Skål International
yesterday launched the second edition of the Malta
Tourism Awards, which recognise and reward excellence
in the tourism and travel trade in Malta.
Skål is an international organisation bringing
together managers and executives from the travel and
tourism industry.
The first edition of the competition last year attracted
39 nominations, in spite of the late launch of the
event, Skål International-Malta president Frans
Camilleri said.
As a result of the 2002 experience, the executive
committee of Skål Malta has revised the categories
for nominations, as well as the rules and the criteria
by which the nominations
are judged.
Mr Camilleri said a new sub-category has been included
in the transportation sector, covering means of transport
that provide a holiday experience, such as cruise boats,
karozzini and vintage coaches among others.
A new category - cultural, special interest and events
- has also been introduced to cater for cultural and
heritage sites, festivals, feasts and carnival.
The food and beverages category has been eliminated
as it was already covered to some extent by the catering
and entertainment category.
The nine categories for the 2003 awards are: transportation;
accommodation; incoming tourism; outgoing tourism;
cultural, special interest and events; academic and
professional;
media and promotion; catering and entertainment; tourism
and travel personality of the year.
More detailed criteria have been specified, tailored
to suit each particular category and sub-category,
rendering it easier to judge the nominations, Mr Camilleri
said.
Another novelty in the 2003 Malta Tourism Awards
is the introduction of three adjudicating panels, as
opposed
to one, allowing their composition to be better suited
to the categories.
A special panel of industry peers and experts has
also been introduced to judge the top three nominees
identified
by the adjudicating panels in each category.
Nomination forms are soon available from Skål
International Malta secretary George Schembri at The
Victoria Hotel,
Sliema, or through the club's web site www.skalmalta.com
Nominations are to be delivered to Deloitte & Touche,
1, Col. Savona Street, Sliema by not later than noon
on June 27.
The awards are presented during a ceremony that coincides
with World Tourism Day on September 27.
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