By the time guests arrived at the LAU Beirut campus on September 5 for 101 & Still Counting, hospitality students had already spent months turning their HOM324 coursework into a live hospitality experience.

The 2026 annual gala of the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) Hospitality and Tourism Management Program hosted the ambassadors of the United States, Australia, Mexico, and Jordan, alongside hospitality and business leaders, industry representatives, sponsors, LAU alumni, faculty, staff, and students.

With students at the heart of its planning and execution, the evening celebrated professional achievement while strengthening their connection with the industry they are preparing to enter.

Under the guidance of Practice Instructor Bassem Slim, with assistance from Chef Ibrahim El Haddad and alumni, the students took the event from concept to execution, assuming responsibility for the planning, coordination, and delivery of a large-scale hospitality experience.

LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah commended the students for taking ownership of the experience and putting their knowledge into action.

“Taking responsibility for turning what they have learned in the classroom into something tangible is exactly what a university education should accomplish,” he said.

Reflecting on 101 & Still Counting, Dr. Abdallah added that the university does not count the years simply to celebrate their passing, “but to ask ourselves what we will do in the year ahead and beyond.”

That forward-looking perspective resonated with the evening’s theme: Celebrating a legacy of growth and excellence that continues to unfold. It also brought different generations of the industry into the same space, established professionals whose work has reached well beyond Lebanon and students preparing to chart their own paths.

True to that theme, the students honored Kamp Catering, represented by Founder and CEO Henry Farah; Four Seasons, represented by President of Hotel Operations for Asia Pacific Rami Sayess; U-Food, represented by CEO Mazen Noureddine; and Lebanese-Brazilian DJ and Producer Roger Saad, commercially known as Rodge. Their achievements span the fields of hospitality, food and beverage, and entertainment, and illustrate the far-reaching Lebanese talent across regional and international markets.

AKSOB Dean Dima Jamali placed those achievements within the broader significance of hospitality for the country.

“Hospitality has always been one of our most compelling ambassadors to the world,” she said.

Dr. Jamali noted how the sector is deeply embedded in Lebanese culture, creating employment, fueling tourism and entrepreneurship, connecting cultures, and enabling Lebanese professionals to build careers and businesses worldwide.

“Together, we are not simply preparing students for their first jobs,” she said. “We are preparing them to become the entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who will shape the future of hospitality in Lebanon, across the region, and around the world.”

Hospitality and Tourism Management Department Chair Rania El Haddad pointed to the program’s academic standing and the paths its graduates have taken. The first of its kind in the region, it is the only one in Lebanon to hold both Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditations. 

“Our graduates are leading successful careers across the region’s hospitality and tourism sector, while others are pursuing advanced degrees at some of the world’s leading universities,” she said.