Daring to be Different
Holidays, Hugs and Hope: Post-Pandemic Travel Trends
June 17, 2021
Reaction to Government’s Latest COVID Plans
July 11, 2021Hugo’s is a self-proclaimed “dare to- be-different” chain of hotels which captures the glamour and vibe of the Maltese islands.
The flagship 4 star H Hotel comprises of 161 guest rooms and suites, combining modern and classic art with cutting edge technology and architectural innovations, creating a unique and sophisticated guest room experience.
Daring and dramatic, Hugo’s Boutique Hotel makes a bold statement in St. Julian’s Bay. Housed over eight themed floors with their own distinct character, the 40 stylish guest rooms and suites feature all the latest in modern technology for a unique, high-tech experience.
The two hotels are a reflection of the late Hugo Chetcuti’s entrepreneurial qualities, a visionary who always liked to push boundaries. We set an appointment with Firas Aboulezz, General Manager of both hotels since 2019, and agree to meet at the H Hotel, since the Boutique Hotel is currently closed due to COVID measures.
The minute we set foot in the hotel we immediately notice the unique décor with outlandish ornamental objects like the giant giraffe just outside the building to crawling ants on the reception ceiling.
Firas Aboulezz - Hotel General Manager
Firas takes us on a tour of the property, starting with the first floor, which houses the breakfast area. This is normally served in buffet form, however due to current COVID restrictions, breakfast orders are being handled as room service. The area can also cater for lunch or dinner groups of over 200 people.
The unique style we saw at reception area is replicated at this level – the stylish wall plastering and furniture fittings, together with the range of hand-picked electrical fixtures ensure that the overall design experience does not go unnoticed. Firas explains that this is in line with the Hugo’s vision, which was that of upscaling the product and service provided. “As a result we were the first hotels to bridge the gap between 4 and 5 star,” he states.
As we visit different floors we immediately notice a continuation of the dark coloured theme which is a standard feature throughout the whole hotel. All rooms have similar fittings and features such as mirrors on the ceiling overlooking the bed and key controlled curtains. However some rooms have unique features including luxury Italian designed hot tubs in or outside the rooms. All front facing rooms command breathtaking views of St George’s Bay and beyond.
All rooms feature latest technology features one would expect to find, namely bedside USB sockets and free WiFi connectivity. The attention to detail is also noticeable in the bathrooms. Infinity mirrors, gold trims, stylish tiling, walk-in rain showers and branded fixtures all contribute to the high end look and feel of the property. The pinnacle of the luxury items found in these hotel rooms is an indoor pool complete with water jets – which can be found in two of the suites. Firas tells us this is an extremely rare facility to find, not just in Malta. Room size starts at 26 square metres and goes up to a generous 40 – 50 m².
The larger rooms have an indoor hot tub and Firas relates how this concept was initially launched in the Boutique Hotel and was now being adopted in the H Hotel. It is interesting to note that, especially during the pandemic months, luxury suites with such an indoor hot tub accounted for around 80% of all bookings.
Firas takes us on a tour of the property, starting with the first floor, which houses the breakfast area. This is normally served in buffet form, however due to current COVID restrictions, breakfast orders are being handled as room service. The area can also cater for lunch or dinner groups of over 200 people.
The unique style we saw at reception area is replicated at this level – the stylish wall plastering and furniture fittings, together with the range of hand-picked electrical fixtures ensure that the overall design experience does not go unnoticed. Firas explains that this is in line with the Hugo’s vision, which was that of upscaling the product and service provided. “As a result we were the first hotels to bridge the gap between 4 and 5 star,” he states.
As we visit different floors we immediately notice a continuation of the dark coloured theme which is a standard feature throughout the whole hotel. All rooms have similar fittings and features such as mirrors on the ceiling overlooking the bed and key controlled curtains. However some rooms have unique features including luxury Italian designed hot tubs in or outside the rooms. All front facing rooms command breathtaking views of St George’s Bay and beyond.
All rooms feature latest technology features one would expect to find, namely bedside USB sockets and free WiFi connectivity. The attention to detail is also noticeable in the bathrooms. Infinity mirrors, gold trims, stylish tiling, walk-in rain showers and branded fixtures all contribute to the high end look and feel of the property. The pinnacle of the luxury items found in these hotel rooms is an indoor pool complete with water jets – which can be found in two of the suites. Firas tells us this is an extremely rare facility to find, not just in Malta. Room size starts at 26 square metres and goes up to a generous 40 – 50 m².
The larger rooms have an indoor hot tub and Firas relates how this concept was initially launched in the Boutique Hotel and was now being adopted in the H Hotel. It is interesting to note that, especially during the pandemic months, luxury suites with such an indoor hot tub accounted for around 80% of all bookings.
Location is
clearly key for the hotels – besides being so
close to the bay and the entertainment hub in
Malta, guests can easily find bars, restaurants
and shopping complexes, all within walking
distance. “I like to think that as Hugo’s Group we
offer a one stop shop solution to guests who
are looking for a lifestyle and entertainment
destination, where one can eat, drink, party
or relax in equal measures – basically a 360°
experience,” says Firas.
Hugo’s vision was always to provide a cosmopolitan experience mixing diverse cultures, cuisines and styles to ultimately provide a unique guest experience. This same philosophy has gone down a generation and is being now maintained by his son Luke. We move up to the 10th floor where one finds a range of penthouses. The concept here is slightly different from the other rooms as these residences also include a kitchenette, whilst the spacious bathroom houses a hot tub together with a jet bath. Complementing the penthouses are beautiful terraces with another hot tub. As part of the hotel’s strategy, Firas is planning to utilise these terraces to offer a private dining experience, once the COVID restrictions are lifted.
Also situated on Level 10 is a recently completed corporate wing including a meet and greet foyer area, an executive level board room, meeting areas and halls which can be partitioned as per request, aimed at attracting business meetings and events such as conferences and seminars. From this floor we notice a bridge connecting the two hotels together – an interesting concept which means guests booked at any hotel can easily avail of the other hotel’s amenities, and vice-versa.
Moving further up to the highest level (11th floor), one finds the hugely popular Infinity Pool – one of the hotel’s strongest assets, where guests can relax and work on a beautiful tan whilst also enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the bay and the surroundings. Residents and guests can also wine and dine either at an open terrace bar next to the pool, or at the adjacent Avocado restaurant. The top floor also hosts the House of Dom Perignon, branded by the world’s most popular vintage champagne. The lucrative and ultra-chic venue comprises of a fully stocked international bar, exclusive sofa seating, high tables, dance floor and DJ booth, and is used to host corporate events, private functions, staff parties and even conferences.
H Hotel has also recently unveiled a brand new facility for anyone craving holistic moments of bliss and relaxation. Located on level -1, Carisma Spa and Wellness has tapped into travellers’ desires to recharge both physically and mentally, combining health with leisure in the most striking of settings. Adjacent to the hotel’s indoor heated swimming pool, Carisma Spa and Wellness offers a host of lavish treatments, as well as manicures and pedicures. Other features such as their famed Hammam Turkish Bath, Salt Room, Steam Room, Sauna and Emotional and Bucket Showers are also available for guests to make use of.
Hugo’s vision was always to provide a cosmopolitan experience mixing diverse cultures, cuisines and styles to ultimately provide a unique guest experience. This same philosophy has gone down a generation and is being now maintained by his son Luke. We move up to the 10th floor where one finds a range of penthouses. The concept here is slightly different from the other rooms as these residences also include a kitchenette, whilst the spacious bathroom houses a hot tub together with a jet bath. Complementing the penthouses are beautiful terraces with another hot tub. As part of the hotel’s strategy, Firas is planning to utilise these terraces to offer a private dining experience, once the COVID restrictions are lifted.
Also situated on Level 10 is a recently completed corporate wing including a meet and greet foyer area, an executive level board room, meeting areas and halls which can be partitioned as per request, aimed at attracting business meetings and events such as conferences and seminars. From this floor we notice a bridge connecting the two hotels together – an interesting concept which means guests booked at any hotel can easily avail of the other hotel’s amenities, and vice-versa.
Moving further up to the highest level (11th floor), one finds the hugely popular Infinity Pool – one of the hotel’s strongest assets, where guests can relax and work on a beautiful tan whilst also enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the bay and the surroundings. Residents and guests can also wine and dine either at an open terrace bar next to the pool, or at the adjacent Avocado restaurant. The top floor also hosts the House of Dom Perignon, branded by the world’s most popular vintage champagne. The lucrative and ultra-chic venue comprises of a fully stocked international bar, exclusive sofa seating, high tables, dance floor and DJ booth, and is used to host corporate events, private functions, staff parties and even conferences.
H Hotel has also recently unveiled a brand new facility for anyone craving holistic moments of bliss and relaxation. Located on level -1, Carisma Spa and Wellness has tapped into travellers’ desires to recharge both physically and mentally, combining health with leisure in the most striking of settings. Adjacent to the hotel’s indoor heated swimming pool, Carisma Spa and Wellness offers a host of lavish treatments, as well as manicures and pedicures. Other features such as their famed Hammam Turkish Bath, Salt Room, Steam Room, Sauna and Emotional and Bucket Showers are also available for guests to make use of.
Asked to mention the secret behind the H
Hotels’ success story over the years, Firas
mentions consistency. “We always kept up
with current trends by innovating the user
experience, and I like to think that consistency
has been one of the main successful factors
in our business,” he tells us. “Our intention is
not just make the guests easily fall asleep, but
to rather surprise them by showcasing things
they do not usually have at home,” says Firas,
referring to the motorised curtains, ceiling
mirrors, and much more.
We conclude our discussion by making a reference to COVID. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal local client base who kept supporting us during the difficult pandemic months,” Firas says. “I recognized very early on that when you incorporate a purpose beyond profit in your business, your customers will become your biggest marketers. It’s never easy to be challenged on an idea that I want to implement so I listen to criticism carefully and take feedback to heart. I know that success is not determined by luck so my motto is persistent actions, dedicated mindset and proper preparation.
As expected, the effect and duration of the current COVID situation remain critical issues when determining immediate strategy and longer term plans.” Following on his father’s footsteps, the vision of current CEO Luke is to see the group adapt quickly to any circumstance and maintain the strong position as a complete one stop shop for guests.
One of the projects in the pipeline is a Loyalty Scheme app, where guests would be able to access all the hotels’ various services from their smartphone. Other hotels being currently built form part of the Group’s strategy to strengthen Hugo’s brand as a leading player in Malta’s hospitality sector.
We conclude our discussion by making a reference to COVID. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal local client base who kept supporting us during the difficult pandemic months,” Firas says. “I recognized very early on that when you incorporate a purpose beyond profit in your business, your customers will become your biggest marketers. It’s never easy to be challenged on an idea that I want to implement so I listen to criticism carefully and take feedback to heart. I know that success is not determined by luck so my motto is persistent actions, dedicated mindset and proper preparation.
As expected, the effect and duration of the current COVID situation remain critical issues when determining immediate strategy and longer term plans.” Following on his father’s footsteps, the vision of current CEO Luke is to see the group adapt quickly to any circumstance and maintain the strong position as a complete one stop shop for guests.
One of the projects in the pipeline is a Loyalty Scheme app, where guests would be able to access all the hotels’ various services from their smartphone. Other hotels being currently built form part of the Group’s strategy to strengthen Hugo’s brand as a leading player in Malta’s hospitality sector.
