HV Hospitality welcomes the Planning Authority’s recommendation to approve its Comino hotel and bungalows project.

The project involves the full redevelopment of the existing hotel and bungalow structures at San Niklaw Bay and Santa Maria Bay, which were originally built in the 1960s. Under the terms of the recommended permit, the site will remain dedicated exclusively to tourism, in line with HV Hospitality’s declared intentions and existing title deed.

The new hotel and bungalows will be managed as a single property by Six Senses, an eco- conscious luxury brand that forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). HV Hospitality is investing €170 million in the project, which will introduce a more sustainable and lower-density approach to tourism on Comino. As part of this shift, the maximum number of guests will be reduced from 284 to 240, reflecting a clear move toward lower- density, higher-quality hospitality.

The partnership with Six Senses is guided by a shared vision to avoid commercialisation and instead establish a carefully maintained, ecologically integrated resort. The goal is to rehabilitate the site and align with long-term national objectives for more balanced and responsible tourism.

Designed by Belvedere Architecture, the new resort will occupy a smaller footprint than the current structures and will result in more than 8,200 sqm of previously developed land being restored to its natural state. A large-scale ecological restoration plan, developed in collaboration with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), will see over 55,000 trees, plants and shrubs – all endemic to Comino – planted across the site. These will be propagated from seeds and cuttings collected on Comino and multiplied through mother plants, forming part of the first reforestation effort of its kind in Malta.

HV Hospitality is committed to its vision to create a tourism experience that is truly sustainable and preserves the natural heritage of Comino by:

• Preserving the site’s use for tourism, in line with the original land concession
• Reducing the overall footprint
• Ensuring no untreated sewage will be discharged into the sea
• Restoring garigue habitat and coastal areas
• Complying with the Natura 2000 Management Plan and the Comino Local Plan
• Complying with the rigorous conditions imposed by ERA and the proposed conditions resultant from the Authority’s recommendation
• Respecting Comino’s dark sky environment
• Obtaining LEED certification for sustainable buildings

HV Hospitality looks forward to the Planning Authority’s final decision and remains committed to delivering a project that supports Comino’s natural character while contributing meaningfully to the long-term vision for Malta’s tourism sector.