OF appointed as Chief Executive of International Hotel & Restaurant Association based in Paris

New Chief Executive Appointed for IH&RA

Paris, 10 December 2004…Mr. David McMillan has been named to the post of Chief Executive Officer of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA – www.ih-ra.com ) effective 3 January 2005. This appointment received unanimous approval by IH&RA Members at the Association’s Annual General Assembly held in Istanbul alongside the IH&RA 41st Annual Congress, 19-22 November 2004.

British-born McMillan has had many years of international hotel and resort management & development experience with Hilton Hotels Corp & Hilton International, Hyatt International, Commonwealth Hospitality, Holiday Inn Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and several independent properties including the Hotel Meurice in Paris, the Waldorf Astoria in New York and most recently with Cirque du Soleil.

As President of Axis Hospitality, a Canadian-based hotel & resort consultant group, David has led the development, acquisition, disposition, repositioning, launch and operation of many international projects in China, Malaysia, India, Israel, the Ukraine, St Kitts, Vieques, Cuba, the UK, Canada and the USA.

McMillan has also held several positions with Canada’s largest hotel management company where, as Senior Vice President Operations & Development, he was responsible for the operation of 46 Hotels under various brands and for the growth of the company. Prior to this position, he opened and operated a number of first class hotels in Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East.

He was also elected to three terms as Chairman of the Board of the Hotel Association of Canada and is a former Director of The Canadian Restaurant & Foodservice Association. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the McLenaghan Centre for Hospitality Training of Hocking College and the Waldorf Astoria’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I am honoured by this appointment and thank IH&RA members worldwide for their confidence and trust,” said Mr. McMillan upon the announcement. “IH&RA is the only international agency defending and representing hotels and restaurants worldwide and I am committed to working with IH&RA President John Bell and my predecessor Alain-Philippe Feutré to build on the strengths of the Association to grow its membership, its validity and its influence across the globe.”

Outgoing CEO Alain-Philippe Feutré will continue the main role of advocacy for the industry before the UN and its international agencies as a Special Advisor to the President. “Mr. McMillan’s appointment to the role of CEO will be a great advantage for IH&RA and will give me the opportunity to concentrate 100% on monitoring and lobbying international organizations – a critical role for the industry and IH&RA’s core business.” Mr. Feutré, among other positions, serves as Chairman of the World Tourism Organization Business Council.

“David McMillan is an outstanding leader with a proven track record who is going to bring added value to IH&RA membership and drive this Association into the future,” commended IH&RA President John Bell.

Mr. McMillan will assume his role as the CEO of IH&RA as of 3 January and will be based in Paris, France. Write to him at david.mcmillan@ih-ra.com

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IH&RA – International Hotel & Restaurant Association IH&RA (www.ih-ra.com) is the only global business organization representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Its 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 Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employ 60 million people and contribute 950 billion USD to the global economy. IH&RA offices are based in Paris, France.

For additional information and photos, contact:
Summer Jauneaud, Director of Communications
IH&RA – International Hotel & Restaurant Association
Tel: + 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 24 Fax: + 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 30
E-mail: jauneaud@ih-ra.com, Website: www.ih-ra.com