Restaurant owners are resolute on investing in the sector despite challenges

On the sidelines of the HORECA Hospitality Fair which was organized between April 5-8 at Biel, Beirut, L’Orient Le Jour interviewed a number of involved business persons to learn more about the catering industry. The President of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon, Toni Ramy, pointed out that frequenting bars and cafes has fallen by nearly 20% from between 2011 and 2015, tracing the decline to numerous factors. The most important being the turmoil in the local and regional security and political situation which has had its heavy toll on the tourism sector in Lebanon, added to the recent trash crisis. Another reason was the ongoing food safety campaign which many concerned circles blame for the current chaos the sector is witnessing. Similarly, the director of Hodema, a leading provider of professional consulting services in the hospitality industry, Naji Morkus, indicated a drop by 30% in 2015 of the total sales in the country as a result of the weakening domestic purchasing power. However, L’Orient Le Jour explained that notwithstanding the grim image at present, the hospitality sector is still resilient. It cited Ramy as saying that some 300 establishments are expected to kick off in the next two years. This fact was confirmed by the Joint Burger network of restaurants managers who revealed the launch of some 8 points of sale across Lebanon since its inception back in 2010. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 8, 2016)