Island Hotels Group has announced the appointment of four new general managers to meet the new challenges resulting from the current development of the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort & Spa opening in summer 2005. Raphael Cauchi has been appointed general manager for the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort & Spa, Ernest Barry, general manager for the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, Malcolm Buhagiar, general manager, for the Coastline Hotel and Max Gatt, general manager for the Bugibba Holiday Complex.

Commenting on the appointments, the group’s director of operations Winston J. Zahra said: “The upcoming opening of the fourth Island Hotels Group property will bring about some exciting new career opportunities for our staff. The first moves that have been made have ensured that all our

general managers have been given the opportunity to move to a higher level of responsibility, while the assistant general managers of the group have now all been given the opportunity to head their own respective properties. The moves are in line with our group policy of promoting from within.”

Raphael Cauchi, previously general manager at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, has been identified as the person capable of opening and managing the new property at Golden Sands. His seven-year experience with Island Hotels Group and the Radisson SAS brand make him the most experienced person in the group for this role.

Ernest Barry, who has been with Island Hotels Group for 15 years and is currently general manager of the Coastline Hotel, will assume responsibility for the management of Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julian’s. His well-known track record in successfully managing the Coastline Hotel augurs well for this new role.

Malcolm Buhagiar has been with the group for over 10 years and has assisted Ernest Barry at the Coastline Hotel for the past two years in the role of assistant general manager. His dedication to his work, his enthusiasm and capabilities have now led him to be given the opportunity of heading the property in the general manager position. Concurrently, Max Gatt who has worked for the group for over 10 years and has held the position of assistant general manager for the Bugibba Holiday Complex for the last five years, has taken over the general management of the Bugibba Holiday Complex.

All four general managers expressed their appreciation of the directors’ trust in their potential and said that they are proud to be part of this historical moment in the

history of Island Hotels Group. They all said that they are looking forward to the new challenges ahead and to contributing further to the success of the group as it continues to grow.

Mr Zahra concluded by saying that he is very confident that all four general managers, who have collectively worked for the group for over 42 years, will carry out their new responsibilities with a high degree of professionalism and dedication.

“These promotions are a clear example of Island Hotels Group internal career growth policy and also a clear message of our belief in employing local people for the top positions within our

company.

“We now very much look forward to implementing the next stage of career movements within our group as we start the process of identifying managers and staff for the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort, where we will be employing 250 people in total.”