Lebanon’s five star hotels diversifying markets and offerings

Lebanon has not given its five star hoteliers many reasons to smile over the past seven years. Political tension and instability has kept away the country’s traditional market feeders, GCC nationals, since 2011. Meanwhile, regional political and socioeconomic crises have taken their toll on Lebanese expats in the Gulf and in parts of Africa, generally reducing the length of their stay and their spending power while they are in the country. Locally the situation is not much better, with Lebanon’s residents less willing to spend on lavish meals in hotel restaurants or on city staycations. It is a testimony to humankind’s adaptive nature and the Lebanese people’s well-honed resilience that these hoteliers have not only kept their good natured smiles despite the challenges, but have also persevered in cultivating and growing the markets that continued to visit Lebanon, as well as exploring and developing new ones. The past year Most