Around 100 international hospitality executives from 30 countries representing North America, Latin and Central America, the Middle East, Western and…
Around 100 international hospitality executives from 30 countries representing North America, Latin and Central America, the Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe and the Asia Pacific attended the IH&RA 39th Annual Congress held in New York City, 8-11 November, 2002.
The IH&RA 39th Annual Congress proved to be a productive meeting for our Congress delegates, as well as for the IH&RA Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and the NACE and Chains Councils that met just prior to the Congress to review IH&RA activities and strategize for the coming year. Here are some of the highlights from this event:
On 7 November, the new IH&RA Chains Council met for the first time to set policy for the Association’s monitoring and lobbying activities on behalf of the Chains. This Chains Council included the CEOs, or the appointed representatives, of prominent international and national hotel and restaurant chains around the world. On this day, the IH&RA Finance Committee also met to review the financial statements to be presented at the forthcoming General Assembly.
The evening of 7 November, the IH&RA Board of Directors and National Association Chief Executive Committee (NACE) members gathered at the Marriott Marquis Hotel for a relaxed get-together dinner, sponsored by IH&RA new member, La Quinta Inns & Suites. Alan Tallis, Executive Vice President of La Quinta Inns & Suites, gave an informative presentation during the dinner, highlighting the company’s vision, tremendous growth and forthcoming international expansion.
The full-day of 8 November was reserved for a joint Board and NACE meeting where over 40 hospitality executives from around the world gathered to review the IH&RA 2003 Business and Action Plan prior to their presentation at the Annual General Assembly the next day. After a lively exchange between the Board and NACE members, the finishing touches were put to the Business and Action Plans generally considered coherent and realistic by all present.
At this meeting, National Restaurant Association (NRA) President and CEO, Steven Anderson, spoke of his commitment to strengthen the partnership between NRA and IH&RA. He also highlighted some of the obstacles being tackled by his association at the national level, including food safety and security and the frivilous lawsuits against American restaurants, specifically those in quick-service, which are being prosecuted as the culprits for the nation’s increased obesity.
The day of 8 November concluded with the IH&RA 39th Annual Congress Opening Ceremony held at the elegant Waldorf Astoria Hotel where New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, addressed a jam-packed room of delegates of the IH&RA Congress and members of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
The following days’ activities from 9-11 November, were held at the Jacob K. Javits Center, the location of the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, one of the United States’ premier hospitality exhibitions. The IH/M&RS is jointly produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the New York State Tourism & Hospitality Association (NYSTHA) and the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) – all IH&RA members.
There was a palpable buzz in the air as Congress delegates arrived each morning at the Javits Center where, at every moment, there was something to see and do. They could stroll through the tradeshow featuring some 50,000 industry operators and suppliers, attend cooking demonstrations, a hospitality showcase, participate in the joint IH&RA Foundation for the Future/AH&LA Educational Foundation Silent Auction and, of course, attend a full Educational Program of more than 40 seminars.
On the first day, 9 November, IH&RA President Eric Pfeffer participated in an early morning press conference where he presented IH&RA’s vision to members of the US hospitality industry media. This Press Conference was then followed by the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony officially opening the IH/M&RS. Joe Spinnato, President of the Hotel Association of New York City and IH&RA Board member, officially welcomed IH&RA Congress delegates at this Ceremony and offered President Eric Pfeffer a welcome gift – a crystal apple – in appreciation of IH&RA’s decision to host its 39th Annual Congress in the Big Apple.
This Opening Ceremony kicked off the huge IH/M&RS tradeshow and educational program which started off with the CEO Panel, Recovery & Resiliency Towards a Stronger Lodging Industry examining the impact of 11 September, the global economic downturn and the industry’s future prospects. Jim Burba, Vice President, Worldwide Director of Advisory Services, Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo, moderated this panel of CEO’s including: Robert Cotter, Chief Operating Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; Joseph R. Kane, Jr., CHA, President & CEO, Days Inn Worldwide; Georges LeMener, President & CEO, Accor North America; Paul Sistare, President & CEO, Atlantica Hotels International; and IH&RA’s very own Eric Pfeffer.
The afternoon was devoted to the 2002 IH&RA General Assembly. This began with an address from Mr. Xavier Teixido, Chairman of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) U.S. Mr. Teixido’s address reinforced the message given the previous day by NRA President and CEO Steve Anderson, highlighting the activities of the NRA and its renewed partnership with IH&RA designed to ensure a greater representation of the restaurant sector in IH&RA activities in the year 2003.
The members in attendance then worked through all agenda items. They unanimously approved the IH&RA 2003 Business and Action Plans and elected the new Board of Directors, which includes Eric E. Pfeffer as re-elected IH&RA President in 2003.
The General Assembly also confirmed that the 40th Annual Congress in Cairo, Egypt, in the autumn of 2003. (Originally scheduled in Cairo, the 39th Annual Congress had been transferred to New York following the tragic events of September 11 2001.)
The evening of 9 November culminated in the first of two black-tie gala events held during the Congress, the International Hospitality Ball, organised by the Hotel Association of New York City, themed Vive New York. IH&RA Congress delegates were a hit-parade of elegance, dancing to the band and enjoying the Broadway-style show at the Marriott Marquis.
Sunday, 10 November, was themed IH&RA’s International Day with IH&RA Board members introducing key sessions of the educational program. These included:
The Health and Heartbeat of the Hospitality Industry: A Diagnosis introduced by newly-elected IH&RA Vice President John Bell, President & CEO, Caribbean Hotel Association. This seminar took a look at what the latest trends tell us about economic conditions within the global hospitality industry. The keynote panel, moderated by Rudy Maxa, The Savvy Traveler, included Peter C. Yesawich, Ph.D., President & CEO, Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown; Doug Carroll, Business Travel Assignment Editor, USA TODAY; and Hudson Riehle, Senior Vice President of NRA Research & Info Services Division.
With all his customary savoir-faire IH&RA past-President, Ejnar Soder, CEO Nordic Hotel Stockholm AB, introduced no less than two design panels The Ultimate in Six-Star Luxury and Rising Stars in Hospitality Design; How They Increase the Bottom Line. Other Board members involved that day included the newly re-elected NACE Chair, Tony Pollard, President of the Hotel Association of Canada, who expertly introduced Marketing Your Property in a Recovery Economy; Hans Lindh, American Express, an IH&RA Congress Sponsor and Worldwide Partner elected to the Board who was in his element Balancing Between Profitability and Service; and Avi Rosental, newly re-elected IH&RA Secretary and Director General, Israel Hotel Association skilfully leading into The Hacker Hotel – Technology Security Issues. IH&RA’s Director of Industry Affairs, Elizabeth Carroll-Simon also pitched in to represent IH&RA by opening the session on Generational Chaos which examined the characteristics of the four current generations in the hospitality workforce.
The evening of 10 November concluded with the joint IH&RA/AH&LA Inaugural Gala Dinner held in honour of incoming AH&LA Chairman Michael Handlery and newly re-elected IH&RA President Eric Pfeffer.
Upon arrival at the Regent Wall Street Hotel, after a moving view of Ground Zero, IH&RA Congress delegates were immediately greeted by an elegant cocktail reception where they could meet and mingle with members of AH&LA. The Regent proved to be a spectacular location and the meal, a gastronomic delight. Throughout the meal, presentations were given including the inaugural addresses by Michael Handlery and Eric Pfeffer.
This evening also served as the stage to recognise the winners of the 2002 IH&RA Environmental Award, jointly praised by IH&RA President and the Environmental Award sponsor, American Express, represented by Hans Lindh. The winners were called to the podium to receive their prize (a certificate and 2,500 USD cheque) for excellence in Environmental Best Practice. The winners recognized that evening were: in the Corporate category, Hilton Nordic Region Scandic Hotels based in Stockholm, Sweden, represented by Wolfgang M. Neumann, the company’s Senior Vice President; and in the Independent category, The Orchid, an ECOTEL Hotel, in Mumbai, India, represented that evening by Christopher Balfe, Divisional President, HVS ECO Services.
The final day of 11 November saw many Congress delegates heading out of town, either to London to attend the World Travel Market, or to their home destinations. Others still, chose to stay on to attend another day of the extensive tradeshow offered by the IH/M&RS.
IH&RA’s 40th Annual Congress will be held in Cairo, Egypt, autumn 2003.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
