Realising the potential of online bookings

On Thursday 16th November , the Gozo Tourism Association in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and Booking.com organised a half day conference entitled Realising the Potential of Online Bookings. This conference which was held at the Royal Lady Suite of the Grand Hotel, Mgarr Gozo was open for the members of the Gozo Tourism Association owning and or operating accommodation establishments.

The conference was addressed by the chairman of the Gozo Tourism Association, Paul Scicluna. In his address the GTA Chairman, tackled the increasing awareness of the tourism estab- lishments in online bookings.

Leslie Vella, Chief Officer Strategic Planning and Deputy to the CEO at the Malta Tourism Authority, then gave a detailed and comprehensive presentation of the trends, patterns and behaviours of the foreign visitors to Gozo.

This was followed by another presentation from Alessandra Blanck, Booking.com Account Manager Malta, who together with Elisa Ghiringhelli Partner Content Specialist and Marco Giardina Booking Home Partner, delivered a presentation entitled Focus – Gozo Trends Booking.com. In their presenta- tion, these Booking.com representatives, gave an overview on Booking.com booking patterns to Gozo.

After these presentations those present were given the opportunity, to put forward their questions and comments both to Booking.com and the Malta Tourism Authority Officials on the panel.

The conference was brought to an end by the concluding message from Paul Bugeja, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, who stressed the relevance of online bookings and the commitment of MTA to curb down the unlicensed accommodation establishments.