What role does AMFORHT play?
Created 53 years ago by UNWTO, AMFORHT is an NGO recognized by the United Nations. With around 700 members from 78 countries, our goal is to promote training and education by bringing together hotel schools, universities and hotel groups.
What have some of AMFORHT’s major achievements been and what do you have in store for 2022?
Every week, we receive copies of agreements between hotel schools all over the world: student exchanges, research projects, partnerships with hotel groups and so forth. Our forum will take place in Switzerland in October, and we invite everyone to be part of it.
When do you believe tourism will bounce back?
Tourism is one of the most robust industries in the world; it is slow to start and is just as slow to stop. All economic indicators, and especially sociological ones, place the sector in good stead for the relaunch of activities. We just need to be a little patient and take advantage of this period to strengthen our professionalism, our environmental responsibility and long-term profitability.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
