Surcharge on Spirits / Local Lodging Tax Increases / National Immigration / Secretary of Labor

Liquor Surcharge Extension Proposed: The Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is considering extending the existing 50-cent surcharge on distilled spirits. The proposed action is a renewal of the "temporary" surcharge of fifty cents that was initiated in the 2009-2011 budget cycle. In June 2023, ORLA helped block an attempt to double the surcharge on distilled spirits, retaining the 50-cent surcharge extended through the 2023-2025 biennium. Submit your comments by March 10 to Laura Paul.

County Proposes 50% TLT Increase: The Tillamook County Commissioners are rushing to propose a 50% increase in the transient lodging tax (TLT) be added to the May ballot. The hike increases the TLT from 10% to 15% and could raise costs for your guests, deter bookings, and put the county at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring areas. Industry members in the county are encouraged to take action now by attending public hearings and contacting Tillamook County Commissioners to oppose this increase. Tillamook County will hold three public hearings: 2 on January 29, and the final session on February 12 at 10 am. Email Commissioners directly and share your concerns.

National Immigration Policy and Actions: Both the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) are ramping up their communications in the early days of the new administration. It appears immigration and the prospect of a more aggressive deportation posture is front and center for these national partners and for us as we work to avoid disruptions to Oregon hospitality businesses.

AHLA is preparing comprehensive communications to be coordinated with Partner State Associations in affected states. In the long term, AHLA will continue to advocate for bipartisan progress on immigration reform. What we know is that the hotel industry could potentially be impacted in the following ways: raids at workplaces, ICE agents staying in hotels, and hotels being approached to contract as detention facilities.

The National Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Law Center are actively monitoring immigration policy developments to keep the industry informed and prepared. A webinar has been scheduled with a panel of experts from the law firm of Fisher Phillips:

Workplace Immigration Law in 2025: What Restaurants Should Expect
February 10, 2025, 11:00 am PST | Register here

Support of Chavez-DeRemer as U.S. Secretary of Labor: ORLA sent out a press release last week in support of former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer has a proven track record of supporting restaurant and foodservice operators and employees. Her voting record showcases her desire to protect the path to restaurant ownership for many prospective entrepreneurs. In addition, her support for Department of Labor apprenticeship programs has been noteworthy. The programs give employees opportunities to learn valuable skills as they pursue careers in the industry.

Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy to Support and Enrich Hospitality Champions

[Wilsonville, OR] – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) proudly announces the sixth-year launch of the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA), developed in partnership with the Oregon Destination Association and Travel Oregon, and led by the industry’s top experts. The annual experiential learning program is targeted to public and private sector tourism professionals who are seeking to polish their leadership and professional skills, continue to grow their career accomplishments, and make positive and lasting contributions to the state’s tourism economy and its success. 

“We’re excited to see the ongoing success of the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy move into its sixth year,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The academy experience is enriching the value of working in the tourism industry for those who participate in the program and it’s an honor for ORLA to be a part of it.” 

The fifth-year class will launch March 5 in Portland and conclude on the Central Coast during Winter of 2025. Participants include representatives from many sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry including destination management organizations, restaurants, chambers of commerce, lodging properties, and travel publications. View a roster for the sixth-year class.

Curriculum, field visits, and hands-on experiences are strategically designed to support and align with the state’s tourism goals and objectives which include four Strategic Imperatives:

• Supporting and Empowering Oregon’s Tourism Industry
• Optimizing the Statewide Economic Impact
• Running Effective Tourism Oriented Organizations and Businesses
• Championing the Value of Tourism

The OTLA experience is designed for professionals currently serving Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Industry professionals who will soon be responsible for similar levels of responsibility are also encouraged to apply for future academy programs.

The strategic imperatives outlined above will serve as the program’s core themes each year. Each theme will receive focus as a part of four multi-day experiential learning programs designed to provide academy participants with comprehensive educational experiences. Each year, approximately 20 participants will immerse themselves in the academy’s professional development curriculum alongside industry experts and facilitators.

For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit OregonRLA.org/otla.

Class of 2025

• Sonya Agnello, General Manager, Pelican Brewing
• Amit Amin, VP of Operations/GM, ALKO Hotels
• Zavier Borja, Destination Stewardship Director, Visit Bend
• Sasha Bosco, Regional Programs Manager, Visit Central Oregon
• Michael Cavanaugh, Director of Destination & Industry Affairs, Travel Portland
• Cory Fox, Senior Service Manager, Portland Spirit
• Jenny Geers, Sales & Events, Tetherow Resort
• Heidi Hausler, Custom Publications Editor, Oregon Media
• Lennon Holden, Server, Midnight Morning / Boccelli's Ristorante
• Jon Isaacs, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Portland Metro Chamber
• Ithaca Janzen, Tourism Senior Specialist, Mt. Hood Territory - Clackamas County Tourism
• April Knudsen, Executive Assistant, Destination Stewardship Department, Travel Oregon
• Megan Lafortune, Director of Sales, The Allison Inn & Spa
• Greg Leo, Owner/Partner, The Leo Company, LLC
• Ariel Lessens, Executive Office Manager, Explore Tualatin Valley
• Makenzie Marineau, Government Affairs & Regional Leadership Teams Coordinator, ORLA
• Rose Naigus, Global Sales Coordinator, Travel Oregon
• Brian Saunders, Convention Services Manager, Travel Lane County
• Bobby Stricker, Publisher/Chamber Vice President, Oregon 101 LLC/Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
• Mariah Surat, Coordinator, Community and Industry Programs, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association
• Liz Tate, Regional Director of Sales, Mereté Hotel Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs, ORLA
[email protected] | 503-851-1330

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Strongly Encourages Congress to Approve Lori Chavez-DeRemer as U.S. Secretary of Labor

Wilsonville, OR – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is strongly supportive of the nomination of former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as U.S. Secretary of Labor and urges Congress to confirm her appointment.

“ORLA has had the opportunity to work with Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer in the past on several issues both in her capacity in Congress and as a local elected official in Oregon and we strongly encourage Congress to confirm her appointment,” stated ORLA President & CEO Jason Brandt. “Her pragmatic, practical leadership style has been incredibly helpful to small businesses, especially restaurants, lodging properties and other hospitality and tourism-related owners and operators.”

Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer has a proven track record of supporting restaurant and foodservice operators and employees. Her voting record showcases her desire to protect the path to restaurant ownership for many prospective entrepreneurs. In addition, her support for Department of Labor apprenticeship programs has been noteworthy. The programs give employees opportunities to learn valuable skills as they pursue careers in the industry.

“Her experience as a small business owner and her willingness to listen to all sides of an issue before developing solutions is exactly what we need in the U.S. Department of Labor right now,” continued Brandt.  “As hospitality businesses continue to try and make headway in the face of growing inflation, higher wages and benefits, and onerous government regulations, having a champion as Secretary of Labor who understands those challenges and will work to implement solutions is critical.”

Free Human Trafficking Prevention Training Available for Restaurants and Lodging Facilities Across Oregon

Wilsonville, OR—To honor National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) announced today the renewal of its partnership with the nonprofit Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST), to make human trafficking awareness training available to all ORLA members and their staffs free of charge throughout 2025. BEST provides specialized training in human trafficking prevention. In partnership with ORLA, BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking training for the hospitality industry is available to help restaurant and lodging employees across Oregon learn the indicators of human trafficking and how to safely report it. The partnership between ORLA and BEST gives the hospitality industry in Oregon a tool that has been proven to prepare employees to be able to recognize human trafficking situations and assist in recovering more victims. 

"Our association is deeply committed to taking a leadership role in building stronger partnerships with like-minded organizations dedicated to anti-trafficking training," said Jason Brandt, President & CEO, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. "As an industry, we have a critical responsibility to be part of the solution. Providing high-quality, no-cost training isn't just a priority—it's a fundamental obligation to society." 

Human trafficking networks rely on legitimate public-facing businesses to sustain their operations and infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses are used by human traffickers as places to recruit victims and connect victims with buyers and other exploiters. In 2023 the National Human Trafficking Hotline was contacted 461 times about suspected human trafficking incidents in Oregon, including 166 contacts by victims or survivors of human trafficking. There were 132 cases of human trafficking identified in Oregon in 2023, involving 248 victims.

The aim of ORLA’s partnership with BEST is to have even more human trafficking cases identified and reported across the state by equipping hospitality employees to recognize and report the behaviors that are the indicators of human trafficking.  

“The crime of human trafficking flourishes when traffickers co-opt legitimate businesses to exploit vulnerable people,” says Kirsten Foot, CEO & Executive Director for Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking. “Our partnership with ORLA is very important because it makes our human trafficking prevention training available for free to everyone employed by a member of ORLA. By becoming informed and equipped, everyone in hospitality industry can help victims get the help they need and prevent people from being trafficked.”

BEST’s Inhospitable to Human Trafficking is a 30-minute, online, video-based training. The training is available in English or Spanish, and it has been proven to increase hospitality employee reporting. Independent evaluators of BEST's hospitality industry training found trained employees were more likely to come forward to report human trafficking incidents to their managers. Evaluators also found that 97 percent of hospitality employee participants believe BEST’s training made their workplace safer.