Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542674
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JANUARY 2026 COMMERCIAL YOUNG hospitality professionals across Malta are urged to apply now as World Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist opens its final recruitment phase for the inaugural YYY Malta competition – with limited final- ist places remaining. Taking place on Monday 26 Jan- uary at the acclaimed ION Har- bour by Simon Rogan, YYY Mal- ta will spotlight the island's most exciting emerging talent across three categories: Chef, Waiter and Mixologist – all aged 28 and un- der. This is a rare and time-sensi- tive opportunity for Malta's young hospitality professionals to step onto one of the most influential global platforms in the industry. YYY Malta will bring together young chefs, waiters and mixol- ogists to deliver a live, high-pres- sure restaurant service in front of Michelin-starred chefs, senior in- dustry leaders, global brands and international media. Judges announced so far include Andrew Borg (Executive Chef at Le GV, 1-Michelin Starred), Christian Cali, (Executive Chef at ION Harbour by Simon Ro- gan, 2-Michelin Starred) and Paul Greening (Culinary Direc- tor for db Group) in the Chef category; Stanislav Pozhydaiev (Head Bartender at ION Harbour by Simon Rogan) and William Campbell-Rowntree (Senior Sales Manager at NEFT Vodka and Ex London Bar Guru) for Mixology; and Andy Downton (Founder and Owner, Burnt Chocolate Con- sultancy), James Christie (F&B and Restaurant Manager at ION Harbour by Simon Rogan), Josef Bonello (Wine Ambassador for Wines of Malta and Gozo/Mal- ta Tourism Authority) and Se- an Cuthbertson (F&B Manager, Corinthia Hotels and Radisson Blu Resort) in the Waiter catego- ry. For those selected, the com- petition offers global recognition and international media exposure, mentorship from world-class judges and hospitality leaders, ca- reer-defining networking oppor- tunities and a direct pathway onto the WorldYYY global stage. Malta's category winners will represent the island at the World Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Mixologist World Finals in March in London, competing against the very best young hos- pitality talent from around the globe – with the chance to win a top prize of up to $15,000. With a press reach of over 30 million, 75 million combined so- cial media reach and 350+ venues engaged worldwide, WorldYYY has helped launch the careers of some of hospitality's most excit- ing rising stars. As WorldYYY continues its global expansion across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America, Malta's inaugural edition represents a once-in-a-generation moment for the island's hospitality communi- ty. For young professionals with ambition, talent and drive, this is your chance to represent Malta on a world stage, but with finalist places limited and highly com- petitive – and a fast-approach- ing entry deadline of Monday 19 January – time to apply is run- ning out. Entries are open online at https://youngchefyoungwait- er.awardsplatform.com/ until Monday 19 January to chefs, waiters and mixologists aged 28 and under currently working in Malta. Applications are quick, straightforward and open to in- dividuals either self-nominated or put forward by their venue. Successful applicants will be con- tacted directly by the WorldYYY central team with next steps and official competition briefs. More information at https://young- chefyoungwaiter.com/malta/ Final call for Malta's next generation of hospitality stars to enter global competition Left to right: Andrew Borg, Christian Cali and Paul Greening LIDL Malta celebrates 8th consecutive year of top employer certification IN an era of evolving work- place dynamics, Lidl Mal- ta, the leading retail chain on the Maltese islands, has demonstrated remarkable consistency by being named a "Top Employer" for the eighth year in succession. This certification, awarded by the renowned Top Em- ployers Institute, validates the company's long-term vision of placing its over 550-strong workforce at the very core of its operation- al success. By consistently meeting the highest global standards in HR, Lidl Malta reaffirms its position as an employer of choice, dedicat- ed to advancing workplace standards across the Mal- tese islands. Lidl Malta's approach to human resources is built on the principle of continuous evolution. The company's strategy focuses on holistic employee well-being, com- bining a competitive ben- efits package with mean- ingful career development. Beyond providing com- prehensive private medical insurance and support for significant life milestones, the retailer invests heavily in lifelong learning. By of- fering international career pathways within the wider Lidl Group and fostering a culture of internal promo- tion, Lidl Malta ensures that its team members are build- ing long-term, rewarding careers. This is further sup- ported by a commitment to open communication, where regular feedback is used to actively shape and improve the daily work en- vironment. This local success is mir- rored on an international scale. The Lidl Group has once again secured the "Top Employer Europe" seal—marking its ninth consecutive year of excel- lence across all 31 operating countries. Furthermore, the company has retained the prestigious "Top Employer Enterprise" status. This dual recognition places Lidl in an elite category of global or- ganisations, acknowledged for their ability to maintain exceptional people stand- ards and harmonised HR practices across diverse borders. The Top Employers Insti- tute's certification is based on a rigorous evaluation of HR best practices via the HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics, including People Strategy, Work Environ- ment, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Well-being, and Diversity & Inclusion. By achieving this recognition for the eighth year running, Lidl Malta reaffirms its pledge to main- tain a world-class employee experience, ensuring that its workforce remains at the heart of its business strate- gy. Emirates aces the skies with a Grand Slam livery EMIRATES, the world's largest international airline and one of the biggest sup- porters of tennis, has un- veiled a stunning new Air- bus A380 livery celebrating its enduring commitment to tennis through its spon- sorship of all four Grand Slam tournaments. Emirates proudly spon- sors the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, The Cham- pionships, Wimbledon and US Open. The livery showcases a melange of tennis-inspired elements, with each Grand Slam logo framed within a tennis ball emblem and ren- dered in the tournament's signature colours. The Australian Open's summer blue, Roland-Garros' bold red-clay, Wimbledon's sig- nature green and purple, and the US Open's striking yellow and blue combina- tion are all creatively repre- sented in the design. Aviation enthusiasts and tennis fans can look for- ward to catching a glimpse of the airline's latest spe- cial Grand Slam livery as it graces the skies to cities like Houston and Sao Pau- lo, carrying the sport's core values of sportsmanship, discipline and resilience all over the world. The livery will remain in Emirates' fleet for the coming years, with the first flight sporting this unique design having landed in Melbourne, Australia to mark the start of this year's first Grand Slam tourna- ment. A multi-faceted sponsor- ship portfolio Emirates' extensive port- folio of global sports and cultural partnerships con- nects millions of people through shared passions and world-class experienc- es. The airline's tennis port- folio includes some of the most high-profile events on the ATP and WTA Tours, including the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Champi- onships as well as all four Grand Slams (Australi- an Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and US Open). Beyond tennis, Emirates' commitment to connect- ing fans across the globe through shared sporting moments spans horse racing through the Du- bai World Cup and Team Godolphin; golf via the DP World Tour; cricket across all major ICC events and the ICC Elite Panel of Um- pires and Lancashire Coun- ty Cricket Club; sailing with Emirates Team New Zea- land, SailGP and Emirates Great Britain Sail GP team; basketball through the NBA, Real Madrid and Bei- rut Basketball club; cycling with UAE Team Emirates XRG; and Australian Rules Football with Collingwood FC. Emirates' iconic "fly better" branding appears on the jerseys of leading football clubs including Arsenal FC, Real Madrid CF, AC Milan, S.L. Benfica, and Olympique Lyonnais. Emirates also serves as Plat- inum Partner to FC Bayern Munich's first team. Emir- ates has been the title spon- sor of The FA Cup for near- ly a decade. In the UAE, the airline supports the Pro League and appears on Al Ain FC's training kit during the 2025/2026 season.