From farming to hospitality Sama Hospitality Ventures (SHV) started off as an idea to make commercial use of co-founders’ Ali and Omar El Mais’ late father’s land in Bekaa where the two brothers grew up. “We had to look for a higher return alternative than planting wheat or just leaving the land idle,” explains Ali who comes from an investment management background and completed his MBA at INSEAD. “Why not use the family’s farming heritage to pivot into services and hospitality, all while preserving and amplifying the region’s cultural and culinary heritage?” The start: Sama Chtaura The first foray into hospitality was in 2013 with the launch of Sama Chtaura, a 7,000 sqm outdoor events space that can hold up to 1,200 guests, a restaurant that can seat 300 guests, and a 1,000 sqm central production kitchen, which also serves the other SHV outlets and off-premise catering events. Pre-crisis, with
