Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1476201
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 AUGUST 2022 14 COMMERCIAL Ibis Styles hotel selects Melita Business as connectivity partner THE first Ibis Styles hotel in Malta has chosen Melita Busi- ness as its connectivity part- ner. Owned by Accor Hotels, the Ibis Styles brand is globally recognised for high quality de- signed economy hotels. The new hotel, located in St Paul's Bay, selected Melita Business due to its portfolio of services which are tailored specifical- ly to the hospitality industry. These include premium fibre internet connectivity, unri- valled uptime, and 24x7 cus- tomer support. Kenneth Terribile, Infra- structure Solutions Sales Manager at Melita Limited, said, "Melita Business is fo- cussed on delivering bespoke services to all its commercial clients including those in the hospitality industry. Thanks to our unrivalled 1000Mbps and 5G nationwide networks, coupled with great techni- cal customer support, Melita Business is ideally placed to cater for the needs of all ho- tels from the boutique to the large resort." Giuseppe Crimi, Hotel Man- ager at Ibis Styles St Paul's Bay, said, "Our mission is to be a happy hotel with happy guests. Achieving this means we need great connectivity both to help us operationally and to provide the services our guests expect. In Melita Busi- ness we have found an ideal connectivity partner. They have created the infrastruc- ture, including connecting us to the global Accor Hotels network, and are providing all the support we need." More information on Melita Business is available at www. melitabusiness.com (From left) Kenneth Terribile, Infrastructure Solutions Sales Manager at Melita Limited, Giuseppe Crimi, Hotel Manager at Ibis Styles St Paul's Bay and Malcolm Briffa, Director of Business Services at Melita Limited HSBC Insurance Malta Ltd has been strengthening its sustainabilit y commitment by expanding the range of envi- ronmental and social govern- ance (ESG) initiatives to meet both its decarbonisation and employee well-being priori- ties. In this framework, HSBC Insurance Malta is leading the Future Skills Working Group within HSBC Malta's Climate Action Network. HSBC Insurance Malta's ESG commitment is focused on three pillars: exploring sustainable investment op- portunities, driving insurance financial inclusivity and es- tablishing sustainable oper- ations. At an HSBC Group level, HSBC Insurance has invested $8.9 million in green bonds and sustainable equity. The Group plans to further in- crease this investment for the benefit of policyholders and shareholders. HSBC Insurance Malta has also been including sustaina- bility product disclosures on how the insurer incorporates ESG factors into its policies and processes, using non-le- gal plain language to improve the customer experience and enable clearer customer un- derstanding. As part of HSBC Malta's ambitions to transi- tion to net-zero operations and reducing paper usage, HSBC Insurance Malta has embarked on a large-scale sys- tem upgrade to support the customer journey by digitising operational process from end- to-end and eliminating paper for record-keeping. Further- more, marketing literature is now making use of QR codes with the aim of reducing paper usage. HSBC Insurance Malta strengthens its sustainability commitment BANK of Valletta has built a long- term partnership with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Associa- tion (MHRA). Through this alli- ance BOV supports MHRA and its members by sharing industry insights, analysing financial in- struments and identifying how they can benefit MHRA's mem- bers and their employees. During the latest Quarterly MHRA Seminar, held on 22nd July 2022, Claire Falzon, Manager Business Generation & Support at Wealth Management Bank of Valletta brought workplace pen- sions to the forefront. Over the past years, the profile of workplace and private pen- sions have increased significant- ly. Through workplace pension schemes, employees have an ad- ditional pension plan to the state pension we are all accustomed to. In practical terms, both work- place and private pensions con- stitute the perfect tool to supple- ment the state pension. Workplace pensions offer im- portant benefits to both employ- er and employees. Plans start from a nominal monthly amount of EUR100, to which both the employer and employee can con- tribute. The employer sets up the scheme and defines how it will work, including the parameters determining the contribution the company will be making towards the scheme. This spells impor- tant benefits for the employer, even from a taxation perspective since workplace pensions qualify for tax incentives of around 25% up to the ceiling set by Govern- ment. Under the present legisla- tion, the company can enjoy a tax credit of up to EUR750 per em- ployee per annum. Likewise, the employee is eligible for tax credit equivalent to his/her contribu- tion for the workplace pension, over and above any tax credits they already enjoy under a private pension scheme. "Workplace pensions are ide- al instruments that ensure we maintain our current standard of living once we retire," explained Ms Falzon. Admittedly, it is not always easy to establish the gap between the state pension and the amount required to maintain one's desired lifestyle. "But that is precisely why it is critical to take the first step and start saving and investing on a regular basis," she stated, highlighting the necessity to factor in variables like inflation- ary costs and personal ambitions. In offering workplace pension schemes, companies increase their competitiveness. "In a world where companies are competing to attract and retain talent, set- ting up and contributing towards a workplace pension scheme can be a game changer, giving the employer a decisive competitive advantage." Planning for the future is al- ways a daunting task, but it does not have to be. Here is where a financial partner can make a big difference. Bank of Valletta is of- fering its support to companies interested in setting up pension schemes, as well as to individuals who are seeking to plan ahead for their future. One may call for planning sup- port and guidance at any one of the Bank's Investment Centres or across its extensive retail net- work. Interested parties are in- vited to contact the Bank for an appointment either by email at bancassurance@bov.com or by calling 2275 1627. BOV puts workplace pensions on agenda at MHR A quarterly seminar