Island Hotels Group is proud to announce the fact that Mr Winston Zahra, Group Managing Director was ceremoniously decorated by the President of Malta Dr Eddie Fenech Adami. Mr W V Zahra is an entrepreneur whose vision and dedication paved the way for a more sustainable growth in the tourism industry. Island Hotels Group employs over a thousand people and is one of the major local hospitality players on the island. He started his career as a teacher and then moved on to tourism and hospitality gaining over forty years of experience.

On the 13th December, marking Malta’s anniversary back in 1974 when it was transformed into a Republic, Mr. Zahra was recognized for his contribution to entrepreneurship and tourism  by the President of the Republic who made him a member of the National Order of Merit during a ceremony held on Republic Day 2008. The Order of Merit pays tribute to Maltese citizens who distinguish themselves in different fields of Endeavour. The motto of the Order is "Virtute et Constantia".