The Corinthia Group of Companies celebrated its 45th anniversary with a grand gala dinner held at the Group's birthplace, the Corinthia Room of the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Attard.
The event was attended by President Eddie Fenech Adami and Mrs Fenech Adami, together with Corinthia chairman and CEO Alfred Pisani, group directors, senior executives and long serving personnel.
The event, with a "black and white" theme, also incorporated two presentation ceremonies, the first for 16 employees of the year from Corinthia hotels worldwide and the second for a total of 85 local employees with 10 to 35 years of service to the company.
A "surprise" and greatly appreciated third presentation ceremony saw Dr Fenech Adami distribute 45-years continuous service certificates to Pisani brothers Alfred, Joseph, George and Victor, who together had set up the company in 1962.
The President congratulated Corinthia Group for having indefatigably, for so many years, been at the forefront in the hospitality industry not only locally but even overseas. Dr Fenech Adami remarked that the Corinthia Group has set a fine example to all Maltese entrepreneurs as to what a local company, undaunted by fierce international competition, can achieve through perseverance, foresight and last but not least, hard work.
Over the past 45 years, the Corinthia Group has flourished into a leading international hospitality brand of upscale hotels. All Corinthia hotels joined in the 45th anniversary celebrations by holding special festivities for both their guests and employees.
Commenting on the occasion, the chairman said: "Commitment and determination were our driving force from day one, as indeed they still are to this day. This spirit is very much in evidence in all our hotels worldwide, especially among our very dedicated employees, and therefore it is only fitting that both our guests as also our employees share with us the results of our enthusiasm and join us in celebrating our 45th anniversary."
It was 45 years to the day when the four brothers inaugurated the upmarket Corinthia Restaurant in the family's art nouveau villa at San Anton. The fine-dining restaurant was soon to become the focal point for the Island's gourmet society. By 1964, the four brothers had drawn up plans for the 155-room Corinthia Palace Hotel on Villa Corinthia's extensive grounds. The de luxe hotel was eventually inaugurated on June 11, 1968 in the presence of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.