Report from IHRA's 49th congress | Kathmandu, Nepal
During 3 days , more than 200 Delegates from 30 countries met in Kathmandu, Nepal to talk about various subjects concerning their industry...The Hospitality Industry. The Opening ceremony attended by the President of NEPAL Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav with all Members of the Government of Nepal was a great moment specially with the opening vibrant speech by our President Dr.
During 3 days , more than 200 Delegates from 30 countries met in Kathmandu, Nepal to talk about various subjects concerning their industry...The Hospitality Industry.
The Opening ceremony attended by the President of NEPAL Rt. Honorable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav with all Members of the Government of Nepal was a great moment specially with the opening vibrant speech by our President Dr. Ghassan AIDI who did remind the participants that " We are the Leaders of our Industry and our Industry is leading the way to recovery with their investment each day from the failure of Governments with Economical and Financial worldwide crisis", he did remind that " Every day 10 hotels open each day and our Industry keep hiring to limit the povrety in the world. He end his speech in saying:" Leaders are made and not born, leadersship is forged in times of crisis, we need to be leaders thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge of our industry"..."lets go back to work Now and reduce the imact of this economical and financial crisis that we are suffering from the failure of the bureucratic system of Governments competing in charging higher taxes and VAT".
Mr Frederic Pierret ,Assistant Secretary General of the UNWTO mention in his opening Speech " The Stronger you are, the stronger we will be, and the stronger we are, the more the professions in the Hospitality industry will be recognized and supported......We know that UNWTO can rely upon IHRA and its members contribution to the development of the hospitality industry ..."
Dr. Ghassan AIDI, IHRA President did honor the President of Nepal in nominating him as "Chevalier" of the Confrerie des Amis De L'Hotellerie Mondiales, which is the oldest order for Hoteliers .
Four Roundtables took places during the congress, the First one was animated as the subject was very 'Hot" TOWARD THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY , the second roundtable was about CLimate change issues and Sustainable development as well as Biodiversity, the Third roundtable was the new trend in Hospitality and the fourth roundtable was about Nepal where several Governments and Private sector talks about the challenges about investment in Nepal.
During the General Assembly , all participants agree to do a new BY LAWS for the Association with update on membership dues and numbers of votes as well as various categories of membership. A Task force has been created and will submit to the next congress their research for members approval.
After three days of full work, the participants enjoy a trip by plane to the Mountains of Nepal, specially Mount Everest where they did enjoy the view from the Top .
Next year Congress will be in Lima-Peru on 9-10-11 January 2013
Enclosed is President Speech, and photo of the congress may be viewed at
International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA)
Founded in 1859 in Koblenz (Germany), the IH&RA is the only business organisation representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Its members are national hotel and restaurant associations throughout the world, and international and national hotel and restaurant chains representing some 50 brands. Officially recognised by the United Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employ 60 million people and contribute 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.