This recognition celebrates a lifetime dedicated to building an international hospitality brand with Maltese roots.
Malta, 10th October 2026 – Corinthia is proud to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Alfred Pisani, has been honoured with the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Icon Award, recognising his lifelong contribution to hospitality and his role in establishing Malta’s only international brand.
Presented during a VIP dinner at the WTTC’s 26th Global Summit in Malta, the award celebrates Mr Pisani’s vision and entrepreneurial leadership in building a global hospitality business from its beginnings on the island. Alexandra Pisani, General Manager of Corinthia Palace and Chief Creative Officer at Corinthia Hotels, accepted the award on his behalf (pictured above).
Mr Pisani’s journey in hospitality began in 1962 with the opening of a restaurant in Malta. Six years later, he opened the Corinthia Palace Hotel, establishing the foundations of what would become an internationally recognised luxury hospitality brand. Over the decades, his ambition and determination have taken Corinthia into major international markets, while preserving the values and sense of hospitality that shaped its beginnings.
Corinthia Founder and Chairman, Alfred Pisani
Alfred Pisani, Founder and Chairman of Corinthia, said: “Receiving this award is a great honour, not only for me personally, but for everyone who has been part of Corinthia’s journey over the years. What began in Malta with a belief in the potential of hospitality has grown into an international business, built through the commitment and talent of many people.
From the beginning, I wanted Corinthia to stand for something beyond the hotels we build. The Spirit of Corinthia is rooted in how we treat people, the ambition and creativity with which we approach our work, and the pride we take in what we do together. These principles have guided Corinthia from its earliest days and remain as important to our future as they were to our beginnings.
I am proud of what Corinthia has become, and of the contribution our business has made to putting Malta on the international hospitality map. This recognition is a reminder of how far that original vision has travelled, and of the responsibility we have to carry it forward.”
Alexandra Pisani added: “My father’s achievement is remarkable. He built an international hospitality business from Malta at a time when few could have imagined the scale of what it might become. His vision established Corinthia on the global stage and demonstrated that a business rooted in a small island could compete internationally, without losing its identity.
His legacy is reflected not only in the hotels we have built, but in the ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to hospitality that continue to guide us. As Corinthia enters its next phase of growth, we do so with a strong sense of where we came from and the principles on which the business was founded. We are delighted to see his contribution recognised by the WTTC.”
The WTTC Icon Award recognises individuals whose lifetime achievements have helped shape destinations, institutions and the wider travel and tourism sector. In honouring Mr Pisani, the Council has recognised both his contribution to the development of Malta’s tourism industry and his role in demonstrating the international potential of Maltese enterprise.
Today, Corinthia continues to build on the foundations established by Mr Pisani, with a growing portfolio of luxury hotels and developments in leading destinations around the world. Its evolution reflects a long-term commitment to thoughtful expansion, distinctive hospitality and the belief that the strongest international brands retain a clear sense of their origins.
