The Tumas Group development, Portomaso, has scored in a big way in two of the three top categories at the International Property Awards.
It received the Gold Award in the Best Marina Development category and the Silver Award in the Best Luxury Development category.
"To receive one award is gratifying, to receive two is euphoric," said the Tumas Group's sales and marketing director Maurice Tabone, speaking after the ceremony, held at the Dorchester Hotel, London, on Tuesday.
The awards are considered to be highly respected symbols of prestige and excellence in a competitive market, both for developers and the buying public. International property developers covet the International Property Awards in the same way that film stars covet the Oscars.
"The international recognition and publicity resulting from the awards to Portomaso is a further step towards putting Malta on the map and is proof that aiming for excellence pays," Mr Tabone said.
Entries for the awards hailed from the four continents - Florida, the Gold Coast, Dubai, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus among others.
Independent judges assess the entries and shortlist the best five in each category. The judges then visit the shortlisted properties to make the final selections.
All shortlisted candidates are invited to the awards ceremony but the winners are only announced on the night.
Portomaso was represented at the ceremony by Group managing director George Fenech and Mr Tabone, who described the awards night as one of the most "nail-biting experiences we had to endure - and eventually revel in!"
The minor awards were announced first and "we were already wondering if our development had made the grade. At that stage, we would have been quite content with a bronze, or a commendation," Mr Tabone recounted.
Nerves were rattling when the bronze and silver awards in the Best Luxury Development category were announced and there was no mention of Portomaso, he said.
"When it was announced that the Gold Award for the Best Marina Development goes to Portomaso Malta neither of us could believe it and we both remained glued to our chairs in spite of the cheers and clapping around us."
And there was more to come.
The third category, Developer of the Year Award, is limited to international developments, which have done the most to help UK buyers in the previous year. Therefore, Portomaso was not involved.
The awards were presented by four-time Olympic rowing gold medal winner Sir Matthew Pinsent.
The judges' official report, among other comments, stated that "the development in the flesh, exceeds the impression given by the superb marketing material and justly deserves the developer's accolade of Best Waterfront Address", Mr Tabone said.
The judges went on to say that the development is not overpriced, given its position and facilities.
"Winning these awards acknowledges Tumas Group's efforts to set high standards, which it has managed to achieve with Portomaso and augurs well for its next big project in Mellieha, the first phase of which was sold in under two months last year," Mr Tabone said. The second phase of the Mellieha project comes on the market within the next few weeks and the group has also started construction of a Hilton Hotel on Lake Geneva, which is scheduled to open in June 2006.
With regard to Portomaso, further apartments in the last phase are being placed on the market later this month.