IH&RA today in 2012
Why IH&RA?
IH&RA –the International Hotel and Restaurant Association- is the only global business organization representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Officially recognized by the United Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to comprise 400,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employ 80 million people who contribute 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.
Who are IH&RA Members?
IH&RA members include national hotel and restaurant associations throughout the world and international and national hotel and restaurant chains representing some 50 brands, as well as Independent Hotels, Hospitality Institutions, and Worldwide Partners who support our industry.
How does IH&RA serve its members?
- Monitor major international organizations involved in tourism
- Represent collective industry interests before policy makers
- Lobby for better recognition of the hospitality industry worldwide
- Lobby against potentially damaging or costly attempts to regulate the industry
- Representation of the Private Sector in hospitality worldwide.
With witch International organizations does IH&RA work with?
Working at the international level, IH&RA focuses its activities on monitoring and lobbying the UN and its agencies and other inter-governmental organizations whose work directly or indirectly impacts the hospitality and wider tourism industry. IH&RA views and participation are regularly sought by these agencies which only invite representation from recognized institutional partners. The organizations are:
The United Nations (Including the Economic & Social Council-ECOSOC-and UN agencies):
- International Labor Organization (ILO)
- UN Environmental Program (UNEP)
- UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World bank Group
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT)
- World Trade Organization (WTO/OMC)
Other inter-governmental agencies
- International Organization of Employers (IOE)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)
H&RA is a recognized and respected partner on the international level, owing its credibility to their Executive Board, to its members and to its Executive Management team. This membership network backs IH&RA’s claim to be the “voice” of the hospitality industry worldwide and provides an invaluable consolation/survey mechanism to ascertain the views of the hospitality industry. IH&RA is the ONLY major association who represents the private sector worldwide.
IH&RA’s reputation is based on the quality of its leaders& management team, of its published research and contributions to the work of the international agencies, both at meetings and conferences.
IH&RA’s effectiveness is based on the quality of its relations with the inter-governmental organizations and the breadth of its contacts at the international level.
What are the benefits and exclusive services offered to IH&RA members?
IH&RA’s “Industry Watch” e-Newsletter- This e-Newsletter features updates about IH&RA monitoring and lobbing activities, the latest fro international organizations whose work directly or indirectly impacts the hotel and restaurant industry, alerts about urgent industry issues, IH&RA member news, highlights from IH&RA activities and events and an international marketplace where IH&RA members can share and exchange advice, expertise, products and services
IH&RA’s “Member-Only” Section on www.ih&ra.com: Access 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to the latest hospitality news, IH&RA “issue” updates, status reports on lobbying activities and relations with international organizations, plus IH&RA membership forums. IH&RA Members-Only section At-A-Glance:
IH&RA Industry Affairs: Direct access to IH&RA “Positions” on key industry issues with updates on IH&RA advocacy activates and working relations with international organizations.
IH&RA Membership Forum : 3 part communication and information centre:
- The Issues Forum: Members can discuss key industry issues on-line and post messages for response and feedback from fellow IH&RA members around the world
- The Download Centre: IH&RA documents-IH&RA Calendar of Events, Meeting Agendas, and Minutes- can be downloaded her 24 hours a day.
- Advocacy Resource Centre: Download analytical briefs on topical industry issues and key international agency reports on major issues impacting the hospitality industry.
- IH&RA on-line Members Directory (coming in 2013): an indispensable resources for contacting leading hotel and restaurant executives around the world.
- A selection of publications and industry research including:
Leading Hospitality into the Age of Excellence: Expansion Competition and Vision in the Multi-National Hotel Industry
The Restaurant Revolution: Growth, Change and Strategy in the International Foodservice industry
Trends, Challenges and Opportunities: An International Study of the Casual Theme Restaurant Industry
Sowing the Seeds of Change: An International Study of the Casual Theme Restaurant Industry
The Challenge of HIV/AIDS in the Workplace: A guide for the Hospitality Industry