Meridiana to start operating again
Meridiana, the Italian low-cost airline that initiated its operation to Malta from Bologna last June for the Summer Season 2006, shall be resuming its regular flight schedule as from the 25th March 2007. Last Summer’s bi-weekly operation was preceded by the promotional visit of a group of Italian journalists to Malta immediately followed by a return visit of Maltese journalists and tour operators to Bologna. This year in order to further enhance this operation which was relatively successful at the outset, a promo-tour on a grander scale was held between the 18th and 21st of February. This event was organised by Malta International Airport in conjunction with EdiHouse of Bologna and the support of Meridiana. For the occasion a group of Maltese journalists and editors of the leading local media as well as tour operators, travel agents and Maltese DMCs were invited by Malta International Airport together with local chefs and musicians to animate a compact agenda of events over two full days in Bologna. The programme included a press conference hosted by the Assessore al Turismo per la Regione Emilia Dott.ssa Maria Cristina Santandrea which took place in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall and was addressed by the Chief Financial Officer of Malta International Airport Austin Calleja, the Area Manager of Meridiana Antonello Miccoli and Head of Communications for Malta International Airport Rosette Fenech, besides Assessore Santandrea herself. A good turnout of local journalists participated and showed a keen interest in Malta in anticipation of the afternoon activities which included a colloquium entitled “I 100 volti di Malta”. This was addressed by the Minister for Transport, Competitiveness & Communications, the Hon. Censu Galea, the Director General of the Federation of Industries Mr. Wilfred Kenely, the Chief Financial Officer of Malta International Airport Mr. Austin Calleja, as well as the Chief Executive of Meridiana Mr. Giuseppe Russo, and once again members of the media covering the Regione Emilia packed the conference hall. Simultaneously a workshop meeting was organised for the professionals of the travel trade who interacted with their Maltese counterparts and included the presentation of various tourist packages such as special interest proposals, cultural programmes, oeno-gastronomic packages and incentive tours. The workshop was concluded with the sampling of Maltese food and drink products and a performance cum presentation by the Gukulari Ensemble. Also, concurrently at “Tamburini”, a typical food outlet of the region, in coordination with the Club dei Sapori of the Accademia degli Ultimi, the people of Bologna were invited to taste typical Maltese products shipped over purposely for the occassion. The Maltese delegation was also invited by the President of the Regione Emilia for a welcome encounter whereby the Authorities of the Region expressed interest in receiving Maltese tourists in Emilia, since Bologna, besides being a pivotal point to visit other interesting sites such as Ferrara, Modena, Parma, Ravenna et alia, is also in itself a rich haven of cultural and artistic heritage. To this end the delegation was subsequently received by the Presidente Della Provincia and the Director of the Collezioni d’Arte AUSL Dr. Graziano Campanini of the Universita` di Bologna at the Oratorio Santa Maria della Vita. The programme was concluded at the quaint Concert Hall of the Accademia Filarmonica, an artistic gem which in its historic wealth hosted not only Mozart himself but also Mascagni, Puccini, Respighi and moreover recently serving as a rehearsal hall for the renowned Riccardo Muti, with a concert by Soprano Lydia Caruana accompanied by the orchestra of the Accademia Filarmonica conducted by Professor Maestro Joseph Vella at the Sala Mozart of the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna. The concert included works by Isouard, Tosti, Donizzetti, Rossini, Cilea and Puccini as well as Malta’s own Joseph Vella who’s Elegy for Violoncello Solo and Orchestra also featured as soloist the Maltese virtuoso cellist Simon Abdilla. Members of the Accademia Filarmonica, music enthusiasts of Bologna and local authorities attended this concert which was followed by a Gala Dinner at the Royal Hotel Carlton with a Maltese menu prepared for the occasion by Julian Sammut of Rubino of Valletta, assisted by Matty Cremona.
Meridiana, the Italian low-cost airline that initiated its operation to Malta from Bologna last June for the Summer Season 2006, shall be resuming its regular flight schedule as from the 25th March 2007. Last Summer’s bi-weekly operation was preceded by the promotional visit of a group of Italian journalists to Malta immediately followed by a return visit of Maltese journalists and tour operators to Bologna. This year in order to further enhance this operation which was relatively successful at the outset, a promo-tour on a grander scale was held between the 18th and 21st of February. This event was organised by Malta International Airport in conjunction with EdiHouse of Bologna and the support of Meridiana. For the occasion a group of Maltese journalists and editors of the leading local media as well as tour operators, travel agents and Maltese DMCs were invited by Malta International Airport together with local chefs and musicians to animate a compact agenda of events over two full days in Bologna. The programme included a press conference hosted by the Assessore al Turismo per la Regione Emilia Dott.ssa Maria Cristina Santandrea which took place in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall and was addressed by the Chief Financial Officer of Malta International Airport Austin Calleja, the Area Manager of Meridiana Antonello Miccoli and Head of Communications for Malta International Airport Rosette Fenech, besides Assessore Santandrea herself. A good turnout of local journalists participated and showed a keen interest in Malta in anticipation of the afternoon activities which included a colloquium entitled “I 100 volti di Malta”. This was addressed by the Minister for Transport, Competitiveness & Communications, the Hon. Censu Galea, the Director General of the Federation of Industries Mr. Wilfred Kenely, the Chief Financial Officer of Malta International Airport Mr. Austin Calleja, as well as the Chief Executive of Meridiana Mr. Giuseppe Russo, and once again members of the media covering the Regione Emilia packed the conference hall. Simultaneously a workshop meeting was organised for the professionals of the travel trade who interacted with their Maltese counterparts and included the presentation of various tourist packages such as special interest proposals, cultural programmes, oeno-gastronomic packages and incentive tours. The workshop was concluded with the sampling of Maltese food and drink products and a performance cum presentation by the Gukulari Ensemble. Also, concurrently at “Tamburini”, a typical food outlet of the region, in coordination with the Club dei Sapori of the Accademia degli Ultimi, the people of Bologna were invited to taste typical Maltese products shipped over purposely for the occassion. The Maltese delegation was also invited by the President of the Regione Emilia for a welcome encounter whereby the Authorities of the Region expressed interest in receiving Maltese tourists in Emilia, since Bologna, besides being a pivotal point to visit other interesting sites such as Ferrara, Modena, Parma, Ravenna et alia, is also in itself a rich haven of cultural and artistic heritage. To this end the delegation was subsequently received by the Presidente Della Provincia and the Director of the Collezioni d’Arte AUSL Dr. Graziano Campanini of the Universita` di Bologna at the Oratorio Santa Maria della Vita. The programme was concluded at the quaint Concert Hall of the Accademia Filarmonica, an artistic gem which in its historic wealth hosted not only Mozart himself but also Mascagni, Puccini, Respighi and moreover recently serving as a rehearsal hall for the renowned Riccardo Muti, with a concert by Soprano Lydia Caruana accompanied by the orchestra of the Accademia Filarmonica conducted by Professor Maestro Joseph Vella at the Sala Mozart of the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna. The concert included works by Isouard, Tosti, Donizzetti, Rossini, Cilea and Puccini as well as Malta’s own Joseph Vella who’s Elegy for Violoncello Solo and Orchestra also featured as soloist the Maltese virtuoso cellist Simon Abdilla. Members of the Accademia Filarmonica, music enthusiasts of Bologna and local authorities attended this concert which was followed by a Gala Dinner at the Royal Hotel Carlton with a Maltese menu prepared for the occasion by Julian Sammut of Rubino of Valletta, assisted by Matty Cremona.