Perspectives. Save for the long steel legs of oil rigs undergoing repair at the harbour, Malta‘s capital La Valletta looks as if the crusaders had only just left yesterday. Of course, modern yachts and cruise ships also remind us that time has not stood still at the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The sun casts its rays on the knights’ limestone fortresses and auberges. The two Barakka Gardens at Unesco World Heritage site La Valletta are a highly enticing setting for events.

And the over 7,000-sqm Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC) is even more evocative of the knights with old suits of armour lining the corridors. One can hardly believe that the huge venue with its 16 rooms and 1,400-seat auditorium dates back to 1567! At a length of 155 metres, the Long Hall, which served as the order’s infirmary for up to 914 patients, stuns with natural daylight instead of columns. The second-class ward now serves as a venue for first-class banquets and has been named “La Valette” after the Grand Master who gave the city its name. To celebrate the MCC’s foundation 40 years ago, the roof terrace will become bookable for events in 2019.

Valletta‘s Manoel National Theatre with its stunning acoustics and 623 seats, commissioned and funded by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena in 1731, is also available for events. Underground tunnels once led to the knights‘ auberges. The upper four box levels under the gilt ceiling of the world’s third-oldest working theatre were added by the British in 1844.

Sustainable. “Meetings have grown sustainably. Years ago it was only for a few months, now we’re in season all the year round,” says Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca with delight. In addition to the main island and some tiny islets, she also represents Gozo and diving paradise Comino. As the island republic with a population of under half a million lies 250 km north of Africa, the President emphasises the strategic role of Air Malta: “After all, we can only be reached by boat or plane.” Coleiro Preca has open ears for companies with a social agenda. She has been known to let donors use her historic residences, Attards San Anton and Siggiewis Verdala Palace, for events. Her CORE platform promotes social commitment and corporate social responsibility, while the Presidentʼs Trust helps socially disadvantaged young people. In addition, Maltaʼs President supports foundations against cancer and for social well-being as well as SPARK, a public park for street children. “Africa needs sustainable investments rather than good deeds,” she says, aware that Malta is becoming too small for its businesses, and warns: “China is all over the place.”

The Hilton Malta in Saint Julianʼs is anything but small, with 413 rooms and a “branding-friendly” 19-room conference centre. The 5-star hotel with spectacular terraces along the Portomaso marina is rented by groups for three to four days exclusively and cooperates with neighbouring hotels where required. The Hilton’s Grand Master’s Suite can accommodate 1,330 delegates. The “royal” Thai cuisine of the hotel’s Blue Elephant Restaurant is not to be missed.

Leading Hotel Phoenicia, next to the Renaissance palace of the Maltese Prime Minister, is an alternative with up to 50 bedrooms for groups. An extension is slated to open this year. Hotel Phoenicia‘s 284-sqm ballroom has space for 300 delegates, who can also relax in the 5-star hotel’s sprawling gardens.

Malta Fairs and Convention Centre (MFCC), owned by the Corinthia Group, has capacities for 17,000 people. Located at the former military airport, the 17-metre high tension fabric structure has a length of 170 metres and width of 50 metres. The MFCC also offers international services for PCOs.

For incentives such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, abseiling and rock climbing, Esther Bajada, Tourism Director of the Ministry for Gozo, recommends Malta’s sister island. Gozo is even greener but also more expensive, as 77 per cent of its guest beds are in holiday apartments. The 5-star Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz provides 140 rooms, the Grand Hotel at the ferry port boasts 100 and one star less. Captain Morgan Cruises offers not only harbour tours and charter boats in Valletta, but also Land Rover tours in Gozo.

The Azure Window may have collapsed during a storm in 2017 but Fungus Rock and the Inland Sea near San Lawrenz are well worth a visit. After a 14-m-euro renovation, the Cittadella in Gozo’s capital Victoria is Bajada’s recommendation for events with up to 100 people. The award-winning TaʼFrenc restaurant also serves as a venue for events in Gozo. Its regional cuisine in the old farmhouse would even have delighted the most discerning crusaders.