The Island Hotels Group is to close the five-star Radisson Blu Resort for eight months for a €20m project which will add two floors and a conference centre.

The project which will kick off by year's-end will see an extensive refurbishment of all the rooms and public areas. The workers will be retained on other duties or in other group properties.

Group Chief executive officer Winston Zahra Jr told Times of Malta Business that the group will start to consider opening hotels overseas within around five years.

“There is nothing to stop us from growing – but I think that in Malta we will stick with three hotels.” he said.

The group’s current strategy is based on four areas: the five-star hotel segment, vacation ownership, event catering and the Costa Coffee brand.

Its focus includes the construction of the Oasis resort on the 85,000-square-metre grounds of the old Ħal Ferħ complex, only one fifth of which will be built up, to retain the exclusive feel which will appeal to its top end clientele.

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