Storia dell’AICR
It was in the year 1964 that the idea of a professional association was proposed by Jean Boeri, Head of Reception, Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo and Rene Jayles, Head of Reception, Hotel Carlton, Cannes. Together, they persuaded their colleagues working in leading hotels on the Cote d’Azur to meet in order to encourage communication and establish personal and professional relations that benefit them all.
The first regional Amicale thus came into being on the Cote d’Azur. The ACR. was to remain very much a French affair until 1973 when the Swiss Amicale founded by Otto Berger and Claudio Guida came into the picture.
In February 1973, at the first International Congress in the city of Lausanne the birth of the Amicale International des Sous-Directeurs et Chef de Reception des Grand Hotels (AICR) was announced. Otto Berger, Head of Reception, Bellevue Palace Hotel, Berne became the first elected-International President of the AICR.
Since then, other European countries have joined the Amicale. Today, the Registered Office of the AICR is at the Hotel Ritz in Paris. The AICR International Congress was initially held once every two years in a city determined by the participants present in the previous International Congress. Nowadays, sections from all around the world meet every year – to hold the International Congress and to hand over the coveted David Campbell Trophy to the International Receptionist of the Year. It takes place in a city well known for it’s hotel and tourist activity. During the Congress a meeting of The Presidium and a General Assembly takes place.
1964
L’Amicale des Chefs de Réception (ACR) des Grands Hôtels de la Côte D’Azur is created on the initiative of:
René Jayles, Front Office Manager of the Carlton in Cannes
Jean-Claude Irondelle of the Grand Hotel du Cap, Cap D’Antibes
René Biat of the Hotel Plaza, Nice
Henri Maria of La Réserve de Beaulieu
Maurice Tirel of the Hotel Negresco, Nice
They are soon joined by Jean Boeri, Front Office Manager of the Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo and Henri Allavena of the Hotel Martinez, Cannes.
1965
Their Parisian counterparts convene to found the Amicale of Paris of which Gérard Colbert, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Ritz, Paris is elected first President.
The two amicales adopt the logo designed by Jean-Paul Desmarestz. The statutes are adopted and registered at the prefecture of Paris.
From the outset eminent hoteliers accept the position of Honorary President of each of the two amicales.
For the ACR Côte D’Azur, Maître Paul Augier, President-Director-General of the Hotel Negresco in Nice.
For the ACR Paris, Mr Lucien Barrière, President-Director-General of hotels and casino of Deauville.
7 – 8 September
Mr Lucien Barrière invites the ACR Paris to a weekend at the Hôtel Normandy at Deauville. They decide to create a national amicale.
1966
Madame Paul Augier lavishly welcomes to her Negresco the assembly composed of the Amicale Nationale des Sous-Directeurs et Chefs de Réception des Grands Hotles de France, under the effective presidency of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Mr Pierre Dumas.
Registration of new statutes at the prefecture of Paris.
Clause Lemercier, Resident Manager of the Hotel George V in Paris, becomes the first President of the ACR, and Mr Louis Colonelli, Director of the same hotel its first Honorary President.
1967
1st National Congress of the ACR in Paris
The ACR Paris, under the new presidency of René Carle, Front Office Manager of the Plaza Athénée, numbers 53 members; the Côte D’Azur under the presidency of René Jayles, Front Office Manager of the Carlton in Cannes, 25 members. Jean Potfer, Director General of La Réserve de Beaulieu becomes the second Honorary President of the Côte D’Azur.
1969
2nd National Congress of the ACR in Monte Carlo
The AICR Paris now numbers 60 members and a new president, Guy Moreau, Resident Manager of the Hotel Ritz.
The Côte D’Azur twin, 40 members and the same president, René Jayles.
The French ACR seeks to export the amicalist spirit overseas. Contacts are made with Germany, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland which bore fruit in 1973.
1973
1st International Congress in Lausanne
The first International President is elected, Otto Berger, Front Office Manager of the hotel Bellevue Palace in Bern.
Jean-Paul Desmarestz modifies the logo.
Jean Armleder, visionary of international hotel industry becomes the first Honorary President of the AICR.
2nd International Congress in Cannes
Pierre Weill, Resident Manager of the Hotel Ritz in Paris, is elected President.
1974
Germany, in the era of the Iron Curtain, founds her Amicale, Gert Prantner, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg becomes the first President.
1977
3rd International Congress in Genève
New president Stéphane Bertrand, Director of Sales at The Hotel Ritz in Paris.
1979
4th International Congress in Paris
Franz Hofer, Director of Hotel Aukamm in Wiesbaden, is elected President.
Austria under the impetus of Franz Hofer joins the ranks of the AICR with Alfred Konvicka at its head.
Italy and Belgium hesitate regarding joining the AICR. Some independents from San Remo and from Brussels are affiliated to the Côte D’Azur.
1981
5th International Congress in Munich
Election of Franz-Josef Brühl, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg as President.
1983
6th International Congress in Davos
Election of Marc Hemmer, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Bellevue au Lac in Zurich as President.
1985
6th International Congress in Davos
Election of Marc Hemmer, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Bellevue au Lac in Zurich as President.
1987
8th International Congress in Monte Carlo
David Campbell remains President.
Delegation attends from United Kingdom and observers from Spain, Portugal and Italy.
1989
9th International Congress in Paris
David Campbell, President.
United Kingdom joins, with Annie Boslem Front Office Manager of the Royal Garden Hotel in London as UK President.
Reception for Congress attendees held by the Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac.
1990
Frank J. Klein, President of the Hotel Ritz, Paris, becomes Honorary President of the AICR Paris.
1991
10th International Congress in London
Claudio Guida, Resident Manager of the Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva, is elected new President.
Message of welcome from Prime Minister John Major.
Launch of new sections
- East Germany, President: Horst Schwanstecher, Director of Reception, Hotel Potsdam
- Hungary, President: Andras Kovacs, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Duna Inter-Continental in Budapest.
- Spain, President: Luis Burgos, Front Office Manager of the Hôtel Melia Castilla in Madrid
- Singapore (whilst awaiting the agreement of their national authorities.
New statutes and internal rules implemented for the use of sections.
1992
Death of two of the founders of the Amicale: René Jayles and Jean Boeri
The ‘Trophée David Campbell’, competition for the best receptionist is created by Tim Chaning-Pearce and Marcel Elbaz.
The AICR logo undergoes its third transformation with the incorporation of the globe.
1993
11th International Congress in Budapest
Claudio Guida is re-elected President for the third time.
Creation of the Czech section, President: Karel Stepan, Director of Rooms, Hotel Inter-Continental of Prague.
Henri Maria pioneer of the AICR becomes Honorary President of the Côte d’Azur Amicale.
Alain-Dominique Perris is made International Honorary Member.
Marcel Elbaz is named Honorary President
1995
12th International Congress in Madrid
Graham Bamford, Resident Manager of the Hyde Park Hotel in London, becomes President.
Italy joins, President Francesco Dibitetto, Front Office Manager, Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan.
Frank J. Klein, President of the Hotel Ritz, Paris is named Honorary President in company with Claudio Guida.
Final of the Trophée David Campbell in Vienna. Germany takes the title.
1996
Belgium, proposed by the Côte d’Azur and Switzerland joins the amicaliste circuit.
Catherine Kozak, Front Office Manager of the Hotel Royal Windsor is the first President.
1997
13th International Congress in Prague.
Graham Bamford is unanimously re-elected President.
Dev Sharma, representing Switzerland, wins the Trophée David Campbell
1998
Presidium Meeting in Lausanne.
Nathan Logan, representing Singapore, wins the Trophée David Campbell
1999
14th International Congress in Singapore
Vaclav Vitek is elected President
Vanessa Bourguard, representing Switzerland, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2000
Presidium Meeting in Bologna (Dec. 1999)
Anika Dehne, representing the United Kingdom, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2001
15th International Congress in Rome
Klaus Kabelitz, House Manager at Claridge’s in London becomes President
Janine Muhl, representing France (Paris), wins the Trophée David Campbell
2002
Presidium meeting in Brussels
Aisha Ahmad, representing Singapore, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2003
16th International Congress in Berlin
Klaus Kabelitz , now General Manager at The Berkeley in London, is re-elected president
Edmund Lim-Chong, representing Switzerland wins the Trophée David Campbell
Estonia joins the Amicale with Kristel Viding as their first President
2004
Presidium meeting in Paris and 40th birthday celebrations of the AICR
Alexandra Edel, representing Switzerland, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2005
17th International Congress in Basel and on the River Rhine
Pavlina Hejdova, representing the Czech Republic, wins the Trophée David Campbell
U.A.E. joins the Amicale with Azar Saliba as their first President
Michael Stenner, General Manager at the Three Sisters in Tallinn, becomes president
2006
Presidium meeting in London
Verena Fox, representing France – Paris, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2007
18th International Congress in Tallinn
Micheal Stenner, General Manager at the Three Sisters in Tallinn is re-elected President.
Karene Lim, representing Singapore, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2008
Presidium meeting in Dubai
Markus Mormels, representing the United Kingdom, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2009
Congress in Cannes
Presidium meeting in Cannes
Eve Stacey, representing New Zealand, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2010
Presidium meeting in Madrid
Francois Lenne, representing Paris, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2011
Congress in New Zealand
Vanessa Kellerhals, representing Switzerland, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2012
Presidium meeting in Prague
Olga Velceva, representing Dubai, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2013
Congress in Rome
Presidium meeting in Rome
Maud Pfluger, representing Paris, wins the Trophée David Campbell
Darin Davies (AICR Dubai) is elected international president
2014
Presidium meeting in Hamburg
Gwendolyn Chia, representing Singapore, wins the Trophée David Campbell
2015
Congress in Singapore
Presidium meeting in Singapore
Paula McMinn, representing the United Kingdom, wins the Trophée David Campbell.
2016
Congress in Vienna
Sofia Barroso, representing the Spain, wins the Trophée David Campbell.
2017
Congress in Paris
Beatrice Gallo, representing UK, wins the Trophée David Campbell.