Le Meridien’s Agreement on Second Hotel In Malta
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts has announced an agreement with Bajja Investments, Ltd. to manage a new 282-bedroom five-star hotel in Balluta Bay, Malta, which will open in Summer 2004. Le Méridien St. Julians is being built on the grounds of the historic Villa Cassar Torregiani, in the heart of the beautiful St Julians promenade on the waterfront of Balluta Bay. The villa, built in the late 1800’s, is also undergoing refurbishment to provide five suites decorated in Le Méridien’s signature Art + Tech design concept, each with magnificent outdoor terraces or balconies overlooking the bay.
The main hotel, being built adjacent to the villa, will feature a stunning façade of balconies and terraces for all rooms, drawing from the distinctive architecture of the surrounding area.
All of the hotel rooms will have sea views or country views of the valley behind. The large (36-40 sq metres/370-430 sq feet) interiors will feature en-suite bathroom facilities including bath, power shower cubicles and separate WC.
In addition to the five Art + Tech villa suites, there will be a further 11 Art + Tech rooms in the hotel featuring flat screen plasma TVs with laptop connectivity, original Maltese artwork and glass walled bathrooms with shower and steam cubicles.
Le Méridien St. Julians will have a conference centre with 1,600 sq metres /17,000 sq feet of meeting and exhibition space, accommodating eight to 315 delegates. The conference centre will offer 15 meeting rooms including a 130-fixed seater amphitheatre with space for individual desks. A fully equipped business centre off the hotel lobby will include private IT booths for individual client meetings.
ADVERTISEMENT
A contemporary Mediterranean brasserie with a menu created by Two-Star Michelin chef, Michel Rostang will offer contemporary cuisine featuring Italian, Greek, Spanish, Moroccan, Lebanese, Provençal and Maltese flavours, with a distinctive French flair.
Rostang is also developing a simple menu for the hotel’s Champagne Lounge, which will have stunning sea views from the lobby, three floors above street level. Guests will be able to drink or dine in a sophisticated indoor atmosphere or on outdoor terraces overlooking Balluta Bay.
Guests staying at the Villa will enjoy exclusive, residents-only dining on the terrace café, with a special menu created by Rostang based on individual dining requirements. Rostang will also develop the menu for the hotel’s top floor pool deck bar and restaurant.
Le Méridien St Julians’ atrium style leisure and spa centre will feature pools, steam and sauna rooms, gymnasium, exercise studio, squash court and beauty treatment rooms.
Malcolm Ross, Le Méridien’s regional managing director - Europe, commented: “This hotel is ideally located on the waterfront of St. Julians promenade, within minutes from all the major attractions of Sliema and Spinola Bay. Le Méridien St. Julians will offer guests an excellent alternative to the St. George’s Bay hotels.”
Vincent Camilleri and Charles Polidano, directors of Bajja Investments Ltd., added: “We are extremely proud of this development, and as owners, very focused on bringing a high level of quality to this famous Maltese landmark. We are delighted that we have secured the services of Le Méridien whose well-known reputation for high standards of service and track record of performance will deliver this quality in serving the hotel’s high-end clientele.”
Other facilities at Le Méridien St. Julians will include retail shops; children’s play area and two floors of underground parking for 170 cars.
Le Méridien currently owns and manages the landmark Le Méridien Phoenicia, located outside Malta’s ancient city of Valetta. The addition of the new hotel will bring Le Méridien’s total number of rooms in Malta to 418.
——-