The president of the hoteliers' union, Pierre Achkar. (Credit: Commerce du Levant)
The elections of the hoteliers' syndicate resulted Monday in the re-election of Pierre Achkar, owner of Printania Hotel in Broummana, as president, with his ticket elected by acclamation.
The new board of directors then met to assign roles as follows: Pierre Achkar, president; Hani Cheit, vice president; Wadih Kanaan, secretary-general; and Rony Karam, treasurer.
Following the vote, Achkar emphasized that "the new board of directors includes representatives from all Lebanese regions," a message that, according to him, demonstrates "the syndicate's commitment to developing the tourism sector throughout the country, based on the principle that Lebanon is a single and unified tourist destination."
Achkar also praised the hoteliers for their resilience "in the face of the successive crises Lebanon has endured," from the economic collapse to the COVID-19 pandemic, the double explosion at the Beirut Port and the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel.
He said this "resilience reflects the deep-rooted nature of the hospitality and tourism sector in the country." He also assured that the new board of directors "will use all means at its disposal to defend the interests of the sector and hotel establishments" and "will work to deliver a real qualitative leap in tourism."
He concluded by stressing that "stability and the building of a strong state are an essential prerequisite for the development of tourism and for attracting investment, especially in the hospitality sector."
