MALTA -- Executives at Corinthia Hotels International have a seemingly extraordinary “sixth sense” for where the next “in” market will be. Based in Malta, its one of the fastest growing hospitality chains in Europe. Currently, the company operates 20 four and five star properties in 11 destinations spanning Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean.
When Corinthia originally looked to expand beyond Malta in the 1980s, executives strategized the best way to see the company proliferate would be to enter markets that were just developing rather than maturing markets where there was entrenched competition. Corinthia was the dominant player in Malta during the 1970s and 1980s, expanded in to Turkey in the early 1990’s and then central Europe (Prague and Budapest) in the mid-90’s. Most recently, the company forged ahead with projects in St. Petersburg and in Tripoli, Libya, the Bab Africa Hotel. The Corinthia Nevskij Palace in St. Petersburg will be the largest facility of its kind when it completes an extensive renovation during the fall of 2007.
Karmenu Vella, Corinthia Chairman, said, “With more than 40 years of experience, we are proud of the fact that Corinthia is the market leader in upcoming tourism destinations.”
According to Vella, the Libya property is another example of the pioneering spirit of the Corinthia Group. Vella said the company began looking into a viable project before sanctions were lifted.
The gambit paid off and now Corinthia Bab Africa is the only five-star International hotel operating in Tripoli and caters to both leisure and business travelers. Says Vella:
“Our Premier Collection, six of our 12 Five Star properties, are located in cities that have become the ‘hot spots’ for American business and leisure travelers -- Budapest, Prague, St, Petersburg and Tripoli.”
It’s also a time when the Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) planners here in the U.S. are looking for exciting yet affordable destinations to attract greater event attendance.
Shawn Pisani represents his family’s business as Corinthia’s General Manager of Sales, and is leading the company’s conference and events brand, Events@Corinthia. “We provide conferences on a grand scale,” he said taking a unique approach to events planning by offering comprehensive services to meet the most detailed and specific arrangements – from large conferences to small groups.
Corinthia Hotels International started in 1962 with the acquisition of Villa Corinthia, which was initially a restaurant and banquet facility that catered to the glitterati of Malta’s social scene.
The property eventually morphed into the Corinthia Palace Hotel, which opened in 1968. Throughout the 1970’s the company looked to expand outside of Malta, and first did so with a hotel in Turkey.
Pisani attributes Corinthia’s pioneering spirit in reaching into exotic locales to a bit of the old adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Their pioneering vision and adventurous attitude was risky.
“Because we are a family owned business, investing, building and developing [properties] in untapped regions were more economically feasible. Our strategy has proved to be successful, but, it hasn’t been without some of the inevitable challenges along the way,” he said
Among its five star properties, Corinthia boasts two award-winning hotels: Budapest’s Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal received Europe’s ”Best Hotel Architecture Award,” and was recently selected to join the privileged list of “The Most Famous Hotels In the World.” Prague’s Corinthia Towers Hotel was voted best MICE Hotel 2004 by World Hotels out of the 500 affiliated hotel properties worldwide.
Corinthia’s “five senses suites” provide the corporate business traveler with a unique opportunity in which to relax. The traveler has an area of their own where they can wind down and relax with the latest massage chairs – that offer Japanese style massage techniques, a CD player with relaxation tapes, aromatherapy with five different types of oils, dim lights, and a selection of the finest teas and coffees.
“The Spirit of Corinthia,” can be attributed to both the company’s adventurous risk taking attitude and to the strong sense of family that pervades each property’s atmosphere. The personal involvement of the owners is evident and hands on. “We really care and this business is not simply a job for us, it is a way of life, and the staff and guests are our social lives,“ said Pisani.
