A Gala Dinner was just one notable activity among many organized by Hospitality Services for the HORECA 2010 Exhibition. The dinner, located at Beirut’s prestigious Le Royal Hotel, April 28th, paid homage to five pioneering women for their successful achievements within the hospitality and catering industry as well as a number of hospitality students and a fashion student.

This remarkable annual award ceremony paid testimony to Lebanon’s unique and flourishing hospitality industry.  Attended by Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Mr. Fadi Abboud, Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ms. Maha Khatib and IH&RA president, Dr. Ghassan Aidi, the ceremony also played host to more than 300 key players within the hospitality industry itself.   

One such award, Life Time Achievement Award, was granted to renowned hotelier Mrs. Mirna Boustany of Hotel Al Bustan.  A further four women received the Women Achievers in the Hospitality Industry awards:  Ms. Sawsan Al Wazzan, proprietor of The Nutrition And Diet Center, Ms. Christine Sfeir, Chief Executive Officer, Meeting Point S.A.L., Ms. Lina Lteif, proprietor of La Mie Dorée Restaurant and Ms. Maya Bekhaazi, proprietor of Acquisition.

Uniquely so and for the very first time, the award ceremony hosted an alternative fashion show. A catwalk filled with 16 chocolate dresses each designed by students of ESMOD Fashion University Beirut, and executed by chefs of renowned hospitality establishments. The judging panel comprising Abed Mahfuz Lebanese fashion designer, Ms. Alice Eddé proprietor of Eddé Sands Hotel and Wellness Resort, Ms. Christiane Tawil Editor in Chief of Deco Magazine, Mr. Elias Feghali from EMF Trading representative Callebaut Chocolate in the Middle East, and Mr. Albert Middelhoven from France awarded winning prizes to both ESMOD student Hussein Bazaza and to Chef Hanna Khalil. The prize itself, two air tickets, enabled both Hussein and Hanna to visit the prestigious ESMOD School in Paris.

A further award, the prestigious Nouhad Dammous Student Excellency Award was granted by the Lebanese Association for the Development of Tourism and Hospitality Training to the best Hospitality student elected amongst fifteen universities and ten institutions. This prize was awarded to deserving Sagesse University student, Maher Aoun.