December 2006. The 14th annual Horeca, the Levant's leading hospitality and food event, will be held on March 27-30, 2007 at BIEL, Lebanon.

Serving the hospitality and foodservice industries, Horeca offers participants a range of products and services from nearly 300 exhibitors, complemented by a full schedule of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and special events. It is expected to draw nearly 15,000 professionals from around the region.

All leading associations are fully supporting the event and are working to ensure a creative and dynamic edition. "We want to use Horeca as a means to re-boosting the sector and to securing recovery. Among our focused activities is a Meet the Buyer program that will bring suppliers into direct contact with their highest potential market," says Raja Habre from ELCIM.

Paul Ariss, president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafs, Night Clubs, and Pastries, is determined to move on against all odds. "Despite the dramatic events of 2005 and 2006, we have no intention to waive our leading role as premier hospitality services providers in the entire Middle East," he affirms. The syndicate is planning a full-day seminar for the restaurant industry and a best-practice forum with international keynote speakers.

According to Joumana Salam, managing director of Hospitality Services, the show's organizing company, "The hospitality industry in the region is on the upswing. Lebanon has suffered from political turmoil, but it is planning full gear for its recovery. All the projects in the pipeline have only been delayed. The new products to be displayed at this year's Horeca will, in combination with our extensive educational and networking opportunities, be the cornerstone needed for the industry to rise in 2007."

Editors' Note:

Horeca is renowned for featuring the Levant's trade show for the hospitality industry and the region's international food and drink exhibition.

In 2007, Horeca will comprise a wide array of activities of interest to professionals in the field:
< The Hospitality Annual Award Ceremony will honor selected outstanding players in the industry.
< The Franchise and Meeting Point Pavilion will host successful franchisors and attract ambitious franchisees.
< Deco'tel will present the latest trends in design for architects and interior designers.
< Tech Zone will showcase POS, payroll systems, WiFi, and other technology solutions.
< The Culinary Art Show will be the heart of the action at Horeca 2007, with live cooking, carving, and bartending competitions throughout the days of the exhibition. This has always been the perfect spot to scout for talent and skill.

Horeca is the annual event that traditionally launches the high season in Lebanon and the rest of the Levant. It is a meeting point for investors, providers, and seekers of opportunity from the global market in general and the regional market in particular.