Courtesy, readiness to help out and a good sense of humour are among the common attributes of the winners at this year’s edition of the Malta Tourism Authority STAR Awards 2010 held at the Radisson Blu Resort, St Julians.
Eleven awards for outstanding service and hospitality and one award for an exemplary employee in the hotel industry were presented.
The awards were split into different categories and included travel representatives, taxi drivers, tourist guides, coach drivers and even diving instructors.
The winners of the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) awards were selected by the tourists themselves, who voluntarily filled out forms distributed among various hotels, hostels and restaurants in Malta and Gozo.
A selection process followed. The Hotel Worker of the Year was based on nominations by the industry and judged by a panel composed of four different tourism-related entities. Each winner received a certificate, an 18-carat gold lapel-pin and an €800 cash prize, whereas the runners-up received a certificate and a cash prize of €150.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco presided over the award ceremony and in his closing speech said the tourism industry must not be taken for granted as this sector depends on many different factors.
He referred to the present situation in the Mediterranean and said how peace in the region is vital for the tourism industry to thrive and grow. Dr de Marco said that the industry must continue to be supported by investment in the three pillars – the tourism product, effective promotion and accessibility.
The winners of the STAR awards for 2010 are: Robert Aquilina – concierge, InterContinental Malta (Hotel Worker of the Year); Anna Azzopardi – receptionist, Maria Giovanna Hostel; Andrew Farrugia – Red Lion Pub, Buġibba; Michael Camilleri – taxi driver, Belmont Garage; Eddie Corrin – diving instructor, Paradise Diving; Gerald Cutajar – horse-drawn cab driver; Patricia Flores Martin – tourist guide; Vasco Lazarova – travel representative, Saga; Jason Portelli – coach driver, Ventura Coaches, KoptaCo; Ivan Vassallo – custodian, Malta at WarMuseum; Joseph Vella – head bartender, Seashells Resort at Suncrest; and Paul Zammit – boatman, Mermaid Cruises.