NEWS
FOOD & BEVERAGE
TONY RAMY’S MISSION TO SAVE LEBANON’S RESTAURANT SECTOR
What steps have been taken by the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night-clubs & Pastries in Lebanon to help the hospitality sector? Lebanon’s hospitality sector was ailing long before October 17, 2019, mainly due to the devaluation of the Lebanese pound and the instability of foreign exchange rates in parallel markets. As a result, a lot of businesses had to close after incurring heavy losses.
Tony Ramy, president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés, Night-Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon, carries the weight of the restaurant industry on his shoulders as he tries to untangle the web of problems that it finds itself caught in. In this exclusive interview, Ramy discusses the unprecedented challenges the industry faces and the prospects for recovery.
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HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | OCT-NOV 2020
The syndicate is working in collaboration with the Order of Lawyers (Beirut Bar Association) and filing a complaint against the Lebanese government to hold the parties or individuals involved accountable. Furthermore, the syndicate is liaising with international entities and communities to secure funds for the reconstruction of establishments that have been damaged or destroyed, as local donations are unable to cover the estimated costs. The three regions most heavily affected by the port blast were: Greater Beirut, Metn and Baabda.
Tell us about the post-blast initiatives launched by the syndicate. We launched several initiatives with friends and partners to assist the institutions worst affected by the explosion.
1. The syndicate and its long-time partner Hospitality Services collaborated with Apave to collect data on losses incurred for auditing and assistance at a later stage. 2. Zomato and the Lebanese Food Bank collaborated with us to launch another humanitarian aid initiative to help employees of the institutions that are no longer operational due to the blast. 3. Kitopi also collaborated with us to help F&B brands grow globally. We have many more initiatives underway. In fact, we are overwhelmed by the support we have received, proving that our efforts and hard work over the years are paying off.
In your opinion, how can the Lebanese hospitality industry regain its strength? All initiatives should aim to restore the trust of visitors and promote Lebanon as a touristic destination. Reviving the tourism sector is critical to economic recovery. Ensuring the return of tourism specific services will require a mix of public and private intervention, which can help the reconstruction of businesses affected by the blast and bridge the gap in earnings until the 2021 high season. syndicatercnp.com Read the full article on hospitalitynewsmag.com
