Malta video goes missing!!!!
Gill still claims the video of her driving her team off road in Gozo has been “misfiled”. I have heard she drove up a dead end dirt track and had to reverse out.
Post our mid afternoon arrival in Malta we took the alcoholic route – sailed by Turkish gullet – to Hilton Malta’s private jetty – enjoying champagne as we went. Weekend working requires life’s small luxuries!! By the time we arrived at the Hilton in St Julian’s our luggage was in our rooms.
GTA’s clients thoroughly enjoyed their two days in Malta and Gozo and GTA could not have asked for a more entertaining group to attend our FAM Trip. Our thanks for making this trip great go to Mark and his team at EC Meetings as well as our guests from ASR Contracts, AYMTM, Clearwater Events, In2Global, Kate Gibson Events, TFI, The Ultimate Event Company and Zibrant.
THE "MALTESERS"
After settling in and refreshing ourselves we all met up at 19:30 for a show around of the Hilton Malta before having dinner in the Hilton’s renowned Blue Elephant restaurant. We knew elephant’s never forget and now believe we will long remember a great meal in the Blue Elephant – it is every bit as good as its London counterpart. Fabulous food and flowers flown in fresh from Thailand, the ability to provide anything from intimate dining with marina views to formal dinners (do they do exclusive), service to match and best of all great company. Dix Point to London’s Blue Elephant but for the added views Douze Point Malta.
We retired to our massive executive rooms – 36sq metres – for a good sleep ready for Gozo on Saturday. Our rooms had a lovely light contemporary feel and great sea views. Early breakfast was served with more sea views in the aptly named Oceana restaurant and confirmed our view that this Hilton’s food fully deserves its award winning status.
Fed for the morning we faced a walk to Hilton’s private jetty and a speed boat transfer to Gozo. Sadly the wind had not read the script and was too high, so at short notice, we downgraded to the passenger ferry. As the ferry had not read our itinerary we had time to spare to fit in an activity. By popular vote it was Popeye – well the Popeye film set. A fun place to visit as well as novel dinner venue (without spinach please). Well done EC Meetings for this smooth change.
Gozo is a third the size of Malta, but greener and more rural. Its landscape has hills and deep valleys as well as rugged cliffs, which give natural protection to the island’s small harbours and inlets. Life here moves at a leisurely pace, revolving around farming and fishing. We soon learnt EC meetings did not intend our progress was so leisurely. Prior to landing we knew there was a “surprise” and we discovered that this started with a set of instructions and two jeeps. Split into two groups, with us two teams would be a compliment too far, we were handed video cameras, maps and told to promote Gozo.
One group felt it best to promote Gozo as the island of love, that said I should say that while the video is different it fortunately does not need an X certificate. I would save the drivers’ any embarrassment – but – why not view the videos? Click here for the links.
A late lunch gave us the chance to catch up and laugh at each group’s efforts as well as to enjoy the fabulous KEMPINSKI Hotel. This 5 star luxury country side resort is situated in San Lawrenz, close to Dwejra and the Azure Window, in the western part of the island of Gozo. Recreational amenities at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz include tennis and squash courts, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, modern Gym, a full-service health spa, a poolside bar, and a children’s club. In 2009 it became the first Eco certificated Hotel on Gozo!! Eco certification is great but honestly how many hotels are there on Gozo?? Answers on a postcard please!!
Thanks Kempinski we all enjoyed our complimentary Spa treatment
We returned to Malta and St Julians in great spirits as well as amazement that some of our driving was ignored by the local police. We relaxed, refreshed and took a ten minute stroll to Spinola Bay. We did not have enough guests for more than one venue so instead of being split into groups and venues we split the courses. Starters in one venue, main course another and deserts and post dinner drinks in a third. Malta might be the “20 minute” island but great food is never hurried and we had the time to recount the highlights (was it lowlights) of our respective group’s foray into film before ambling to Level 22 for a cocktail or two.
Level 22 is St Julians’ 22nd floor stylish night club – cool enough for the younger element and sophisticated enough for the slightly older amongst us!!!!
Sunday was show around day – enough to get a flavour of Malta without being rushed off our feet. We started with The George before moving onto our walking tour of Valetta City. Naturally we started at the “top” of Valetta so we could enjoy the view at a leisurely pace on the way down. The Grand Harbour and beyond from Valetta’s highest point looks impressive.
We were on our way through Valetta’s historic streets to the Mediterranean Conference Centre and passed by St Johns-Co Cathedral and The Grand Masters Palace sadly missing sight of their extravagant interiors but the “silent city” and lunch beckoned. The MCC was impressive ….
We continued walking up our lunch appetite as we took in a number of dinner venues and learning of the entertainment options before “lunch at the Palace”.
In this case the Palazzo Parisio. Parisio – ex Grand Master’s Palace in the 18th Century, ex nobleman’s estate in the 19th Century and now a truly lavish 21st Century gala dinner venue set in amazing gardens.
Such a shame we only had time to enjoy one lunch – the food was delicious!
Comfortably full, relaxed and ready to stay as well as to come home we had one final stop en-route to the airport. Another dinner venue – unique to EC Meetings – atmospheric, different and exciting. A great venue to surprise your dinner guests – so we will not spoil the surprise by giving the details now!!!
Once again our thanks to EC Meetings and The Hilton St Julians for your hospitality and organisation. We know our guests loved their time in Malta and it was no surprise to find that in our guests post trip feedback you also scored douze point!!!