In the last 10 years, Valletta has changed. Once a quiet town at night, it is beyond a bustling site to behol. Packed with bars, restaurants and hotels, it has quickly become an entertainment hub in Malta… for better or for worse.

WhosWho.mt asked top businesses and leaders one question: if you could implement one thing in Valletta, what would it be?

For Chris Briffa, architect and owner of luxury short let apartments VallettaVintage, it would be making Valletta a walkable city again.

“Pedestrian priority everywhere,” Mr Briffa says.

“Because old towns are for walking. Everything else is secondary.”

For Tony Zahra, who heads the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, it would be simple: enforce what is already laid down in law.

“If I had the authority to decide and implement I would enforce existing regulations," he says.

"This seemingly innocuous measure would in my opinion improve tremendously the state of Malta’s capital.  I doubt however whether this will ever happen as as we say in Maltese - Bejn  il-kliem u l-fatti hemm il-baħar jikkumbatti (There's a big difference between saying something and actually doing it).”

AX Hotels runs luxury four and five star hotels in Qawra, Sliema and Valletta and Malta’s first Michelin Star restaurant in the capital, Under Grain. If they could implement one thing, it would be a system for noise management.

“If we could implement one proposal in Valletta, it would be a city-wide strategy for noise management through better zoning and curated experiences,” Alison Gauci, Marketing Manager at AX Hotels tells WhosWho.mt. 

“Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage city, and establishments like UnderGrain invest heavily in delivering premium, curated experiences that reflect that heritage. However, there's an increasing clash between high-end offerings and mass tourism activities - especially when it comes to noise and atmosphere,” she explains. 

“Proper zoning that distinguishes between premium hospitality and high-footfall entertainment venues would go a long way in preserving the character of the city and elevating the overall guest experience.”

Beyond managing what detracts from the experience, AX Hotels also sees huge potential in what can enhance it, like an excellent program of arts and culture.

“Valletta would benefit immensely from a more robust, year-round arts and culture calendar — not only to reaffirm its status as a capital of creativity, but also to attract a more affluent and culturally curious visitor, who is likely to stay in boutique city hotels and dine at the various options available within the city,” she says.

“We also see an encouraging rise in interest from the US market -  a segment that values authenticity, quality, and recognises our Michelin-starred experience as exceptional value when compared to other global destinations. Targeted efforts to grow this market could bring lasting benefits to the entire luxury hospitality ecosystem in Valletta.” 

“In summary, with better zoning, smarter curation, and more strategic international outreach, Valletta can comfortably take its place among Europe’s top-tier cultural and culinary cities."

From pedestrian-friendly streets and stricter enforcement of regulations to better noise management and a thriving cultural calendar, the ideas shared by leaders highlight a shared vision: a Valletta that thrives as a dynamic yet sustainable capital.