6 Decades of Service Excellence

Rich Heritage,
Bold Future

The CPHCL Group (CPHCL), previously known as Corinthia Palace Hotel Company Limited Group (CPHCL), came into being on 6th December 1962, with the Pisani family transforming an elegant art nouveau villa in Attard, Malta, into a fine dining restaurant. What started with a small team of 11 employees rapidly evolved, driven by a passion for exceptional service and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In 1968, the villa was extended into the Corinthia Palace Hotel, marking the Group’s entry into luxury hospitality. This laid the foundation for its further expansion into hotel ownership, management and development, and real estate across Malta, Europe, Africa, the USA, Russia and the Middle East.

Formally incorporated in 1966, CPHCL later founded and listed International Hotel Investments p.l.c. (IHI) in 2000, now the holding company for the Corinthia brand and its global portfolio. While retaining a 58% stake in IHI, CPHCL also owns and manages a diversified range of businesses spanning hospitality, real estate, laundry services, catering, residential care homes for the elderly, recruitment and bespoke event management.

CPHCL fully owns Palace Landscaping & Palace Garden Centre, Palace Concierge, Palazzo Leone (a residential care home for the elderly), Danish Bakery (Jesper’s), Palace Residences, Recruitment & Quality Talent (RQT) and Swan Laundry. The Group is also a 25% shareholder in Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’Qali, Malta’s largest conference and exhibition venue. Moreover, the Group owns 50% of a joint venture with Attard Bros Group, focusing on the development and sale of real estate property.

The Group also owns 50% of Mediterranean Investments Holding PLC (MIH), the owner and operator of Palm City in Tripoli, Libya – an exclusive and luxurious residential community of over 400 serviced units, in the coastal town of Janzour.

Guided by an impressive track record, a clear long-term strategic vision, a commitment to sustainable growth and a dedicated team of professionals, CPHCL continues to invest in opportunities that will further shape and strengthen its future.

1962

  • 1962

    CPHCL Group

    Came into being on 6th December 1962, with the Pisani family transforming an elegant art nouveau villa in Attard, Malta, into a fine dining restaurant.

  • 1966

    Formally Incorporated

    In 1966, CPHCL later founded and listed International Hotel Investments p.l.c. (IHI) in 2000, now the holding company for the Corinthia brand.

  • 1968

    Villa Refalo

    A modest restaurant, evolved into the inaugural Corinthia Hotel by HRN the Duke of Edinburgh. Today, it stands as the illustrious Corinthia Palace.

  • 1995

    St George’s Bay, Aquincum and Khamsa

    Between 1995 and 1997 the opening of Corinthia St George’s Bay, a luxury waterfront property; the acquisition of Aquincum in Budapest and the opening of Corinthia Khamsa, Tunisia.

  • 1999

    CPHCL Finance p.l.c.

    CPHCL Finance p.l.c. (formerly Corinthia Finance p.l.c.) incorporated as the financing arm.

  • 2000

    International Hotel Investments (IHI) p.l.c.

    International Hotel Investments (IHI) p.l.c. listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, owning and operating Corinthia hotels and related real estate.

  • 2001

    Danish Bakery (Jesper’s)

    Acquisition of Danish Bakery (Jesper’s), a trusted and essential staple in Malta’s daily food culture delivering authentic, high quality, and freshly baked goods.

  • 2001

    Corinthia Hotels

    Between 2001 and 2010, various Corinthia hotels established in Europe including Prague, Lisbon and Budapest.

  • 2006

    Formation of Mediterranean Investments Holding

    Formation of Mediterranean Investments Holding (MIH) with Kuwait’s National Real Estate Company for North African real estate projects, including Palm City Residences in Libya.

  • 2009

    Palm City, Tripoli

    Opening of Palm City, Tripoli, an exclusive 400-unit luxury residential compound on the coastal town of Janzour.

  • 2011

    Inauguration of Corinthia London

    Inauguration of Corinthia London, featuring 279 guestrooms, fine dining and a spa.

  • 2021

    Expansion and Consolidation

    Between 2018 and 2021, expansion and consolidation of hotel and property assets across Europe, including redevelopments and acquisitions.

  • 2023

    Recruitment & Quality Talent (RQT)

    A licensed staffing and outsourcing agency specialising in sourcing quality talent for Malta’s service and manufacturing sectors.

  • 2025

    Bonds & Palace Concierge

    Successful issuance of €45 million unsecured bonds due 2035 and establishing Palace Concierge, a bespoke concierge service for the film industry.

  • 2026

    Acquisition of Greenscapes and MIH Shareholding

    CPHCL and IHI acquire the remaining shares in MIH, the owner and operator of Palm City, Tripoli, a luxurious residential community of over 400 serviced units.

Meet the Team

Board of Directors

Alfred Pisani founded and heads the Corinthia Group, IHI’s principal shareholder and is also the Chairman of IHI. The Corinthia Group is a leading international hotel developer, investor and operator, with interests in several countries. He has since directed the Group’s growth, transforming Corinthia into a globally renowned luxury brand with properties in some of the world’s most prestigious destinations. Alfred Pisani’s efforts were officially recognised by the State in 2001, when he was invested as Member of the Order of Merit of Malta and again in 2014, when the President bestowed the highest order of the land, Officer, The National Order of Merit.

Alfred Pisani

Founder & Chairman

Joseph M. Pisani is a founder director and member of the main board of CPHCL and has served on a number of boards of subsidiary companies.

Joseph M. Pisani

Director

Victor Pisani has been a director of CPHCL since 1966 and is a director on several of its subsidiary companies.

Victor Pisani

Director

Moussa Atiiq Ali has been the General Manager of Libyan Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) since 13 June 2021. Previous posts he occupied have included Manager Director of Libya Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP) and Legal Consultant at the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA).

Moussa Atiiq Ali

Director

Ibraheem Ayad is the Chief Financial Officer at LAFICO, where he has led financial management and transformation initiatives since 2022. With a background in external audit at EY, he brings over a decade of experience in the banking and oil and gas sectors. Mr Ayad specializes in budgeting, cashflow management and implementing robust financial controls. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Tripoli University.

Ibraheem Ayad

Director

Samer Abuajaja graduated in Computer Science from Africa University, Tripoli. He worked in IT roles at Libya Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP) and LAP Suisse and was later appointed Deputy General Manager at Laptech. He joined Libyan Foreign Investment Company in 2022 as Head of IT.

Samer Abuajaja

Director

Company
Secretary

Alfred Fabri worked with an international company and in management consulting with a Big Four firm before joining Corinthia Group in 1989. He served as Company Secretary at the inception of Corinthia Finance p.l.c. and later at International Hotel Investments p.l.c. Mr. Fabri is a former Chairman of the Planning Authority and a past Director of the Malta Development Corporation. He read Economics at the University of Malta and Business Administration at Queen’s University Belfast.

Alfred Fabri

Company Secretary

CEO

Jean-Pierre Schembri joined the Group in a Senior Executive role in 2018 and was promoted to Company Secretary for IHI p.l.c. in June 2019. Having successfully held this position for five years, Mr Schembri was appointed as CEO for CPHCL in 2024 and also sits on various CPHCL and Group subsidiary boards. Prior to joining IHI, he occupied senior positions within the Maltese public service and the European Union. He served at the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU before joining the European Union Civil Service in 2012, where he held senior management positions. Mr Schembri holds a Master’s degree in European Politics & Administration from the College of Europe in Bruges and a BA Hons degree from the University of Malta.

Jean-Pierre Schembri

CEO

C-Suite Team

Rachel Stilon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accountancy from University of Malta in 1996 and began her career in finance at PwC Malta. She then proceeded to join the internal audit department at Corinthia Group in 1998, before moving into corporate finance as Financial Controller at Corinthia Palace Hotel Company Limited (CPHCL) in 2000. Since then, she has held various corporate finance related positions and is currently also the Chief Financial Officer at Mediterranean Investments Holding plc. Rachel is a Certified Public Accountant warrant holder, a Member of the Malta Institute of Accountants, and serves as a director on a number of Group subsidiaries.

Rachel Stilon

Chief Financial Officer

Christina Galea has been Chief People Officer with CPHCL since October 2024. Christina began her HR journey with an eye-opening internship in HR Management in Hong Kong. She then joined the Corinthia Head Office in HR Administration and later Island Hotels to gain operational experience, subsequently appointed Group HR Director, overseeing approximately 1000 employees. Christina later took on the role of CEO of Costa Coffee, gaining valuable leadership and business management experience, as well as insight into financial, operational and franchise relationships, successfully leading the business and the team through the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. After eight years, she returned to Corinthia Head Office in HR Management, returning to her roots in a role she is truly passionate about.

Christina Galea

Chief People Officer

Salvinu Farrell has occupied the role of Director since 2025. He joined Corinthia in 1989 as an accountant at the Jerma Palace Hotel. He then went on to occupy roles including Accounts Manager at Swan Laundry, Financial Controller at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, as well as Acting General Manager. An accountant by profession, Salvinu, felt his calling was operational and was entrusted with the role of General Manager of the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul, Gambia and Corinthia Tripoli Hotel. His career took him to Khartoum where he oversaw the pre-opening of the Corinthia Khartoum in Sudan. This was followed by a VP role for the Ramada and Independent Hotels within Corinthia Hotels, overseeing operations in Europe and the Middle East and opening several Ramada properties in Dubai and Sharm El Sheik. Following the upheavals of the Arab Spring, Salvinu returned to the Corinthia Tripoli Hotel in 2012, overseeing the operations of this hotel and BCM, a concrete and block making company owned by the Group, for several years. His previous role prior to the current one was that of Managing Director of Corinthia Caterers and Catermax.

Salvinu Farrell

Director

Investment & Development Committee

RepresentativeRole
Joseph F.X. ZahraChairman
Samer AbuajajaMember
Michel CordinaMember
Luca VellaMember
Mark BugejaMember
Alfred FabriSecretary

Audit Committee

RepresentativeRole
Michel CordinaChairman
Ibrahim AyadMember
Joseph F.X. ZahraMember
Mario GaleaMember
Deborah SchembriMember
Luca VellaMember
Alfred FabriSecretary

Remuneration Committee

RepresentativeRole
Joseph F.X. ZahraChairman
Michel CordinaMember
Mario GaleaMember
Alfred FabriSecretary

Policies & Procedures

CPHCL Anti Fraud Policy Please see CPHCL Anti Fraud Policy from the following link.
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Group Whistleblower Policy Please see the Group Whistleblower Policy from the following link.
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+356 2551 4162
22 Europa Centre Floriana FRN 1400 Malta

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