletta, Malta’s capital city.
Valletta is the smallest of all Europe’s capitals and a World Heritage City and over the course of the afternoon, it becomes clear why. A fortress city, which rises steeply from two deep harbours, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, there are fortified ruins, imposing battle-scarred city walls and incredible architecture everywhere. It’s like walking around an open-air museum! Dotted with quaint cafes, wine bars and shops, the city is one of Malta’s main tourist attractions.
After some free time to explore the city, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at The Paranga. One of the InterContinental Hotel’s restaurants, The Paranga has a relaxed vibe. The restaurant has a retractable roof and walls, so in the spring/summer, it’s the perfect venue for hosting welcome drinks, summer parties or BBQ’s. Sitting on an open-air waterside deck, it’s a fabulous place to sip a crisp glass of wine whilst dining on Sicilian-inspired food. It was undoubtedly one of the best meals of the trip.
On our final day in Malta, we were taken on a short cruise in 180-capacity motorboat, Fernandes II, into and around Valletta harbour. After a late night out in St. Julian’s, this was the perfect activity to relax and soak up more of Malta’s culture and vibes.
After winning the tuk-tuk challenge (yes, our team absolutely smashed the challenge by 100 points), we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the Bacchus Restaurant in Mdina. The restaurant dates back to Roman times and still retains a lot of its character, making it a perfect venue for small groups looking to relax and enjoy a delicious meal after a few hours exploring Mdina.
After lunch we headed outside, where we were pleasantly surprised to see our transfer vehicles parked up, six vintage cars to take us to Valletta, Malta’s capital city.
Valletta is the smallest of all Europe’s capitals and a World Heritage City and over the course of the afternoon, it becomes clear why. A fortress city, which rises steeply from two deep harbours, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, there are fortified ruins, imposing battle-scarred city walls and incredible architecture everywhere. It’s like walking around an open-air museum! Dotted with quaint cafes, wine bars and shops, the city is one of Malta’s main tourist attractions.
After some free time to explore the city, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at The Paranga. One of the InterContinental Hotel’s restaurants, The Paranga has a relaxed vibe. The restaurant has a retractable roof and walls, so in the spring/summer, it’s the perfect venue for hosting welcome drinks, summer parties or BBQ’s. Sitting on an open-air waterside deck, it’s a fabulous place to sip a crisp glass of wine whilst dining on Sicilian-inspired food. It was undoubtedly one of the best meals of the trip.
On our final day in Malta, we were taken on a short cruise in 180-capacity motorboat, Fernandes II, into and around Valletta harbour. After a late night out in St. Julian’s, this was the perfect activity to relax and soak up more of Malta’s culture and vibes.
“Turkish-style Gullet boats can be chartered for a full day and are a great way to visit the neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino”
The beautiful Turkish-style Gullet boats can be chartered for a full day and are a great way to visit the neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino, to enjoy harbour cruises like ours, or for evening sunset cruises, which I can imagine would be very romantic. With an open bar serving wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks, as well as onboard catering, the charter can be tailor-made to your unique specifications.
After the relaxing cruise, we had a few hours before our flight home. We spent this time at the Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens in the traditional Maltese village of Siggiewi. A family-run and award-winning tourist attraction, the Park provides a great way to explore the island’s eclectic history. As we headed to the Waterfall Gardens for lunch, we were really struck by how outstandingly breath-taking this venue is. Set in landscaped grounds, with indigenous bay laurel and olive trees and next to a waterfall, Limestone Heritage is a unique location for a lunch, dinner, banquet or conference. From our table, we could even see the next-door neighbour’s pair of pet cats… which are actually lions!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Malta. With its consistently warm climate, good flight connections from most European cities and wide selection of event venues and activities, I would certainly recommend Malta as a destination for all manner of events.
If you would like more information about hosting your next meeting, conference or exhibition in Malta, then make sure to contact us here at Zanna Events!
After the relaxing cruise, we had a few hours before our flight home. We spent this time at the Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens in the traditional Maltese village of Siggiewi. A family-run and award-winning tourist attraction, the Park provides a great way to explore the island’s eclectic history. As we headed to the Waterfall Gardens for lunch, we were really struck by how outstandingly breath-taking this venue is. Set in landscaped grounds, with indigenous bay laurel and olive trees and next to a waterfall, Limestone Heritage is a unique location for a lunch, dinner, banquet or conference. From our table, we could even see the next-door neighbour’s pair of pet cats… which are actually lions!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Malta. With its consistently warm climate, good flight connections from most European cities and wide selection of event venues and activities, I would certainly recommend Malta as a destination for all manner of events.
If you would like more information about hosting your next meeting, conference or exhibition in Malta, then make sure to contact us here at Zanna Events!