Tumas Group
Tumas Group is a Maltese family-controlled diversified business group active in property, hospitality, gaming, transport, energy and related services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Tumas Group is a Maltese family-controlled business group whose roots lie in a furniture-importing and retail enterprise established by police sergeant Tumas Fenech and his sons in 1973. The original Easysell business, based in Qormi, gave the family an entry point into property speculation and development during the 1970s. Over subsequent decades, the group broadened its activities from property into hotels, leisure, gaming, transport, energy and management services. The group’s development was closely associated with Malta’s changing political and economic environment. In the 1980s it entered the hotel sector through the acquisition of the Dolmen and Topaz hotels. Its most consequential property project grew from the acquisition of Spinola Development Company in 1986. That company held a long public lease over land in Paceville, St Julian’s, originally intended for a Hilton hotel. The lease was extended in 1996 and later bought by the group in 2006. The resulting Portomaso development became the group’s best-known commercial identity, combining the Hilton Malta, luxury residences, restaurants, leisure facilities, a casino and the Portomaso Business Tower. Tumas Group is also associated with Malta’s gaming and online-gaming economy. Its hospitality portfolio and gaming interests have been commercially interconnected, particularly in the Portomaso area. The group expanded into public transportation in 2011, when it held a 33% interest in the consortium operating Malta and Gozo’s scheduled bus network under a concession led by Arriva. The venture ended when Arriva withdrew after sustained losses and the service was taken into public ownership in January 2014. After 2013, the group became involved in Malta’s energy sector through ElectroGas Malta, a consortium formed with Gasan Group, Michael Apap Bologna, Siemens Project Ventures and SOCAR Trading. ElectroGas was selected to develop a gas-fired power station and to supply electricity and liquefied natural gas to Enemalta under a long-term arrangement. The project became one of the most politically controversial commercial arrangements in modern Malta, drawing scrutiny over procurement, state guarantees, pricing and alleged links involving companies connected to group executive Yorgen Fenech. These issues were investigated by journalists, public authorities and the Maltese courts, and became intertwined with the investigation into the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Leadership has remained concentrated within the Fenech family. Founder Tumas Fenech died in 1999, after which ownership passed to his children. His eldest son George Fenech chaired the group and advanced its hotel and gaming interests until his death in 2014. Raymond Fenech subsequently became the principal leader. Yorgen Fenech served as chief executive until 2019, when his indictment in connection with the Caruana Galizia murder case led to his resignation from group and ElectroGas directorships and to Raymond Fenech returning to operational control. The group describes a broad portfolio spanning online gaming, hospitality and leisure, property development, management, transport and energy. The reference material characterizes it as one of Malta’s larger companies, with most of its assets historically concentrated in property. In March 2024, the group reportedly reached more than 1,000 hotel rooms in Malta following the opening of a third Hilton hotel. Tumas Group remains an important example of a Maltese family enterprise that evolved from local retail and property dealings into a diversified conglomerate, while also illustrating the governance, procurement and political risks associated with large private businesses operating in a small national economy.
History
Tumas Group began in 1973, when Tumas Fenech and his sons established Easysell, a Qormi-based importer and seller of furniture and household goods. The company’s access to bank credit enabled it to move beyond retail and into property transactions during the 1970s. The family’s relationships with influential Maltese political and institutional figures were later discussed in accounts of the group’s rise, although the political significance and propriety of particular dealings have been contested. During the 1980s, the family entered hospitality by acquiring the Dolmen and Topaz hotels in Buġibba. A pivotal transaction followed in 1986, when Tumas Fenech acquired Spinola Development Company. The company had been established by British and American investors to develop a Hilton hotel on a large tract of publicly leased land in Paceville. In 1996, the lease was extended to 2114 on the existing annual payment terms, while the permitted uses were broadened beyond tourism. Tumas Group bought the lease in 2006. The arrangement became politically contentious: activists, including Moviment Graffitti, protested the transfer and an Ombudsman inquiry criticized the government for failing to obtain greater value from the transaction. The controversy contributed to later changes requiring parliamentary approval for the sale of public land to private interests. The Portomaso development ultimately became the group’s signature project. Hilton Malta and the Portomaso Business Tower opened in 2001, alongside a wider complex of residences, restaurants, leisure facilities and casino operations. The project established Tumas Group as a major force in Maltese property and hospitality and provided a platform for its wider gaming and leisure interests. The group diversified into public transportation in July 2011, acquiring a 33% interest in the company operating Malta and Gozo’s scheduled bus services in partnership with Arriva. The concession was intended to run for ten years, but recurring losses brought the venture to an end. Arriva ceased operations on 1 January 2014, and the government assumed responsibility for Malta Public Transport. Tumas Group expanded into energy after 2013 through ElectroGas Malta. The consortium included Tumas Group, Gasan Group, Michael Apap Bologna, Siemens Project Ventures and SOCAR Trading. Its project involved a gas-fired power station at Delimara and long-term sales of electricity and liquefied natural gas to Enemalta. The government provided an open-ended guarantee covering specified project risks. The arrangement attracted criticism over the tender process, the commercial terms and the relationship between private participants and political figures. A later Auditor General inquiry characterized the tender as having been deliberately structured to favor ElectroGas and questioned the comparative cost of its electricity. The energy controversy became linked to the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who had been examining ElectroGas-related matters and the Dubai company 17 Black. Subsequent reporting identified 17 Black as belonging to Yorgen Fenech and described intended payments involving politically connected individuals. Yorgen Fenech was arrested and later charged in the murder case. He resigned from Tumas Group and ElectroGas in 2019, while Raymond Fenech resumed control of Tumas Group. The group stated that allegations connecting Yorgen Fenech to the murder were inconsistent with its values. The legal proceedings and related inquiries remained matters concerning individuals and associated companies, rather than a finding that the group itself was convicted of a crime. The founder died in 1999, after which control passed to his children. George Fenech chaired the group and developed its hotel and gaming activities until his death in 2014. In 2015, Antony Fenech left the group to establish TUM Invest Group, retaining the automotive and healthcare businesses associated with his interests. By 2024, Tumas Group’s hospitality expansion had reportedly brought its Maltese hotel-room inventory above 1,000 rooms after the opening of a third Hilton property. The group therefore evolved from a local family retail business into a diversified enterprise whose central assets remain property and hospitality, alongside gaming, leisure, management, transport and energy interests.
- 2024
Hotel portfolio exceeds 1,000 rooms
[1]The group reportedly crosses 1,000 hotel rooms in Malta following the opening of a third Hilton hotel.
- 2019
Yorgen Fenech steps down
[1]Yorgen Fenech resigns from Tumas Group and ElectroGas directorships after his indictment in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case.
- 2015
Antony Fenech leaves the group
[1]Antony Fenech exits Tumas Group and establishes TUM Invest Group, retaining automotive and healthcare interests.
- 2014
Malta bus operation ends
[1]Arriva withdraws after losses, and the Maltese government takes over the scheduled bus service.
- 2011
Entry into public transport
[1]Tumas Group takes a 33% stake in the consortium operating scheduled bus services in Malta and Gozo with Arriva.
- 2001
Portomaso and Hilton Malta open
[1]The Hilton Malta and Portomaso Business Tower open as central elements of the group’s major Paceville property and hospitality complex.
- 1986
Spinola Development Company acquired
[1]Tumas Fenech acquires Spinola Development Company, giving the family control of the long public lease associated with the future Portomaso development.
- 1973
Easysell is founded
[1]Tumas Fenech and his sons establish a furniture and household-goods importing and retail business in Qormi, forming the foundation of the later group.
Products and positioning
A diversified Maltese family business centered on property and hospitality, with additional interests in gaming, leisure, transport and energy infrastructure.
Mixed-use property and hospitality complex · 2001
Portomaso
Portomaso is Tumas Group’s best-known development in Paceville, St Julian’s. It combines the Hilton Malta with luxury apartments, restaurants, leisure facilities, casino operations and the Portomaso Business Tower. The project transformed a long-leased coastal site into a mixed-use hospitality, residential and commercial destination and remains the clearest expression of the group’s property-led strategy.
Hotel · 2001
Hilton Malta
Hilton Malta is the principal hotel associated with the Portomaso complex. It anchors the group’s luxury hospitality presence in St Julian’s and forms part of a broader portfolio of hotels and leisure assets operated or developed in Malta.
Energy infrastructure and supply consortium · 2013
ElectroGas Malta
ElectroGas Malta was formed by Tumas Group and other consortium members to develop a gas-fired power plant at Delimara and supply electricity and liquefied natural gas to Enemalta under a long-term arrangement. It became a major subject of public and official scrutiny over procurement, guarantees, pricing and political connections.
Controversies
2019
Yorgen Fenech murder indictment
Yorgen Fenech, then associated with Tumas Group and ElectroGas, was indicted in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and resigned from his company directorships. Tumas Group publicly said the allegations were contrary to its values.
2017
ElectroGas and 17 Black controversy
The group’s participation in ElectroGas became entangled with reporting about the Dubai-based company 17 Black, alleged intended payments to politically connected figures and the investigation into journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. The issues generated investigations and continuing legal proceedings involving individuals associated with the group.
1996
Portomaso public-land lease controversy
The extension and later purchase of the public land lease connected with Portomaso prompted protests and an Ombudsman inquiry, which criticized the government’s failure to maximize the public benefit from the transaction.
Brand decisions
2013
Expansion into energy through ElectroGasStrategyBackground
Following its established property, hospitality and gaming activities, the group joined a consortium seeking to develop Malta’s new gas-fired electricity infrastructure.
Action taken
Tumas Group partnered with Gasan Group, Michael Apap Bologna, Siemens Project Ventures and SOCAR Trading in ElectroGas Malta.
Aftermath
The project became commercially important but politically controversial, leading to scrutiny by journalists, auditors and other authorities.
2011
Entry into Malta’s bus networkStrategyBackground
Malta awarded a concession for the operation of scheduled bus services in Malta and Gozo.
Action taken
Tumas Group acquired a 33% minority interest in the operating consortium led by Arriva.
Aftermath
The operation suffered losses and ended when Arriva withdrew in January 2014, after which the government nationalised the service.
2006
Purchase of the Portomaso leaseOtherBackground
Tumas Group controlled the long lease over the Paceville site after the 1996 extension of the original public concession.
Action taken
The group bought back the lease, consolidating control of the development site.
Aftermath
Portomaso became the group’s flagship mixed-use property and hospitality complex, while the transaction remained a subject of public criticism.
Lease purchase price. 800,000 Maltese lira, reported as approximately €1.8 million (2006)
Sources1 sources
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