OUT-OF-THE-BOX LODGING
According to the Syndicate of Hotel Owners, Lebanon has 341 hotels, Beirut taking 28 percent of supply, from which 22 percent are five-star properties and 46 percent have a four-star rating. The capital also has almost 8500 hotel rooms available. However, a new lodging trend has started to take off in the city, with a growing number of guesthouses now opening. While still a nascent segment, these guesthouses signal a new vibe and a new type of tourists seeking an authentic experience in the heart of the city. According to Nada Sardouk, director general of the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), guesthouses were put under the umbrella of the MOT in 2006 in a bid to promote alternative lodgings in remote areas on the Lebanese Mountain Trail. “We have initiated a regulation to legalize their activity and to promote them,” she said. “We have also helped them to get subsidized funds to renovate the properties and appeal to guests.” However, guesthouses are now offering a new option for visitors, “catering to a niche market of tourists seeking a different experience than residing in a regular city hotel”, Sardouk explained. These new alternatives are seen as offering something different to hotels, rather than competing with them, and while they might not provide the comprehensive amenities found in larger properties, their individuality can be a plus. Lebanon has over 50 guesthouses available for bookings, either through their own websites and social media, or via networks, such as L’hôte Libanais and Diyafa, among others.
Guesthouses are now offering a new option for visitors, catering to a niche market.