The Creative Entrepreneur
(1959 - 2010)

A relentless entrepreneur and a man of vision, Mr. Joseph Baldacchino first started off as a carpenter, investing his power to establish Baldacchino Woodworks Limited. At the time, the woodworking business was a success in a period of boom in construction and related services. Baldacchino Woodworks moved to a larger, fully equipped factory and offices and although Joseph remained the Managing Director of the company, he formed other companies to take opportunity of the economic situation of that time and invested in property negotiating business and property development.

In the late 80’s, he purchased a piece of land overlooking Zurrieq Valley and constructed the Garden of Eden. Later he invested in Olive Gardens, a very distinguished wedding reception hall in Mdina. The wedding market was doing so good at the time that he invested into yet another reception hall, Villa Maria in Rabat which he also managed to revive with his creative touch and the workmanship of his employees at the Baldacchino Woodworks Ltd who support all the Projects he invests in. After taking a dip into the woodworking market and afterwards, a dive into reception halls, there seemed to be no halts for Joseph.

Taking interest in Malta’s real estate market, he started developing property around Malta, including residential property primarily designed for first time buyers.  He then also diversified in the Tourism industry by building holiday villas scattered around Santa Maria Estate in Mellieha. 

Following the success in the tourism and property market, Joe Baldacchino came across a piece of land in Gozo which he envisaged to develop as a hotel which will blending gracefully into it’s Gozitan surrounding and offering luxurious accommodation and unrivalled facilities. Two years after its opening, Joe entrusted the management of the hotel to Kempinski Hotels S.A., who manage the hotel up to today.

Throughout the years, Joe kept investing in the resort, by undergoing extensive extensions with the addition of the Kempinski Residences, extending wine and dinning facilities, the refurbishment and extension of its award winning Spa, all in keeping the resort at the forefront of hideaway, luxury destinations.

The most prestigious achievements include Best Spa Resort in the Mediterranean and Best Spa Resort in Malta and Gozo, and nominations for Best European Spa. In tandem with the demands of the construction business generated by the group, Joe Baldacchino extended into new areas of activity, namely importation.

Joe was married to Sally and they had five children together.