International Hotel Association

January 1869, 45 Hotelmen met together in Koblenz at Hotel Trier, Germany and
decide to create an Alliance between them under the name of All Hotelmen Alliance
(AHA) to defend their interest, and they start to grow and get organized. Hotels were
from different standards.

April 1921 various Local European, African, Latin, American hotels association met
together and decide to merge into a new international Association and its become
INTERNATIONAL HOTELS ALLIANCE (IHA).

November 1947, after the end of the second world war and the creation of the United
Nations, Hoteliers from International Hotels Alliance met together with The European
Aubergistes association and the Asian Innkeepers Association and decide to merge into
a large International Association to defend the Private sector worldwide from
Governments, Public sectors, Military etc‥․and create International Hotels Association
(IHA) in London.

September 23 1949, the French Government registered IHA and grant a status of Public
Utility Association and Non profit status (law 109). The Head Office move from
London to Paris to establish their quarter in the Heart of Paris in a Building of 5 floors.

December 1949, the Argentinean Government recognized IHA and gave her a status of
a nonprofit organization under the name of Associasion Internacional de hosteleria.

May 1950, the West German Government recognize IHA and gave a status of
nonresident Association under the name of Internationaler Hotelverband.

On November 1, 1953 the United Nations Economic and Social council gave IHA the
status of consultative representing the Hoteliers Worldwide and the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development grant IHA as a Permanent Observer status.
October 1960, The New York Hotels Association ask to join IHA and become the first
US association to join IHA and become a full member.
 January 1978, New By-laws and Articles of incorporation came into effect Worldwide
and for the first time All Worldwide members met and did vote to adopt them and were
into effect up to 2008 (30 year).

November 1, 1997, IHA merge with International organization of Hotels and

restaurants and they became together under one Association International Hotels and
Restaurants Associations (IHRA) still up today.

On January 1, 2008 The new President decide to move the Head Office to Switzerland
with adoption of new Articles of Corporations and By Laws till today.

IH&RA is located now in Geneva,paris and barcelona and soon in washington DC.

The Swiss Government also register IH&RA in February 2008 with new adopted status.

On March 1995, United Nations admit IH&RA.

On May 2016 Dr Ghassan AIDI was nominated President for 4 years move the head
office to Geneva where IH&RA is registered and register an office in Paris and
Barcelona and working to register a Branch in Washington DC.

What is the International Hotel & Restaurant Association?

The IH&RA is the only international trade association exclusively devoted to promoting and
defending the interests of the hotel and restaurant industry worldwide. It is a non-profit
organization and is officially recognized by the United Nations. IH&RA monitors and
lobbies all international agencies on behalf of the hospitality industry.

WHO ARE ITS MEMBERS?

 International, National and Regional Hotel and/or Restaurant Associations

 International and National Hotel and/or Restaurant Chains

 Owners, Developers and Investors

 Individual Hotels and Restaurants

 Institutions of the Industry (hotel schools, educational centres, universities)

 Students / Independent Hoteliers and Restaurateurs

 WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP OF THE IH&RA MEAN?
 Industry Watchdog. protecting your business interests

 High profile events. Building your business network

 Timely Newsletters. Keeping you informed

 Strong representation. Unite and reinforce the industry worldwide

 WHAT DOES IH&RA DO?

 Monitor issues that are raised by major international organizations involved in tourism.

 Represent the collective industry interests before policy makers.

 Lobby for better recognition of the hospitality industry worldwide.

 Lobby against damaging or costly attempts to regulate the industry.

 Create Global Councils around industry issues to debate positions & create solutions.

 Listen to its members to ensure that all issues are addressed.

 plan a series of informative Council and Board meetings and an annual Congress.

 provide support where requested to lend weight to local and regional issue.