SUI GENERIS EXHIBITION

Naomi Gatt and Claudia Muscat have combined their artistic talents to present a colourful and varied array of exhibits under the common title SUI GENERIS.  This unique painters’ exhibition is being hosted at Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa in Balluta Bay. Indeed, the hotel has consistently established itself as a mecca for Maltese and foreign artists alike over the past 7 years.

Naomi Gatt is a graphic designer and owns a first degree in Communication and Psychology. The mastering of these two essential elements of human interactions enables her to express her inner feelings in poignant and surprisingly accurate female facial expressions.  She has playful traits which bring out unexpected renderings in her depiction of common objects.  Naomi has dabbled with various topics and different media, however what lures her most is the capturing of faces.  The viewer is transported to the soul of the painting through the eyes of these inspiring portraits. It is a very powerful way for Naomi Gatt to bring her deepest emotions to the forefront of her exhibits. She chooses simple, nearly depurated images and transforms them into intense art depictions.

by Naomi Gatt. All rights reserved.

Christmas & Latitudes

Christmas wears luxurious scents of discovery this year at Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa. The creative management team has taken out a compass and drawn bridges across oceans, showing their clientele directions to festive traditions and countless rituals all over the world. The hotel will be unfolding all their menus, Christmas-related activities and decorations around one unique – yet inspiring - focal point: the many customs and traditions celebrated under different latitudes at this time of year.  

Year after year, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa always strives to present a new refreshing angle to its Christmas and New Year’s Eve options. Everything is carefully thought through to provide visitors with a renewed and enchanted experience. With this in mind, and throughout the past Christmas seasons, the hotel has in turn invited us to a Christmas Factory, engulf us magically in a fairy tale atmosphere and inspire us with a musical approach. Le Méridien’s inspiration goes across borders this year with a merry season entitled “Christmas & Latitudes”. 

 "Our Christmas & Latitudes brochure has been conceived like a boarding pass, opening doors to a multitude of new horizons", explains Melissa DeGabriele, Senior Marketing Executive at Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa. "It presents our menu options of course, all articulated around the selected theme, but it is also filled with fun facts, quotes and QR codes, allowing the reader a dynamic and interactive approach to his selection process." Indeed, Le Méridien Christmas & Latitudes brochure invites the reader to learn about myths and dishes, dances and customs, unusual tastes and colourful folklore. Whilst flicking through this extensive list of dinners, lunches and parties; one can also unveil some interesting cultural facts and inspiring quotes that join the dots of true international celebrations. This is a wide-range theme that allows space for the expected traditional Christmas spirit, but taken to a whole new and different level. 

CHRISTMAS & LATITUDES

Our entire hotel team is proud to present our innovative Christmas theme: this year, we are taking you around the world for the end-of-year festivities!

Our Christmas brochure is live:

HOPS & FORK

your favourite beer on a silver plate

Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverage and is the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea. But beer is more than just a drink. Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa, in partnership with Farsons, explores the unlimited possibilities of the rich flavours contained in a pint and demonstrates the versatility of that ancestral brewed recipe. Until the 25th of October, the culinary theme at KuDéTa Lounge & Bar is beer, with special offers, à-la-carte beer pairing menu, weekend entertainment and giveaways. A 5-star approach to malt and ale, which promises to seduce crowds of beer enthusiasts.

Did you know that lagers go very well with fish and white meat dishes, whereas ales pair well with smoked, barbecued food and red meats? Well, that’s only one of the many tricks that Le Méridien creative kitchen brigade will be using for the delight of our taste buds in the coming week. Throughout the Hops & Forks initiative at KuDéTa Lounge & Bar, visitors will be able to avail themselves from a unique a-la-carte menu with tantalizing items such as asparagus ravioli with a Blue Label Ale beurre blanc, beef stroganoff gnocchi with a Guinness and truffle cream sauce or ginger and Cisk Export cake with hazelnut ice-cream. But that’s not it. A lot of other dishes are on offer with surprising and inspiring accompaniments such as Hopleaf Pale Ale cream sauce, Woodpecker sauce, bacon compote infused with beer and so on. Other interesting highlights include black shell mussels cooked with Cisk Lager and even a choice of homemade pizzas with a sumptuous beer dough.

A taste of Malta in Paris

Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa shares a taste of the Maltese Islands on the occasion of Joseph Calleja’s concert in the romantic capital city of Paris.

On Tuesday 23rd of April, Joseph Calleja performed at the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris. For this unique and prestigious occasion, “La Grande Voix de Malte” (The Great Voice of Malta) was accompanied by the Orchestra of the Republican Guard, directed by François Boulanger. As part of a Brand that mixes contemporary culture with its European heritage and that aims at creating a culturally refined, meaningful and stimulating atmosphere in more than 100 hotels around the world, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa naturally hopped on board of this artistic exchange as presented by the Maltese Ambassador in France, S.E.M. Pierre Clive Agius. The evening, under the patronage of Claude Bartolone, President of the French National Assembly, certainly contributed to strengthening the Franco-Maltese relationship. The concert was followed by a Maltese dining reception in the beautiful and historical private halls of the Governor of Paris, concocted in exclusivity by Le Méridien St Julians’ Executive Head Chef Reuben Grixti.

Joseph Calleja’s concert at the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris with the Orchestra of the Republican Guard.

Lights out at Le Meridien St Julians

Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa  joined millions around the world in turning off lights for Earth Hour 2013 to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action. Earth Hour 2013 took place on Saturday, 23^rd March at 8:30 p.m. local time.  Created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour is the largest movement for the planet in human history, spanning 7,000 cities, 152 countries, with a digital reach of 200 million. 

Andy Smith at KuDeTa

Andy Smith will be performing on the 18th, the 22nd and the 23rd of March from 9pm onwards at KuDeTa Lounge & Bar. Don't miss it!

 

A snippet of Andy Smith's biography:

 

Andrew Smith started playing the guitar and bass from a very young age and honed his talents playing for choirs and gospel artist. Opportunities soon came his way that would propel him into the British mainstream music industry.

 

He has worked with world renowned recording artists from the UK and around the world. He has produced, toured and played with the likes of : Westlife, George Michael, Rod Stewart, Shakira, Amy Winehouse, Gwen Steffanie, Jamiroquai, Take That, Gabrielle, Lauryn Hill, Alexander O’Neil, M People, Atomic Kitten, Lulu, Gloria Gaynor, Desire, All Saints, Matt Goss, Lemar, Jocelyn Brown, Billy Piper, Belinda Carlise, Chipmunk, and Beverely Knight, just to name a few.

MYSTERY. CURIOSITY. DISCOVERY.

Le Méridien Venetian Ball

This coming Friday 8th of February 2013, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa is organising its first Venetian Ball at the hotel in Balluta Bay. Tickets are available in Malta at 202 Jewellery Le Méridien outlet (Mon to Sun from 10am to 10pm) or from 202 Jewellery Outlets in Bisazza Street Sliema, Merchants Street Valletta, Zabbar Road Fgura & Victoria Gozo. (Mon to Sat from 9am to 7pm)

MORE INFO ON http://on.fb.me/100yWm6

For the occasion, we will have many surprises for you:

1. A Pair of Crystal TRESOR PARIS Earrings will be given to all Ladies on Entrance. Earrings to be worn during the Event to be eligible to win Grand Prize.

2. By attending Le Méridien's unique masquerade ball, guests automatically enter a poll to win a 2 night stay at the Westin Europa & Regina in Venice!

3. The runner-up will get a complimentary Valentine's dinner for 2 people. 

Price per person is €30.00 including finger food, welcome drink and entry ticket.

You may get a FREE ticket when purchasing a Tresor Paris Watch or Jewellery for €99 or more at a 202 Jewellery outlet. 

Overnight stay for Venetian Ball participants: €60euros per room per night in a Classic Room.

Dress code: Guests are expected to wear period costumes or fancy dress/black tie with mask. 

We are looking forward to sharing one of the fanciest evenings of the year with you!

A FEAST OF FOOD

Festa Fridays at Le Méridien St Julians hotel & spa
Il-Pjazza outdoor restaurant opens its doors to a typical Maltese summer next week.

On Friday 8th of June, il-Pjazza – Le Méridien’s outdoor restaurant will officially open for the summer season and will once again celebrate the colourful ways of wining and dining in Malta with the come-back of its popular "FESTA FRIDAY". Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa in Balluta Bay invites his summer clientele to lay back in a typical set-up inspired by the Festa atmosphere that sprinkles the island throughout the summer months.  

The name "il-Pjazza" was born quite naturally when the hotel launched this original venue last year. What better term could describe a typical gathering, at the heart of the village feasts in Malta?
Il-Pjazza is located on a wide terrace of the hotel’s premises (level 1) and opens every Friday for this much-awaited FESTA that is a delight for both Maltese patrons, who get the chance to indulge in each and every one of their favourite dishes, and for overseas visitors who can unveil the many culinary secrets of Malta’s cuisine all in one go.    

ASSOCIATE FUNDRAISING FOR UNICEF

In support of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ 5^th annual associate fundraising campaign Road to Awareness, Le Méridien St Julians is organising a fun Car Wash and Car Boot Sale on Saturday 2^nd June, in the outdoor parking in front of the hotel’s reception.

This year’s ‘Road to Awareness’ campaign raises money for UNICEF’s Early Childhood Care and Education programme in Ethiopia. The aim of the project is to provide the most disadvantaged children in rural communities with pre-primary education so they are better prepared to start going to school. Indeed, in Ethiopia, over 80% of the population live in rural communities and many children have to survive on less than US$1 a day. A lack of education and no access to pre-school is seen as one of the key barriers to a child not being able to reach their full potential and escape a life of poverty.

The money raised through Starwood’s ‘Road to Awareness’ campaign - which includes local fundraising initiatives across hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East as well as an annual fundraising bike ride - will help tackle this by giving thousands of the most vulnerable children in Ethiopia access to pre-school and the chance of a brighter future. Starwood’s support will contribute to the construction of 10 pre-schools, provide pre-school education to up to 50,000 children aged six and enable UNICEF to train 10,000 young instructors to aide their learning.

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.

Le Méridien boasts Maltese Culture for World Tourism Day

St Julians, Malta – September, 30th 2011

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has been celebrating World Tourism Day every year, on September 27. It is on that specific date, in 1970, that the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. The purpose of World Tourism Day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.

The participants to World Tourism Day excurison organised by Le Meridien

Le Méridien Malta paints it purple for SPG

The launch of the SPG awareness week started with a bang this Monday at Le Méridien Malta, with a Guest Cocktail Party proudly representing the colours of SPG and involving our dedicated Management Team, available to present customers with all the advantages the program has to offer. All throughout the week, our hotel guests checking in at the front desk will be greeted by enthusiastic receptionists wearing SPG T-shirts purposely printed for the occasion. All arriving customers are being offered a delicious home-made SPG cupcake as a welcome treat, prepared with passion by Le Méridien kitchen brigade. Our maintenance and housekeeping departments worked hand in hand to bring the SPG theme alive throughout our premises: countless purple balloons filled up with helium are nicely covering up the ceiling of our lobby, whilst the façade was decorated with a huge Starwood Preferred Guest banner hanging down from the top of the building. Last but not least, guests and associates alike can’t stop talking about the impressive highlight of the week… As soon as the sun goes down, passers-by on Balluta Bay Promenade can indeed enjoy an unusual sight: the entire facade of the hotel prettily lighting up with a distinctive purple halo...

Il-Pjazza - or the Maltese way of living

On Friday 10th of June, il-Pjazza – Le Méridien’s new outdoor restaurant will officially open and unlock the colourful ways of wining and dining in Malta with its very first "FESTA FRIDAY". With this new venue, Le Méridien St Julians invites his summer clientele to lay back in a pleasant set-up inspired by the Festa atmosphere that sprinkles the island throughout summer.

"We wanted to widen our dining options", explains Andre Scerri, F&B Director at Le Méridien St Julians. "It had become obvious that we needed to present an original summer venue and the idea of re-creating the concept of our island’s popular Festa in a 5 star environment imposed itself to us".

The name "il-Pjazza" was also born quite naturally when the hotel’s team brainstormed about the Maltese way of living. What better term could describe a typical meeting point, at the heart of the village feasts in Malta?

Le Méridien Kids Can Cook

Remy, the cute cartoon keen on French Gastronomy in the famous children’s movie "Ratatouille", better watches out for Le Méridien Kids! Indeed, whilst the animated character was displaying his fictitious culinary talents on a giant screen placed in the kitchen of Le Méridien St Julians this Saturday morning, an enthusiastic (and very lively) junior kitchen brigade was actively working with real ingredients, under the amused yet professional supervision of Executive Head Chef Reuben Grixti.

Children's Art for the Planet

This year, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa went "Beyond the Hour*" on the occasion of Earth Hour 2011, a global awareness movement for the environment that started off in 2007.

Indeed, on Saturday 26th March, instead of simply switching off the lights from 8.30pm till 9.30pm as indicated by this energy-saving project, the Hotel’s management went one step further. Guests and patrons were formally invited to join the Team in the hotel lobby at 8.15pm to share a welcome drink. Shortly before the lights went off, the official video of Earth Hour 2011 was projected on a giant screen to raise awareness of the initiative amongst all present. This introduction video was followed by a choreographed Le Méridien moment called “evening ritual”, whereas members of the staff – dressed in the appropriate branded costumes - solemnly entered the lobby and lit up the candles placed on the center piece of the room. The scene was rolled out on a powerful music by the artist Enya playing in the background. The evening then transformed into a candle-lit moment whilst a talented guitarist pleasantly entertained the guests for a couple of hours.

Earth Hour at Le Méridien: children’s pledge for Mother Earth

At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for the Earth Hour. So will all Starwood Hotels worldwide. Fully supported by its mother company, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa will adopt the initiative for the 3rd consecutive year. But with an interactive and creative twist this time.

"The project has been impressively evolving on a global scale", states Mark Muscat de Celis, Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien St Julians. "And we don’t want to fall behind. We want to involve our community, encourage Maltese people to take action and motivate our youth to adopt a new perspective."

With this philosophy in mind, Le Méridien St Julians is launching an interactive competition based on children’s creativity and aimed at populating what promises to be a unique art exhibition. Indeed, the management is enthusiastically inviting all children between 7 and 14years old to come up with an A4 creation on the theme of "Mother EARTH"*. The technique (water colours, pencils, collage, etc.) is left to the preference of the child, however all artworks must be laid on A4 sized paper. The drawings will all be exhibited on the 26th March at the KuDéTa Bar & Lounge. On that day, hotel guests and local customers will be able to enjoy this "Mother EARTH" art exhibition and vote for their favorite piece of art. The winner of the competition will get a free afternoon of horse riding for him/herself and his/her close family, together with a picnic basket full of delicious Le Méridien treats.

Art competition for children on the theme of "Mother EARTH"

On top of this original exhibition, Le Méridien St Julians will of course respect the electricity curfew that will put the entire hotel in the dark from 8.30pm till 9.30pm. "But switching off the lights is a simple gesture that must come across as a celebration", emphasizes Angela Saliba, Hotel Manager. "We want to go beyond a mechanical energy saving moment and we are inviting all our patrons to take a stand with us by sharing the magic of a candle-lit evening". Indeed, for an hour and decorated by the children’s creations, Le Méridien’s public areas will solely be lit with candles. To encourage both hotel guests and local customers to visit the premises for this special evening, the Management is also organizing a "Happy Hour" at the KuDéTa Bar & Lounge from 8.30pm and 9.30pm: for every drink purchased at the bar, clients will receive a second one for free.

AMBIguous: a creative versatility!

This upcoming art exhibition, named "AMBIguous", is gathering the creative forces of two very versatile Maltese artists: Mr. Mark Mallia and Ms. Claire Attard-Vella. It will be on display from the 12th till the 27th of March 2011, on the second floor of Le Méridien St Julians in Balluta Bay. Access to the exhibition area is free of charge.

Claire Attard-Vella working on one of her creations

Malta Cultural Institute Concert

The third concert of the Malta Cultural Institute season 2010/ 2011, will be held on the 13th December 2010 in the Grand Exhibition Hall of the Hotel Le Meridien, St. Julian’s, at 7:00pm. Special guests for the evening will be the Piano Duo Franco Foderà and Giovanna Mirrione, who are travelling from Trapani, Sicily, to perform for the MCI. They are not new-comers to Malta and have performed on the MCI platform some years ago.

Le Meridien Christmas Factory

Book your Christmas function before the 31st of October and get a 15% discount on your total bill!
Call (+356) 2311 2108 during office hours
or email sales.malta@lemeridien.com to consult our function menus.