International Hotel & Restaurant Association
Encyclopedia
The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA) is an international trade association
representing the interests of the hotel
and restaurant
industries.
, France
from 1949 to 2007. It had been known as the International Hotels Alliance, which had initially formed in 1921. American hotel associations only began to join in 1960.
On 1 November 1997, it joined with international restaurant associations to become the IHRA.
As of January 2008, the corporate headquarters is located in Lausanne
, Switzerland
.
, IH&RA monitors and lobbies international agencies on behalf of the industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employs 60 million people and contributes 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
representing the interests of the hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
industries.
History
It was officially founded in November 1947 in London as the International Hotels Association. From 23 September 1949 it was registered by the French government and was headquartered in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1949 to 2007. It had been known as the International Hotels Alliance, which had initially formed in 1921. American hotel associations only began to join in 1960.
On 1 November 1997, it joined with international restaurant associations to become the IHRA.
As of January 2008, the corporate headquarters is located in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Structure
IH&RA members are national hotel and restaurant associations throughout the world, and international and national hotel and restaurant chains representing some 50 brands. Officially recognized by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, IH&RA monitors and lobbies international agencies on behalf of the industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employs 60 million people and contributes 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.