Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517065
7.3.2024 2 NEWS 7.3.2024 FROM PAGE 1 e Tumas Group has invested more than €18 million to upgrade the prop- erty following the closure of the iconic Dolmen Hotel last November. Signif- icant changes are being made to its rooms, entrance, conference facilities and other facilities. Some 900 staff are employed at the Tumas Group's three hotels managed by Hilton, and all former Dolmen Hotel staff have been given the opportunity to form part of this new chapter in the his- tory of Malta's hospitality industry. Hilton Malta, the jewel in the crown of the stunning, mixed-use Portomaso and marina development in the heart of St Julian's, had undergone a multimil- lion euro refurbishment in 2016 after first opening its doors in 1998. More than 290 rooms were renovated, together with the addition of new res- taurants and the latest technology pro- viding better energy efficiency. e Tumas Group is also the proud owner of the Hilton Evian-les-Bains in France. is enchanting property, ac- quired by the group in 2004, comprises 170 rooms and offers guests captivating views of Lake Geneva. e property, which became Hilton's first resort hotel in France, also com- prises state-of-the-art therapy rooms and both indoor and outdoor pool fa- cilities. Tumas Group Chairman Ray Fenech said: "Reaching the 1,000-room milestone with Hilton gives our Group immense satisfaction. We are extremely proud of our long-term association with one of the world's leading operators, and have invested heavily in our personnel and properties to provide guests with the best facilities and a homely environment." Tumas Group's three hotels managed by Hilton employ over 900 staff Networking event commits to promoting Malta maritime services abroad The Tumas Group's Hilton Evian-les-Bains in France THE MMF and the UK Branch of the Malta Business Network successfully organised their "Showcasing Maritime Malta" networking event which was held at the prestigious Interna- tional Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in Lon- don on 27 February. e initiative succeeded at offering a unique opportuni- ty for a delegation of 35 MMF members to network with Lon- don-based maritime profes- sionals and practitioners and was addressed by the newly appointed Minister for Trans- port, Infrastructure, and Public Works of Malta, Chris Bonett; expert keynote speaker Prof. Charles Debattista – a leading London-based Barrister, Arbi- trator and Mediator; and the MMF Chairman, Godwin Xer- ri with Martin Zahra, Chair- man of MBN UK, moderating the proceedings. In his address, Xerri outlined the wide myriad of maritime services and activities offered in Malta which he said are best exemplified through the inter- national recognition that Malta holds as a flag state, a financial hub and the quality of legal service in the maritime field. He said that the providers of Maritime services in Malta are in general represented by the Malta Maritime Forum set up by industry for industry in 2015. He said that it was the Forum's mission to serve as a common platform to consult and to be consulted because it believed that only through a healthy consultative process can the Maltese Maritime industry thrive and retain its compet- itiveness globally. He added that the MMF also had a strong mission to promote maritime careers and vocational educa- tion with the support of its rel- evant members including the University of Malta, MCAST and Maritime MT. Lastly, Xerri said that the Fo- rum was now committed to support in the international- isation of maritime business by supporting its members to promote their services abroad. is was, of course, the main ambition behind this "Show- casing Maritime Malta" event held in London. On his part, Debattista gave his purview of the role Mal- ta played over the years in the maritime law world underlin- ing how despite being a small island, it has long punched above its weight in terms of the contributions it has made to the resolution of shipping disputes. He referred to the the UN Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was the result of Malta's first foray on the international stage. Dr Arvid Pardo proposed what he called a "Constitution for the Oceans" which would regard the high seas and their resources as the "common her- itage of mankind". Prof Debat- tista said that the current issues in the Red Sea show that the High Seas are constantly re- plete with challenges and is in constant need of dispute reso- lution. He mentioned the creation of the International Maritime Law Institute, set up by the IMO in Malta before paying tribute to a line of maritime profession- als hailing from Malta and who are highly regarded in interna- tional maritime circles for their contribution to the maritime sector at the global level. Joseph Zammit Tabona, the Chairman of the MBN Founda- tion, extended a warm welcome to the gathering, he empha- sised that the current challeng- es confronting the maritime industry have profound impli- cations for trade, businesses, and the broader economy. e repercussions of sanctions and trade restrictions arising from ongoing conflicts not only hin- der the timely delivery of goods but also contribute to increased operational costs, adversely af- fecting numerous members of the Malta Business Network. He added, "It is crucial that we unite as a global commu- nity to address the current challenges on the maritime industry. rough fostering diplomatic dialogue, enhanc- ing international cooperation, and advocating for the protec- tion of maritime trade routes, we can work towards a more secure, stable, and sustainable future for the maritime sector. Let us envision a future where the seas continue to be path- ways for prosperity rather than arenas of adversity."