Set to be completed by the end of October this year, the new Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa will be generating 250 new jobs and 53 of the 337 spacious rooms and suites will be accommodating the heads of government due to gather in Malta for the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting the coming November, said Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech during a visit to the newly-built hotel yesterday.

The hotel has already been opened to customers who have been flown in by the Island Group for possible interest in buying timeshare, the group’s managing director Winston Zahra explained during the visit. He said that the clients have all been very satisfied with the service provided, despite the fact that part of the hotel is still under construction.

The building of the resort provided jobs for 450 people, at its peak, and currently 200 people are left working at break-neck speed to complete the project by its deadline. “A project of this scale usually takes around three to four years to complete, yet we have managed to bring this time down to just over two years,” said Mr Zahra, noting that the work began in August 2003.

During the tour of the hotel, Mr Zahra explained that safeguarding the environment was made a priority during construction. “No plastic has been used and the stone dug out to make the pool was actually reused to build the columns surrounding the pool deck,” he explained. Mr Zahra added that all the vegetation used in this area is local.

Dr Zammit Dimech was then shown a suite similar to those the heads of government will be staying in. Boasting views of Golden Bay, these rooms are spacious and the colour schemes were used to create a natural effect that blends in with the sunny surroundings.

Mr Zahra pointed out that ceiling fans were fixed in each room. This was done to not only provide a more energy efficient method of cooling down a room, but also because, as Mr Zahra pointed out, several people actually do not favour air conditioning and would rather use a fan.

Security is being monitored very closely in the run up to CHOGM.

Mr Zahra explained that it is due to this need for tight security that the five restaurants and all the hotel bars will probably be open to the public over the Christmas season.

“The investment in this project breeds faith in Malta’s tourism industry,” said the minister after the tour of the various parts of the resort.

He explained that the opening of this hotel will result in 642 more beds in the stock the island has to offer as well as one more five-star hotel to add to the current 13.

This hotel targets two valuable sectors of the tourism industry, he continued, that of conferences and timeshare. Dr Zammit Dimech explained that the hotel has already reaped success in both these areas, with the CHOGM booking and several of the current clients booking rooms for timeshare.

He praised the Island Group’s success and the accomplishment of keeping to deadlines set early on in the progress of the project.