22 - 28 June 2000

Internationally renowned designer visits Eden Leisure site

Bob Di Leonardo, the internationally renowned hotel interior designer was in Malta recently for talks with Ian and Kevin De Cesare about the Eden Leisure Group's LM 25 million, St. George's Bay project. Di Leonardo International has been working on the design of the Eden Leisure Group's 5 star hotel project for almost a year now and detailed designs have almost been finalized.

Over the last 20 years, Di Leonardo International Inc. of Rhode Island, USA, has created profoundly beautiful architectural interiors on every continent. Their success in hotel design is directly attributable to the success of their clients. Di Leonardo has designed prominent hotels for Ritz-Carlton, Westin and Sheraton as well as other unique buildings such as the Hong Kong World Trade Center, The New York Plaza Hotel and the award winning Benjamin Hotel in New York.

Di Leonardo has been charged with the task of providing a new, 21st century look for the whole property while enhancing the elements that make the design so distinctive.

Bob Di Leonardo, Di Leonardo International president said: "This project promises a cutting edge design with an extremely distinct finish, one that is different than what is currently on offer on the island in this market sector. We are making full use of the incredibly unique architectural spaces we have here. Everybody in our company and within the Eden Leisure Group has a great feeling about this. We feel that it is a truly an award winning design".

The Eden Leisure Group is currently still in talks with a number of internationally recognised hotel management chains and expects to approve a final agreement shortly. The LM25 million project boasts a five star Hotel, an Ice Skating Rink, an IMAX theatre, a new and vastly improved Cynergi fitness centre, and a car park in the heart of St. George's Bay. On offer will also be a number of leased restaurant outlets along St Augustine Street and Elija Zammit Street. This project, along with the commitment of local business to the semi pedestrianisation of St.Augustine Street, and the government's proposed enlargement of the sandy beach, will reconfirm St. George's Bay as the top recreational area in the country.