Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts has announced an agreement with Bajja Investments to manage a new 282-bedroom five-star hotel in Balluta Bay, Malta, which will open in Summer 2004.

Le Méridien St Julians is being built in the grounds of the Villa Cassar Torregiani, on the waterfront of Balluta Bay.

The villa, built in the late 1800s, is also undergoing refurbishment to provide five suites decorated in Le Méridien’s signature Art & Tech design concept, each with outdoor terraces or balconies overlooking the bay.

Malcolm Ross, Le Méridien’s regional managing director Europe, said: “This hotel is ideally located on the waterfront of St Julians promenade, within minutes from all the major attractions of Sliema and Spinola Bay.”

The main hotel, being built adjacent to the villa, will feature a façade of balconies and terraces for all 370-430sq feet rooms with sea views or country views of the valley behind.

In addition to the five Art & Tech villa suites, there will be a further 11 Art & Tech rooms in the hotel featuring flat screen plasma televisions with laptop connections, Maltese artwork and glass-walled bathrooms.

The hotel will have a conference centre with 17,000sq feet of meeting and exhibition space, accommodating eight to 315 delegates.

The Le Méridien St Julians’ atrium style leisure and spa centre will offer pools, steam and sauna rooms, gymnasium, exercise studio, squash court and beauty treatment rooms.

Vincent Camilleri and Charles Polidano, directors of Bajja Investments, said: “We are extremely proud of this development, and as owners, very focused on bringing a high level of quality to this famous Maltese landmark. We are delighted that we have secured the services of Le Méridien.”

Le Méridien currently owns and manages the Le Méridien Phoenicia, located outside Malta’s ancient city of Valetta. The addition of the new hotel will bring Le Méridien’s total number of rooms in Malta to 418. Details: +44 (0)20 7301 2553.