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Flexibility of Working Conditions:
IH&RA has gained formal ILO recognition of the shortage
of skilled labour in the Hotel, Catering & Tourism (HCT)
sector ; and of the need to address the international mobility
of workers in the sector (including visas issues and national
quota restrictions). IH&RA was also successful in toning
down the points on subcontracting and part-time employment and
in directing the future work of the ILO towards topics such
as training, skills development and data collection.
IH&RA successfully blocked a worker resolution at ILO requiring
industry employers to reach "collective agreements"
with employees and trade unions before introducing any technological
changes in the workplace. In an earlier move, IH&RA also
opposed the ILO proposal for part-time workers to receive the
same benefits as full-time workers.
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Statistics & Research: IH&RA
is recognised by WTO as the first and foremost point of contact
for hospitality industry expertise. Through IH&RA advocacy,
the improvement of labour statistics and research into the labour
market has become an official item on the current ILO Action
Plan for the HCT sector;
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Macro-Economic Measurement of Tourism
– IH&RA has consistently lobbied WTO to ensure that
current revisions of the macro-economic classification of hotel
and restaurant product and activity reflect new developments
(casino hotels, resorts, timeshare). This will ensure that the
contribution of the hospitality industry to Tourism GDP can
be accurately tracked.
-
Food Safety: IH&RA has successfully
opposed WTO Tourism moves to create yet another food safety
standard deemed unnecessary and redundant for hotels and restaurants
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Food Safety Management Standard -
IH&RA has lobbied and secured Official Liaison Status to
represent the Hospitality Industry on ISO Technical Committee
34 (Food Products) to ensure hospitality interests are recognized
as separate from those of the retail sector in implementation
of the standard.
-
Sustainable Development of Tourism:
IH&RA has successfully positioned the hospitality industry
as an environmental player at the UN Environment Progamme and
secured UNEP involvement in IH&RA Environmental Award, showcasing
hospitality industry environmental achievements, now in its
13th year
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Sustainability Performance Indicators
for Tour Operators: IH&RA has ensured Hospitality interests
were taken into account in this initiative facilitated by UNEP
and resisted attempts by Tour Operators to "pass the buck"
by setting limits to hospitality operator responsibility
-
World Heritage Site hotel programme
- IH&RA has promoted UNESCO Memories of the Future programme
designed to enhance and restore key cultural heritage sites
around the world and secured participation of key hotel chain
members (eg. Accor, Radisson). This provides an effective marketing
tool while also demonstrating corporate social responsibility.
-
Obesity/Healthy Lifestyles: IH&RA
is fighting for recognition of the hospitality industry as separate
from the retail food industry. This is essential particularly
for food labeling and health claims, now under hot discussion
at WHO and Codex Alimentarius.
-
Copyright & Neighbouring rights
– Through observer status at WIPO, IH&RA ensures hospitality
industry is aware of proposed new developments in copyright
law potentially impacting the hospitality industry (eg. reception
of webcasting and cablecasting in hotel bedrooms). Currently
lobbying to have Collective Rights Management put on the WIPO
agenda.
-
Hotel Classification – IH&RA
is the leading expert on hotel classification systems. The joint
IH&RA/WTO Report on Hotel Classification is the only inventory
of existing hotel classification schemes around the world. IH&RA
has consulted for several countries wishing to develop and implement
hotel classification systems. As a result of IH&RA advocacy
work, WTO has formally abandoned any plans to develop an "international
hotel classification scheme” overwhelmingly rejected by
the industry as unfeasible.
-
Combating Commercial Sexual Exploitation
of Children – Through continued participation in international
work, IH&RA ensured drafting of a viable Code to which the
hospitality industry could adhere. IH&RA has actively promoted
this Code to Chain Membership. Signatories to the Code include
Carlson Hospitality, Cham Palaces & Resorts
-
GATS – By lobbying WTO Tourism
on macro-economic classification of the hotel & restaurant
industry, IH&RA has ensured consistency of treatment of
the industry in all economic instruments. This will improve
economic reporting on the industry – an invaluable lobbying
tool for the sector at national and international level.
