HOTEL INDUSTRY & ASSOCIATIONS

1. International Hotel Classification (UNWTO, ISO)

• IH&RA has successfully resisted attempts at both the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) to establish a single international hotel classification scheme.

After completing a joint UNWTO-IH&RA status report on existing classification systems throughout the world, IH&RA has agreed to assist developing countries in setting up their national hotel accommodation rating schemes and in marketing their national hotel infrastructure.

2. Compilation of International Hospitality Statistics (UNWTO)

- The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has agreed to separate out the accommodation statistics provided on a country-by-country basis in its annual Compendium of Tourism Statistics and to present these as a separate publication, enhanced with additional data on the hospitality industry collected via IH&RA.

This joint IH&RA & UNWTO publication designed to celebrate IH&RA’s 60th Anniversary will dip back into the WTO data-base to track the parallel development of Tourism & Hospitality over the past 30 years and more. This will be the first ever collection of international accommodation statistics covering stock items such as number of rooms & beds, overnights length of stay, occupancy as well as trends in hospitality management, outsourcing, chain concentration and the impact of globalisation on the industry.

3. International Standards for Spa Services (ISO) (International Organisation for Standardization)

- ISO TC 228, set up to work on international standards for Tourism Services (see item below), decided in July 2006 to initiate work in the area of spa services. This came in the absence of any clear definition of “spa services” although it was proposed to exclude all medical aspects.

- As a result, wellness and fitness programmes and recreational bathing services (such as those offered by hotels and resorts around the world) are targeted.

- The decision was taken despite strong opposition from a minority of National Standards Bodies, alerted by IH&RA and its Members to the dangers of standardisation for services that remain strongly linked to local customs and practises.

IH&RA will now work to coordinate industry expertise in the area of spa services and ensure that TC 228 takes full account of existing national standards governing spa services and of the cultural specificities they reflect. As a starting point a clear definition of what constitutes “spa services” is required.

HOTEL & RESTAURANT INDUSTRY & ASSOCIATIONS

4. Standards for Tourism Services (ISO) (International Organisation for Standardization)

- ISO Members formally opened up this new area of activity (with specific reference to hotels & restaurants) on 15 January 2005 despite opposition from the majority of our members who failed to convince their own national standards bodies to vote against the proposal.

- IH&RA has obtained official liaison status with the new TC (228) and has lobbied actively to have Accommodation & Catering services excluded from the TC’s scope of work. This was recommended by a specially designated Task Force on 1 June 2006 but did not obtain a majority vote by participating National Standards Bodies. The scope issue is still not resolved. IH&RA is lobbying to have the original Tunis decision accepted as final.

IH&RA has consistently advocated that international standards should only be established at the specific request of the industry which is best placed to assess whether they are of genuine benefit to professionals.

5. APELL Programme for Crisis & Risk Management & Prevention (UNEP)

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has been awarded an EU tender to run pilot projects for crisis prevention and management in three Tsunami-affected tourism destinations in India and Thailand.

- One of the outcomes will be an electronic Tool Kit for promotion and use by Hotel & Restaurant Associations in similar tourism destinations.

- Work is expected to run from October 2006 to March 2008.

IH&RA was approached specifically to coordinate and contribute hospitality expertise. This will be provided via the national associations and the Global Council on Security which is already looking at Hospitality Guidelines for Crisis Management and Prevention.

6. Environmental Teaching Pack for Hospitality Educators (IH&RA, UNEP, EUHOFA)

- “Sowing the Seeds of Change”, IH&RA’s Environmental Teaching Pack for Hospitality Educators, produced jointly with UNEP and EUHOFA in 2001, is currently being updated. A joint questionnaire designed to facilitate the update has been circulated to all IH&RA’s educational centre Members as well as to the network of Hotel School Directors (EUHOFA).

This joint project is being coordinated by the UN Environment Project UNEP with funding from the French Ministry of the Environment. When completed, the much-appreciated Manual will be made available on CD-Rom to facilitate its use and distribution.

7. Healthy Lifestyles (WHO) (World Health Organization)

The WHO report on Preventing Chronic Disease cites unhealthy diet and physical inactivity as the main causes of chronic diseases. This has led to a debate on the causes of obesity, in particular the consumption of certain types of fast food.

- Codex Alimentarius has become involved and is now looking at the question of health claims made on food labelling and in food advertising.

- Working through the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) IH&RA, along with a number of major private sector players in the food service industry, is lobbying the Codex Commission on Food Labelling (CCFL) to avoid the development of an international definition of advertising as related to nutrition and health claims on the grounds that advertising matters should be left to national jurisdiction. Several delays have been obtained but work on such a definition will begin at the next session of CCFL in May 2007.

IH&RA is working to ensure WHO and Codex are fully aware of the efforts made by the hospitality industry to meets its clients’ needs and fully understand the limits to hospitality operators’ responsibility towards their clients. Working with industry partners, IH&RA is also lobbying to make WHO fully aware of the difference between the retail food industry and the foodservice industry, specifically in relation to food labelling.

8. Flexibility of Working Conditions (ILO) (International Labour Organization)

- At ILO, IH&RA opposes restrictive employment conventions and advocates flexibility of working conditions in the industry, including the mobility of persons.

IH&RA has gained recognition of the emerging labour shortage in the hotel & restaurant sector in mature economies and the corresponding need to address the problem of the international mobility of workers in the sector, specifically with regard to visas and national quota restrictions.(See Joint ILO-IH&RA Programme to address International Worker Shortage and Worker Mobility)

IH&RA will continue to press ILO to improve the quality and collection of labour statistics in the hotel, catering and tourism (HCT) sector.

In response to IH&RA’s advocacy efforts, the ILO work programme has focused in recent years on training, research, statistics and labour migration – rather than on the time-consuming drafting of conventions

9. Copyright & Neighbouring Rights (WIPO) (World Intellectual Property Organisation)

- The rapid growth of the Internet has brought to the fore numerous issues surrounding intellectual property rights, piracy, security and digital rights management (DRM).

- IH&RA has long been concerned about the level of copyright fees levied on radio and TV broadcasts both in public areas and in the guest bedroom and which are imposed unilaterally by national collecting bodies.

The hotel and restaurant sector is both one of the main contributors to the fees paid on copyright and neighbouring rights while also playing an important role in promoting the products of authors, artists and record companies to consumers.

- WIPO is currently finalising a draft Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Organisations. The scope of this draft Treaty is confined to protecting traditional broadcasting organisations and cablecasting. Webcasting and simulcasting will be dealt with separately which could result in increased fees for hotel operators offering this reception in the guest bedroom.

- Trademark infringement on the Internet by 3rd party distribution channels causing customer confusion and loss of revenue is a major concern for hospitality chains.

IH&RA consistently opposes the monopolistic position of national collecting societies and encourages free competition between these societies and the right to purchase rights across borders. IH&RA is working through it Global Council on e-Commerce to establish Best Practice in the area of working with 3rd party distribution channels. It is also working to make the industry’s position known to the appropriate authorities, including WIPO, and the media.

10. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (UNWTO) World Tourism Organisation

- In 2001, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) approved its Global Code of Ethics for Tourism designed to promote sustainable practises in the tourism industry worldwide.

Although the Code is not a legally binding document, Article 10 provides for a voluntary implementation mechanism through the World Committee of Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer any matters concerning the application and interpretation of the Code.

IH&RA has consistently stressed that a code of ethics does not and should not require an implementation mechanism. None the less, the WCTE favoured this mechanism which has now come into existence. IH&RA will continue to voice its opposition to the inappropriate application of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to topics and issues beyond its remit.