FAQ

1. What are the STAR Awards?

The STAR Awards (Special Thanks And Recognition) are an important annual event for the tourism industry in Malta. The main aim of the STAR Awards is to reward the best people in the tourism sector in recognition of their excellent contribution towards making the Maltese experience a memorable one for our visitors.

2. Who is the organizer of the STAR Awards?

The STAR Awards were developed and are managed by the Malta Tourism Authority.

3. Who is responsible for the monitoring of the scheme?

The STAR Committee is responsible for the monitoring of the scheme. This committee is chaired by the Malta Tourism Authority and comprises members of various tourism-related entities, namely: the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (FATTA) and the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS).

4. What are the categories of the STAR Awards?

The STAR Awards are grouped into two categories:

1. Hotel Worker of the Year Award

2. STAR Service Awards

Within the STAR Service Awards there are several categories. These include:

Accommodation Establishment Staff
Catering Establishment Staff
Airline staff
Tourist guides
Travel representatives
Sports instructors situated within hotel/tourist complexes
English language teachers & group leaders
Host families
People working at heritage sites and visitor attractions
Taxi drivers
Bus drivers
Coach & mini-bus drivers
Horse-drawn cab drivers
Boatmen

5. What is the difference between the Hotel Worker of the Year Award and the Hotel categories of the STAR Service Awards?

The aim of the STAR Service Awards is to recognise individuals that offer excellent service and show genuine hospitality to our tourists. The Hotel Worker of the Year Award recognises an exemplary worker who not only offers excellent service and hospitality to hotel guests, but who also shows honesty, solidarity, efficiency, creativity and initiative at the place of work or outside the organisation.

The nomination process is also different: nominees for the STAR Service Awards are chosen directly by tourists, while nominees for the Hotel Worker of the Year Award are selected by managers and/or colleagues of that respective hotel.

6. How can I participate in the STAR Service Awards?

Tourists and Visitors can participate in the STAR Service Awards by filling the nomination form with the name of the person or persons that made their stay a pleasant experience. One can nominate as many different individuals as required, but only once per each individual. Nomination will automatically enter a draw to win a holiday back to Malta, it is important that all information is inserted in the Contact Details section. Participation is free of charge and one can pick up the nomination form at most hotels, visitor attractions sites or by accessing the nomination form available online on this website.

If you are a resident of Malta and work in tourism or any related sectors (such as transport, retail or entertainment), you can participate in the STAR Service Awards as a nominee. To receive nomination forms directly at your place of work, kindly contact the Malta Tourism Authority. Participation is free of charge.

7. The hotel I'm staying at does not have any STAR nomination forms available. Where can I get them from?

Nomination forms are available at all Tourist Information centres run by the Malta Tourism Authority, including at Malta International Airport (arrivals lounge). Several restaurants, diving centres, visitor attractions and transport operators also keep nomination forms at their establishments.

8. What are the rules of the STAR Service Awards?

Validity rules:

Nominations for the STAR Service Award can only be made by tourists with the exception of the Restaurant Award and Restaurant with the most nominated staff Award can be made by both tourists and local residents;
The same tourist can nominate several individuals but only submit one nomination for each individual person (multiple nominations are counted as one);
Nominations must be person-specific indicating full name and surname of the nominee (i.e. nominations for ‘all the staff' are invalid);
Nominations are verified by the STAR Committee and subject to clarification.
Nominations, whereby, the tourist only fills the contact details section whilst the remaining details are filled by the nominee himself will not be accepted;
Winners will not be eligible to win for a period of five (5) years from the year the award has been received.
Once a nominee has won a total of three (3) STAR Awards, irrespective of the category, he or she will not be eligible to participate any further.

Rules to qualify as a finalist:

A minimum of 100 tourist nominations are necessary to be a finalist at the STAR Awards or at the discretion of the committee board;
The three top nominated employees in a given category will be recognised as winner, first runner up and second runner up.

9. What is the process to participate in the Hotel Worker of the Year award?

Applications for the Hotel Worker of the Year award are issued periodically by the Malta Tourism Authority.
To be nominated for this award, the person must be selected by a group of his/her managers and/or colleagues. Self-nomination is not possible.
The nominating group is to complete the appropriate Hotel Worker of the Year Application, the Contact Sheet and the Consent Form and follow the guidance notes from
https://www.starawardsmalta.com/content/hotel-worker-year-nomination-form

10. How will I know if I am a finalist?

All STAR Awards finalists will be notified in writing through an official email from the Malta Tourism Authority.

11. How are winners selected?

STAR Service Awards – Winners are selected according to who receives the highest number of valid nominations in each category (e.g. tour guide, travel representative, shop assistant, taxi driver, bus driver, etc). The minimum number of nominations to qualify as finalist is 100 (see question 8 above).

Hotel Worker of the Year – Each member of the STAR Committee will evaluate every application individually and give a score to each nomination. Winners are selected according to who receives the highest score. An interview with the nominee may also be held at the discretion of the STAR Committee.

12. What prizes will STAR Award winners receive?

STAR Service Awards and the Hotel Worker of the Year winners receive a certificate, a glass trophy and a monetary gift.

13. How much is the monetary gift?

The winner will receive €500 whilst the first runner up and second runner up receive €150 each.

14. When is the STAR Awards ceremony held?

The STAR Awards ceremony is held in the first quarter of every calendar year, usually in February. Attendance for this prestigious event is by invitation only.

15. When were the STAR Awards introduced?

The STAR Awards were introduced in 2005 as a pilot project. Since then, the STAR Awards have been held annually and the number of nominations now runs into the thousands each year.

16. How can I claim my instant free voucher?

Once a nomination form is submitted, the website will direct you to select one voucher which will be confirmed to you on the email address you submitted in the nomination form.