A real Coup d’État for PRIMA TAZZA launch

A surprise Opera performance to portray the strong energizing feeling of a morning coffee cup!
A few months ago, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa launched a creative committee called LM100Malta, with renowned members from various artistic disciplines. To kick off their programme of activities in style, the hotel organised an unusual morning event baptized PRIMA TAZZA, involving LM100Malta members Julian Calascione (Illy Coffee representative) and Marie-Therese Vassallo, from the Malta Cultural Institute. The event was aimed at reinforcing the Coffee Culture within the hotel, highlighting KuDéTa Bar & Lounge as being the ideal venue for all to enjoy their first and traditional cup of coffee of the day. With a great coffee supplier and breathtaking views over pretty Balluta Bay, the place has certainly a lot to offer to coffee lovers. Additionally, Le Méridien Management’s goal is to bring to life an inspiring environment in their public areas, in line with their Brand mission statement.

Hotel patrons, VIP guests, Starwood Preferred Guests members and local media personalities were invited to the PRIMA TAZZA launch which occurred at KuDéTa Lounge & Bar on Friday 27^th of April at 8.30am. To further enhance this unique launch, the radio XFM 100.2 was broadcasting live from KuDéTa with presenter Steve Hili sharing entertaining comments about the surrounding activities during his popular Big Breakfast Show.

KuDéTa Lounge & Bar was indeed buzzing with a fun atmosphere, great marketing visuals from Illy Coffee and the morning chatter of the attendees. Several coffee stations were available for guests to treat themselves to their favourite Illy coffee cup, whilst Le Méridien kitchen went out of their way to present a breakfast reception, with delicious items ranging from apple turn-overs to the classic French croissants. Mood videos were being projected on a large screen and Julian Calascione, the representative of Illy Coffee in Malta, greeted the guests with a welcome speech about the coffee culture in general.

The highlight of the event – however – lies in a totally unexpected surprise by the Malta Cultural Institute, which will certainly stay in all attendees’ minds for quite a while. As people were enjoying their morning treats, and completely out of the blue, one of the guests (namely Marie Therese Vassallo) stood up and randomly started off singing the first few notes of Habanera from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, in a crystalline mezzo-soprano voice. Whilst this sudden singing outburst caught the audience’s immediate attention by its unexpected and odd character, guests went from bewilderment to excited amazement as a waitress unexpectedly joined in the refrain of the famous song, replying to Marie-Therese in what seems to be a spontaneous act of Opera performance. Before everyone could comprehend the unusual scene unfolding before their eyes, more waiters made their voices echoed to the melody and all of a sudden a whole choir, seemingly “normal” guests, joined in from every corner of the venue. A real Opera mob for the delight of all PRIMA TAZZA guests, portraying the strong energizing feeling of the first coffee cup of the day.  LM100Malta committee, by Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa, definitely marked the beginning of their creative adventure with a successful event that addresses to the senses of its audience; and it’s with delighted taste buds and uplifting music notes in mind that the PRIMA TAZZA guests went on with their day when the event ended an hour later.

“Hopefully, KuDéTa Lounge & Bar will remain in everyone’s mind as the perfect venue for their PRIMA TAZZA of the day”, states Mr. Franco Vella, General Manager of the hotel. “We are extremely glad that the launch went well and most importantly, that our guests truly enjoyed themselves. We worked very closely together with our partners to make this happen and our new creative committee LM100Malta will certainly look at organising other creative events in the near future.”

XFM100.2 carried on broadcasting live from KuDéTa Lounge & Bar until 3.30pm on that day, putting forward interactive competitions for their listeners and promoting the inviting food and beverage offers extended at the bar for the occasion.