Newly Elected 2006 IH&RA Board of Directors

2005-11-30

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IH&RA The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) has ushered in a new Board of Directors following elections conducted at the association's Annual General Assembly held last month alongside the IH&RA 42nd Annual Congress in Beijing, China. This distinguished group is comprised of leaders from international hotel and restaurant chains, chief executives of national hotel and restaurant associations worldwide, a representative of independent hotels and IH&RA Worldwide partners.

Every world region represented in leadership of hospitality industry's only international hotel and restaurant industry association

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) has ushered in a new Board of Directors following elections conducted at the association's Annual General Assembly held last month alongside the IH&RA 42nd Annual Congress in Beijing, China. This distinguished group is comprised of leaders from international hotel and restaurant chains, chief executives of national hotel and restaurant associations worldwide, a representative of independent hotels and IH&RA Worldwide partners. The Board also includes Regional Vice Presidents to ensure full worldwide representation at the IH&RA helm. This new Board of Directors will direct the association from now and throughout the year in 2006 when IH&RA will celebrate its 60th anniversary as the only trade association representing the hospitality industry worldwide. The Board of Directors includes:

THE IH&RA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President
Dieter Huckestein
Chairman & CEO, Conrad Hotels
President, Hilton Global Alliance - USA

Past President
John Bell
Director International Affairs
Caribbean Hotel Association - CARIBBEAN

Vice President Hotels
Dr. Ghassan Aidi
President
Cham Palaces & Hotels - SYRIA

Vice President Restaurants
Bruce C. Cotton
Director Emeritus
NRA- National Restaurant Association of America - USA

Treasurer
Joseph E. Spinnato
President
Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. - USA

Secretary
Abraham Rosental
Director General
Israel Hotel Association - ISRAEL

IH&RA CEO
David I. McMillan, FHCIMA

ALSO ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Regional Vice Presidents

Regional Vice President Asia-Pacific
Mark Lettenbichler
Chairman,Hong Kong Hotel Association
VP & Area General Manager,
The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong - HONG KONG

Regional Vice President Europe
Joan Gaspart Solves
President
Grupo Husa - SPAIN

Regional Vice President Latin America
Jaime Alberto Cabal
CEO
COTELCO - Colombian Hotel Association - COLOMBIA

Chairman of National Association Chief Executive Committee
Florian Hew
Director
GastroSuisse - SWITZERLAND

National Association Representatives

Sami Sawalha
Jordan Hotel Association - JORDAN

Oded Lifschitz
Vice President Australasia Hilton International
Australian Hotels Association - AUSTRALIA

Timur Bayindir
President
Touristic Hotels & Investors Association -TUROB - TURKEY

Anthony Pollard
President
Hotel Association of Canada - CANADA

Xi Yanping
Vice Chairman
China Tourist Hotels Association - CHINA

Chairman of the Chains Council
Jean-Paul Herzog
Senior VP Nordic Hilton and Scandic
Hilton International - SWEDEN

Chains Council Representatives

Yannick Rouvrais
COO & Member of the Management Board
Orbis S.A - POLAND

Nancy Johnson
Executive VP/Brand Leader for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn,
Carlson Hotels Worldwide - USA

Stan Bruns
Senior Vice President International Lodging
Marriott International - USA

Chain Restaurants Representative
Richard Snead
President
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide - USA

Independent Operators Representative
Mats Östblom
Managing Director
Hotell Liseberg Heden - SWEDEN

Worldwide Partners Representative
Kathryn Pretzel-Shiels
American Express Europe Ltd
Director Hotel & Restaurant Industries, Establishment Services Group American Express Europe Limited - UK

The IH&RA Board of Directors oversees the association's advocacy work to identify threats and to send early warning signals about possible legislation and regulation emanating from international policy making agencies which could affect hotel and restaurant operations and profitability. The Board of Directors also monitors the work of IH&RA's specialized Global Councils which are formed to confront challenges facing hotel and restaurant operators in their day-to-day operations looking at issues such as: e-commerce and e-marketing; human resources and training; crisis and risk management and prevention; food service and corporate social responsibility. This Board of Directors is also instrumental in strengthening IH&RA's strategic partnerships with industry suppliers, educational institutes and the media.

The IH&RA Board of Directors will next meet in person on 9 March 2006 in Berlin, following an 8 March meeting of the IH&RA National Association Chief Executive Council and the IH&RA Chains Council. These meetings will be held at the Maritim Berlin Hotel alongside the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) and ITB Berlin. On the evening of 8 March 2006, IH&RA, the German Hotels Association (IHA) and Maritim Hotels will host a VIP reception for all IH&RA members and IHIF delegates at the Maritim Berlin Hotel in celebration of the association's 60th Anniversary. These March events will then be followed by the IH&RA 43rd Annual Congress to take place in New Delhi, India in November 2006, preceded by a one-day 'Hospitality Educators Forum' for educational institutes and training schools for the industry (dates to be announced shortly).

Diary Dates:

IH&RA National Association Chief Executives Council Meeting
8 March Maritim Berlin Hotel
11:30 - 18:00

IH&RA Chains Council Meeting
8 March Maritim Berlin Hotel
11:30 - 18:00

IH&RA, German Hotels Association (IHA) & Maritim Hotels Evening Reception
8 March Maritim Berlin Hotel
18:30 - 20:00

IH&RA Board of Directors Meeting
9 March Maritim Berlin Hotel
09:00 - 15:30

IH&RA Foundation for the Future Trustees Meetings
9 March Maritim Berlin Hotel
15:30 - 17:00

IH&RA Hospitality Educators Forum
November 2006 - dates tba shortly
New Delhi, India

IH&RA 43rd Annual Congress
November 2006 - dates tba shortly
New Delhi, India

Founded in 1946, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA - www.ih-ra.com) is the only global business organization representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Its members are national hotel and restaurant associations, international and national hotel and restaurant chains, independent operators and worldwide partners including hospitality suppliers, consultants, educators and the media. Officially recognized by the United Nations, IH&RA is an active international observer that identifies threats, sends early warning signals and mounts opposition to all initiatives that could lead to costly legislation and unnecessary regulation for this industry.