Larkin emphasises the organisation is “doing things nobody has done before”. “We’re allowing members to use post-nominal letters, so the organisation and the qualification will be recognised. Eventually we hope to have our own academy and hall of fame, but these are all things of the future.”
The IAHGM, which Larkin stresses is not a union and never will be, will also offer health insurance to the members. He explains: “There are two questions GMs need to ask themselves — if you left your company today, would you take your health insurance with you? And, when you retire, will you have your health insurance with you? And what happened to me was, when I retired I lost my health insurance. The other benefits will grow as we grow in numbers — general managers have never had this before.”
Larkin concludes: “It’s a legacy that I’d like to leave and I think the organisation can do a lot of good. Going into it, the secret of all organisations is that by joining it, you’ll be better at the end than when you went in it.”
Board of governors:
Richard Hartman, non-executive director for Jumeirah Group, former CEO of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, former board director and MD of InterContinental Hotels Group, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Giovanni Angelini, former CEO of Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and knighted by the Italian government.
Heikki Julin, deputy chairman of the Board of Directors at Olympia Air Travel, Captain in the Finnish Defence Force.
Joseph A. McInerney, Emeritus president & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Kees Hartzuiker, chief executive officer, Ròya International Dubai, former vice president, Asia, Hilton International.
Peter Thompson, former Starwood vice-president for Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand & former GM of the Royal Hawaiian Waikiki Beach, Sheraton On The Park and Four Points by Sheraton, Sydney.
Philip Carruthers, former regional MD for Orient-Express Hotels and former MD of Copacabana Palace, Brazil.
Hans Olbertz, board member of Steigenberger Hotels, hospitality consultant, former GM of Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi and a longstanding career with IHG.
Prue Leith CBE, restaurateur, author, businesswoman, philanthropist, former board member of Belmond (formerly Orient-Express Hotels).
Ruth Hunt, hotelier, entrepreneur, former proprietor of Combe House Devon, UK, soon to be The Pig at Combe.
Erhard Hotter, industry veteran for over 40 years in Australia and Asia, Former Starwood VP and MD for South Asia.
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