International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) | provided by Hsyndicate

IH&RA Announces the Launch of the Emeraude Hotelier Certification

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:23:06 +0200

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) announces the launch of its Emeraude Hotelier certification, recognizing hotels that successfully implement the stipulated guidelines to enhance sustainable tourism.

IH&RA President Honored in Bulgaria

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:56:28 +0200

IH&RA President Dr. Ghassan AIDI was named an honorary citizen of Bulgaria at the Velingrad Spa Capital of the Balkans on 8 July 2009. In his speech, Dr. AIDI stated that Bulgaria should strive to become a quality destination by applying the European standards of hospitality.

IH&RA Announces 47th Annual Congress, to be held 18-20 January 2010, at the Continental Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:32:55 +0200

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association announces that its 47th Annual Congress will be held between the 18th and 20th of January 2010, at the Continental Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. With the start of the new decade, IH&RA will host an event that highlights the future of the hospitality industry. Belgrade, Serbia perfectly embodies this year’s theme of looking towards the future for opportunities of growth and development.

International Hotel & Restaurant Association to support “dotHOTEL”

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:35:18 +0200

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) has announced its support for dotHOTEL, the company which will register ‘.hotel’ as a new top-level domain for the global hotel industry with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Hotels and the hotel industry worldwide will then be able to register their brands in an unambiguous and trusted namespace, such as international, domestic chains and independent hotels ‘.hotel’.

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association and Weather Decision Technologies Partner to Provide Private Local Weather Services to Worldwide Membership

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:36:06 +0200

Dr. Ghassan AIDI President of The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), based in Geneva, Switzerland is pleased to announce a new partnership with Weather Decision Technologies (WDT) based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, the world’s leader in global weather services. The agreement provides for innovative online, television, and local marine weather products to be made available to the global hotel and restaurant industry.

Presidents of IH&RA and HOTREC confirm their closed cooperation in the interest of the hospitality industry worldwide and in Europe

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:31:01 +0200

Today the President of IH&RA, Dr. Ghassan Aïdi, and the President of HOTREC, Mr. Kent Nyström, agreed on guidelines for an efficient collaboration between IH&RA, HOTREC and their national association members. IH&RA and HOTREC are the strongest organisations speaking on behalf of the private hospitality industry in the world and in Europe.

SWINE INFLUENZA | Statement by IH&RA

Wed, 06 May 2009 08:40:01 +0200

Commenting on the current developments regarding the swine influenza outbreak, Dr. Ghassan Aïdi, President of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association “IH&RA” informs on the importance of the safety and well-being of the hospitality industry and confirms that the IH&RA is working closely together with the Tourism Emergency Response Network – “TERN” partners, the United Nation World Tourism Organization “UNWTO”, the World Health Organization “WHO” and sharing views on the matter on continuous basis. Dr. Ghassan Aïdi also said, this ensures first that the special situation of the hospitality industry is taken fully into account in “WHO” considerations and that the industry is able to provide the best and most accurate advice to travelers, limiting the impacts on the travel and tourism industry.

IH&RA President Dr. Ghassan AIDI receives ‘Hotelier Of The Year’ Award for the Republic of Montenegro

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:52:38 +0200

In a Gala Dinner held at the capital Podgorica of the Republic of Montenegro in Presence of Minister of tourism and Ecology Mr. Nebojsa Popovic and the Deputy Minister of Economy Mr. Dragan Kujovic and several Ambassadors accredited in Montenegro,as well as several hundreds of representative of Business leaders from various Industry sectors ,Dr. Ghassan AIDI, President of IH&RA receive the most prestigious award of Montenegro “The EXECUTIVE HOTELIER OF THE YEAR” in an exclusive gala ceremony held at the National Theater in presence of Dragica Drekalovic President of Montenegro Hotels Association as he is representing the best leader from the Tourism Industry.

IH&RA President Dr. Ghassan AIDI receives ‘Hotelier Of The Year’ Award for the Republic of Montenegro

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:38:49 +0200

The Economic Situation And Its Impact On Hospitality | By Ghassan Aidi

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:27:43 +0200

Mr. Aidi began by expressing doubt that about the possibility of a recovery this year. He said: “Next year, maybe; two years later we will have more chance!!!” He added: “Why our economy is falling down? Why is our banking system going into bankruptcy? What's going on? “In October 2008 the growing instability in economy and the fear of a great recession resulted in cheerless predictions for the performance of our industry. The RevPar went negative and is still negative in 2009. IH&RA predict a full decline in occupancy worldwide during 2009. Major hotel chains expect a fall in profits during 2009 resulting of reduction of travel expenditure. But remember people still need to stay in hotels and travel for business.

The International Hotels and Restaurants Association (IH&RA) will test UN Energy Program

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:36:47 +0200

With climate change a growing concern and the economic crisis affecting their bottom line, European hoteliers are about to take part in a United-Nations backed program designed to reduce energy consumption and lead to significant savings in operating costs with a goal to achieve 20 % increase in Energy efficiency and 10% increase in using renewable energy new technologies.

The LEELA Palaces & Hotels & Resorts Join the Chain Leaders at IH&RA (International Hotel & Restaurant Association)

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:40:42 +0200

Dr. Ghassan AIDI, President of International Hotels & Restaurants Association is happy to announce that The Leela Palaces and Hotels and Resorts, one of the India’s finest luxury hotel groups, with their properties in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa and Kovalam, Kerala which provide discerning business and leisure travelers a warm, memorable and relaxed stay, with 5 more properties to be open during this year and next year join IH&RA during the Board Meeting of Global Hotels Alliance in Leela Bangalore today.

IH&RA announces its Global Criteria for Sustainable Development For the Hospitality Industry

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:42:00 +0200

Dr. Ghassan AIDI, President of IH&RA, announced today that on October 6, 2008, the United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner joined IH&RA and other organizations, the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to announce the first-ever globally relevant sustainable tourism criteria at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The new criteria – based on thousands of best practices culled from the existing standards currently in use around the world – were developed to offer a common framework to guide the emerging practice of sustainable tourism and to help businesses, consumers, governments, non-governmental organizations and education institutions to ensure that tourism helps, rather than harms, local communities and the environment.

IH&RA & Equip’hotel Announce Partnership

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:57:42 +0200

IH&RA is pleased to announce a new partnership with Equip’Hotel – France. Reed Expositions France, the world’s leading event organizer, presents the 2008 session of EQUIP’HOTEL, the international trade exhibition for hotels, restaurants, cafés and contract catering, from 15 to 19 November 2008, in Paris, France – Porte de Versailles.

IH&RA Industry Watch | Newsletter

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:33:23 +0200

2008, IH&RA's first year in Geneva, moving toward the next generation after staying in Paris for 65 years, is marked with intensive advocacy and representation on behalf of our members. As a President, I concentrated on keeping IH&RA as the representative of the hospitality industry within the International Organizations worldwide, maintaining contacts with our members in the five continents through meetings them and during their annual conferences. We attended around fifty conventions, meetings, hospitality fairs and exhibitions.

Recap: The 46th Annual Congress of IH&RA International Hotel & Restaurant Association

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:40:41 +0200

Monterrey-Mexico | During three days, the world's best hospitality leaders gathered in Monterrey, Mexico, where was held the IH&RA's 46th General Assembly, from 20-22 October 2008, where 250 delegates & hospitality leaders from 40 nations did attend the congress that was held in Mexico with its main theme LEADING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE.

46th Annual IH&RA congress taking place October 20-22 | Monterrey Mexico

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:21:15 +0200

The IH&RA congress provides the worldwide hospitality industry professionals and executives the opportunity to get a closer look at today’s new trends and practices in the hotels and restaurants sector. This year the venue will be in Monterey, Mexico. IH&RA congress is in Latin America, after more than a decade! The IH&RA is taking the role of leading the sustainable development in the hospitality worldwide. This is reflected in the conference program, addressing the issues of - Earth Lung, Climate Neutral Initiative for hospitality, and The Sustainable Tourism Criteria Initiative.

An IH&RA Update | By President Dr. Ghassan AIDI

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:49:29 +0200

Dear industry friends, Sustainable tourism is on the rise : consumer demand is growing, travel industry suppliers are developing new green programs, and governments are creating new policies to encourage sustainable practices in tourism. But what does sustainable tourism really mean and how can it be measured and credibly demonstrated to build consumer confidence, promote efficiency.

IH&RA Ushers in New Leadership for 2007; Dr. Ghassan Aïdi Elected IH&RA President

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +0200

Paris | The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) is honoured to announce a new slate of IH&RA Board of Directors effective 1 November 2006, following the Association’s Annual General Assembly held in Nice, France, on 28 October.

World’s Leading Hospitality Companies and National Hotel & Restaurant Associations Convene in Nice, France 26-28 October 2006

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +0200

Paris | The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the only global trade association exclusively representing the hospitality industry worldwide, will convene its worldwide membership in Nice, France this week at the Hotel – Casino Le Palais de la Méditerranée, from 26-28 October 2006. Meetings will be held for the IH&RA Board of Directors, as well as the IH&RA “Chains Council” representing the world’s leading international and national hotel and restaurant chains and the “NACE” Council comprised of senior executives of national hotel and restaurant trade associations from some 80 countries worldwide. The meetings will conclude with the IH&RA Annual General Assembly where a new Board of Directors will be elected for 2007.