The Department of Interior Design and Architecture at the Ramez G. Chagoury Faculty of Architecture, Arts and Design (RC-FAAD), Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), participated in the initiative to renovate the Phoenicia Hotel Canteen.
The Phoenicia Hotel is an iconic landmark hotel and represents the pillars of the Lebanese hospitality industry; therefore, it was an obvious choice to reflect the status of its facilities as a whole to further set the tone for the industry, in Beirut and across Lebanon.
To get the most out of employees, a positive work environment must be created for the entire team. Based on this approach, NDU and Phoenicia Hotel offered #NDUers the opportunity to improve the hotel’s work environment and come up with alternative approaches to renovate its canteen.
Phoenicia Hotel General Manager Dagmar Symes said, “We strongly believe that if our team is doing well and is treated well, they will demonstrate greater job satisfaction and become more motivated to provide quality service, which automatically and positively reflects on guest experience.”
She added, “Our privileged relationship with NDU, their different respective Faculties, and especially #NDUers whom we perceived during previous visits to possess a unique, professional, and humble ‘doer’ mentality that accurately reflects their educational spirit and environment. That is why we chose them to undertake this project with us.”
Instructors at NDU Rina Shebaby, Janine Baroud, Nagib Lahoud, and Graziella Daghfal assisted the students to present their work, in order to reflect a positive work environment setting.
Symes said, “Eight shining architectural talents showcased their full potential. The parameters were somewhat limited, yet they demonstrated amazing creativity in accomplishing this challenging task.”
Following the forum, the management of Phoenicia announced the following winners:
- First Prize: Elias Hitti;
- Second Prize: Beatrice Bakhache; and
- Third Prize: Mario Doumit.
On behalf of the Owning Company and the Phoenicia management, Symes expressed her sincerest thanks to all participants and faculty members for their support. She said, “We were, we are, and we still are truly impressed by the professionalism and creativity demonstrated.”