Taking a five-star holiday with your four-legged best friend in Malta was made possible this week, with the long-awaited launch of Palace Pups – the island's leading pet-friendly hotel programme.

Designed by pet-lovers for pet-lovers, this luxury offering makes it easy for guests to bring their dogs, cats or others animals with them to the hotel, whether for an overnight stay or a longer visit.

“This sort of programme works brilliantly overseas at some of the best hotels in the world,” says David Woodward, general manager for the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa. “So we wanted to offer the same facilities to local pet owners, as well as those wanting to visit Malta with their pets.

“We now have designated rooms where pets can stay with their owners, specialised pet facilities, and even a safe space in the garden where dogs can run off the lead.

“Of course we have also kept our non-pet-owning guests in mind every step of the way. Visiting pets must be kept on a leash when in the public areas, and will only be able to join their owners in 'doggie designated' parts of the hotel. The programme has been very well received so far and we're thrilled to have already had a number of four-legged guests in recent weeks.”

The hotel offers a variety of facilities to its canine visitors, including:

• Doggie check-in;
• Complimentary in-room facilities including bowls, a bed, treats and toys;
• A doggie room service menu, with a range of fresh foods available that are all cooked up by the hotel's talented team of chefs;
• Dog walking and dog sitting facilities;
• Dog massages and grooming.

Additionally, for every pet visitor, the hotel will be making a donation to a local dog sanctuary.

“Pip, one of the dogs that inspired this programme, was rescued from a terrible fate and he now loves the luxury at the Corinthia Palace. With that in mind we want to help other homeless dogs to find happiness and safety, so we're proud to be working with dog sanctuaries here in Malta to do just that,” adds Mr Woodward.

To view the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa's Pet Policy, visit corinthia.com/global/palace%20hotel/documents/palace-pups-pet-policy.pdf

For more information on Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa, visit corinthia.com/hotels/malta/palace-hotel-and-spa/

Media only – for further information or photography contact:
Jo Caruana, jo@writemeanything.com, or tel: +356 9946 2273
Fiona Harris, fiona.harris@corinthia.com, or tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3034
Evelien Lemmens, evelien.lemmens@corinthia.com, or tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3196

About Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa
The Corinthia Palace Hotel 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 and Health Club, complete with a wide range of revitalising 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 two large conference rooms easily accommodating 550 delegates, and six syndicate rooms and two boardrooms for smaller groups. Corinthia Palace is a 21st-century stately hotel located in the heart of Malta, 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 Pet Travel from UK to Malta
Since 1 January 2012, Malta's pet travel rules have been synced with standard EU laws. Dogs entering Malta from an EU country must:

• be microchipped;
• be vaccinated against rabies;
• have waited 21 days after vaccination before entering;
• have an EU Pet Passport.

The previous requirement to carry out a blood test followed by a six-month wait before entry into Malta is no longer required. All pet owners travelling abroad with their animals should discuss with their vets the use of treatments, including those designed to control ticks as part of good animal health practice. In Great Britain, a pet passport is issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV). If your veterinary practice does not have a resident OV, your vet will tell you where the nearest one works. Before you take your pet out of the UK, make sure that the vet has completed sections I-IV of the pet passport, and section V if it has needed a blood test.