The Syndicate's Annual Newsletter 2018
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2018 Annual Newsletter 2 Yearly Management Report Yearly Letter from The President SRCNP The tourism activity has slumped over the last few years and the current climate is becoming increasingly challenging for restaurant owners… The ‘golden period’ between 2009 and 2011, when the hospitality sector boomed, and the number of tourists reached a record of 2.16 million and revenues soared, almost seems like it was a figment of our imagination. But it was very real; Lebanon received notable coverage in foreign press and Lebanese cuisine was highlighted among the best cuisines in the world, garnering several awards. Political and economic stability as well as security helped define these fruitful years, and they will also play a key role in the hospitality sector’s revival. Moreover, we are confident that Lebanon has the stamina and potential to reclaim its coveted position. The Syndicate, in cooperation with the Ministries of Tourism, Economy and Trade, Finance and Labor, as well as all the concerned governmental bodies, are exerting utmost efforts to keep this sector alive amidst the crisis. Tony Ramy President of the Syndicate of Owners of In line with this, the Syndicate is also actively involved in modernizing Restaurants, Cafes, Night-Clubs & Pastries the outdated by-laws and regulations that are no longer relevant and in in Lebanon unifying the licensing process, which are considered the hardest steps that future owners go through. Today we look back at what we have accomplished together at the Syndicate: official occasions, events & partnerships are the reflection of the Syndicate’s mission to grow the industry, and numbers are a showcase of the success we’ve been having. Our owners now reaching 1650 is but one of such accomplishments. Our esteemed partners largely contribute to our success; with their help and generous support, we are able to achieve more and to concentrate our efforts on bringing life back to the F&B sector. Each company has a high level of expertise and is a leader in its respected field. They include Alfa, Boecker, Café Najjar, Clover Brokers, Diageo, Natgaz, Vresso, Omega Software, Pepsi, Aquafina, VIP Parking Control, GWR, Ksara, EBA, EMF, Vespeed and Spearhead. Passion continues to animate our entire organization and to consistently drive it forward. Our unrelenting commitment is to be a driving force behind the F&B industry in Lebanon. Get to know more about the Syndicate, our mission, vision, and overall raison d’être, as well as our triumphs through the pages of this newsletter. And as always, I invite all owners of restaurants, cafés, night- clubs and patisseries to join the Syndicate, so that together we can create a bigger lobbying body and continue working together to ensure that our industry remains a strong and pioneering one in the country. 3 2018 Annual Newsletter Table of Contents 03 Letter From The President Who We Are / Mission / Vision 07 08 Board of Directors Work Agenda 13 14 Member Benefits Become a Partner 15 16 Activities of 2018 HORECA 2018 28 32 Gastrodiplomacy Beirut Restaurant Festival 34 36 Kunhadi Key Meetings 39 40 Syndicate In The Press List of Members 43 Recap of Previous Years 48 (2015-2016-2017) 4 Yearly Management Report Yearly SRCNP 5 2018 Annual Newsletter 6 Yearly Management Report Yearly Who We Are SRCNP The Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés, Night-Clubs & Pastries is a non-political and non-governmental organization supporting the restaurant industry in Lebanon. We work with restaurant owners and operators to help them achieve their ambitions. We Are Member of the Advisory Commission Ministry of Tourism Our Mission We represent, promote and advocate for the restaurant, café, night-club & pastry industry’s interests with Board member of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) governmental officials and private organizations. Member of the National Employment Office Our Vision We strive to drive the restaurant, café, night-club & pastry industry forward and to position Lebanon as a Member of the Lebanese Federation For Tourism Industries regional landmark in the Food & Beverage sector. Member of the General Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education and Ministry of Education and Higher Education 7 2018 Annual Newsletter Board of Directors Tony Ramy Aref Saade PRESIDENT TREASURER Tony Ramy has been working in the hospitality sector for Aref Saade has been involved in the business since 1985, decades. He graduated from the Grand Lycée Franco- supplying specialist chefs and Japanese ingredients for Libanais and later earned a business degree, Gestion des restaurants and hotels. He has been working closely with Entreprises et Management, from Saint Joseph University chefs specialized in Japanese cuisine for many years, his in 1996. Soon after graduating, he started restructuring his experience extends to the Far East. The Shogun Lounge family business, Ramy Holding. By joining the management - Japanese restaurant was opened by Aref in Beirut in team of Al Sultan Brahim & Diwan Beirut group of 1998. The entire concept and diverse menu were created restaurants, he oversaw the successful expansion of the and continually evolved by himself, gaining enormous restaurants in Lebanon and in the region. His flair for the recognition and popularity across the region. In 2009, Aref business and for recognizing emerging trends, in addition Saade has been awarded “Best Restaurateur of the Year”, to his keen eye for structure, organization and effective at Grumpy Gourmet event in Jordan. In 2006, He has delegation, led him to launch and manage new and unique been elected as Treasurer in the Syndicate of Owners of concepts in the hospitality sector in Lebanon and the Restaurants, Cafés, Night-Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon. Middle East. Such concepts include Al Falamanki group He currently represents the Syndicate in the Lebanese of restaurants, B018, Trainstation venue, Teddy Quicks Japanese friendship committee. He is also the Syndicate and Mama Pita (USA). He is also the chairman of M’look representative in the Lebanese Standards Institution (Libnor) Holding for Hospitality & Leisure Investment. Today, over meetings to prepare the food safety manual that was one thousand persons are employed across Tony’s group approved by the government. He is the owner of Shogun of restaurants. Al Sultan Brahim was awarded the Best Lounge, Shogun to Go delivery outlet, and three other Restaurant in the Arab World (2016-2020) by the League outlets across Lebanon. of Arab States. In 2009, he joined the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés, Night-Clubs & Pastries in Lebanon, where he served as General Secretary. After leading many of the Syndicate achievements, he was elected as its President in 2014, and has become the Vice-President of the Lebanese Federation for Tourism Industries. Tony was awarded the Medal of Presidency of The Lebanese Republic in 2010 and voted as Hospitality’s Man of the Year by Hospitality News Middle East’s Industry Forecast 2016. He is also committed to the Global Code of Ethics - United Nations World Tourism Organization. Khaled Nazha VICE PRESIDENT Khaled Nazha has been serving as Vice President of the Syndicate since 1999 and has been a key player and activist in the development of the sector. Among many other establishments, Khaled founded the Blue Note Café, which under his management, became a landmark institution in the local, regional, and international live music Maya Bekhazi scene and a pioneer in supporting local talent. The Blue Noun Note is regularly acclaimed in international press and travel guides. Khaled has been a board member of the Ministry GENERAL SECRETARY of Tourism’s Advisory Board since 2004 and the National Maya ventured into the F&B business in 2000, a hobby which Recruitment Agency since 2005. Khaled represents quickly turned into victory with a number of success stories. Lebanon as the Chairman of the International Relations During that time, she conceived, developed and managed Committee and Board Member of the Mediterranean more than 24 concepts to date, the latest are Shoots Restaurants’ Federation. UAE, Spin the Hen, Curli Q and The Food Studio Catering company. She is the Business Development consultant for many internationally renowned companies mainly in the Middle East and the Gulf region. She is a very active advocate, in the region as well as a winner of many awards such as the Best Woman Achiever in Hospitality in 2010. 8 Yearly Management Report Yearly Donald Batal Siham Asseily Tuéni BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER Donald Batal, the entrepreneur Siham Tuéni has been continuously SRCNP behind Classic Burger Joint and active in sports and journalism. Tomatomatic Pizza, started his She is the owner and general path at the age of 15. In 2010, manager of NOUN, French monthly Classic Burger Joint opened its magazine. In 2009, she realized an first branch in Sodeco, making old dream and opened a restaurant a magnificent boom, followed in Down Town Beirut: Le Capitole. by the opening of Tomatomatic And lately opened two new Pizza. For the last six years, restaurants: STEM and McQueen. Classic Burger Joint has She is a known horseback rider. opened 30 branches in five countries, and She has won many championships in horseback Tomatomatic Pizza has reached 7 branches riding (Lebanese and Pan Arab) and was also in 2 countries. In 2017, Donald took over president of the Lebanese Equestrian Federation IRADA as a CEO for one year to restructure from 2009 to 2010. the whole company. Today Donald Batal is in the phase of developing three new concepts. Youssef Akiki BOARD MEMBER Youssef started working in restaurants at a young age while Charif Doumit continuing his education at the same time. Since then he has BOARD MEMBER achieved some significant milestones in the local hospitality scene. Building his way up the career ladder, he worked in the kitchen Charif Doumit, is the owner and CEO of al Mandaloun of some prominent hotels in the country such as InterContinental Group, a family institution that has been a powerhouse hotel and Starwood chain Hotels.