March 11,2011 - Lausanne - Following The Japanese earthquake and tsunami- A disaster that hit Japan, IHRA President and Board members present all their sincere condolences to their member Japan Hotels Association in contact with IHRA to examine any possibility of support and help as well as any assistance.The World was fixed before all the images of Japan experiencing "the most severe crisis since the second world war 65 years ago."

IHRA President present in ITB  Berlin at that time visit the Japanese stands and present his condolences as well as the Board condolences to member present on the stand and examine the catastrophe.

"We are facing a major catastrophe once more in Asia Pacific region, says Dr Ghassan AIDI, IHRA President "we are facing a natural disaster despite all securities, despite all the precautions and preparation for earthquake as well as the tsunami that hit 6 years ago in Siri Lanka and Thailand" "I call all organizations and Associations as well as all IHRA member to contact Japan and offer their help during this catastrophe"

Hotels,Restaurants communities are hit and the situation is not yet clear. Other countries in this part of the world had some impacts in different degrees as Fiji and Australia as well as New Zealand and Indonesia.

IHRA call all this Pacific coastal countries to be vigilant.  The Tsunami Warnings have been issued for the west coastal area of United States where all Hotels are implementing a vertical evacuation where Guests are moved to higher floor. IHRA remind all their members that with UNEP it has prepared a major projects in time of crisis for tsunami in 2006 and 2007.

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), founded in Koblenz Germany on 1859 , move to France in 1948 and to Switzerland in 2008, is the only global business organization representing the hospitality worldwide. Its members are the 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 Nat! ions, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to include 300’000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employing 60 million people and contributing with 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.