ROUND TABLE

Room for All

Increasing as a destination for MICE tourists as well as traditional holidaymakers, the hotel sector is broadening its scope and attracting guests from further afield.

ALAIN CHATEL

THE DESTINATION

Beirut is a link between East and West. It is a modern and cosmopolitan city with 300 days of sunshine, an immaculate nightlife, vibrant people, enriching cuisine, and a rich historical past.

MICE

Beirut has so much to offer for MICE groups, because it caters to all age groups and has activities that would interest anyone. In addition, the Mediterranean Sea, the extensive historical and cultural sites, and the wide selection of venues for dining and clubbing all make this an exciting and new MICE destination.

FACILITIES

The vast number of meeting rooms at the Mövenpick are all ideally located on two connected floors. The breathtaking Sea View Rooms all with balconies overlooking the Mediterranean Sea are also a sight to behold.

GHASSAN W. NAAMAN

WEALTH OF ATTRACTIONS

Lebanon boasts a lot of destinations. We also see a lot of tourism from Syria and Jordan by bus, which we would like to see more of. There are many places to see and tourists need easily a two-week program to see 70% of the country.

THE GUESTS

In general the number one market is Jordan, followed by Iraq and then Syria. In Spring 2011 we mainly saw guests coming from Europe, especially corporate groups. Companies that have stayed here have included those involved in pharmaceuticals, beauty products, and fashion.

DIRECTIONS

Besides the five-star hotels and boutiques under construction currently there won’t be many more built in the future. Investors are now looking mainly at the three- to four-star market, where there is future demand. The corporate sector often prefers these kinds of hotels, which are especially common in places such as Paris and London.

NAZIRA EL ATRACHE

MICE TRAP

More and more, the UN holds its conferences in this hotel due to its safety. The pharmaceuticals industry is also active in holding conferences, thus boosting our MICE profile. This also boosts occupancy.

SPACE IN THE MARKET

There is definitely more room in the market for three- and four-star hotels. We are a five-star hotel, yet the country needs more three-star accommodation. We are a prime destination as we are well known for quality in terms of our accommodation and our traditional food. In addition, we cater for weddings and large-size banquets.

SECOND HOME

In the summer we have a lot of guests from the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. We also welcome many expatriates. This hotel is a trademark and a destination in Lebanon. It is a trademark without being a part of a chain. Built in the 1950s, the hotel has a real home-away-from-home feeling.

PHILIPPE LAMADIEU

WHY LEBANON?

In 2009 and 2010 tourism prospects attracted a lot of people to Lebanon. For the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, why go to Europe when you have Lebanon no farther than a three-hour flight away? The airport is international. The people speak French, English, and Arabic—and some of them even speak Italian and Spanish.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Because of Lebanon’s historic relationship with France we are seeing many French tourists. As half of the Lebanese population speak French, there is no language barrier for these tourists. We are also receiving visitors from Spain, Italy, and Germany, as well as the GCC.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

The fact that 60% of our rooms are suites gives us a defining quality—to have a sitting room and a bedroom. We also offer a unique service, because we are only one-and-a-half years old, and we are trying to be like a small boutique hotel with friendly staff.