2014 EuroCHRIE - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Minutes
Date: August 1, 2014, 10.15-11.15am
San Diego CA, USA
Present: Anders Justenlund, Jan Meijerhof, John Lohr, John Fong, Elizabeth Ineson, Steven Rhoden, Susan Fournier, Hervé Fournier, Bill Samenfink, Ron Fouts, Joseph Ruddy, Omar Jawabreh, Rami Mahmoud, Mukles Al-Ababneh, Khaled Makableh, Samer Al-Sabi, Ziad Al-Rawadieh, Kevin Nield, Maureen Brookes, Mohammad Al-Badarneh
AGENDA
1. Welcome by EuroCHRIE President (Jan Meijerhof - JM )
JM welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed that he was happy to see so many of the EuroCHRIE federation members attending the ICHRIE-conference. A special welcome was made to the representatives from Jordan as this was their first attendance to a summer federation meeting.
JM also thanked delegates for their attendance at the EuroCHRIE dinner the night before.
2. Apologies for Absence (Anders Justenlund)
AJ received apologies from the relevant members of the board and area consultant. AJ took the opportunity to join JM in his positive remarks in relation to the high attendance at the federation meeting.
3. Minutes of the last General Meeting – Freiburg, Germany (Anders Justenlund - AJ)
The minutes from the EuroCHRIE AGM in Freiburg have been available for members to read at eurochrie.org.
Motion to approve 2013 Freiburg Minutes
Moved for approval: Bill Samenfink
Seconded: Susan Fournier.
4. EuroCHRIE President Report (Jan Meijerhof - JM)
JM informed the meeting that he was honoured to be EuroCHRIE president and that he was ready to take on the task. Futhermore he told that he would continue the important work of his predecessors.
Before JM started on his presidential report, a special thank was given to Maureen Brookes (MB), past EuroCHRIE president, for her dedicated work for EuroCHRIE. JM also wished MB good luck in her new role as ICHRIE Vice President and hoped for great and effective partnership between ICHRIE and EuroCHRIE in the future.
JM informed the federation meeting that he will be working towards further internationalisation of ICHRIE in the future, a perspective that will be lobbied for in the new strategy committee.
JM will make sure that EuroCHRIE has a strong voice in the ICHRIE board when it comes to future developments and changes for the organisation.
JM underlined that EuroCHRIE is a strong federation with a high increase in memberships. A development he will make sure that continues forward.
Before ending his report JM thanked the meeting and hoped to see everyone on Dubai for the 2014 EuroCHRIE conference.
5. Immediate Past President Report (Richard Ginioux - RG)
Unfortunately RG was not able to attend the federation meeting. The report of the immediate past president can be accessed on the website
6. Vice President Report (Kevin Nield)
KN was honoured to be elected as Vice President and informed that he was looking forward to serve the EuroCHRIE board the next three years. KN saw the role as VP as a natural role to continue in after his period as director of education.
With little to report as newly inaugurated VP. KN promoted the African Forum which will take place at the October EuroCHRIE conference in Dubai. KN stated that it is important for EuroCHRIE to support the growing number of African members of EuroCHRIE and urged people to participate in the workshop and in future activities concerning African initiatives.
Six speakers are set up for the African Forum:
· Trevor Ward - W Hospitality Group
· Henrietta Onwuegbuzie – Lagos Business School
· Marianne Jordan – Kenya Tourism Development Corporation
· Birgitte Hvingel Jørgensen – University College Northern Denmark
· Kevin Kamau – IHG (pending)
· Steve Hood – SHARE/STR
· Shawn Putter – Hilton Wordwide.
Furthermore KN informed that he will focus on and lobby for further internationalisation of ICHRIE with his seat in the ICHRIE strategy committee.
7. Secretary Report (Anders Justenlund - AJ)
AJ shortly presented his background and duties as EuroCHRIE secretary to the new federation attendees.
AJ further stated that he, together with EuroCHRIE administrator, Rai Shacklock, will initiate the work of making the work of the EuroCHRIE board more transparent by uploading meeting agendas, minutes and board member/area consultant reports onto the EuroCHRIE website. In relation to this process AJ will introduce a new format to the minutes that will make it easier for federation members to form an overview of EuroCHRIE board decisions and activities.
AJ hope that this will make it more interesting for federation members to become more actively involved in EuroCHRIE and e.g. stand up for election.
8. Treasurer’s Report (Jouni Ahonen - JA)
JA presented the economic state of the EuroCHRIE federation.
JL had one comment in relation to the income on premium membership, and informed the meeting that he hoped it will be possible for EuroCHRIE to re-negotiate and raise the amount that the federation receives from ICHRIE per membership.
In relation to this MB informed the meeting that this could be an item on the agenda for the ICHRIE strategy committee.
JA stated that the EuroCHRIE accounts are “healthy” and the federation is ready to take on future investments.
The meeting was positive.
9. EuroCHRIE 2014 in Dubai, UAE (John Fong - JF)
JF informed the meeting about the planning process for the 2014 EuroCHRIE conference in Dubai. The Emirates Academy of Hospitality is ready to host the conference and look forward to it.
JF expects around 220-225 delegates to attend the conference.
JF also informed the meeting that EAHM would auction a full registration at the ICHRIE gala dinner in favour for the ICHRIE Future Fund and to promote the EuroCHRIE conference.
MB noted on the behalf of RG that there was still time to nominate deserving colleagues for an award at the conference.
Besides his role as conference chair JF looked forward to take on his new role as director of marketing for EuroCHRIE. JF informed that EuroCHRIE should be more involved and active on the Social Media to drive membership and to increase the quality for members. More traffic on the EuroCHRIE website will also increase the value for Premium Members to be promoted and for institutions to advertise job openings.
JF ended his report by encouraging everyone to spread the word about the Dubai conference.
10. Board of Directors’ Reports and Area Consultants’ Report (as necessary):
Manchester 2015 EuroCHRIE conference:
Steven Rhoden shortly presented and outlined the structure and theme for the 2015 Manchester conference and noted that Manchester Metropolitan University was looking forward to host the 2015 conference.
The main theme of the conference will evolve around experience economy and will include key note speakers as Prof. Kaye Chon, Hong Kong Poly U. and Joseph Pine, Strategic Horizons. The conference venue is set to be the Lowry Hotel in Manchester.
I. NETWORKING & CONFERENCES (Risto Karmano - RK)
Unable to attend the meeting – see report online
II. COMMUNICATION & MARKETING (John Fong - JF)
See report under “EuroCHRIE 2014 in Dubai”
III. MEMBERSHIP (John Lohr - JL)
JL informed the meeting about new categories in membership and how EuroCHRIE should drive premium membership.
EuroCHRIE now has 181 members and is up from 166 from last year.
IV. INDUSTRY RELATIONS (Christian Perrette)
Unable to attend the meeting - see report online
V. RESEARCH (Elizabeth Ineson)
EI informed the meeting that she was continuing the work on standardising conference paper proceedings to make the process simpler. The next step is to sort papers between practice oriented and theoretical papers for the Manchester Conference in 2015. The review process has been made simpler and has eased the reviewing process. This process has been running smoothly for the Dubai conference and reviewers have kept deadlines.
VI. EDUCATION (Susan Horner)
Unable to attend – The EuroCHRIE board is looking forward to welcoming SH for the conference in Dubai.
VII. AREA CONSULTANTS [as necessary]
Susan Fournier – Swiss area consultant – informed the meeting about future changes in positions in Switzerland and expressed a warm welcome to the new participating EuroCHRIE members.
Steven Rhoden UK area consultant – thanked JL for a job well done as director of membership making it easier to drive premium membership and membership in general.
11. Changes to Bylaws (Bill Samenfink) (as necessary)
Bylaws are alligned with ICHRIE. EuroCHRIE was complimented for this by MB in her role as ICHRIE VP – JM thanked MB for the kind support.
12. Any other business
Since EuroCHRIE has increased memberships in the Middle East and Africa the issue of the federation’s name was raised. This started a short dicsussion about the federation name being very euro-centric and the question of the federation should change its name?
A name change will raise some challenges for the federation in relation to bylaws and brand equity.
JM promised the federation meeting that the issue will be raised at the next board meeting in Dubai in October.
13. Date of next meeting
Next meeting will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 8th 5:30pm-6:30pm.
14. Close of Meeting
Meeting ended 10.46am
Anders Justenlund, EuroCHRIE Honorary Secretary, Agenda 2014