Malta Business Review

1971 - 2021

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

Your Group, for 50 years.

1971 - Launch of the ROCS Group. Launch of the first hospitality venue. • 1973 - Launch of the Property Division . ROCS Property would go on to construct and manage 4 apartment blocks for tourism rental purposes. • 1992 - Launch of the Investments Division . • 1996 - Launch of the second hospitality venue. • 1997 - Launch of the Travel Division . ROCS Travel would go on to open 3 more Travel Offices, including the new ROCS Group Head Office in Floriana. • 1998 - First guided group departure to Dubai. ROCS Travel would also be confirmed as the top passenger sales agent for Emirates Airline to Dubai and Cyprus for 23 consecutive years. • 1999 - Launch of the Insurance Division . ROCS Insure would go on to open 3 more Insurance Offices. • 2000 - Launch of the Media Division with the launch of Tista’ Tkun Int! which would go on to become Malta’s most-viewed TV show. • 2007 - Launch of the Retail Division with INGLOT Malta , Libya & Yemen Franchises. Opening of Sliema Flagship store, ROCS Retail would go on to open 5 more INGLOT Malta stores, 4 new INGLOT The Studio locations, plus 29 INGLOT Libya stores. • 2008 - Launch of perfumes&more Franchise. ROCS Retail would go on to open 6 more perfumes&more stores. • 2013 - Appointed General Sales Agents of Emirates Holidays in Malta. Opening of first Emirates Holidays office in Floriana. ROCS Travel would go to open 2 more Emirates Holidays Offices. • 2017 - 2020 - ROCS Travel awarded MCCAA Top Award in Service for the Travel & Tourism Industry. • 2018 - Launch of MINUSTHREE , a full floor of retail brands at Malta’s largest shopping mall: The Point Shopping Mall. • 2019 - Launch of the Jobs Division . • 2020 - Launch of Dune London Franchise in Malta. Opening of the flagship store at MINUSTHREE. • 2021 - Expansion of the ROCS Group operations in Libya.

ROCS GROUP, THE BASE, DEVELOPMENT HOUSE ST. ANNE STREET, FLORIANA, FRN 9010, MALTA

WWW.ROCSGRP.COM | +356 2015 1515 | INFO@ROCSGRP.COM

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Malta Business Review

St Julians, Friday 26th November 2021 – Dynamic Events Ltd, in collaboration with the Malta Business Review, have announced the winners of the 2021 combined gala award ceremony for Malta’s Best Business Woman of the Year and the Local Business Excellence Awards 2021. Whilst it is certainly a challenging time for businesses of all shapes and sizes, there are still causes for celebration to be found in every industry and sector. Indeed, even now, Dynamic Events endeavour to recognise those that are and have been doing, incredible things. After all, success can be found anywhere – whether a large international conglomerate or single-person firm. That was really the goal of Malta’s Best Business Woman of the Year and the Local Business Excellence Awards 2021 when they were launched last year: to shine a spotlight on some of the brightest achievements of best entrepreneurs, woman CEOs, female managers, business owners and founders in Malta. Named the overall outright winner of Malta’s Best Business Woman® Awards2021 by the judges of the event, ROCS Group Director, Rachel Vella scored first in top five categories, among which are Malta’s Best Business Leader of The Year, Most Inspiring Business Woman of the Year, Best CEO of The Year, Best Woman In Consumer Business 2021 and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. The hard-working businesswoman was mainly recognised by the judges for her tactical sales and account management campaign that added value to the client’s revenue stream whilst maximising customer experience despite the downturn in the travel industry.

Rachel Vella, was also voted Woman of the Year 2021 by the Malta Business Review’s Board of journalists,

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

beating Deborah Schembri of STM Malta Pension Services Limited by two points. This event is Malta’s annual premier business awards program of the year and considered the largest, as well as the most prestigious on the Island, was characterised by strict COVID-19 adherence to regulations on health and safety, being given the top priority by the organisers. The judging panel noted, “This is really impressive and goes to show how putting the customer first and making time for their needs is a win-win for everyone. Congratulations on keeping an abundance mentality during this time. Especially in sales, this can be daunting when it feels like the odds (or COVID-19) is stacked against you.” The organisers behind this successfully annual event, Martin Vella and Margaret Brincat, told us that, “By devising a creative pivot to our sales solution, Dynamic Events partners, sponsors, nominees and clients significantly enhanced their reputation during a time of crisis, engendering further loyalty and customer lifetime value (CLV).” Awards Coordinator Kelly Anne Briffa took a moment to discuss the success of the winners: “These awards are the cornerstone of all our annual celebratory programmes. Once again, it has been an absolute pleasure to be part of all of this and find out how businesses continue to innovate and create in your respective industries.” Dynamic Events Limited prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work by a qualified top-level judging panel.

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Over time, I have learned that having the right people, at the right time, in the right positions, makes my job much easier. Since I was a very young girl, I have always been taught that ‘A JOB WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL’ and most certainly this is the basis of whatever I do today, be it personal or corporate. It would be fair for me to say that the moral compass and the passion for work that my parents have instilled in me, guide me till this very day in every action I take, in every decision I make, and in every new venture I entertain. MBR: How do you describe ROCS Group’s culture and what have been the keys to maintaining culture? RV: ROCS has today become Malta’s leading household name. Recent surveys have shown that the brand is recognizable to the extent that people refer to it as a benchmark for service delivery, for landmark locations, for HR expectation, and other issues. Having ROCS on anyone’s CV is considered to be a plus, since at ROCS we foster a culture of hard-working talented people, who go the extra mile to deliver a service second to none. As a group, we are constantly on the lookout to going from good to great, as we truly believe that good is not good enough for us. One might interpret this as only talk, but through time I have learned that people tend to love this culture, they embrace it and they eventually become our best testimonials. It’s that feel-good factor of becoming the best version of ourselves, by harnessing such a philosophy. It is not easy to maintain such a culture, and in all honesty and fairness not everyone manages to keep up with our pace and some do quit. However, I feel blessed that those who have what it takes to stick around, are the people we want, those we call ‘doers’, who have what it takes to be ROCS material. Individuals who understand, appreciate, and action the ROCS culture in whatever they do. MBR: What has made ROCS Group so successful at building long-lasting client relationships and client loyalty? RV: We are true to our values in all the markets we opera te in. Building long-lasting relationships in such a small market like Malta is no small feat, as word of mouth is the strongest marketing medium that impacts the Maltese market. At ROCS, we inspire confidence, empower change, and walk the talk in all we do. Every minute, we challenge ourselves to give our absolute best with our colleagues and clients to the public and one another. We set ourselves apart through our passion and pride, and we make sure to be the change we want to see, whilst firmly believing that the word impossible is not part of our vocabulary. At the ROCS Group, 80% are women and 60% are foreign nationals - so diversity is very much at the heart of whatever we do. English is our language of choice, and we respect any religious choices our teams may embrace. Another very crucial belief is that at the ROCS Group one of our prime values is that “I CAN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN IQ” (Any IQ is the cherry on the cake then) yet in our eyes attitude is key, without it, one cannot go anywhere, and this is the very basis of our everyday life. We have people coming from all walks of life and from the five continents thus having an open-minded common approach about positive attitude is key. We believe the ‘I CAN’ aspect is a value which one must adhere to and forms an essential part of our recruitment process. At a recent staff event I was amazed at how diversified our workforce is and even though when we first started this process of international recruiting, many companies were skeptical and looked oddly at the ROCS Group, today these same companies have emulated our approach and ironically ask us to support them by helping them build a diversified team like ours too.

MBR: Will you highlight ROCS Group’s history and heritage and what have been the keys to the firm’s growth and success? RV: The company started way back in the year 1971 when my parents returned from Australia. This was a time when the situation in Malta was still very uncertain, and surely not as developed as it is today. My parents managed to set up a business operation based on what they had experienced in Australia, starting a hospitality business in Mellieha. I still remember those days, the late 70s and early 80s when our food and beverage outlet used to be packed out every night and day and our short-lease apartments experienced a continuous flow of tourists coming and going every week. Many of them were repeat customers who would flock to Malta to enjoy the sun and the sea, relax in the picturesque village of Mellieha, furthermore, enjoy their dine & dance nightly experience at Charlie’s, my parents’ place. At the time, my dad had also started developing tourist apartments in Mellieha. Many thought he was out of his mind, but over time he was proven right, and the formula was eventually emulated by many others to a point whereby Mellieha today is considered one of the main touristic hotspots in Malta. MBR: How do you define the Rachel Vella difference and what sets the firm apart in the industry? RV: Well, I think that our united efforts as a team make a huge difference in the constant growth of our company. Then in every team, there must be that strategic leader who takes the difficult decisions. Being surrounded by the right people helps and makes all the difference. Rachel accepting the Best Business Leader of the Year award from Abigail Mamo, CEO at Malta Chamber of SMEs at the Local Business Awards 2021 held on the 26th of November 2021 at InterContinental Malta Never take your eyes off the target By George Carol Interview with Rachel Vella, Director ROCS GROUP, voted as Malta’s Best Business Leader for 2021 during Malta’s Local Business Awards

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

The diversity we believe in is an asset that one should treasure, not discard. MBR: What do you see as ROCS Group’s responsibility to the communities it serves and to be a force for good in society? RV: Since its inception, ROCS has always tried its best to bring out excellence to every community it serves. Giving back to the community has always been at the top of our agenda. From the early 70s when giving an employment opportunity to Mellieha residents was a first, to the time of Tista’ Tkun Int! when so many people had their dreams come true over seven years, and finally to this very day when so many identify themselves with the ROCS culture and live by the founding motto - that A JOB WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL! We have always believed that any venture must be self sustainable and must bring good to the society it serves from allowing exploring the world and the most distant places to protecting one’s family through long-term savings plans and life assurance products. I believe in quality products that deliver value for money. This is at the very core of every venture we are involved in and every service and product we provide. MBR: You have recently been voted as the judges’ winners in Most Inspiring Businesswoman of the Year, Best Women in Consumer Business 2021, Best Woman CEO of the Year, Best Business Leader of the Year Award, and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award during Malta’s Best Businesswomen Awards and the Local Business Awards 2021 held on the 26th November 2021. What significance does this have to you personally, on your staff, as well as your Company? RV: I am thrilled and honestly ever so grateful. I never expected to be recognized and rewarded in this manner. On a personal level, such awards place an even higher benchmark in my professional career. Being recognized gives me of course a strong sense of satisfaction, whilst at the same time reminds me that when at the top, I am expected to deliver more and deliver better. It highlights that I must be strong, and persevering as I have always been. I am realistic that I might find individuals who will jump off my ship along the way, yet as a leader, quitting or giving up is never an option. In my eyes, I am proud to say that it is not just what we do at ROCS that matters: yet it is how we do it, which plays the most important role, as many a time, doing that job well is what makes all the difference. As I said we also believe that success is many a time hanging on when other people let go, and this core belief is what makes our days dedicated to a common goal. At ROCS we also value diversity of opinions, and the many different viewpoints of our people bring complex issues and valid discussions to the table. That’s why we are focused on creating an all-inclusive environment, an open-door policy, and products and services that offer true value for money. This is what it means to work with and for ROCS. MBR: How critical is it for the ROCS Group to build a diverse and inclusive workforce and will you discuss the firm’s efforts in this regard? RV: The ROCS team today is a group of very talented individuals, an array of professionals coming from every corner of the globe who have so much talent and passion to offer. Such awards give us the motivation to keep going, knowing that what we have done so far is on the right track and a solid part of our long-term journey. I have always been of the firm belief that one has to enjoy the journey. We love to do business with people we like too, not a lot of people may relate, yet chemistry for business success is essential.

These are the pillars of my business understanding - 2 firm commandments of the ROCS creed. MBR: When the results were officially announced that you had won these prestigious awards, what was your feeling, reaction, and what was your overall experience about these awards? RV: Oh, simply great, really no words can describe what I felt when I was called repeatedly, as I never thought the judges would appreciate and understand the passion and the effort, I put into the ROCS brand. I have always worked 24 hours seven days a week and non-stop. I am very, very passionate, and love to work. As I said before, in my eyes ROCS is not simply a brand - it is a way of life for those hard-working and talented individuals, who work hard and persevere to make things happen MBR: How did ROCS Group adapt its business to address the challenges caused by the pandemic and how proud are you to see the resilience of your team during this unprecedented time and also by being awarded merited honours during the above- mentioned awards? RV: Goodness, Covid-19 was a challenge! Well, the pandemic is a challenge, which only a very few saw it coming. We were lucky enough to have a talented team that was at the forefront and prepared for what was going to happen. In fact, as of February 2020, the company adapted to the many challenges we were about to face. The pandemic is a challenge that in some way or another affected negatively all our 7 divisions. The COVID-19 challenge meant adapting our operations, retraining our staff, changing procedures, adapting our overall modus operandi, creating specific teams to handle refunds and rerouting, and a million and one things. I am very proud of the ROCS policy adopted from day 1 of this pandemic. The first directive given by the Board of Directors was that none of our teams will lose their job due to the pandemic. Most of the people who were with us pre-pandemic are still with us. We at ROCS believe that there is a future beyond COVID-19 and as such, we plan every week to a time when COVID-19 will be retracting and all those businesses which would have managed to adapt to the new reality, will manage to get out of the pandemic stronger. Therefore, we are currently working hard to change the way we operate in certain divisions, strengthen those divisions which are doing well and launch new divisions in Malta and beyond to diversify the portfolio as much as possible and protect the company and all those involved from situations like the pandemic. MBR: What do you see as the keys to effective leadership and what advice do you offer young people beginning their careers during this challenging and unprecedented time? RV: Never take your eyes off the target and remember that your only competition is who you were yesterday. Our habits decide our future, so making sure we do every job well is key. Through time you will find people who may try to discourage. you, as this is the only thing that will make them feel better. Yet persevere on and surround yourself with positive people. Finally, use the 80/20 rule in every meeting if possible. Don’t be afraid to dream, and possibly dream even bigger, as it is those who dream big are the most powerful, yes even more than the ones with all the facts, because those who dare to dream often have a broader perspective of life and can turn improbable to the possible. Just remember dreams have no expiration date....and if just in case you are still wondering what the 80/20 rule is... simply, 20% is to talk and the remaining 80% is to listen to what others have to say.

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https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-11-30/newspaper-lifestyleculture/Winners-of-the-2020 Malta-s-Best-Business-Woman-Awards-Local-Business-Awards-2021-announced-6736238707

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/rocs-director-rachel-vella-scoops-five-national-business awards.919462

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https://netnews.com.mt/2021/12/03/rachel-vella-tirbah-hames-awards-fil-maltas-best-business woman-awards-2021/

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

https://newsbook.com.mt/en/rocs-director-rachel-vella-scoops-up-five-awards-at-national-business-awards/

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https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/rachel-vella-won-the-malta-best-business-woman-awards-2021/

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

The awards were held by Dynamic Events Ltd in collaboration with the Malta Business Review to shine a spotlight on some of the brightest achievements of the best Entrepreneurs, woman CEOs, female Managers, business owners, and Founders in Malta. Named the overall outright winner of Malta’s Best Business Woman Awards 2021 by the judges of the event, ROCS Group Director Rachel Vella scored first in top five categories, among which are ‘Malta’s Best Business Leader of The Year’, ‘Most Inspiring Business Woman of the Year’, ‘Best CEO of The Year’, ‘Best Woman In Consumer Business 2021’ and the coveted ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. The hard-working businesswoman was mainly recognised by the judges for her tactical sales and account management campaign that added value to the client’s revenue stream whilst maximising customer experience despite the downturn in the travel industry. Ms Vella was also voted ‘Woman of the Year 2021’ by the Malta Business Review’s Board of journalists, beating Deborah Schembri of STM Malta Pension Services Limited by two points.

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Statement from Rachel Vella

And so, this happened last night...

Overwhelmed to share that I was given 5 fabulous awards as follows: 1. Best Business Leader of The Year 2. Most Inspiring Business Woman of the Year 3. Best CEO of The Year 4. Best Woman In Consumer Business 2021 5. Lifetime Achievement Award

Goodness, I’m still honestly speechless and truly humbled by all this.

A huge thank you goes to the judges of the event, Chief Judge Mr. David J Dingli, Mr. Charles Wallbank, Mr. John Paul Abela & Dr. Denis Aljush, who unanimously believed that I am deserving of all these recognitions. To Dynamic Events - The Organizers of The Malta Business Awards Martin Vella and Margaret Brincat who not only put this fabulous event together yet proposed my participation in these Local Business Awards which happened last night at The 5* Intercontinental Malta. I would therefore like to dedicate these awards to: Our beautiful ROCS Group Family, hence, all employees both in Malta and abroad, your work and dedication are what gets us to places like this, and I assure you all that your professionalism and contribution are truly appreciated. To my beautiful parents Charles Alexander Vella & Rita Vella who from a very young age instilled essential values in us, first and foremost that integrity is key in whatever we embark on, and that: ‘Any job worth doing is worth doing well!’ A huge thank you goes also to my one and only brother Simon Vella and his beautiful wife Helen Vella Galdes who are my number one supporters, and my aid in whatever I embark on. Thank you for always being there no matter what. Last but not least my partner and business associate, Colin Aquilina who has been my backbone and fallback on all projects which I embark on, furthermore in whatever I dream of doing next.

I am totally and utterly grateful for having you all in my life.

Would not have achieved all this without you.

These awards will not only make me live up to these titles and hence what I do best, yet push me to deliver even more results in the future.

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

I guess that at this stage my repeated secret of success has been the following; 1. I love working...be it any job or responsibility at hand, and hence put my heart and soul in everything I do, be it tv, media, business development, retail, travel, investments, insurance...whatever it is you will never hear me complain that a job is too big or not for me to do. 2. During my working days I find people giving up and tiring out...my batteries seem to have more endurance than everyone else’s, hence perseverance has always been key for me. Actually, I just love giving clients the very best service possible and expect those around me to work with the same mentality and hence exceed all client expectations. This mentality applies with each and every business associate locally and around the world, furthermore with all clients coming from more than 125,000 Maltese households, and who in one way or another are clients of the ROCS Group. These 5 recognitions go to all of you, and so once again I take the opportunity to thank you for contributing to the person I am moreover the company we have become today. 3. Remain humble, no job is unimportant for me to do...I enjoy doing it all, yes from A to Z.

Grazzi mill-qalb,

Rachel Vella ROCS Group Director

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Dive into a world of admiration and respect through the words of those who have closely witnessed Rachel Vella’s extraordinary journey. These heartfelt testimonials speak volumes about her dedication, vision, and transformative influence on various industries. From pioneering travel ventures to shaping renowned brands, Rachel has left an indelible mark. Discover the essence of her remarkable career through the lens of colleagues and partners, capturing the essence of her unparalleled leadership and exceptional achievements. TESTIMONIALS

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

“

Throughout my professional relationship with Rachel, I have always found her to be a very courteous, serious, honest, sharp, forthright, and dedicated professional. The qualities that I particularly admire in Rachel are her unrelenting energy, her positive attitude and her constant search for innovation. These qualities have led Rachel to build one of the best known and strongest brands in Malta.

DAVID G CURMI EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AIR MALTA PLC

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If one looks for a perfect example of turning passion into success in business come to Malta and meet Rachel Vella. From the first encounter I knew that such a professional personality would make a great representative of INGLOT on the island. We did not need to wait long to see the INGLOT store flourishing quickly in the Mediterranean Sea region. Presently, INGLOT Malta is going even further and now serves as a gateway to Northern Africa. Rachel, with your energy, I can’t wait, what’s next? WOJCIECH INGLOT FOUNDER INGLOT COSMETICS, TOP ENTREPRENEUR POLAND 2012 “

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I have worked with Rachel Vella for the last few years through various companies in which our group has interests. I have always found Rachel to be a highly driven professional, with all the qualities of a successful entrepreneur. She is very passionate about her work and is not afraid to take risks; this is also why every endeavor she undertakes ends up setting the trend for that particular market.

CHRISTIAN VASSALLO DIRECTOR VASSALLO GROUP

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TESTIMONIALS - continued

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I have known Rachel for almost fifteen years since she first kicked off her first business venture. I was already acquainted with her work on television when she first contacted me with a proposal for Emirates to offer 200 seats to Dubai for the Dubai Shopping Festival. ​My initial reaction was that this was a joke. I soon realized she was serious and so I recommended that we start off with fifty seats. Rachel had evidently done her homework because within a week she had sold the first fifty seats. Within three weeks she had sold all 200. This was a massive boost for Dubai as a new destination and she is undoubtedly the foremost specialist agent on Dubai on the Maltese market.

​I have always known Rachel to be a woman of her word. When she reaches a decision she will make sure that this decision yields its fruit and she consistently amazes me with the amount of energy, time, and effort she puts into her business. ​Rachel does not carry out this hard work purely out of financial motivation, but also out of a great sense of social responsibility towards her employees and their families. It is this heart of gold, and not just her extraordinary and proven business acumen that makes her so well-loved and well-respected by clients and by employees. ​It is rare that someone who has reached her level of success and popularity keeps their feet so firmly on the ground, without letting the fame go to their head! She is an inspiration to many and I have no doubt that we will hear about many more success stories from this lady.

PAUL FLERI SOLER MANAGER EMIRATES AIRLINES MALTA

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I have had the opportunity to work with Rachel on several projects over the last ten years. Projects have including the creation and implementation of our companies’ marketing campaign to the design, creation, and implementation of the new ROCS Group headquarters in Floriana. Throughout our professional relationship, I have witnessed how Rachel dedicates herself in full to the task at hand, motivating the whole team and enabling everyone to remain focused. One aspect that never ceases to amaze me is how Rachel manages to balance her work while respecting all commitments, be it family, career or volunteer work.

CHRIS VASSALLO CESAREO MANAGING DIRECTOR DOMESTICA LTD

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Rachel Vella

A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well

“

Rachel is definitely one of the most capable and energetic business partners I’ve met during my entire career. The success of her various business ventures speaks for itself. She’s also one of these rare examples of how a lady can accomplish it all - and I mean ALL - while being genuine and true to herself. Malta is fortunate to have such a charismatic ambassador. SARAH BISA DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL RETAILS AND LUXURY SALES, EAMA STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS “

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Since the very first day I met Rachel, I knew that this young lady was very much able to deliver what most men cannot. Through her strong drive and unparalleled foresight, she has managed to build a travel market there where most others would have failed instantly. Definitely one of the most gifted persons I ever met.

VASOS HADJITHEODOSIOU PRESIDENT SALAMIS TOURS HOLDINGS LTD, CYPRUS

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I have known Rachel for the past 15 years and have always found her to be an accomplished achiever. Rachel is a highly positive person with a vision for opportunities and resilience to achieve projected results. She is a natural team leader encouraging those around her to develop their attributes through professional education and specialized training. During the period I have known her, Rachel has proved to be a highly professional person with the utmost integrity. One of her strengths is her appreciation of relaying transparent communication with the consumers combined with real added value in the services and products on offer. Her focused marketing planning serves her well in achieving her desired results.

My knowledge of her abilities was tied to financial services in general insurance and long-term business (Life Protection), where she won awards for excellent sales results. Her success also extends to specialized Travel services through her company ROCS.

MARIO C GRECH EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN MIDDLESEA INSURANCE PLC 1994 - 2009

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ROCS GROUP, ST ANNE STREET, FLORIANA WWW.ROCSHOLIDAYS.COM TELEPHONE: +356 2015 1515 | WHATSAPP: +356 7766 8833 TRAVEL@ROCSGRP.COM