We are delighted to be holding the ECOO autumn General Assembly meetings from 14-16 October 2022 in Malta.
Please find below all the practical information you need to register and to book your stay.
Location and conference venue
The meeting will be held in Sliema, Malta. The main conference venue is The Palace Hotel, which provides all the meeting room facilities. The adjoining Victoria Hotel provides additional accommodation options (see next section).
Hotel booking
You may stay in the conference venue, The Palace Hotel, or in the Victoria Hotel, which is right next to the Palace Hotel and directly connected to it.
The Palace Hotel rates are:
- €155 per night single occupancy
- €165 per night double occupancy
- You may book this hotel via following link (the ECOO code is already applied): AX The Palace Hotel – ECOO
The Victoria Hotel rates are:
- €120 per night single occupancy
- €130 per night for double occupancy
- You may book this hotel via following link (ECOO code is already applied) AX The Victoria Hotel – ECOO
Note:
- These ECOO room rates are available until the 15 August 2022.
- You can adjust the dates and number of persons per room on the booking page at the top.
- If you wish to arrive before 14 October or stay beyond 16 October:
- Please make your reservation via the above hotel booking link for the ECOO meeting dates. Then for any additional pre and/or post dates, send an email to ilona.busuttil@axhotelsmalta.com who will amend your booking accordingly.
How to get to the venue from the airport
There are two main options to reach the conference venue/hotels.
- A taxi costs around €20 and takes about 25 minutes. Uber also operates in Malta.
- A bus connection takes about 60 minutes and costs €2 one-way. The information desk at the airport can guide you for this option.
How to register
Please register here.
Payment is made via the credit card system provided in a link that will be sent to you once you have completed the registration form.
The fees are:
- ECOO Delegate fee: €350 – 14-16 October, includes all the meetings and meals
- European Qualifications Board one day ticket: €110 – Friday meetings (14 October) only including lunch, coffee break and welcome reception
- ECOO welcome reception: €48 – for accompanying people not attending the meetings
- ECOO dinner: €70 – for accompanying people not attending the meetings
ECOO autumn meeting schedule
Please click here for the full schedule.
The detailed agendas for each meeting will be made available to members one month ahead of the meetings.
Cancellation policy
All cancellations must be addressed to the Malta Association for Optometrists by sending an e-mail to elisa@ecmeetings.com
- A full refund of the ECOO registration fees will be made for cancellation requests received by 15 September COB.
- From 16 September 2022, no cancellations apply and full payment is required.
- All approved refunds will be processed and payments issued up to 21 days after the event.
Hotel rooms can be cancelled up to 48 hours before arrival. If cancelled less than 48 hours before due arrival the room will need to be paid in full.
Information about Sliema
Sliema is a coastal town situated on the northeast of Malta, adjacent to St. Julians. Once the home of Malta’s aristocracy, it has now become a major commercial area, very popular for shopping, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels. It is also quite a large residential town with a population of around 15,000 locals; housing also a significant number of expatriates that reside there temporarily.
Sliema acquired its name from a chapel dedicated to The Our Lady of The Sea (or Stella Maris), built in 1855, which served as a reference point to the fishermen who inhabited the area. The name is linked to the opening words of the Hail Mary prayer, which in Maltese are “Sliem Għalik Marija”. Sliem is the Maltese word meaning peace or serenity.
Sliema was once a quiet fishing village, a minor summer resort that hosted the wealthier Valletta residents. The 19th century, however, saw the development of Sliema; it quickly grew into a residential area, adjoining neighbouring St. Julians. Elegant villas and town houses, as well as many Victorian buildings, were built by the British along the promenade overlooking the rocky coastline.
Soon, the people of Sliema understood the tourism potential of the area, and so they began a building boom that changed the whole landscape. Sliema became the first tourist resort in Malta, and its importance still remains. Nowadays, only a few Victorian and art nouveau houses remain, the rest have been replaced by modern apartment blocks, establishments and hotels.
From one side, the Sliema promontory offers spectacular views across to Valletta, and from the other side, there are breathtaking open sea views. The promenade that stretches for a couple of kilometres is ideal for long walks or runs, while the various benches provide a place for the locals to relax and socialize during warm summer evenings. The Sliema coastline also boasts the Independence Garden, completed with a children’s playground, as well as two fortifications: a De Redin tower built in the 17th century to protect the islands against sea attacks; and another tower that was built by the British in a neo-gothic style in the 1880s.
Sliema, what to do and see for accompanying people
- Shopping: There a number of shopping opportunities in Sliema
- Dine and Wine: Sliema is full of bars and restaurants, offering a wide variety of cuisines and atmospheres.
- Take a walk at the promenade: To the right, the promenade leads you all the way to Gzira, Ta’ Xbiex and Msida marina, while to the left, there’s a walkway towards St. Julians, Paceville and St. George’s Bay.
Contact details
For any questions on the venue, registration or payment, please contact pauline@ecmeetings.com
For any other queries on the organisation or location please contact The Malta Association of Optometrists: kerstiengabarretta@gmail.com
For any questions on the hotel booking, please contact Ms. Ilona Busuttil: ilona.busuttil@axhotelsmalta.com
For any questions on the content of the ECOO meetings, please contact the ECOO Secretariat: secretariat@ecoo.info