Interview: David Spiteri of The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux

At the age of 29, David Spiteri, the General Manager of The Xara Palace in Mdina, feels "gratified to be entrusted with his position at such a distinguished property." Mr. Spiteri joined The Xara Palace after over 12 years in the hospitality industry, including Gleneagles in Scotland and Hilton and Malta. We had the chance to catch up with Mr. Spiteri to talk about his career and business at the boutique Mediterranean hotel.

How did you come to be at The Xara Palace?

My most recent appointment prior to joining The Xara Palace, was that of Director of Operations at EC Meetings, one of the leading Destination Management Companies in the Maltese industry. There I had the opportunity to work closely with The Xara Palace and always believed that joining The Xara Palace team would be a step forward in my career. A boutique hotel is very special, and my vision, as well as that of the team's, is to create a fond memory for our guests by customizing our services to the individual's needs. Our values play an important role in how we approach every part of our operation and have led to recognition with numerous local and international awards as well as the loyalty of our guests and customers.

How is business?

We are extremely busy with jet-setters who are drawn to places with a more authentic approach — indigenous food, accommodation with a touch of individuality (such as local art or antique pieces of furniture) and a personal approach that ensure guests don’t just feel like a number. Guests visiting our hotel are looking for impeccable, genuine service. They seek out the highest quality in food and service and want to know that we can deliver on what was promised. Many of our guests want to be welcomed in a home-away-from-home environment, and at The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux we offer exactly that. We have had a very busy year last year and are looking forward to very positive results for 2014.

Where do the majority of your guests come from?

United Kingdom, France and rest of Europe. We have also seen an increase from guests from the United States.

Are there any particular challenges in running a hotel in Mdina?

The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux is the only hotel in the medieval city of Mdina, known also at the "Silent City." This places a great responsibility on The Xara Palace team to fulfill the reputation of this dream town with its enchanting and historical characteristics and to preserve them so they can be enjoyed by future generations. Since the Palace was built in the 17th century, it is important for all of us to manage this nobleman’s home sympathetically, both in terms of preserving the medieval grandeur and in supplying the most modern technology and comfort for our guests. Even though we face a lot of challenges, I am lucky to lead a determined team entirely focused on restoration, renovation and sustainability.

What would you say makes The Xara Palace unique?

It is the only hotel that is located within a traditional village center, as part of the old capital city. Building a unique brand is reliant largely on our collective ability to communicate our promise with consistency. This means that every impression our customers have of us — from the first to the hundredth — must be of the highest quality. The Xara Palace is founded on the ability of the service to produce a positive emotion or memory for the guest or diner. For example, maintaining the mystique of the "Silent City" concept means creating a marked level of tranquility for all guests. Other innovations that deliver positive emotions for guests include bringing in the 5 Cs of Relais & Chateaux: calm, courtesy, character, charm and cuisine.

For two consecutive years, The Xara Palace was selected by Fox News as one of the world’s top ten castle hotels and has attracted visits by celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone, Orlando Bloom, Jennifer Anniston, Bruce Willis, Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, Josef Calleja, Lucio Dalla, Rupert Everett and a raft of VIPs, politicians, entrepreneurs, business leaders and other prominent figures.

Tell us about the area. What is there to do and see? Any day trips you would recommend?

The history of Mdina traces back more than 4000 years. According to tradition, it was here that in AD 60 the Apostle St. Paul is said to have lived after being shipwrecked on the islands. Lamplit by night, Mdina is fascinating to visit for its timeless atmosphere as well as its cultural and religious treasures.

Mdina has had different names and titles depending on its rulers and its role, but its medieval name describes it best — Citta Nobile, the Noble City. It was home then, as now, to Malta’s noble families. Some are descendants of the Norman, Sicilian and Spanish overlords who made Mdina their home from the 12th century onwards. Impressive palaces line its narrow shady streets. Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city and is extraordinary in its mix of medieval and baroque architecture.

Rabat, nearby Mdina, played a major role in Malta’s past and is a prime source of cultural heritage, and therefore a visit is a must. This large provincial township was part of the Roman city of Melita, with the sites and archaeological relics found testifying to the town’s importance during the Roman period. The Roman Villa, the Catacombs, St Paul’s Grotto and the fine churches and monasteries in Rabat are definitely worth a visit.

What is a hidden gem that all guests should experience?

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, which is an underground prehistoric burial site. The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a complex made up of interconnecting rock-cut chambers set on three distinct levels. Earliest remains at the site date back to about 4000 BC, and the complex was used over a span of many centuries, up to c. 2500 BC. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a unique site noted on the World Heritage List as “a site that bears a unique testimony to a cultural tradition which has disappeared.” Paintings in red ochre, which decorate some of the walls within the site, are the oldest and only prehistoric paintings recorded on the Maltese Islands. Ħal Saflieni is also the only prehistoric burial site that is accessible to the general public.

My other favorite is St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. The Cathedral is a gem of Baroque art and architecture and is host to Caravaggio’s only signed painting, "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist," and other great works by Mattia Preti. Here it is worth mentioning that Valletta has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture of 2018.

Is there a signature dish of the region a first-time visitor should try

Rabbit, snails or both. Marinated rabbit fried in wine and garlic, served with potatoes or chips, called "fenkata" remains hugely popular with both Maltese and visitors. The edible snails "bebbux" is a fairly common sight to stumble across in rural bars. Traditional bars that serve rabbit stew often hand out little plates of snails cooked in garlic, tomato and parsley and sometimes cooked in red or white wine — the perfect bite-size appetizer while you await your order.

To keep up with our traditional Maltese dishes, we also serve rabbit and snails at our award-winning fine dining restaurant de Mondion. Our Chef de Cuisine has created two exquisite dishes that are a fusion of typical Maltese dishes and French cuisine.

What is the best time to visit Malta?

Malta has a typical Mediterranean climate, and with over 300 days of sunshine per year, the island is an all-year-round tourist attraction.

If visiting Malta for the beaches and very hot weather, then the peak summer months from July to September are the time to visit. For those guests who are coming for sightseeing only, any time is right; however, one may want to avoid the peak summer months from July to September. If one wants to do both sunbathing and sightseeing, then the spring and autumn months of April to June, and October, are best as the weather is pleasant and the crowds are less.