Hospitality industry professionals and students – including student chefs from the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), as well as chefs and waiters from local hotels and restaurants – achieved outstanding results at two international events, bringing home top prizes and medals.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg met with the students and professionals who participated in these competitions to congratulate them on their achievements.
A few weeks ago, in Brač, Croatia, competitors from Malta took part in the “Pearl of the Sea” international culinary festival, winning eight gold medals and one silver. ITS student Nadege Cassar, guided by lecturer James Attard, stole the show with her chocolate centrepiece, earning Gold in the Work in Chocolate category. Brandon Kriel and Ian Deguara (Hyatt Regency), Govind Sing and Andre Grima (The ODYCY), and Sangita Awal and Eric Magro (Corinthia San Gorg) each won Gold in the Cook and Serve category. Meanwhile, Natasa Petrone (Paradise Bay Hotel) and Joanna Attard (Phoenicia Hotel) earned Gold and Silver, respectively, in the Floral Sugarcraft competition.
Malta’s participation in this prestigious festival was made possible through the support of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) and the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF).
Another ITS student, Nicole Grech, placed first in the Pastry competition at the Bartolomeo Scappi International Contest in Bologna, Italy. Fellow students Ruth Attard and Jethro Calleja also participated in the tourist accommodation and bartending categories, respectively. The students were mentored by ITS lecturers Emie Briffa, Jimmy Aquilina, Lorraine Farrugia Muscia, and Petra de Carlo.
Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg praised the participants for their exceptional performances and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence. “These remarkable results, while giving you an opportunity to shine and refine your skills, are also helping to place the Maltese Islands firmly on the Mediterranean gastronomy tourism map. Gastronomy tourism is fast becoming an important niche market for our tourism sector. The Government remains committed to investing in the preservation and enrichment of Maltese gastronomy, as part of our strategy to attract discerning travellers seeking high-quality, authentic Mediterranean island experiences.”
During Friday’s meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg also met with general managers and owners of local hotels and restaurants who recently travelled to the Le Cognac Forbes Travel Guide Academy in France, to participate in a specialised leadership and strategy training session under the STAR JOURNEY Programme, an initiative by MHRA, MTF and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), supported by Forbes Travel Guide. STAR – Sustainability, Training, Accommodation, and Restaurants – was launched to elevate Malta’s profile as a unified, high-quality tourism destination by raising service standards across the hospitality sector.
MHRA President Tony Zahra, MHRA CEO Andrew Agius Muscat and other representatives of the association, and of MTF, ITS and MTA also participated in the meeting.
Photo: ODPM-MFT
