Nabil Debs and his wife, Zoe, left the comfort of Europe for the “chaos” of Beirut. Together, they recently opened Arthaus boutique hotel, which celebrates their love of art and their fascination with the Bauhaus movement.
What motivated you to turn your 18th century home into a boutique hotel?
It was a combination of things: our love of art, buildings, Beirut, and a will to reassemble a likeminded community around this art village in the heart of Gemmayze, Beirut. We are keen on attracting international visitors and sharing our passion with the world.
Art is an intrinsic part of Arthaus Beirut. Can you tell us why?
Art in all its forms is the cornerstone on which we built the project. Our ambition is to place ourselves as the missing link between galleries, artists, collectors, art lovers and the general public. Arthaus is a meeting place for people who passion share a similar passion.
How are you facing the current crisis?
We helped ourselves by rebuilding as fast as possible following the Beirut port blast. We got the business started and hired a talented workforce. There was also a fundraising exhibition we organized to support artists and the Lebanese Red Cross.
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.
