Incentives for the hospitality sector

GRTU held a meeting for its members
in the hospitality sector on Malta Enterprise incentives for the hospitality
industry (hotels, restaurants, snack bars, guest houses..). The schemes
presented were the following:

Business First

Business First implementing to set up
a one stop shop for businesses. This will set up a Point of Single Contact
(PSC) for businesses with will include:

Microinvest

Supports micro enterprises and
self-employed (employing up to 9 persons) to invest in their business to
innovate, expand, implement compliance directives. Assistance available is
capped at €25,000 or 40% of eligible expenses for enterprises in Malta.
Enterprises in Gozo is capped at 60% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of
€25,000.

Eligible expenses under this scheme
include:

This scheme has extended to include
investments made in 2012                                              

Quality +

Encourages SMEs to improve the
quality of their products, services and processes by achieving quality
certifications and quality marks, environmental certifications, franchise
licences and licences required for participation in a value chain. It is
granted on approved projects on a maximum of €20,000 in eligible costs and
deduction from taxable income equivalent to 150% of eligible costs.

The following are example of
certification marks:

ISO 9001:2008, ISO17025:2005,
ISO17020, ISO 14001 (Environment)

EMAS & Ecolabel

ISO 22000 (Food Safety & Hygiene)

Hazard Analysis Critical and Control
Point (HACCP)

MSA EN 14804:2005 (Language Study
Tour Providers)

Halal certification &
MS1500:2004 

CE Mark & BSI Kitemark

Interest Rate Subsidies for
Hospitality Sector

Supports hotels; guesthouses;
hostels; farmhouses; snack bars and restaurants in upgrading their operations
and product offering so as to provide new and improved services. Assistance
granted in the form of an interest subsidy ranging between 1% and 3% on a loan
taken up to fund tangible assets used in furbishing and upgrading of premises
including extensions, modifications and extensions to premises; the acquisition
of plant, machinery, apparatus and instruments;

Once approved project costs must be incurred
and paid for between the date the project is approved and 31st December 2014.

For further information kindly
contact Abigail Mamo at GRTU.