Joseph Vella becomes the first Recipient of WRMC’s Outstanding Hotel & Restaurant Management Award

Joseph Vella, Senior General Manager of AX Hotels Qawra, has been named the first ever recipient of the Outstanding Hotel & Restaurant Management Award at the WRMC Restaurant Quality Recognition Awards 2026; in recognition of his leadership and long standing contribution to the local hospitality industry. It is a milestone that not only recognises Vella’s leadership but also the transformation of a destination that has become one of Malta’s most ambitious hospitality projects.

The award, presented during the 12th edition of the WRMC ceremony, highlighted Vella’s contribution to elevating AX Hotels’ food, beverage and guest experience standards across Qawra. According to the WRMC coverage, Vella was recognised alongside several AX ODYCY outlets that earned Silver Spoon and Blue Riband distinctions, cementing the destination’s reputation for quality and consistency.

“I’m genuinely grateful for this recognition,” Vella says. “But it really comes down to the team. No one runs a hotel alone—there are a lot of people working hard every day to make sure things run smoothly. This award reflects all of their efforts as much as mine.”

Vella has been with AX Group for seventeen years, part of a hospitality career spanning more than two decades. His approach to leadership has long emphasised team empowerment, diversity and growth.

When Vella first stepped into AX Hotels Qawra, the Suncrest Hotel, a beloved but ageing property, was at a crossroads. The company needed not just a manager, but a strategist capable of reimagining an entire destination. Vella helped Suncrest evolve into the AX Seashells Resort at Suncrest in 2015, a pivotal step toward the large scale redevelopment that would follow.

“The Suncrest meant a lot to Malta’s tourism history,” Vella says. “But it needed a new chapter. We had to be bold enough to see what it could become.”

In 2021, AX Group began the redevelopment that would produce the company’s largest ever hospitality investment: the AX ODYCY Hotel, a four star, year round destination with ten restaurants and a design inspired by cruise liners and airports. The transformation, as documented in multiple awards announcements, positioned ODYCY as a showcase of contemporary hospitality, architecture and guest experience innovation.

The redevelopment added floors, expanded facilities, and integrated new dining concepts, Minoa, Trattoria Riccardo, Medusa Sky Bar, Deck & Keel, and others, each recognised for creativity and quality. Several of these restaurants also received Silver Spoon or Blue Riband awards at the WRMC ceremony where Vella himself was honoured.

“ODYCY wasn’t just a refurbishment, it was a reinvention,” Vella notes. “We wanted to build a destination that could welcome thousands of guests while still feeling personal. Quality at scale, that was the challenge.”

AX ODYCY’s success has quickly been validated. In 2024, the project secured four European Property Awards, for Leisure Development, Commercial Redevelopment, Masterplan, and Hotel Architecture, placing it among Europe’s standout hospitality developments.

Beyond WRMC and European Property Awards acclaim, AX Hotels and ODYCY have accumulated a notable roster of accolades in recent years, reflecting the destination’s commitment to innovation and quality.

Vella has often spoken publicly about the importance of maintaining high standards even within a volume driven environment. During earlier recognition moments, he emphasised the continuous push for excellence, noting that ODYCY “stands as a prime example of maintaining quality within the high volume market.”

These results echo not just strong internal leadership but also AX Group’s strategic long term vision for Qawra as a reinvented tourist hub.

For Vella, each award is meaningful but also a reminder of the responsibility that comes with ambition. “Awards validate the work,” he says, “but they also push us to ask: what’s next? How do we keep exceeding expectations?”

Those who work with Vella often note his people centric style, something he has also expressed publicly. In a 2020 message to his team, he spoke of the loyalty, commitment and family spirit that define the AX Hotels Qawra workforce, especially in challenging times.

“The team is the heartbeat,” he explains. “They’re the ones greeting guests at breakfast, solving problems behind the scenes, and making sure every experience feels intentional. My role is to make sure they feel supported, valued and empowered to grow.”

This emphasis on people not just products, buildings or revenue has shaped the culture Vella considers essential for ODYCY’s future.

With Phase One of the ODYCY redevelopment complete and thriving, AX Group is now preparing for Phase Two, expected to continue transforming the Qawra coastline and visitor offering. Plans previously outlined by AX Group include the redevelopment of AX Sunny Coast Resort & Spa into ODYCY Residences as part of a wider masterplan featuring residences, leisure centres, restaurants and integrated public spaces.

While specific project updates are forthcoming, Vella is optimistic and visibly energised.

“Phase Two is where we get to stitch together the remaining pieces of the ODYCY story,” he says. “We’ve built the destination; now we get to expand it. It’s an opportunity to enhance connectivity, elevate the guest experience even further, and continue shaping Qawra into one of Malta’s most dynamic hospitality zones.”

As the industry continues to evolve, Vella’s tenure at AX Hotels illustrates how steady leadership, clear vision and a collaborative spirit can redefine a destination. The WRMC award marks a milestone but it feels more like the preface to the next chapter.

“When I look back at the last fifteen years, I’m proud,” Vella reflects. “But when I look forward toward ODYCY’s next phase, toward what our team is capable of that’s what truly excites me. We’re not done. Not even close.”

And in Qawra, a destination that has rewritten its identity through resilience and reinvention, that sense of momentum may be the greatest achievement of all.