Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531934
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 JANUARY 2025 NEWS Malta Tourism Authority appoints Alaine Ciantar as Director of VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings HSBC Malta Volunteer Leave Day sees 421 employees giving back to the community WELL over 400 HSBC Bank Malta employees participated in last year's Volunteer Leave Day initiative, dedicating a day of paid leave to supporting the local community through volunteering at a variety of organisations. The initiative, a cornerstone of HSBC Malta's corporate responsibility efforts, provides employees with the op- portunity to contribute their time and skills to meaning- ful projects that make a tangible difference. From assisting vulnerable groups at social initiatives like Soup Kitchen Malta to helping preserve Malta's cul- tural and natural heritage at locations such as the Notar- ial Archives, Argotti Gardens and Ħaġar Qim Temples, employees engaged in a wide range of activities aimed at supporting the community. Participants described the experience as both enriching and humbling. Many noted how volunteering gave them new perspec- tives on the challenges faced by others and the impor- tance of contributing to the well-being of society. "The Volunteer Leave Day is more than just a day off work; it's a chance for our colleagues to connect with the community and support the causes that matter most," said Geoffrey Fichte, CEO of HSBC Bank Malta. "At HS- BC, we believe in being an active participant in the com- munities we serve, and it's inspiring to see our team come together to create a positive impact." The Volunteer Leave Day initiative reflects HSBC Mal- ta's ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of care and collaboration. Through its community-focused programmes, the bank continues to promote values of inclusion, sustainability, and solidarity, ensuring that its impact goes beyond busi- ness and into the heart of the communities it serves. HSBC Malta employees (top) preparing lesson / classroom materials for students and (right) other HSBC Bank Malta employees sifting through documents that are part of our collective history at the Notarial Archives THE Malta Tourism Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Alaine Ciantar as the new Director for VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings. In this role, Alaine will be spearheading the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferenc- es, Exhibitions), Luxury Tourism, and Destination Weddings sectors, driving growth and development in these key ar- eas. Ciantar brings with her a wealth of experience from her extensive career in the tourism and hospitality industry. For the last seven years, she has served as Area Commercial Director for mul- tiple hotels, where she was responsible for creating and executing successful commercial strategies, as well as lead- ing sales and marketing initiatives for renowned luxury hotels. Her expertise spans a wide range of areas, including hospitality operations, financial man- agement, event management, sales and marketing, luxury tourism, and revenue management. MTA CEO Carlo Micallef said: "The addition of Alaine brings valuable ex- pertise to the Authority, and I am confi- dent that together with the entire team, she will contribute to strengthening the MICE, luxury, and destination weddings niches in our Islands' tourism industry." Alaine Ciantar