MiMalta – A Profile

Set up in Malta in 2006, MiMalta is a fast-growing, hands-on Destination Management Company that offers a wide spectrum of hospitality and ancillary services to Malta’s incoming Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events sector.

Thanks to the foresight and dynamism of a small but professional team of people, led by Erika Farrugia Harding and Douglas Barbaro Sant, MiMalta has, over the short span of three years, managed to establish itself as one of Malta’s leading Destination Management Companies.

The Company’s growth pattern since its inception has been impressive and it has invariably managed to exceed its projected turnover targets year on year. Likewise, the Company’s enviable track record in supplying an outstanding service to major visiting International companies and Institutions, has enabled it to clinch major overseas contracts in the face of stiff competition from bigger and more traditional DMCs, firmly establishing it as the ‘Malta MICE Expert’ in International business circles.

The eclectic range of products and services that MiMalta offers its clients include expert advise on conference budgeting; planning and implementation of ‘creative’ conference, meetings and incentives packages; Handling of all accommodation requirements; sourcing of exclusive venues for themed events; ground handling, including logistics support and transportation requirements; tailor-made excursions and events using the island’s top facilities and resources; round the clock supervision of conference and events proceedings; Pre and post event client relations, and much more. Indeed, MiMalta sets itself no limits in terms of creativity and the selection of services and activities that it offers, preferring to let its customers have the final word on this.

Among its list of contented clients MiMalta boasts of top names such as BBVA, GE, General Motors, Givenchy, Microsoft, Michelin, Pfizer, Renault, Rentokil and SSL, with other big names already contracted for the future.

The Team

Douglas Barbaro Sant - Douglas set up MiMalta in partnership with Erika Farrugia Harding in 2006 and is blessed by a positive sense of adventure and a business acumen that are the envy of his peers. Having worked in various sectors of Malta’s Tourism Industry for the past 14 years, from Hotel operations to destination management, Douglas has garnered the required experience and passion for a challenging career that, together with his colleague director Erika Farrugia Harding, has seen him take the business of destination management to new heights. Douglas personally follows up on all new business leads and jointly conducts all negotiations on behalf of MiMalta.

Erika Farrugia Harding - Prior to entering into her joint venture with Douglas, Erika had overseen the MICE division of Malta’s leading International hotel chain for 10 consecutive years. She had previously graduated with honours in Hotel management. Providing a steadying force within the company, Erika Farrugia Harding is the ultimate perfectionist, having a vast knowledge of the hotel and MICE market and a sense of duty, coupled with sensational organisational abilities that have helped her grow MiMalta beyond its targets. Together with Douglas, Erika has been a regular face at the major international travel fairs and has personally led sales efforts and road shows throughout Europe. Her strong character and dynamism are helping immeasurably in pushing MiMalta to the forefront of the Malta DMC circuit.

Clint Mercieca - Clint is a psychology graduate from the University of Malta and despite his young age has already gained experience in a number of positions of major responsibility, ably handled thanks to his educational background, natural pleasant disposition and trained management skills. Multi-talented and multi-cultural, Clint has handled many visiting groups staying in Malta, gradually adding product knowledge that now makes him an indispensible team player for MiMalta. He has proven organisational skills that blend with an enthusiastic, energetic personality that add a new dimension to the MiMalta experience.

Stephania Abela-Tickle – Relatively young but widely experienced, Stephania has already done the hospitality circuit twice over, having played the roles of hotelier in Malta, UK and Tunisia and later that of MICE organiser with a locally renowned DMC to perfection. Stephania’s strength lies in her talented creativity and total commitment to her clients’ every need, no matter how challenging. With Stephania, nothing is left to chance when it comes to detail and her positive attitude and client loyalty give conference organisers the necessary peace of mind that their event is truly in a safe pair of hands.

What do clients have to say…

"We organized a medical meeting in Malta for about 220 delegates from Spain, Italy and Portugal. Mi Malta was in charge for the transfers, hotel accommodation and the social program. The meeting was a success! For that reason we are going to repeat it in 2009 thanks to the high level of service and the efforts from all the team of MI Malta (Erika, Douglas, SuperClint and Stephania). Also, I would like to thank you for your professionalism, sense of humour and patience, it was and it would be a pleasure to work with you again!” Cristina Alonso - Dpto. Eventos y Congresos - MBA Incorporado SA

"Thanks MiMalta for making our European Conference a resounding success! We really couldn’t have done it without you and your team. Absolutely nothing was too much trouble or unattainable and everything was achieved with a smile and good sense of humour. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to any other organisers or corporate clients." Lisa Pope - Project Director - WRG

"It is not easy to find words powerful enough to reflect what I would like to say. Working with you has been a delight. From our first contact, through the preparation phase and during the actual event, your constant professional, flexible, customer focused and friendly approach made this event a great success. You are being modest when you say 'meeting us is half the fun'...it is so much more. For Ansell, the Winterschool of 2008 in Malta has been recognized as the best event ever." Annick De Decker - Ansell

"As a leading Dutch tour operator and travel agency we work worldwide. We have worked with MI Malta on several different projects and we have always been extremely satisfied. They work round the clock and are always there, very hospitable to both our clients and to us, very professional and always taking care of the smallest details. It's a great pleasure to work with them and our clients are impressed by Malta, but even more by the staff of MI Malta." Hetty Vrencken -Tour operator & travel agency for the medical profession -VVAA reisbureau bv

"Erika and Douglas, many thanks to both of you for this Convention which will stay in our memories : Professionalism, flexibility, dynamism, fresh ideas and fun have been the ingredients of a success story! Our customers and ExxonMobil staff enjoyed themselves so much that they didn't want to go back Home! Malta for a next time, definitely YES! but only with Mimalta team!" Stéphanie Neree - Divisional Marketing and Communication – Exxon Mobil

“MI Malta impressed us very much, everything was extremely very well organised and always delivered on time. So much attention to detail was given all throughout the groups stay and our client and his employees enjoyed the trip immensely and everybody was ecstatic about the Maltese islands. Erica and Douglas, thanks again for all your efforts! From our initial contact I knew I was dealing with professionals who knew exactly what an incentive was all about and how clients should be taken care of. We certainly look forward to working with you again in the near future.” Hans Beckers - Managing Director - Beckers Groepsreizen

’We have just finished a Top Sales Incentive with a group of serious incentive winners all visiting Malta for the first time from nine different European countries. The unqualified success of the trip owed a great deal to the thought and effort from Mimalta in preparing and customising the programme to fit the group. They produced a superb result --- and Malta is now worth putting on every company’s list!’’ Grant Parrott - Divisional Marketing Services Director - Rentokil Initial plc

“Many thanks to both of you for hosting my group in such a professional and welcoming manner! I have been nothing but impressed with your services, and look forward to working with you again in the near future” Ms Lucy Collins – BlackTomato

“As an organiser of top level international conferences and events with a vast experience all over Europe and the US, I was truly impressed by the constant level of proficiency, responsiveness, flexibility and friendliness throughout our event in Malta. the good experience with Erika started right from the very first contact and remained during the inspection trip, detailed planning and the event itself as well as the follow up. I encountered a level of service paired with a customer- oriented attitude that is not easily found these days. Rainer Schlitt - GMAC Financial Services