ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATION for 2008

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. I became involved in all aspects of the Hospitality since 2 years on the International scene dealing with various aspects concerning our industry and I will try to resume some of them.

ISO- PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL STANDARIZATION FOR HOTELS WORLDWIDE

• We did battled International Organization for Standardization – ISO for 3 years to have accommodation and catering removed from the scope of their activity and achieved formal recognition of Industry Opposition to the inclusion of accommodation & catering Food and Beverage from ISO leadership in 2007 and a full commitment to work ONLY in local or Regional issues. Now monitoring how this commitment will be implemented in practice during 2008. IH&RA continues to resist and fight moves at the international level to link standardization and international hotel’s classification.
• IH&RA did several works with various countries and National Hotels Associations to organize locally the Classification of the country concerned.
• IH&RA believes in YES for local Hotels Classification and NO for International Standardization as every country and every continent has its own specific richness and culture.

ENVIRONMENTAL TEACHING PACK FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

• We did revise and update the edition that was disseminated by IH&RA together with UNEP to members of the Hospitality Industry (February 2008) and we cooperated with UN Environment Program [UNEP] a two-year EU-funded pilot project on Crisis and Risk Management & Prevention in Tourism Destinations in South Asia (Kanniyakumari, India, Patong and Phi Phi Island in Thailand).
• Developing Hospitality Guidelines for Crisis & Risk Management on the basis of cooperative consultation and information sharing between major Hotel Chains (will be available late this year).

GREEN PASSPORT – UNEP, UN FOUNDATION

• UNEP launched a new web based campaign entitled “GREEN PASSPORT-Holidays for living planet” aiming to raise tourist awareness of their potential to contribute to sustainable development by making responsible holidays choice and IH&RA did help this campaign on our website, and supported actively the networking, the distribution and the development of new materials and events.
• I represented IH&RA as part of The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (STC Partnership) which is a coalition of 27 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles.
  The Partnership, which was initiated by Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), launched the Sustainable Tourism Criteria at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008. These criteria will be the minimum standard that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.
• Ted Turner is one of the sponsors of the first-ever Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria at World Conservation Congress.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITH UNWTO

• IH&RA was invited by UNWTO at Davos Meeting to participate at the “Davos Declaration” about Climate Change and Hospitality Industry and since then I did appear in several occasion and was speaker on this issue at various places.
• UNWTO and UNEP did invite IH&RA to work on a European Union tender to expand the uptake of energy efficiency measures in the accommodation sector in EU member states. Project is under initiation right now after approval from the European Union and IH&RA is a Consultant in this issue. Manuals and Training Packages developed for this project will be shared with Hotels Chains around the world.
• Climate is a key resource for tourism, and the tourism sector is highly sensitive to the effects of climate change and global warming. Tourism is estimated to contribute some 5 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main gases that drives global warming, according to the Second International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism organised by UNWTO. Hotels can make significant contributions to climate change mitigation by reducing their energy use, increasing energy efficiency and incorporating best friendly practices in their day-to-day operations.

UNWTO – Task Force for the Protection of Children in Hospitality

• Before coming Vice-President oh IH&RA, I did sign on 2003 the first code of ethics for the protection of Children in Tourism as President of Cham Palaces and Hotels and Royal Regency International Hotels. When I became VP of IH&RA, few years ago I did recognize the importance of ethics and social responsibility for our Hospitality Industry. My two hotels chains did adopt the UNWTO Code of the protection of children in tourism.
  As President now, I do encourage all of you, Hotels chains executives, independent Hotels, President of Hotels Associations to adopt and sign the “Global code of ethics for tourism” to protect our children and all children worldwide from exploitation and all kind of exploitation in our industry. ILO estimates 218 million of children are engaged in child labor with million of them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in a daily basis, we know that there is a link between the tourism industry and child exploitation, especially in countries where economic growth has created an enormous demand for child labor. Equally alarming is the spiraling growth of all kind of exploitation of minors, mostly in developing countries, which is often associated to travel and tourism.

IOM –International Organization of Migration

• I also was invited in my Quality of President to join the BAB (Business Advisory Board) of IOM that works on contractual Labor Mobility in Asia for Hotels and restaurants. Adopting a forward-looking declaration for a better management of temporary contractual labor mobility.
• IH&RA did prepare a survey for skills shortages and skills availability around the Globe in order to improve collection and dissemination of information on recruitment and qualifications.

MIPIM – SPEED MATCHING (March 2008)

• IH&RA was a member of the Jury that chooses the most promising Projects in the Hospitality Industry from more than 100 projects. MIPIM is one of the largest Hospitality and Real Estate exhibitions with 35,000 participants worldwide. IH&RA was invited again to be a member of the jury for the new project and is a guest of honor at the MIPIM Hospitality and Real Estate exhibitions in 2009.

RELATIONS WITH UNWTO & INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

• Since I became President, I did believe that I need to strength the relations between the Private Sector and Public sector as we are complementary and I started to consolidate the relations between UNWTO and IH&RA. Our relations are very strong together as we do complement each other.
• In addition that IH&RA is a member of the Board of the Task force for the Protection of the Children in Tourism, as well as member of the Board of Affiliated members since 2006, I was chosen by the Secretary General of UNWTO to be a member of the Strategic Group.
• IH&RA President together with the UNWTO and other partners will participate to the launching of a new project concerning the “Energy Efficiency for the Tourism Industry” to be held during the WTM in London on November 12th, 2008.

 
With our move to Geneva this year, we launched more activities as the only representative of the private sector worldwide and we are working very hard to bring more national and international members and worldwide partners in order to strengthen the IH&RA. We are moving toward the second generation and together we can make difference.
 

Thank you.

Dr. Ghassan AIDI
President

IH&RA & UNEP Project ending 2008

Finalization of the "Disaster Reduction through Awareness, Preparedness and Prevention Mechanisms in Coastal Settlements in Asia - Demonstration in Tourism destinations - "IH&RA is finalizing together with UNEP and Partners a two year project "Disaster Reduction through Awareness, Preparedness and Prevention Mechanisms in Coastal Settlements in Asia - Demonstration in Tourism destinations" .

On this occasion, The Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand declared on September 2008 that the State of Emergency Decree for Disaster as it shows no longer necessary and quote; Businesses and communities have warmly welcomed the government’s decision and strongly believed that tourism industry in Thailand will bounce back soon. “The declaration will surely serve to reassure visitors coming to Thailand, including conference organizers and investors, and restore confidence in Thailand’s tourism and MICE sectors and confirms that hundred thousands of foreign visitors continue to travel to Thailand every week which reflect their confidence in the country. All hotels resorts, convention and exhibition venues in Bangkok and major attractions through the Kingdom for instance Chiangmai, Phuket, Krabi and Pattaya are open for business as usual and that all International and regional airports around the country are operating normally

Travel & Tourism Climate Change in Hospitality Industry with the UNWTO

Climate is a key resource for tourism, and the tourism sector is highly sensitive to the effects of climate change and global warming. Tourism is estimated to contribute some 5 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main gases that drives global warming, according to the Second International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism organised by UNWTO. Hotels can make significant contributions to climate change mitigation by reducing their energy use, increasing energy efficiency and incorporating best friendly practices in their day-to-day operations.

WHO IH&RA will participate next month in a round table meeting organizated by the WHO and the representatives of Economic Operators on ways we could contribute as by settling a strategy for the hospitality industry to reduce harmful use of alcohol. IOE-ILO IH&RA participate as representative of the Hospitality Industry and preparing the Agenda which will include the main issue handle by IH&RA on Climate Change, Sustainable tourism, energy efficiency, Corporate Social responsibility (CSR), HIV, Pandemic alert issue, etc… Criteria for Sustainable Tourism IH&RA is part of The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (STC Partnership) which is a coalition of 27 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. The Partnership, which was initiated by Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will launch the Sustainable Tourism Criteria at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008. These criteria will be the minimum standard that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation. TED TURNER ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CRITERIA AT WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS.   More information: http://www.unfoundation.org/press-center/press-releases/2008/ted-turner-global-sustainable-tourism-criteria.html

WIPO IH&RA participate in the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) of the WIPO in order to be update on the issue and to preserve the interest of the Hospitality Industry. Next session November 2008 with the Standing Committee on Information technologies in Geneva. Industry Watch NEWS FROM UNWTO - World Tourism Organization UNWTO WELCOMES NORWAY AS A NEW MEMBER STATE Madrid, 23 September 2008 - UNWTO is pleased to welcome the Kingdom of Norway as its 154th Member State, representing the 45th Member State within UNWTO’s Regional Commission for Europe. The Membership in UNWTO is part of Norway’s national strategy for the tourism industry, which highlights the importance of the further development of the sector as a vehicle for economic growth, in addition to traditional industries such as fishing, agriculture or oil. Norway’s tourism strategy aims at increasing the revenues from the tourism sector, support rural communities through year-round jobs in tourism and to establish Norway as a sustainable destination, in line with one of UNWTO’s major objectives. From 2000-2006 international tourism arrivals to Norway registered an average growth of 4.1% per year, reaching for the first time almost 4 million international tourists in 2006. In 1947, Norway was one of the 19 founding members of the International Union of Official Travel Organizations (IUOTO), the organization which preceded the modern UNWTO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway officially submitted its application for full membership of UNWTO on 8 September 2008. In accordance with the UNWTO Statutes this membership enters into immediate effect. Contact information: www.UNWTO.org

EETI – PROJECT OFFICIAL LAUNCH at the World Tourism Market *WTM*
in London on November 12th, 2008

Excellence in Energy Efficiency for the Tourism Industry, is a EU co-funded project that will research and develop energy efficiency solutions and use of renewable energy specially for the accomodation sector accross 27 EU countries, which will ultimetely help alleviate the industry’s impact on climate change as well as promote sustainability and stimulate global competitiveness.
The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) President together with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), will be the key organizations for this project in the fields of tourism and energy efficiency.

The hotel industry is among the most energy-intensive sectors of the tourism industry, while being an important source of employment. Europe has approximately 5.45 million hotel rooms - nearly half of the world total, of which SME’s account around 90% of the total number of rooms. EETI focuses on action to foster energy efficiency and the rational use of energy resources in the accommodation sector. Key target groups for the EETI are therefore: SME hotels, hotel associations, national tourism bodies, destinations, tour operators, suppliers and manufacturers in the field of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE). The EETI’s objectives are to contribute towards providing the most adapted, practical and cost-effective solutions to SME's hotels in order to improve their energy efficiency and their use of renewable energy sources. The project's main goal is to have a direct impact on SME hotels management actions and investment decisions in their use of energy. This will be achieved by the development of a user-friendly toolkit and materials on energy efficiency and renewable energy which will be widely disseminated amongst SME's hotels in Europe. The toolkit will in particular include a benchmarking system that will assess energy use and provide a least-cost planning methodology to assist hotels in prioritising suitable EE/RE investments and therefore expand uptake of EE/RE technologies in SME hotels – more information will follow up or email request to IH&RA office at telephone number +41227348041 or WTM link….

CHILD EXPLOITATION IN TOURISM
LAUNCH FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN- THE GLOBAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR TOURISM
"DON’T LET CHILD ABUSE ……TRAVEL”

Dear friends and member of IH&RA,
Since I became Vice-President, few years ago I did recognize the importance of ethics and social responsibility for our Hospitality Industry. My two hotels chains were the first members of IH&RA to sign and adopt the UNWTO Code of the protection of children in tourism.

As President now, I do encourage all of you, Hotels chains executives, independent Hotels, President of Hotels Associations to adopt and sign the “Global code of ethics for tourism” to protect our children and all children worldwide from exploitation and all kind of exploitation in our industry. ILO estimates 218 million of children are engaged in child labor with million of them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in a daily basis, we know that there is a link between the tourism industry and child exploitation, especially in countries where economic growth has created an enormous demand for child labor. Equally alarming is the spiraling growth of all kind of exploitation of minors, mostly in developing countries, which is often associated to travel and tourism.

In this regard UNWTO is strengthening its efforts to encourage the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics http://www.unwto.org/ethics for Tourism and, within its framework, is launching its “Protect Children Campaign.” during the world Market tourism “WTM” on November 10th in London. The campaign is a renewed Endeavour to raise awareness across the globe that it is unacceptable for the tourism trade and travelling public to tolerate child exploitation in all its forms.

I do encourage all of you to sign and implement this code during our Congress in Mexico, Thank you.

INTERNATIONAL AVIAN AND HUMAN INFLUENZA SIMULATION EXERCICE

IH&RA Participation to the INTERNATIONAL AVIAN AND HUMAN INFLUENZA SIMULATION EXERCICE in case of Pandemic alert which may affect the Hospitality Industry - September 2008 together with UNWTO with the joint collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand

The aims of this exercise are to:

• Explore the specific implications a pandemic has related to travelers and tourism in an international environment (foreign territory, crossing borders, etc…)
• Increase awareness of and to identify weaknesses in national contingency plans, especially as they related to the integration of tourism issues.
• Promote intensive surveillance to reduce surprises
• Encourage fast and sincere reporting by government bodies responsible for early warning especially from the health but also tourism sectors, allowing a rapid detection and implementation of control measures to interrupt successfully the transmission of the virus.
• Provide training on the international dimension of coordination of contingency planning and response efforts (evacuations, social distancing, etc…) including the Concept of Operations for the UN System in an Influenza Pandemic.