the joint wto & ih&ra; study on hotel classification - Hotel Designs

IND.D.004.16 April 2004(a)(b)(c)(d)identifying <strong>the</strong> common cha<strong>ra</strong>cteristics prevailing in such classifications;establishing minimum international classification criteria as reference valuesand guidelines which could be used by interested parties in <strong>ra</strong>ting hotelsand similar accommodation establishments;defining recommended procedures and rules for classification;preparing <strong>the</strong> WTO position on classification outlining <strong>the</strong> various typesclassification available (voluntary, corpo<strong>ra</strong>te, industry-controlled,government-controlled, etc.) and <strong>the</strong> prevention of its use as a barrier tofree competition and t<strong>ra</strong>de in hotel services.”Also, <strong>the</strong> same Committee strongly recommended that this activity be closelycoordinated with representatives of <strong>the</strong> ope<strong>ra</strong>tional sector, to begin with WTO’s AffiliateMember, <strong>the</strong> International Hotel & Restau<strong>ra</strong>nt Association (IH&RA).The recommendation of this Committee was subsequently endorsed by <strong>the</strong> WTOExecutive Council at its 63 rd and 64 th session (Madrid, 28-30 November 2000).Based on this recommendation, <strong>the</strong> Secretary-Gene<strong>ra</strong>l of WTO formally consulted <strong>the</strong>International Hotel & Restau<strong>ra</strong>nt Association (IH&RA). After an exchange of letters andvarious meetings between representatives of both organizations, IH&RA proposed thatbefore any new work was undertaken, <strong>the</strong> first stage of any project should be to review<strong>the</strong> various schemes existing throughout <strong>the</strong> world tapping <strong>the</strong> experience and expertiseof <strong>the</strong> national hotel associations across <strong>the</strong> globe. WTO <strong>the</strong>n appointed IH&RA itsdesignated expert on this aspect of <strong>the</strong> project. IH&RA officially advised <strong>the</strong> Secretary-Gene<strong>ra</strong>l early in January 2001 that it was prepared to coope<strong>ra</strong>te with WTO initially in twoareas, viz.:- to prepare a status report on existing hotel classification schemes- to carry out a compa<strong>ra</strong>tive analysis and interpretation of such schemes and<strong>the</strong>ir functions.It was understood that in <strong>the</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> conclusions of <strong>the</strong> <strong>study</strong>, which could give rise torecommendations, both organizations would examine <strong>the</strong> possibility of undertaking afollow-up to this activity as already outlined in <strong>the</strong> recommendations of <strong>the</strong> WTO QualitySupport Committee (see above).- 5 -