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Dr. Ghassan Aïdi plays a leading role on the global hospitality and tourism industry scene; through his leadership roles at IH&RA and his direction at Cham Palaces & Hotels and Royal Regency International Hotels, Dr. Aïdi is a staunch advocate and champion for critical issues to hospitality like the protectiong of children (specifically combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism), fighting against proposed "international" hotel classification, addressing shortages of trained labour and lobbying for increased worker mobility.
"As President, my goal will be to ensure that IH&RA fully represents the international hospitality industry of the 21st century, serving and advocating on behalf of the 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants represented by IH&RA around the globe," says Dr. Aïdi.
Dr. Aïdi was elected by unanimous vote at the IH&RA AGM held 28 October in Nice, France. He takes over from Mr. Dieter Huckestein, President, Yellowstone Club World, former Chairman & CEO, Conrad Hotels and former President, Hilton Global Alliance – USA.
Also elected at the IH&RA AGM in Nice, France was a new IH&RA Board of Directors with representatives from countries as diverse as Turkey, the United Kingdonm, Switzerland, India, China, Sweden and the United States - a distinguished group of international hotel and restaurant chain leaders, chief executives of national hotel and restaurant associations worldwide and a representative of independent hotels, with two representatives of IH&RA Worldwide Partners. The new Board takes office immediately and will direct the Association from now and throughout the year 2007. To see the IH&RA Board of Directors, Click here
Also serving as a member of the Executive Committee on the IH&RA Board is Mr. Avi Rosental, who has been appointed IH&RA Director-General effective 1 November, replacing Mr. David McMillan who served in this position for the past two years (2005-2006).
The next meeting of the new IH&RA Board of Directors will be held in January, 2007. The next meeting of the Chains Council will be held in March 2007 and the next meeting, the IH&RA NACE (National Association Chief Executives Council), in June 2007. (Dates & locations to be announced shortly).
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