Digital Supported Regenerative Hospitality in Rural Lebanon

Swiss partners

• HES-SO, EHL Hospitality Business School: Alessandro Inversini (main applicant)

Partners in the MENA region

• American University of Beirut, Liban: Salma N. Talhouk (main applicant), Alain Daou

Presentation of the project

This project studied regenerative practices in the hospitality sector in rural Lebanon. As the need for more impactful environmental and social strategies grows, the concept of regenerative hospitality has emerged, advocating for a shift from net-zero to net-positive impact. The project explored how regenerative hospitality businesses can create meaningful environmental, social, and relational impacts by leveraging the principles of affordance theory. Using a series of data point (quantitative survey, social media analysis and qualitative fieldwork) within two Lebanese biosphere reserves, the project was able to inform a series of participatory workshop to support the development of regenerative hospitality within the Lebanese economy. It resulted in a dynamic interplay between universities, businesses, the natural environment, and local communities. The project findings revealed that regenerative hospitality not only enhances the natural and social fabric of destinations but also fosters transformative guest experiences, emphasizing the vital role of community engagement and ecological stewardship.

More on the project

Article on the EHL and Hospitalitynet websites (2023)

Conference paper - EuroCHRIE 2024 Conference Proceedings (p.51)

White Paper - Regenerative Tourism & Nature Conservation Towards an Integrated Approach (2024)

Story map - Mapping Regenerative Tourism Practices in Lebanon (2024)

Invitation to EHL seminar (2024)