The enterprise involves the creation of 60 conveniently located residential apartments, a high-end retail boutique, a 5-star hotel hosting 215 rooms, restaurants, a large pedestrian piazza open to the general public. The Lido across Tigne Seafront road is an extension of this project and will provide its own spa and gym facilities; while the Fortina Hotel will allow easy access and enhanced security through the construction of a drive-way and round-about at its entrance, along with a 3-storey underlying car park.
The high-profile disposition of the complex seeks to attract a target audience belonging to the high-income bracket, in the 35+ age region; particularly those travelling to the island on business or work-related endeavours, The MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traveller is one who expects a personalised, first-class service, within a sophisticated environment nestled in an attractive location. Thus, The Fortina Investments Group find this demographic of professionals to be appropriate for the project given the predisposed qualities of location and the core qualities of the end result.
As for the residential portion venture, the units will enjoy a hotel-style reception area at ground floor to provide access to all cores, ample indoor space of circa 200sqm complete with wide living rooms and deep balconies overlooking the gorgeous Valletta views, along with ensuite bathrooms for each bedroom and comfortable utility rooms for storage purposes, laundry and the like.
The hotel will be the result of a complete and thorough redesign of the existing 18-storey hotel tower including interior renovation and modernisation of the facade. It will see the construction of an additional 5 floors and replacement of the existing ‘Spa Block’ with a 13-storey extension. This segment will include a new hotel lobby and multipurpose space at ground floor, while the below-street-level facilities will be reworked to accommodate a larger gym, indoor spa and pool. Additionally, the existing lido and overlying restaurant on the seafront is to experience an extensive overhaul to provide residents and guests with a larger sun deck, an extended pool, bigger restaurant and a sizeable public space at promenade level, thereby offering a calming outdoor environment which is uncommon nowadays.
The commercial capacity of the project will hold a large two-level retail space with a prominent entrance at sea-front level. The high-profile tone of the whole enterprise will be reflected in the retail element of the Fortina project, bringing a shop-in-shop experience aimed at luxury brands. Moreover, the venture’s overall development will consist of a built-up area of circa 60,000m2, with construction currently in full swing and a completion date set for January 2021.
