July 2010
Dear EMEA Owners,
It is good to hear from many owners in various countries that business is improving, I still believe that we need to remain cautious in our forecasts and the IAHI is working with IHG to make sure we keep a tight control on any cost items as well as being on top of generating revenues. You will notice over the coming months that the Sales & Marketing Sub-Committee, under leadership of Keith Griffiths, is taking a main focus on Global Sales; increasing market share, ensuring that rates are in line with competitors or simply gaining volume.
Now that we as owners have complied with HGP, Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage, training and workshops, it is 'delivery time' for your respective brand from September onwards.
I hope you all have plans for Celebrate Service week: 26 July – 1 August. The joint IAHI and IHG initiative encourages all owners around the world to recognize and thank their own employees and all employees at IHG-branded hotels around the world. If you need some hints and tips, visit Merlin for details.
IHG has announced the dates for the Investors Conference, which will be held in Cairo from 30 November – 2 December. Please also note that the IAHI will be hosting a golf tournament on 29 November and instead of our quarterly country meetings, all EMEA owners will be invited to a meeting on 30 November from 12:00pm. The IAHI will be fully supporting the conference and we encourage you to block these dates in your calendar.
We are very pleased to announce that IAHI Membership in EMEA for 2010 has now hit 85%. The Committee’s are working well to raise the issues within specific countries, which are fed back to us in EMEA and solutions found. If you have not attended your Country meetings in the past, I would encourage you to attend the September round of meetings. See www.iahi.org for the full calendar.
Finally I would like to wish you a fantastic summer with a lot of sunshine, enjoy your break in good company, it is well deserved!
Kind regards
Joep Peeters
Managing Director
Westbridge Europe
IAHI EMEA Committee Chairman
E-Mail joep.peeters@iahi.org
EMEA Committee Update – Key topics discussed at the Q2 2010 EMEA Meeting:
- Cost of Sale — the Committee continues to analyze the cost of operating and selling a hotel room through IHG Channels. IHG is now focused on moving business to the direct, low cost channels. We have taken a deeper dive into PCR fund and are currently leading the IAHI in its discussions with IHG on a Global level.
- Statistical Measurements — with initiatives such as HGP and the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage now in place, the Committee is working to detail measurable RevPAR gains.
- Holiday Inn brand Relaunch — IHG's aim is to complete the relaunch at more than 90% of the Holiday
- Inn estate in EMEA by October. EMEA is already outperforming the other regions in terms of Relaunch and is currently on 60%.
- Crowne Plaza Brand Development — focusing on the future of the Crowne Plaza brand in EMEA.
- Standards Evolution — the Country Committees and Standards Sub-Committee are working together to revise brand standards as part of the global Unique Guest Experience project.
- The Germany Committee has been renamed to DACh and now includes owners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Membership - EMEA now boasts 85% membership of all hotels, the highest globally.
Thanks to Associate Member Philips lighting, sponsors of the EMEA Committee Meeting. www.philips.com/hospitalitysolutions
EMEA Associate Membership Programme
This programme allows approved vendors access to owners via sponsorship of IAHI Committee and Country meetings and advertising opportunities within Owner magazine and e-newsletters. It also means that you can easily find vendors to provide products and services, often at special rates for IAHI members.
Our thanks to the following new members:
LG TVs www.lge.com
Panasonic Lighting www.panasonic.eu
Quadriga (Platinum Member) www.quadriga.com
And continued support from our Platinum & Global members:
iBAHN (Platinum) www.ibahnemea.com
Ecolab (Global) www.ecolab.com
Newell Rubbermaid (Global) www.rubbermaid.eu
You will find a list of all Associate Members within the Directory on www.iahi.org
Keep in touch with the IAHI
Keep up to date with the IAHI and receive the latest industry news via our new communication channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com – search for IAHI, the Owners Association
Twitter: @IAHIOwner
Contact the IAHI
If you have any questions regarding your membership or any of the EMEA Committees, remember you can contact Jo Dechamps, IAHI Regional Manager EMEA. Based at IHG’s office in Denham, UK, Jo can be contacted on:
Tel: +44 (0) 1895 512 663 or by e-mail jo.dechamps@iahi.org.
Your Country and Sub-Committee Chairs are:
BeNeScan (Belgium, Netherlands, Finland) – Patrick De Peuter
France – Joep Peeters
DACh – (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) – Gerhard Finster
Italy – Gianluca Capone
Iberia – Eurico Almeida
UK (Express) – Keith Griffiths
UK Core (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Indigo, Staybridge) – Martin Griffiths
Middle East – Sami Al Ansari
Sales & Marketing Sub-Committee – Keith Griffiths
IT Sub-Committee – Gerhard Finster
Standards Sub-Committee – Martin Quinn
Contact jo.dechamps@iahi.org, if you have a question for one of our Committee’s.