Amsterdam, 5 November 1997 - The General Assemblies of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) and International HORECA, meeting during the IH&RA's 50th anniversary Congress in Amsterdam, have given the go-ahead for the merger of the two organisations with immediate effect. The new organisation will operate under the existing name of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association and maintain the IH&RA's

headquarters in Paris.

International HORECA, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is a union of hotel, restaurant, café and tourist associations, industry suppliers and hospitality management schools with members in 20 countries. Until the end of the year, International HORECA's members will receive the same benefits as IH&RA members. As of 1 January 1998, they will become dues-paying members of IH&RA.

The merger is in line with the new status of the IH&RA, which last November changed its name from the International Hotel Association, a move which enhanced the presence of the food service industry and prompted extension of services to restaurants. The majority of International HORECA's members are restaurants and restaurant associations.

IH&RA President Michael B. Peceri, the driving force behind the merger, spoke of the unnecessary duplication of services provided by two organisations striving to fulfil the same objectives within the international hotel and restaurant industry. "We were both competing for limited financial resources and recruiting essentially the same type of members," said Peceri, following the decision to merge. "The merger has eliminated these factors, and created a more powerful voice to speak on behalf of the global hospitality industry."

"Creating one large international professional association increases the industry's capacity to make its voice heard across the board, as well as giving it more clout in politicial and economic circles," said Dr Xavier Frei, Secretary General of International HORECA.

Also approved by the IH&RA General Assembly was the creation of three new positions on the IH&RA Board for representatives of independent restaurants and restaurant chains, and national restaurant associations. These will be filled by Antonio de Maria Ceballos, owner of a Spanish restaurant chain, Dr Florian Hew of Gastrosuisse, and Takeshi 'Shin' Okawara of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Japan.

Dr Frei's services to the industry were officially recognised during the Congress with his appointment to the IH&RA's "Confrérie des Amis de l'Hôtellerie Internationale", a prestigious order which lauds outstanding contributions to hospitality.

Caroline Harvey, Director, Media Relations
International Hotel & Restaurant Association - Mr. Alain-Philippe Feutré, Chief Executive Officer