Fortina spa centre to be among best in the world

The Fortel Group of Companies will be investing close to Lm6 million in the expansion and refurbishment of the Fortina Spa Resort, company managing director Michael Zammit Tabona announced yesterday.

Mr Zammit Tabona said that once completed the resort, coupled with a team of professionals, would be among the top centres in the world.

The project, which started three months ago and includes a 17-storey tower with rooms facing the breathtaking bastions of Valletta, is expected to be completed by September next year.

"The spa will become the largest in the Mediterranean when the expansion of 1,000 square metres is fully completed. It will also be the most exclusive anywhere offering individual treatments," he said.

Mr Zammit Tabona was yesterday addressing a news conference which he hosted with Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville.

Neville, who has missed out on the World Cup after breaking a bone in his foot, is undergoing a spa rehabilitation programme at the Fortina Spa.

The highlight of the new project will be the extravagant spa bedrooms - the first of their kind in the world, Mr Zammit Tabona said.

The Fortina has commissioned the manufacture of special machinery that will provide a number of spa services all from the comfort of the bedroom.

These services include detoxification machines, high-powered water massage, a two-person whirlpool bath, seaweed and mud treatment, steam sauna and therapeutic treatment.

"There will be 63 spa bedrooms and in each bedroom there will be four `toys` costing a total of Lm30,000 in each bedroom," Mr Zammit Tabona said.

"We have retained the services of one of the top spa designers in the world. Their brief translated into a unique and luxurious design which will include facilities for 50 new services costing Lm1 million," he said.

Plans also call for 16 rooms which will include private swimming pools, gardens and other suites providing extra large balconies containing two-person whirlpools and internal therapeutic baths.

The overall plan includes nine swimming pools, tropical gardens, 10 restaurants, six bars, a luxury cigar bar and a VIP guest lounge.

"We did not want to produce another five-star bedroom factory, but wanted to respond correctly to identified market trends, driven by people who are more health conscious and demand services that meet the needs of their well being," he said.

"All this effort will culminate with its opening in less than a year`s time. We have an excellent general contractor, G & P Borg Ltd, who is meeting our schedule," Mr Zammit Tabona said.