"HIDDEN GEMS OF MALTA" AND CORINTHIA PALACE HOTEL & SPA FEATURED IN SEASON PREMIER OF PETER GREENBERG'S TRAVEL DETECTIVE ON PBS STATIONS NATIONWIDE JANUARY 9, 2016

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Travel Detective, a weekly TV series on Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS), hosted by award-winning CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, featured the "Hidden Gems of Malta" in its season premier, January 9, 2016. The travel series is aired nationwide across the US.

Co-hosted by the Malta Tourism Authority and Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, Peter Greenberg discovers the diversity of this jewel of a Mediterranean Island, steeped in 7000 years of history.

Peter Greenberg visits the walled city of Mdina, known by the Maltese as the "Silent City" with a special guide, Alfred Pisani, Maltese-born Group Chairman of the Corinthia Hotels who opened the first Corinthia Hotel in 1968. Starting at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, located across from the President's Palace, Mr. Pisani takes Peter Greenberg for a drive in a vintage jaguar through the narrow streets of the medieval town. Mdina is a mix of Norman and Baroque architecture and home to many palaces and private villas, as well as the Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul, which stands in the main square of the town.

The Maltese archipelago boasts some of the clearest, warmest waters in the Mediterranean and is an ideal location for water sports. Peter Greenberg boards a jet ski in Mellieha Bay to discover the secluded beaches and caves of Malta that are only accessible by sea.

In Valletta, the capital of Malta and the European Capital of Culture of 2018, Peter Greenberg takes a behind the scenes private tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, including St. John's Co-Cathedral, whose opulent interior is home to the only signed Caravaggio masterpiece "The Beheading of Saint John."

"Hidden Gems of Malta" would not be complete without "Chef" Peter Greenberg preparing a taste of Maltese cuisine under the tutelage of Gozitan Chef George Borg at the Ta' Mena Estate. "Chef" Peter grilled fresh fish using Ta Mena estate olive oil while guests sipped Ta Mena wine in a spectacular setting overlooking the Mediterranean.

"Although most people in the US may not even know where Malta is, once they get there, the great thing is they discover there's no confusing what Malta is -- an amazing island of history, grace and charm. There are only a few places in the world I return to each year, and Malta now is on that short list," said Greenberg.

Greenberg added, "When exploring Malta, one of the best places to base yourself is the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, the original flagship of the Corinthia Hotels, opened in 1968. Located in the heart of Malta, the Corinthia is a great hub of history and hospitality with the stories to go along with it, not to mention its century-old, restored restaurant, The Villa Corinthia."

Malta is accessible from the US on British Airways via London, Air Malta code sharing with Turkish Air via Istanbul, and Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Munich, as well as other European gateways.

-ENDS-

Photos Attached:

1) Peter Greenberg, Travel Detective Host/ CBS News Travel Editor & Alfred Pisani, Group Chairman, Corinthia Hotels in Vintage Jaguar at Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa

2) Peter Greenberg on Jet Ski

About Malta

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta built by the proud Knights of St. John is one of the UNESCO sights and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta's patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire's most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. For more information on Malta, visit www.visitmalta.com.

About Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa

The Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa is the original flagship of Corinthia Hotels, opened in 1968. Located in the heart of the island of Malta, adjacent to the Presidential Palace, the 150-room five-star Corinthia Palace exudes grace and historic charm. It is positioned between the island's capital Valletta and Mdina, the picturesque medieval silent city that is still inhabited till this day. This opulent hotel offers the leisure guest an extensive range of facilities, including the Athenaeum Spa, complete with a wide range of revitalizing treatments and indoor and outdoor pools. With a century-old restored villa as its main dining venue, this hotel is all about warmth, personal attention, and traditional elegance. The hotel boasts top-class restaurants, including Rickshaw, offering Asian-fusion dishes, and the al fresco Summer Kitchen. For corporate guests, modern business facilities are available, with a large conference room easily accommodating 450 delegates, and six syndicate rooms including two boardrooms for smaller groups. Corinthia Palace is a 21st-century stately hotel, created by experts with a passion for craftsmanship and an understanding of world-class service. Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa is an award-winning member of Corinthia Hotels' collection of five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta. For more information visit corinthia.com/palace or visit Twitter @corinthiapalace or Instagram @corinthiapalace

About Corinthia Hotels

Corinthia is a collection of five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta. Established in 1968, the group is a family-inspired business, with family values underpinning the Spirit of Corinthia. As a hotel business, Corinthia's focus is on giving honest, discreet service. Authenticity, passion, precision and understanding are Corinthia's guiding principles, ensuring they are true craftsmen in the world of hospitality. Each of the hotels and resorts, in some of the most exciting places in the world, are a tribute to local architecture and cultural traditions. The Corinthia portfolio includes the flagship Corinthia Hotel in London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Budapest, Malta, St Petersburg, Prague, Lisbon, Khartoum and Tripoli. Corinthia Hotels is owned by International Hotel Investments (IHI), a publicly-traded company in Malta. CHI Hotels & Resorts Limited is a wholly-owned member of the IHI Group which manages Corinthia Hotels. For more information visit corinthia.com or visit Twitter @CorinthiaHotels or Instagram @corinthiahotels

About Travel Detective

The Travel Detective is the weekly half hour investigative travel series hosted by multiple Emmy award winning CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg. Each week, the program examines the process of travel -- from airline safety to which cruise ship has the best maintenance to which hotel is most likely to be burglarized. The Travel Detective correspondents include Scott McCartney from the Wall Street Journal, Arnie Weissmann from Travel Weekly and Rikki Klieman from CBS News. "Hidden Gems" -- a weekly segment within the show, reveals all the experiences at a particular destination that aren't in any brochures or guide books that only the locals know. Season two of The Travel Detective premieres January 9th on public television stations across the U.S. Check local listings.

Corinthia Hotels Editorial Contact:
Fiona Harris, [email protected], or tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3034
Evelien Lemmens, [email protected] or tel: +44 (0) 207 321 3196

Corinthia Hotels US Media Contact:
Karen Hoffman/Bianca Pappas
The Bradford Group
[email protected]
(212) 447-0027

Photos accompanying this release are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38521

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38522

CONTACT: Corinthia Hotels Editorial Contact:
         Fiona Harris, [email protected], or tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3034
         Evelien Lemmens, [email protected] or tel: +44 (0) 207 321 3196
         
         Corinthia Hotels US Media Contact:
         Karen Hoffman/Bianca Pappas
         The Bradford Group
         [email protected]
         (212) 447-0027