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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 NOVEMBER 2023 8 COMMERCIAL HSBC Bank Malta clinches top honours in Euromoney Cash Management Survey 2023 Palazzo Castagna celebrates official launch HSBC Bank Malta plc has been named as the overall Market Leader and Best Service for Non-Financial Institutions in the prestigious Euromoney Cash Management Survey 2023. These acco- lades underscore HSBC Malta's strong commitment to excellence in treasury management of payments, receivables, and cash as well as its overall leadership in the sector. The Euromoney Cash Management Survey, which is run annually, gauges the quality of cash management servic- es globally, drawing on the insights of 30,000 corporate respondents and 800 Financial Institutions. In addition to the local awards, the HSBC Group has also achieved signifi- cant global success. The Group has been named the Global Market Leader for Non-Financial Insti- tutions, with first-place regional rank- ings in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and has claimed market leader status in 19 markets. Furthermore, the Group has been recognised as the Global Mar- ket Leader for Financial Institutions, with top regional rankings in the Middle East and Western Europe. These global and local achievements highlight HSBC's comprehensive inter- national capabilities and its extensive network, which plays a pivotal role in delivering superior cash management services to customers around the world. The bank's strategic initiatives have been instrumental in enhancing its op- erations and deepening customer rela- tionships, as evidenced by the positive outcomes of these efforts. HSBC Malta extends its sincere thanks to its customers for their trust and cus- tom. The bank reiterates its unwavering commitment to its customers, ensur- ing that their needs continue to be the driving force behind the bank's business strategy. Geoffrey Fichte, CEO of HSBC Malta, said: "We are honoured by these awards, which reflect our strategic focus on de- livering service excellence and our com- mitment to our customers. This is a proud moment for HSBC Malta and a clear indication of the strength of our teams." Monique Gilmour, Head of Global Payments Solutions in Malta, com- mented: "It's a privilege to lead such a dedicated team who collectively come together each day to deliver award-win- ning level of cash management services to our customers. These awards from Euromoney validate our customer-cen- tric approach and are testament to the team's hard work and dedication." PALAZZO Castagna has cel- ebrated its official launch this week, marking a new chapter for the luxury tourism sector in the south of Malta. An 18th century Palazzo set on the village square of Ħal Għaxaq, Palazzo Castagna has been carefully restored to re- tain its historic features and charm, while transforming in- to a luxury boutique hotel for guests looking for an authen- tic experience of Malta. The hotel's excellent location also affords easy access to many historic sites and attractions in the area, such as The Three Cities, Blue Grotto, Marsax- lokk, Tarxien Temples and Mnajdra. Guests can choose from a range of deluxe rooms and suites, each boasting high-end amenities including Wi-Fi, air conditioning and even heated bathroom floors. The convert- ed Palazzo also offers multiple high-end dining experiences, from a summer-ready rooftop pool and bar and the elegant Café Castagna, to a calming tea garden and a converted 'Sa- la Nobile' restaurant, ideal for private events and family gath- erings. The newly restored and launched Palazzo Castagna is the brainchild of husband-and- wife team Rudolph and Alison Spiteri Sacco. Together, they bring a wealth of experience to the project, as specialists for turnkey solutions across a vari- ety of residential and commer- cial projects. Their background has also nurtured a passion for sustain- ability as well as quality, says Mr Spiteri Sacco. "Our work has given us a solid base to cre- ate a high-end boutique hotel with sustainable rooms. All rooms are soundproofed and highly insulated to conserve energy," he shares. "The detail in the building is a reflection on how serious we are about conserving Maltese heritage and enriching buildings in the best way possible." Restoration works on Palaz- zo Castagna began in 2021 and took around two years, before the hotel opened its doors to its first guests over the sum- mer and celebrated its official launch on 7 November. "Palazzo Castagna has been an amazing journey so far," adds Mrs Spiteri Sacco. "It's a completely different business to what we have been doing for the last decade, but it's an hon- our for us to invest in bringing high-end tourism to the south- ern part of Malta. It's a feat we are proud of achieving and an- other milestone in our working life. We hope guests can expe- rience the amazing, rich histo- ry of the Palazzo, which dates to 1755, as well as the beauti- ful village life that Għaxaq has to offer, with its lovely, warm community."