The PN will continue to support those who invest their money and expertise in the country, particularly those who undertake sustainable development that gives back to the nation, as AX Group has done with the Verdala complex, PN Leader Alex Borg said.
He spoke during a visit this morning to Verdala Terraces and the Verdala Wellness Hotel in Rabat, where he was welcomed by AX Group Chairman Angelo Xuereb and his daughter Denise Xuereb - Director of AX Development & AX Construction - as well as the Group's CEO and Deputy Chairman Michael Warrington, together with other Group officials who accompanied him on a tour of the project.
The Verdala Wellness Hotel is a five-star hotel that opened its doors last August on the site where the former Grand Hotel Verdala once stood. It is the first hotel in the country to adopt the wellness concept by offering a range of services and experiences that combine hospitality with healthy eating, balance and sustainable wellbeing, the PN Leader said.
"In the construction of this 46-room hotel, great attention was given to detail in terms of both the external design and interior spaces, as well as the architecture, ensuring that the integrity of the surrounding area and its natural environment were respected. On the occasion of the Group's 50th anniversary, the owners wished to present the country with a destination of excellence capable of attracting a different, high-value type of tourism to Malta," a statement by the PN read.
Angelo Xuereb said that his companies have always aimed to prioritise quality and excellence in their projects. "This is why, with eight hotels and a workforce of around 1,400 employees coming from 65 different nationalities, the Group has been able to enter different niches within the tourism industry and act as a catalyst for Malta to attract tourists who contribute more to the economy."
He explained that following this €90 million investment in a new destination comprising a mix of tourism and residential facilities, AX Group is now looking ahead with plans to embark on other projects it has in mind, the PN said. These, the PN said, include a major project as part of the regeneration of Marsa and the continuation of the AX ODYCY destination in place of the Suncrest in Qawra - a project that is already in its second phase.
For his part, the Leader of the PN emphasised that what AX Group is doing aligns with the PN's vision for the sector; namely that tourism in Malta should prioritise quality over quantity. Alex Borg praised the way in which this development maximised its commercial potential by successfully combining various elements such as hospitality, wellbeing, heritage and the environment.
He pledged the full support of a new government led by him to companies like these so that they may "continue to create iconic projects of this kind which not only improve the tourism product and provide employment, but also sustain economic growth."
In addition to the hotel, Alex Borg was also taken on a visit to Verdala Terraces - a complex made up of 87 residences with stunning views of the Tal-Virtù countryside, the majority of which have already been sold to Maltese and foreign clients. "In this case too, innovation stands out in the structural design and the materials used in construction, with high-quality finishing both in the buildings themselves and in the open spaces, ancillary facilities and landscaping that create a village-like community atmosphere for residents," the PN said.
The delegation led by the PN Leader during this visit included Shadow Minister for Tourism Mario de Marco, MPs Ryan Callus and Bernice Bonello, and PN general election candidate David Pace Ross.