Seabank and Hard Rock franchisee confirmed 'preferred bidder' for former ITS land

Discussions are set to start with SD Holdings Ltd, Seabank Hotel and Catering Ltd and Seaport Franchising Ltd, the sole bidder for the land occupied by the Institute of Tourism Studies in St George’s Bay, which has been earmarked for the location of a new hotel development.

Projects Malta, a government entity focused on public-private partnerships, said that the bid had been approved through the evaluation process and was confirmed as the “preferred bidder”.

Hotelier Silvio Debono, owner of the Seabank Hotel, is also the Maltese franchisee of Hard Rock Café. Seaport Franchising is the operator of the Hard Rock Café franchise in Malta.

Back in September 2014, Debono had told MaltaToday that he was seeking land to develop a Hard Rock Hotel, but denied gunning specifically for the land.

The development of the former ITS land will be the last piece of a massive construction jigsaw puzzle that will transform St George’s Bay into a six-star hotel and tourism area.

The scale of reconstruction at St George’s Bay is so unprecedented, the government is to set up a St George’s Bay Regeneration Corporation to facilitate at least three major projects and coordinate traffic flows and major diversions.

The new development at the former ITS site will be one of several taking place at St George’s Bay and the nearby Paceville environs, which are still pending approval by the planning and environment authorities.