Nikita Saliba

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality/
tourism/culinary arts?
A: I have always been in love with the culinary arts –
more specifically, pastry – from a young age. I’ve always
had an interest in experimenting with recipes and seeing
the creations, from chocolate work to even the simplest
desserts. I decided to enter ITS to sharpen my skills so
that I too could create outstanding art in edible form,
and from there, I began my career in culinary arts.

Q: What was the most important skill you gained
during your work experience?
A: During my work experience, I feel the most important
skills I gained were patience and time management.
When creating such delicate sweets, you must have
the patience to get everything exact and almost
perfect. That said, you also need to manage your
time effectively, as in a production environment you’re
always racing against the clock.

Q: What do you think are the biggest opportunities for
growth in the hospitality and tourism sectors?
A: One of the biggest opportunities in hospitality and
tourism is, in fact, culinary arts. Tourists coming to
Malta are always eager to try the country’s traditional
cultural food. As a chef, I have the opportunity to
engage and connect tourists with the country’s beautiful
culture, especially through pastry and desserts. It’s
not just about making and serving the food, but about
creating a memory for the tourist – building a name for
myself while promoting the country’s beauty through its
tourism sector.

Q: What area of the hospitality industry excites you
the most, and why?
A: Anything to do with the culinary arts. Ever since
I started studying it, from the certificate level at ITS
to my first year of my bachelor’s, I’ve come to realise
that every day you deal with something different, and
from this, I’ve seen how rewarding my hard work can
be. It’s exciting to see how you can use hospitality
through your service, even though you aren’t physically
communicating with guests. It’s a personal favourite of
mine to witness my own growth – not only in dealing with
all kinds of people, but also in learning how to handle
and overcome different situations along the way.

Q: What advice would you give to students about to
embark on their first internship or work experience?
A: When you’re about to embark on such an exciting
journey, always keep in mind the importance of being
open-minded and willing to learn. Every day brings
something new – whether you’ve been in the kitchen for
a day or for years. Always be confident in your work,
and when you don’t know something, always ask. That’s
how you achieve outstanding results every time. Most
importantly, have passion and enjoyment in what you
do, as that’s what truly shines through in your work.