Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s has announced it will be temporarily closing its doors as of 1st October, just two days away.

In a social media announcement, the five-star hotel wrote that “it is no secret that the situation has not been easy on most of us, and it is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the temporary closure of the Hotel and its outlets as of the 1st October”.

The resort, which is owned by the Corinthia Group’s parent company, International Hotels Investments plc (IHI), landed in the newspapers after the first cluster of COVID cases in Malta’s so-called second wave took place at the hotel.

A ‘Hotel take-over’ party, organised by G7 and Sound Salon on 17-19th July, resulted in around 20 people eventually becoming infected. Malta had experienced minimal cases in the preceding days, and had opened up its airports and ports to commercial travel just two weeks earlier.

Following the continued rise in cases stemming from separate clusters, the hotel had closed its doors to guests briefly, re-welcoming them from 7th August. I will now close again from 1st October.

In its update, Radisson’s management wrote that the company will “be using this time to enhance [its] facilities, improve [its] service offering, and continue working towards providing the safest possible environment for” its team members and visitors.

“We are planning on welcoming our guests back over the Festive season to dine, celebrate and enjoy each other’s company, whilst adhering to the latest health guidelines.”