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Personifying a perfect balance of friendly professionalism and astute business acumen, Queensland native Robyn Pratt was well known in Australian hospitality circles, and beyond, thanks to her tenure as general manager of Sheraton Noosa.

Robyn Pratt, GM extraordinaire of Phoenicia Malta.

People told her she was crazy to leave the prestigious property behind to follow a life’s path that took her to Belgium, where she resided for many years. Now general manager of Malta’s legendary Phoenicia Malta, a member of The Leading Hotels Of The World, Robyn Pratt is not one to shy away from new experiences by venturing into unknown professional territory; her gamble paid off and eventually led to a vice-president position at Starwood Hotels in Europe before her relocation to Malta, a country with close ties to Australia thanks to the Maltese diaspora.

Some general managers see themselves as gods upon their thrones. Some general managers see themselves as keys to a successful hotel operation. Then there are general managers like Robyn Pratt who understand that their entire staff rather than themselves alone are the keys to a successful operation.

The respect for her employees is reflected in their dedication to emulating her work ethic and respecting the property itself, a landmark in the history of the Republic Of Malta; Phoenicia Malta’s Grand Ballroom has seen many an important event take place over the decades since the hotel opened its doors in 1947. Speaking with Ms Pratt, one would never imagine that the many and varied responsibilities of running a large urban resort like Phoenicia Malta would in any way flummox her, such is her ability to meet challenges head-on and resolve them with satisfactory results.

Phoenicia Malta’s Grand Ballroom.

Much of this savoir-faire is due to Ms Pratt’s tranquil demeanour. Certainly, a lot of GMs have positive attitudes; hers goes beyond the domain of the property and embraces a desire to improve, improve, and improve the experiences of guests and employees while they are in residence at Phoenicia Malta and later when they have gone home. A sense of genuine goodwill is evident in all that she does—and she does a lot. This mother of three seems to thrive on excellence not demanded of herself and others but rather elicited through common sense and kindness, two qualities often lacking in the business world.

A member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, Ms Pratt won awards and widespread recognition for her work even before becoming managing director of her own company, Impact Consulting, which helps businesses improve their operations and profits through better management policies. No wonder Phoenicia Malta is such a well-run enterprise and such a pleasure for visitors to Malta seeking top-quality accommodation.

Her middle name is Joy. That is not at all surprising.