HORECA, the Levant’s largest regional hospitality and food event, ended its 12th year with 14,000 visitors and a significant increase in the number of international visitors from Syria, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Africa.
Joumana-Dammous Salamé, managing director of the organising company, Hospitality Services, highlighted the ongoing devotion of participants and exhibitors to take part in Horeca every year where this dedication was further established this year despite current setbacks.
At the closing of the Annual Hospitality Forum, Horeca awarded key players in the hotel, restaurant, and catering industries for their outstanding performance at Le Royal Hotel in Dbaye. The Hotel Pioneer award went to hotel owner Sheikh Hassan Mahmoud Harmouch. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mazen Salha chairman of Société des Grands Hotels du Liban and chairman of Société Hôtelière Vendome and to Marwan Salha, director and board member of the Société des Grands Hotels du Liban and of Société Hôtelière Vendome.
The 2005 Corporate Hotel Brand award went to Nazmi Auchi, owner and CEO of General Mediterranean Holding and Le Royal Hotels. The 2005 Hospitality Investor award went to Khalaf Al Habtoor, owner and chairman of Habtoor Group.
Horeca also entailed a series of activities including Salon Culinaire which marked its sixth year where more than 120 chefs competed in 15 different food categories, in the presence of prominent international chefs.