History | About | Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night-clubs & Pastries in Lebanon

Active collaboration with the members of parliament to set up tourism laws, which are still in place today

Creation of the Federation of Tourism Syndicates
Participation in the creation of the Social Security
Launch of the Gastronomy Festival at the Casino du Liban, 1963 & 1965
Participation in the organization of the Food Festival at the Damascus Fair in 1965
Joining the International Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Organization (HORECA) in 1966
Organization of HORECA's General Assembly in Beirut with 214 participants in 1968

Continued activity despite the civil war
Election of Kanounji as member of the Board of the Social Security
Election of Paul Ariss as member of the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Touris
Organization of 'The 50 Years Awards" in 1994 to honor owners and chefs for their performance in the business over the past 50 years
Success in decreasing the special tax on restaurants and night-clubs from 15 to 5%, followed by its total cancellation
Member of the “Conservatoire des Cuisines Méditerranéennes”

Re-election of Bahjat Kanounji as a member of the Board of the Social Security
Election of the Syndicate's vice-president, Khaled Nazha, to the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Tourism
Election of Khaled Nazha to the Board of the National Recruitment Agency
Election of Paul Ariss and Khaled Nazha to the Board of the Mediterranean Restaurants' Federation
National campaigns in more than ten cities and suburbs on Food Safety (with Boecker) and long- term loans (with Byblos Bank)
Participation in more than eighty conferences and seminars on ecotourism, rural development, quality control, food safety and new legislation
Completion of a project on tourism laws modernization submitted to the Ministry of Tourism in 2005 in conjunction with members of other tourism syndicates
Communication campaign to promote the industry during the 2006 war, the sit-in in Beirut Central District and the incidents in Gemmayzeh
Success in convincing Kafalat institution and banks to re-program the payment of restaurants' loans
Boosting regional investments in tourism by introducing owners to Kafalat long-term loans with Byblos Bank
Success in lifting the ban on the circulation of the delivery motorcycles that the Ministry of Interior had implemented
Success in lobbying against the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Interior's Decree which regulates opening times of restaurants and pubs

Election of Paul Ariss as President
Elections of Khaled Nazha as Vice President, Tony Ramy as General Secretary, Ziad Kamel as Treasurer
Meeting and coordination with financial institutions to develop/promote subsidized loans for entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry for business growth such as: Kafalat, Banque du Liban (Central Bank), Bank Audi, Bank Byblos.
Established close ties with non-government companies and institutions such as: Hodema, GWR Food Safety, Ernst & Young, HORECA, Boecker.
Coordinated with Food Hygiene & Safety experts GWR to develop a standardized National Food Hygiene & Safety Document for the hospitality sector in Lebanon.
Organized the ‘Feast for Change’ fund raising & networking event in the Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh, bringing together the best in food, drink and entertainment in the Lebanese hospitality sector. Funds were raised from food and beverage companies and key sponsors such as Bank Audi, Master Card and Vresso.
Lobbied with officials to modify certain sections of Smoking Ban Law 174.
Organized the largest private sector peaceful demonstration comprising hospitality industry owners and employees in Lebanon.

Election of Tony Ramy as President
Elections of Khaled Nazha as Vice President, Ziad Kamel as General Secretary, Aref Saade as Treasurer
Board Members: Maya Bekhaazi Noun, Mireille Hayek, Walid Baroudi, Walid Hayek, Donald Battal, Mustafa Samad, Adham Beainy, and Antoine Haber.
Advisors to the Board: Jad Abou Jaoude and Makram Rbeiz
Renovation of the Syndicate Office at Ain Mreisseh
Launching of Beirut Restaurant Festival 2016 in its first edition at the train station in Mar Mikhael, following Beirut winning #1 destination for food, according to Travel & Leisure Magazine, making a huge success.
Prime media appearances on local TVs, dailies, radio shows and online news.
Partnership with various companies related to the restaurant sector

Re-election of Tony Ramy as President
Election of Khaled Nazha as Vice President, Maya Bekhaazi Noun as General Secretary, and Aref Saade as Treasurer
Board Members: Siham Asseily, Charif Doumit, Youssef Akiki, Chirine Salha, Mustafa Samad, Donald Battal, Jad Abou Jaoudeh, and Makram Rbeiz.
Crisis Management of coronavirus pandemic, and political and economic unrest.
Attendance of coronavirus ministerial committee meetings.
Reconstruction of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh region after the explosion of Port of Beirut, in collaboration with local and international NGOs.
Launching “Beirut City of Life” event at Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael in the presence of Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, to revive the region following the explosion aftermath.

Re-election of Tony Ramy as President
Election of Khaled Nazha as Vice President, Etienne Sabbagh as General Secretary, and Aref Saade as Treasurer
Board Members: Michel Aji, Charif Doumit, Youssef Akiki, Chirine Salha, Mustafa Samad, Dory Daccache, Jad Abou Jaoudeh, and Makram Rbeiz.
Advisors to the Board: Angela Sawan, Mark Abboud and Rachid Arabi.
Dividing the board members into committees in order to narrow down the duties of each.
Lighting Beirut main touristic streets in collaboration with Rebirth Beirut and its President Gaby Fernaine, in the presence of Beirut Governor Judge Marwan Abboud.
Launching of Summer Season 2023 in the presence of the Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar, in the presence of Pop Artist Ramy Ayyach at the Syndicate office
Hosting General Director of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, Dr. Mohamad Abou Haidar, to go through an array of topics and facilitating the trade mark process for the restaurant members.
Honoring the Syndicate strategic partners in appreciation of the trust and faith they have placed in us.