Lebanon

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6LEBANONPROMOTIONremains of the Roman period in the BekaaValley, 60 miles northeast of Beirut – is asure sign of confidence and curiosityregained.For more than two decades, internationalsymphony orchestras, ballet companiesand artists such as Plácido Domingo andElla Fitzgerald performed before audiencesof 4,000 amid the floodlit Temples ofJupiter and Bacchus.Brought to an end by the civil war and subsequentconflicts, the festival was firstrestaged in 2008. This year it is scheduled totake place for a month starting on July 3.The Casino du Liban is an equallyfamous icon. Distinguished visitors in thegolden years of the 1960s and early 1970sincluded Lyndon Johnson, Omar Sharif andthe Shah of Iran. Modeled on the MonteCarlo Casino, the Casino du Liban formerlyinsisted that men wear jackets and ties, butrecently agreed to allow chic sports clothes.With facilities that include two theaters,a night club, five restaurants and cocktailbars, and three gaming rooms with 60 tablesand around 400 slot machines, the estabwithover 50 years experience,SAYFCO has become the leadingreal estate developer inlebanon.all-season faqra club resortfeatures 11-ultra luxuriousvillas.covering an area of over 500acres, featuring a boutiquehotel, golf, polo, a countryclub, and a variety of summerand winter activitiesThe will to winLebanon is spreading its wings torestore its position as the gambling,leisure and culture capital of theArab world.IInternational festivals of culture are onceagain being staged in the stunning settingof the Roman Acropolis at Baalbeck.Visitors are flocking to the Casino duLiban, the celebrated gaming house perchedbetween sky, sea and mountains above theresort town of Jounieh.With Lebanon showing signs of regainingits role as the most popular leisure centerin the Arab world, Middle East Airlines,the country’s flagship carrier, is buying newaircraft and expanding its routes. MoreWesterners are gradually returning to a landwhere you can ski on mountain snow in themorning and swim in the Mediterranean inthe afternoon.“Many European expats who live in theGulf states visit us, and we have started seeingan influx from Europe as well,” saysJoost Komen, the acting general manager ofthe InterContinental Mzaar LebanonMountain Resort & Spa, which is situatednext to the ski slopes among the peaks ofMount Lebanon.The revival of the annual BaalbeckFestival – set against some of the finestNabil Mounzer/epa/CorbisPaul Doyle / Alamy
LEBANONPROMOTION7lishment attracts about 3,000 visitors a day.Dr. Khater Abi Habib, an economistwith experience in the financial sector andthe chairman of the casino’s managementboard, says that its contract gives the casinoa monopoly on all gambling in Lebanon,and in return the government receives ashare of the revenue. One of the conditionsis that the casino present cultural performancesby top entertainers, operas, symphoniesand ballet companies.“In 2006, when we took over from theprevious board, gross revenue grew 17% innine months, in spite of the war during thesummer, and was the highest ever by 7%,”says Dr. Habib. “Last year we grew 19%,and this year we are hoping to grow 35%.”“Many European expats who livein the Gulf states visit us, and wehave started seeing an influx fromEurope as well.”Joost Komen, InterContinental MzaarLebanon Mountain Resort & SpaFuture plans include enlarging the premisesby adding two more gambling areas sothat the casino can accommodate 1,200people.The Casino du Liban is renowned amongthe Lebanese for the fact that it managed toremain open for all but the last spell of thecivil war. Middle East Airlines (MEA)demonstrated similar resilience during thewar between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006,when Israel bombed Beirut InternationalAirport.Mohamad A. El-Hout, the airline’s chairmanand director general, recalls that whenit was given 24 hours to evacuate its planes,within four days the airline had moved itsoperations to Larnaca International Airportin Cyprus. A day later, it resumed half of itsregular flight schedule, but from Damascusrather than Beirut.“Operating from Damascus was nonprofitable,but it sent a message to our customersthat we were a reliable airline in good timesand bad times,” he says. Despite the disruptions,the airline ended the year with a profitof $40 million.“This is the Lebanese mentality,” says El-Hout. “Whenever we have a crisis, we areable to cope with the situation. Whileother airlines have suffered losses, MEA hasmanaged to hold on to impressive growth,with 2008 fiscal profits expected to bearound $70 million.”MEA’s corporate message, says El-Hout,is to always preserve the highest standards ofsafety and security by flying modern aircraftserviced exclusively by Lebanese crews. ❖
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Lebanon

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