International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH & RA)

 

OVERVIEW

• President- Dr. Ghassan AIDI- (2006-2013) and (2016-present): President Royal Regency International Hotels Washington, USA. 
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland. 
• Official languages: English and French.
• Established on November 1947.
• The IH&RA is the only international trade association exclusively devoted to promoting and defending the interests of the hotel and restaurant industry worldwide.
• It is a non-profit organization and is officially recognized by the United Nations. 
• IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of the hospitality industry.
• IH&RA members are national hotel and restaurant associations throughout the world, and international and national hotel and restaurant chains representing some 50 brands. Officially recognized by the United Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies international agencies on behalf of the industry, estimated to comprise 400,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employs 60 million people and contributes 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.

HISTORY OF IH & RA 

• January 1869: 45 Hotelmen met together in Koblenz at Hotel Trier, Germany and decide to create an Alliance between them under the name of All Hotelmen Alliance (AHA) to defend their interest, and they start to grow and get organized. Hotels were from different standards.
• April 1921: various Local European, African, Latin, American hotels association met together and decide to merge into a new international Association and its become INTERNATIONAL HOTELS ALLIANCE (IHA).
• November 1947: after the end of the second world war and the creation of the United Nations, Hoteliers from International Hotels Alliance met together with The European Aubergistes association and the Asian Innkeepers Association and decide to merge into a large International Association to defend the Private sector worldwide from Governments, Public sectors, Military etc‥․and create International Hotels Association (IHA) in London.
• September 23 1949: the French Government registered IHA and grants a status of Public Utility Association and Non profit status (law 109). The Head Office move from London to Paris to establish their quarter in the Heart of Paris in a Building of 5 floors.
• December 1949: the Argentinean Government recognized IHA and gave her a status of a non-profit organization under the name of Associasion Internacional de hosteleria.
• May 1950: the West German Government recognize IHA and gave a status of nonresident Association under the name of Internationaler Hotelverband.
• On November 1, 1953: the United Nations Economic and Social council gave IHA the status of consultative representing the Hoteliers Worldwide and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development grant IHA as a Permanent Observer status. October 1960, The New York Hotels Association ask to join IHA and become the first US association to join IHA and become a full member.
• January 1978: New By-laws and Articles of incorporation came into effect Worldwide and for the first time All Worldwide members met and did vote to adopt them and were into effect up to 2008 (30 year).
• November 1, 1997: IHA merge with International organization of Hotels and restaurants and they became together under one Association International Hotels and Restaurants Associations (IHRA) still up today.
• On January 1, 2008: The new President decides to move the Head Office to Switzerland with adoption of new Articles of Corporations and By Laws till today.
• The Swiss Government also register IH&RA in February 2008 with new adopted status.
• On March 1995, United Nations admit IH&RA.
• On May 2016: Dr Ghassan AIDI was nominated President for 4 years move the head office to Geneva where IH&RA is registered and register an office in Paris and Barcelona and working to register a Branch in Washington DC.

ACTIVITIES OF IH & RA 

• Monitor issues that are raised by major international organizations involved in tourism.
• Represent the collective industry interests before policy makers.
• Lobby for better recognition of the hospitality industry worldwide.
• Lobby against damaging or costly attempts to regulate the industry.
• Create Global Councils around industry issues to debate positions & create solutions.
• Listen to its members to ensure that all issues are addressed.
• Plan a series of informative Council and Board meetings and an annual Congress.
• Provide support where requested to lend weight to local and regional issue.
• Works in association with other international organisation such as UFTAA, IATA, WHO, PATA, WTTC, UNWTO etc.

MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY AND CATEGORIES OF IH & RA

Who can be a member?

• International, National and Regional Hotel and/or Restaurant Associations
• International and National Hotel and/or Restaurant Chains
• Owners, Developers and Investors
• Individual Hotels and Restaurants
• Institutions of the Industry (hotel schools, educational centres, universities)
• Students / Independent Hoteliers and Restaurateurs

Categories of membership of IH & RA:
International Hotel and Restaurant Association has following categories of memberships-

Membership Fees:

Sr. no.	Membership category	ANNUAL FEE
1	FULL MEMBER ASSOCIATION /HOTELS CHAIN	5000 Euro
2	SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP	3000 Euro
3	AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP	1000 Euro
4	INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT MEMBERSHIP	600 Euro
5	INDEPENDENT HOTEL MEMBERSHIP	600 Euro
6	INSTITUTIONS MEMBERSHIP	1000 Euro
7	HOSPITALITY STUDENT MEMBERSHIP	100 Euro

       Note: the fees are subject to change from time to time

ACHIEVEMENTS OF IH & RA

• Ensured Flexibility of Working Conditions.- Opposed Redundant & Costly Standards & Regulations.
• Protected Members' Interest on "International Hotels Standardization".
• Fought Increased Copyright Licensing Fees.
• Battled Trademark Violations.
• Sustainable Development of Tourism via the IH&RA Annual Environmental Award with UNEP and publications and training packs like "Sowing the Seeds of Change".
• Co-Created World Heritage Site Hotel Programme (Memories of the Future Restoration Project with UNESCO).
• Founding Co-drafter of "ECPAT Code" of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Exploitation in Travel Tourism.
• Safety in the Workplace.
• HIV / AIDS in the Workplace, published with UN / AIDS.
• Contributed to Hospitality Statistics & Research.
• Published the joint IH&RA/WTO Report on Hotel Classification the only comparative analysis and inventory of worldwide hotel classification schemes.
• Served as Expert Advisor to Countries on Hotel Classification Systems.

AWARDS OF IH & RA

• Hotelier of The Century: Captain Krishnan Nair, Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts chairman
• Emeraude Hotel of The Year
• Diamond Leader of The Year

 

Source: IHRA