L-R: Mr Josef Formosa Gauci- MTA CEO, Dr Mario de Marco- Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Mr John Magri- MTA QD Manager© 2010 MTA - Mario Galea

22 Destination Management Companies obtain the Quality Assured seal

During an award ceremony held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, 4 more Destination Management Companies (DMCs), businesses that specialise in organising meetings, incentives, conferences and events, were awarded the Malta Tourism Authority’s Quality Assured seal by the Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Mario de Marco and the MTA’s CEO Mr Josef Formosa Gauci. This brings the total number of Quality Assured DMCs to 22, equivalent to 34% of local DMCs.

In his speech, Dr de Marco said that the achievement of this Award signifies the excellent level service offered by these DMCs. He added that the fact that 22 DMCs have obtained the MTA’s Quality Assured seal in the first two years of the scheme is very encouraging, especially when one considers that a considerable amount of time and resources are needed when one commits to the scheme. It is encouraging because it shows that DMCs are finding scope for gaining and maintaining the Quality Assured seal, thanks to the many benefits the scheme offers.

Dr de Marco referred to the fact that conference and incentive travel is an important element of the tourism industry, accounting for 3.8% of tourist arrivals in 2009, mainly in the shoulder months, and generating higher per capita expenditure than leisure tourists. He insisted that the government recognises the value of this industry and is committed to assisting it in several ways, including the Government Conferences Fund, launched last year, which will be continued and extended to NGOs in 2010.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that in 2009 the MTA allocated funds for each of the 18 Quality Assured DMCs then on the scheme, to partially cover their expenses for an overseas marketing initiative, such as sales calls or advertising, and this will be done again in 2010.

He concluded by saying that through such initiatives the government aims to increase the competitiveness of Malta as a destination for MICE, thus fulfilling the objectives of the National Tourism Policy for the Maltese Islands in so far as quality being one of the key factors for our tourism industry to be more competitive.

This voluntary scheme was launched in September 2008 and the first set of 18 DMCs was awarded in January 2009. To obtain the Quality Assured seal, DMCs must comply with a number of criteria. These cover general liability insurance, financial stability, efficiency at responding to clients’ requests, client and supplier recommendations, and staff training among others. Quality Assured DMCs are audited on an annual basis in order to retain the quality seal.

More information about the Quality Assured seal is available at www.visitmalta.com/qa-dmc.