Malta vies to host ageing services conference

The International Association for Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA), based in Washington DC, USA, has short-listed Malta as one of three potential European conference venues to host the 2007 IAHSA international conference.

The news of Malta's short-listing was communicated to Alexander Tranter, CEO of the CareMalta Group, by Stephen Proctor, IAHSA chairman, and William T. Smith, AAHSA chairman, at the annual conference of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (AAHSA) in Nashville, Tennessee, last week, which attracted over 6,500 American delegates.

Mr Tranter said: "Malta has now made it to the final three European destinations to be assessed. It is now necessary to ensure enough local support is put in place to make our Maltese bid a very strong one. Malta's very good international reputation in the field of elderly care will surely help this cause as if Malta is chosen it will provide us with an excellent opportunity to showcase all the very valid work done locally by the government, the Church and the private sector.

"It will also surely leave a very positive effect on the tourism industry with the numerous delegates who will be attending from around the world."

The announcement of the chosen venue will be made at IAHSA's sixth international conference being held next June in Trondheim, Norway. The IAHSA conference is held once every two years and attracts close to 1,000 international delegates.