Group Executive Team

Winston J. Zahra
Group Chief Executive Officer
Managing Director, Island Caterers Limited

Winston J. Zahra graduated with a First Class Bachelors of Arts honours degree in Hotel and Catering Management from Portsmouth University in 1991 following which he joined the Group. He was instrumental in the setting up of Island Caterers Limited as well as the Coastline Hotel, Radisson Blu Resort, St Julians and Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands. After having effectively managed all areas of the Group, in June 2001 Mr Zahra was appointed Director of Operations, Sales and Marketing and appointed CEO in August 2009. He was the youngest ever President of the Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association serving from 2002-2004 at a time when Malta’s entry into the European Union was high on the national agenda. Winston J. Zahra has also served on the boards of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality and the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. Over the years he has also occupied various posts on national and private boards including the HCEB, the main board of the Malta Tourism Association, Malta International Airport p.l.c., the Malta Transport Authority and the Airport Charges regulatory Board. He was recognised as the “Young Hotelier of the World” for 1999 by the International Hotels and Restaurants Association and HOTELS Magazine after a recommendation from the President and CEO of the Rezidor Hotel chain.

Kenneth Abela
Group Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary
Director, Bay Point Hotel Limited, Island Caterers Limited & Coastline Hotel Limited

Kenneth Abela is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants. He joined the group in 1992 and has since occupied a number of senior level positions within different subsidiaries across the group. In September 2009 Kenneth assumed the responsibilities of Chief financial Officer. His current role sees him overseeing all company accounting practices including the management of the accounting departments, budgetary control preparation and monitoring, and coordination of tax and audit functions. Kenneth also directs the group’s financial strategy, planning and forecasts and supervises investment appraisal and the raising of funds for business. In addition to the role of CFO, Kenneth is also the Company Secretary of all the companies within the group.

Ernest Barry
Chief Operating Officer
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands
Director, Bay Point Hotel Limited,
Island Caterers Limited

Ernest Barry joined the company in 1989 at the Bugibba Holiday Complex and has since held a number of positions across the Group. Between 1997 and 2004 he held the position of General Manager at The Coastline Hotel.  In 2005 he assumed the position of General Manager, heading the team at the Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian’s. His current role sees him administer the day to day running of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands hotel as well as developing the long term strategy for the Resort focusing on sales and profitability, guest service and product quality, property maintenance and most importantly stakeholder feedback and satisfaction. The resort incorporates 329 rooms and suites and employs a team of 300 employees. He is also involved in the development of the Hal Ferh site.

Raphael Cauchi
Chief Operating Officer
Radisson Blu Resort, Malta St. Julian's
Island Caterers
The Coastline Hotel
Director, Golden Sands Resort Limited,
Island Caterers Limited

Raphael Cauchi has been with the company since 1997 when he joined the opening team of the Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian’s. In the interim thirteen years he has held a number of senior positions within the company including General Manager of both the Radisson Blu properties. His current responsibilities include the overall management and responsibility for the operation of the Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian's, Island Caterers and The Coastline Hotel including sales and profitability, guest service & product quality, the maintenance and upkeep of the property, together with the overall satisfaction and welfare of all employees within the companies. He is also involved in the development of the Hal Ferh site.

Malcolm Buhagiar
General Manager
The Coastline Hotel
Director, Coastline Hotel Limited

Malcolm Buhagiar assumed the role of General Manager at the Coastline Hotel in 2005 having initially joined the company in 1995 and worked his way up the ranks. His responsibilities include the strategic development of the Coastline Hotel, managing daily operations and planning the use of materials and human resources. His focus areas are management of the cost base and the exceeding of guest satisfaction ratings as developed through the current Saga programme. Under his tenure the hotel has been rated consistently as the preferred hotel by Saga clients. The four star Coastline Hotel has a team of 145 employees and 207 rooms.

Ing. Marthese Vella
Group Director of Information Technology

An engineer by profession, Marthese Vella joined the group in 1999 as IT Manager for the Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian’s. She was promoted to Group IT Director in 2000. She is responsible for the overall Information & Communication Technology for the Group. She is responsible for all computer equipment, networks, guest internet facilities, IT security as well as business systems. Her main task is to ensure that the Group IT Strategy is in line with business objectives and that ICT assets ensure the maximisation of IT resources.

Christina Galea
Group Director of Human Resources

Christina Galea heads the HR Team ensuring the effective implementation of the Human Resources Strategy across the Group. She is responsible in ensuring that the devised HR strategy is focused on employee’ satisfaction which in turn results in genuine quality of service and improved productivity. This strategy is underpinned by the company’s core values and all initiatives introduced by the HR Team aim at continuously seeking improvement whether through training and development or reward and recognition. Christine has
been with the group since 2004 previously having held a number of HR positions within other international hospitality groups.

John Dandria
Group Director of Sales and Marketing

John Dandria joined the group in 1997 having previously held a number of positions within the local hotel industry. He is responsible for the overall sales and marketing efforts within the group for all market segments. The role incorporates the development and implementation of the group’s sales and marketing strategy aimed at developing the revenue potential of each market stream and the achievement of revenue budgets.

Adrian Attard
Hotel Manager, Radisson Blu Resort, Malta St. Julian's

Adrian Attard joined the group in 2005 and has since held positions including Asst. General Manager and Group Food & Beverage Manager; he was promoted to Group Director of Revenue Management in October 2009. He is primarily tasked with maximising group revenues and managing distribution networks. He overseas all E-commerce and Web-Development initiatives, and is responsible for the companies CRM and Loyalty Programmes. Adrian also directs the corporate communications strategy including marketing, advertising and public relations.

Mario Caruana
Group Executive Chef

Mario Caruana commenced his career at the Arches Restaurant and has since held several positions both locally and internationally within the culinary department. He joined the Group as Executive Chef of the Bugibba Holiday Complex assuming the role of Group Executive Chef in 1994. Mario is responsible for the overall culinary direction of the Group’s food preparation and production operations both within the hotels as well as at Island Caterers. His role also sees him overseeing the culinary creativity, production and operational controls as well as hygiene of all the kitchens within the Group.