Malta Marriot Hotel & Spa has announced the appointment of David Agius Lia as its Director of Food and Beverage.

Taking to social media, the hotel said that Mr Agius Lia’s “vast experience” in the local industry would see it able to establish itself as a “market leader taking locals and international travellers alike across a culinary journey with the various restaurants and bars available at the hotel”.

To do so, he will work with recently appointed Executive Chef Matthew Sammut and the rest of the food and beverage team, focusing on delivering a consistent, innovative dining experience, together with the curation of a calendar of culinary events throughout the year with a “well-trained and motivated team”.

Mr Agius Lia will bring a breadth of experience to the role, gained over 24 years in the hospitality industry.

Most recently, he served as AX Hotels’ Food and Beverage Manager for just over two years.

In the Malta Marriott role, he will head and manage all food and beverage operations, including those at the establishment’s Atrio Bar & Restaurant, The Market Place, and its meeting and banquet facilities.  

His appointment comes after a trying period for the Marriott hotel in Balluta Bay, which opened at the start of 2020 after a 15-month-long refurbishment and an investment of €30 million.

Only months later, it was forced to close due to precautionary measures introduced to slow the spread of COVID.