Dancing to a different beat

Among the first things you hear about the Lebanese people is how much they love to party and go out. This reputation still prevails, and although those in the food and beverage (F&B) industry are facing more challenging circumstances by the year, they still say their business is performing a lot better than other sectors of the Lebanese economy. Lebanese market and expats The food and beverage (F&B) industry has become reliant on those residing in Lebanon and on the Lebanese expats who visit during the summer or winter holidays, says Toni Rizk, chief executive officer of TRI Concepts, which operates a collection of bar-restaurants across Lebanon, explaining that the tourists Lebanon has been attracting these past few years are not “big spenders”. As such, continues Rizk, the industry has been able to sustain itself to a greater extent than other, more tourist dependent industries, such as hotels. Seasons to