Jean-Pierre Schembri, CEO of CPHCL Group, discusses the Group’s growing involvement in the care sector, its partnership with Saint James Hospital on a major new hospital project, and how its experience in hospitality, development and international operations is helping shape its future

CPHCL took over the operations of Casa Leone, a home for the elderly, almost a year ago. How would you describe the experience so far?

Taking over Casa Leone, now known as Palazzo Leone, has been a rewarding experience and an important milestone in our diversification strategy.

Our priority from the outset has been to uplift residents' quality of life while ensuring top end care. We have already introduced several improvements to the home, including upgraded facilities, enhanced accessibility and upgraded landscaping and outside areas for the enjoyment of the residents. We also instituted digital resident records and refurbished internal communal areas.

We are pleased with the progress so far but this is a long-term project to transform the level of care at Casa Leone.

What prompted CPHCL to enter the elderly care sector?

Caring for people has always been fundamental to our philosophy and care is a natural extension of our expertise in hospitality and ancillary services. We believe these principles can make a meaningful difference in the elderly care sector, where dignity, comfort and personal attention are essential. It also represents an opportunity to meet a growing need in Malta and diversify our business while making a positive contribution to the community.

Apart from our experience in hospitality, we have for many years run subsidiaries that offer services needed by care homes, including Palazzo Leone, such as laundry (through Swan laundry), catering (through Corinthia), landscaping (through Palace Landscaping) and manpower (through RQT). Our experience in these businesses has allowed us to immediately register improvements in key departments of the home.

How has CPHCL approached the existing staff and management structure at Casa Leone?

We recognise the experience and dedication of the management team of the home and believe investing in our people is essential to delivering quality care. With this in mind we have launched several training programmes for staff to ensure that they deliver in line with our brand standards. We are committed to ongoing training, strengthening operational procedures and maintaining constructive dialogue with employees and their representatives, while respecting the values and traditions upon which Palazzo Leone was established.

What are the Group's plans for Casa Leone?

Palazzo Leone has a rich history dating back to 1900 and has served as a home for the elderly since 1985. Situated on an 8,000-square-metre site in St Julian's, the residence forms part of an important heritage that we are committed to preserving.

Under our 50-year agreement with the Archdiocese of Malta, our vision is to transform Casa Leone into one of Malta's leading elderly care complexes. Our plans include extensive refurbishment, improved accommodation and communal facilities, enhanced landscaped areas and an increase in residential capacity.

Our ultimate ambition is to establish Palazzo Leone as a home of choice, where quality care, comfort and genuine hospitality come together.

What experience and expertise can CPHCL bring to the care sector?

Our strength lies in bringing together decades of experience in hospitality, property development, management and specialised support services. Through our various businesses and subsidiaries, we have established expertise in catering, laundry, landscaping, recruitment, project management, hospitality and facilities management. All these services are crucial for successfully managing a care home.

These capabilities allow us to adopt an integrated approach to elderly care, complementing the essential expertise of healthcare professionals while ensuring high standards across every aspect of the residents' experience.

CPHCL has recently partnered with Saint James Hospital, Malta's largest private hospital, to bid for the new hospital project at Sir Temi Zammit. Does this represent a natural progression for the Group?

Absolutely. The partnership with Saint James could have not been more befitting, allowing us to combine our established strengths with those of a leading healthcare provider. The idea is that while Saint James will bring to the table their operational healthcare knowledge, we, through our experience and subsidiaries, will bring our quality standards in hospitality, catering (Corinthia Caterers), laundry (Swan Laundry), landscaping (Palace Landscaping), project management (QP), and recruitment (RQT).

For patients at this new hospital, would be a win-win. They get to benefit from the healthcare knowledge and excellence of Saint James, and our 60 years plus experience in quality hospitality standards and knowledge of the support services, such as catering, laundry, landscaping, recruitment, and project management.

We believe these complementary strengths provide a solid foundation for developing and operating a modern healthcare facility focused on quality, efficiency and patient wellbeing.

How does CPHCL benefit from owning such a vast rage of businesses and investments?

CPHCL is the birthplace and founding shareholder of the Corinthia Group, which brand is today owned by IHI plc. Apart from our 58 per cent shareholding in IHI plc, CPHCL is the majority shareholder, with 75 per cent, in MIH, owner of Palm City in Libya, and owns or controls several other business, such as RQT, Swan Laundry, Palace Landscaping and Palace Garden Centre, Palazzo Leone, Palace Catering & Bakery (which manages Corinthia Caterers, Catermax, Danish Bakery and Costa Coffee Malta), and Palace Residences, and has interests in other businesses such as MFCC and Palace Projects.

All these businesses share a unique set of values, which are based on the principles of ‘craftsmanship of care’ and ‘uplifting lives’. These principles are embodied on a daily basis, by our Chairman, Alfred Pisani, and being part of such broad family of businesses provides us with access to over six decades of international experience, particularly in hospitality and its ancillary services, property development and operational excellence.

Looking ahead, what are CPHCL's main challenges going forward?

In 2025 CPHCL’s revenue reached €379 million. Our diversified portfolio and disciplined investment approach continue to support growth, with revenues projected to exceed €400 million in 2026. Our profitability levels in the past years have also continued to grow. The wider Group today employs approximately 2,500 people in Malta and over 6,000 internationally.

Our objective is not simply to expand, but to create long-term value through well-managed businesses, quality services and the continued development of our people. That’s what distinguishes us as a Group.