Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/408403
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2014 News 9 EDEN Leisure Group has an- nounced a €31 million investment in four projects concentrating on the extension of the existing Inter- Continental Malta to create 32 new luxury suites as well as the refurbish- ment of the hotel's existing suites, a new internationally branded hotel, the creation of a luxury casino; and the complete overhaul and redesign of the Bay Arena, the group's 3,600 square metre multifunctional confer- ence venue. "InterContinental Malta will be closing for a three month period un- til the beginning of February in or- der to minimize disruption from the projects. All staff will be retained dur- ing this period and we will take the opportunity of closure to continue to upgrade the existing property and in- vest in significant further training of existing and new staff," Eden Leisure Group chairman Ian De Cesare said. The group said the projects are ex- pected to offer a significant benefit to it and to the country as a whole. "It will significantly upgrade the current product available in each of the markets, including various hotel sectors, the conference and incentive meeting space and the Casino market and it will also boost the level of tour- ists coming to Malta as well as boost- ing the lower season months," it said. "The total project cost is expected to be around €31 million. Financing and permits for all projects are in place and in total we expect to create over 300 full time jobs through these new projects to add to the group's 450 full-time employees already em- ployed. "These projects will add to the group's current contributions to the economy by adding employment, investment and sizable tax amounts in gaming tax, corporate tax, social security and VAT." 32 new suites will be added on top of the existing InterContinental Malta, coupled with the upgrading and hard refurbishment of an exist- ing 26 suites. "We firmly believe that the country is changing and what is needed now is less additional vol- ume and more quality. We could have fitted a further 100 standard rooms however we have elected to create luxury suites instead," Dec- esare said. "The more affluent business or lei- sure traveller will not go to a place which does not have the product they look for. They look for brands they recognize and quality they ex- pect. These suites will create a prod- uct currently unavailable in Malta and we believe that with the assist- ance of the InterContinental Hotels Group we have the tools to create a new market for tourism in Malta." The Privatization Unit this week also declared Eden Leisure Group as a preferred applicant for a new casi- no licence, perhaps the most impor- tant addition to the overall project. Spanning almost 2,000 square me- tres, the casino has been designed to the highest quality standards in the industry. "While we will service the local market, the prime target is the for- eign tourist market. After the con- clusion of these projects the group will own and operate over 630 rooms spanning various types and qualities, the casino is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the current tourism boom and the captive market within the properties and, in turn, the ho- tels are able to use the casino to draw higher occupancies in the low and shoulder months," Decesare said. A memorandum of understand- ing is in place with an established European casino operator, which currently operates in seven Euro- pean countries and is publicly listed on two separate stock exchanges, to manage operations of the Casino. "Depending on the finalization of the concession agreement we hope to be operational for summer 2015." Holiday Inn Express Eden Leisure recently purchased the Giorgianis Hostel adjacent to the InterContinental Malta, and permits are now in hand to demolish the ex- isting hostel and to build a new 100- room hotel, branded Holiday Inn Express and operated by InterCon- tinental Hotels Group. The current timeline is to start works this month and complete the hotel by December 2015. The recreation of the Bay Arena commenced in June this year and will be completed next month. The new venue includes seven, fully-furnished new meeting rooms with projection and 60-inch screens and a completely new main hall, seating over 1,200 people. Eden's €31 million expansion to create 300 jobs in hotel, casino Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 PUBLIC INVITATION FOR COMMENTS Proposed Petrol Station including back oce, shop, two garages, VRT and car services facilities -shiing of kerb side pumps licence No. ENR-00146-KP (KP31) Site at, Triq Sant Antnin, Marsascala (PA 004411/09 /EA 00022/13) e Malta Environment & Planning Authority is currently formulating terms of reference for the preparation of an Environmental Planning Statement for the above-mentioned development. e general public is invited to submit written comments on matters it wishes to see included in the terms of reference. Written submissions should be sent via email to: eiamalta@mepa.org.mt or by post to: EIA Team Environment Protection Directorate, Malta Environment & Planning Authority, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana FRN 1230 Comments are to reach the Authority within 3 weeks of the date of this notice, and should bear the following title: EIA on PA 04411/09/EA 000022/13 For further details visit the Authority's website: http://www.mepa.org.mt/permitting-ea-main. www.mepa.org.mt The InterContinental Malta hotel