​The City of Portland needs to hear from you. Safety and security for restaurant and lodging employees and our guests is paramount as is ongoing support for the rights of all Portlanders to peacefully protest. We officially have a major crisis on our hands relating to nightly violence and ongoing national media attention. Underrepresented populations must continue to be heard and it is time to take meaningful steps forward with reforms that matter.

Please ask Portland City Council to lead the city and put an end to the violence now. Any instigation of violence is unacceptable and must be separated from the importance of ongoing peaceful protests. Stopping this violence is crucial to the future of Portland and how the city is embraced by those who visit here for years to come.

More information is now available on the “Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act” released earlier this week by Senate Republicans. As a reminder, the House introduced the HEROES Act proposal in May, which passed along party lines. Discussions are expected to now begin in earnest as Congress faces the July 31 deadline for enhanced pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.

Part of the Republican proposal would reduce these benefits from $600 per week to $200 per week on top of state administered aid until the end of September at which time the maximum benefit will be 70% of the recipient current wages -- but this will be a starting point for the negotiations.    
 
Read the National Restaurant Association’s summary of the proposal and the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s analysis of the HEALS Act.
 
Many of the hospitality industry’s priorities are included in the HEALS Act, including: 

1. PPP Recapitalization: Eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less and that show significant year over year revenue decline (currently 50%) will be eligible for a second PPP Loan. The NAICS Code 72 exemption language for Hospitality and Food Service, originally included in the CARES Act, is included in the Small Business proposal.  Additionally, there is increased funding for the SBA 7(a) program, which is targeted towards “recovery sector businesses.” 
2. Liability Protections: The “SAFE TO WORK Act” introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) provides liability protections for employers, schools and health care providers. This Act also provides limited liability protection for businesses until October 1, 2024. 
3. Targeted Tax Provisions: The expansion of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), and a per employee credit for enhanced cleaning and acquisition of PPE in the Finance proposal. 
4. Business Meal & Entertainment Deduction: Supporting Americans Restaurant Workers Act: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced a separate bill which would fully reinstate the business meal and entertainment deduction. 

If you haven't yet, please take action on the National Restaurant Association's Blueprint for Restaurant Revival and/or the American Hotel and Lodging Association's Hotel Priorities Day of Action, thank you!  

ORLA Announces Inaugural Participants for New Experiential Learning Program

Wilsonville, OR – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is excited to announce the 2020 participants for the inaugural Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA). Participants begin their first multi-day program experience in Central Oregon, July 22-24. Recruits will go beyond the walls of their businesses to gain in-depth experiences and knowledge that will elevate their passion and excitement for our state’s extraordinary offerings. 

“We believe we are embarking on a leadership experience which will prove to be transformative for program participants,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The academy will bring lasting personal and professional benefits to those who participate.” 

Developed in partnership with Travel Oregon and the Oregon Destination Association, this new experiential learning program is targeted to tourism professionals seeking to polish their leadership and professional skills and make positive and lasting contributions to the state’s tourism economy. An advisory committee of tourism industry representatives helped shape the development of the program through a shared vision of cultivating stronger champions for Oregon's tourism industry. The program consists of four multi-day excursions to be completed over the course of a year. The 2020 program will take place in Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, the North Oregon Coast and the Willamette Valley in the Spring of 2021. Experiences for the second-year class starting in the Summer of 2021 will include visits to Eastern Oregon, the Columbia Gorge, Portland Region, and Oregon’s Mid-Coast Range.

ORLA has been intentional in its pursuit of activating industry champions and the OTLA program supports that goal. The academy provides a compounding benefit of bringing people together for learning through experiences and empowering them to make lasting contributions to Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Participants will create lifelong relationships and networking pathways through their connections.

Participants of the 2020 Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy:

• Heather Anderson, Tourism Professional
• Justin Aufdermauer, Tillamook Chamber of Commerce
• Mackenzie Ballard, Visit Central Oregon
• Ashley Cates, Travel Medford
• Kristen Dollarhide, Travel Pendleton
• Terri Ferguson, Escape Lodging LLC
• Beverly Garcia, FivePine Lodge
• Ken Henson, Pelican Brewing/Kiwanda Hospitality
• Calvin LeSueur, City of Canby
• Matt Maletis, The M. Maletis Co., OLCC
• Wela Negelspach, Columbia County Economic Team
• Samara Phelps, Clackamas County Tourism
• Wendy Popkin, Oregon Hospitality Foundation 
• Arica Sears, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
• Dawnielle Tehama, Willamette Valley Visitors Association
• Liz Wan, VinoVerse Consultants
  
• Matthew Weintraub, City of Oregon City

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

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The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of over 10,220 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce of 183,191, and a total economic impact of $13.8 billion in annual sales for Oregon. 

Event proceeds benefit the Cycle Oregon Fund which provides grants to Oregon’s tourism-dependent rural communities struggling during the pandemic

PORTLAND, Oregon – July 8, 2020 – The next Takeout & A Movie event, hosted by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF), will feature an interactive livestream YouTube event with bicycle adventure films from Filmed by Bike, an Oregon-produced film festival on Sunday, July 26 from 6-8 p.m. This adventure-packed movie night will take arm-chair travelers and bike enthusiasts to the far-reaching edges of the globe as international filmmakers document cyclists exploring the rugged open road. Event proceeds will benefit the Cycle Oregon Fund, which provides grants to Oregon’s rural tourism-dependent communities that are struggling during the pandemic and the Oregon Hospitality Help Fund, which supports the training and philanthropic relief needs of Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industry.

“The pandemic has postponed many larger outdoor events in Oregon, like Cycle Oregon, and we need to do what we can to support the hospitality businesses in rural communities that depend on tourism dollars,” said Steve Schulz, Executive Director of Cycle Oregon. “Our partnership with OHF and Filmed by Bike shows just how strong we can be when we collaborate on a community-based solution.”

TAKEOUT & A MOVIE Event Details

• DATE: Sunday, July 26 from 6-8 p.m. PST (or watch anytime on your own schedule)
• WHERE: Online – an interactive YouTube livestream event followed by a Q&A with organizers and filmmakers
• PRICE: $10 
• BUY TICKETS: Bitly.com/TakeOutAndAMovie

The Filmed by Bike team has gathered some of their favorite Oregon cycling routes and encourages you to explore the state by two wheels and support the restaurants, hotels and attractions that have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.

ORLA is hosting another series of virtual town halls and all hospitality industry members and partners are invited to participate. 
 
The purpose of these virtual meetings is to provide a summary of the latest industry intelligence from the Governor’s Office, as well as from state and local leaders as we continue operations during Phase 2. We will review Public Health Guidelines, best practices, ORLA resources, and engage local operators about what strategies have been working since reopening.
 
We want to continue to keep businesses connected and feeling supported as we move through these challenging times. If you are interested in an overview of the latest Government Affairs updates and participating in a discussion about industry resources and guidance, this virtual meeting is for you.

To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact your Membership Representative below and include any questions or comments you would like considered as part of our conversations.

Upcoming Virtual Town Hall Meetings:

Thursday, July 16 - 9:30-10:30 am
Polk, Marion, Benton, Linn Counties
RSVP to Greg Staneruck​

Monday, July 20 - 10:00-11:00 am
Washington / Columbia / Yamhill Counties
RSVP to Greg Staneruck​

Tuesday, July 21 - 3:00-4:00 pm
Coos, Curry, Douglas, Deschutes, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lane Counties
RSVP to Terry Hopkins

Wednesday, July 29 - 2:00-3:00 pm
Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties
RSVP to Greg Staneruck

Oregon Hospitality Foundation Awards Funds to Support Restaurants’ Charitable Work 

     “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat” - Steve Jobs

Restaurants are selling groceries, hotels and airlines are relaxing cancellation policies, breweries and distillers are making home deliveries, and most everybody has become proficient with unmuting/muting themselves for Zoom meetings.

As our partners have sought to quickly adjust to shifting conditions with innovative solutions, so has your foundation. With the March 16 ban on indoor dining and large party gatherings, the ensuing stay at home order, and the sudden and staggering layoffs that followed, we realized that our role as Oregon hospitality industry’s nonprofit could also evolve. 

Expanded Purpose and Creating Opportunities 
We felt that seeking grants and collaborating with philanthropic donors could potentially enable us to offer financial relief and direct technical support to our partners. Before we could proceed with these strategies, we had to legally expand our purpose to include charitable support. On March 31st, the foundation’s Board of Directors met to approve an additional philanthropic focus to our mission and expanded our Articles of Incorporation filed with Oregon’s Secretary of State.

A New Name 
In the same meeting, the board approved a new name for ORLA’s Education Foundation which would better reflect the diversity of partnerships that our workforce, educational, and now philanthropic projects include. Meet the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF)! The resolution was approved the following week by ORLA’s Board of Directors. OregonHospitalityFoundation.org

Big Hearts and New Partnerships 
Even with restaurants having to lay off staff and either close operations entirely or quickly pivot to the takeout/delivery model, I was inspired, though not surprised, by the focus they also had to help support their community’s food needs.

Without work, and with unemployment benefits slow to arrive, there was suddenly an overwhelming number of people experiencing food insecurity.  I noticed how many restaurants were rising to meet those needs by offering meals–many of which were funded from their own dwindling cash reserves. 

Simultaneously, I became aware of a virtual benefit for theaters. It was hosted and streamed online by filmmakers from PHOENIX OREGON and I participated. I fell in love with the film’s premise, its encouraging message, and the portrayal of one of the movie’s central characters, a chef, who epitomized the entrepreneurial and passionate nature of many restaurateurs. (If you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend: PhoenixOregonMovie.com).  

I reached out to Annie Lundgren, the producer, to see if she was interested in collaborating on something similar for the food industry. Just a few quick weeks later, we were launching the foundation’s first fundraiser, Takeout & A Movie. This joint effort, which ran from May 7-17, was a benefit for restaurants who were serving meals to our front-line heroes and to those experiencing food insecurity. It was conceived with triple benefits in mind—drive takeout throughout the state, donate cash to eligible restaurants and provide work for their employees, and provide meals.

Response was strong; see a story run by KOIN 6 TV at bit.ly/KOIN6TakeoutStory. Over 650 tickets were sold. Comments from ticket purchasers were heart-warming and included:

• Good luck to all the hospitality workers. We miss you.
• Thank you!! Ordered takeout from Artemis Foods.
• Thank you for feeding the hungry and for sponsoring such a cool event!
• Sending much gratitude for all that you do to help others and strengthen our sense of community in this difficult time!!  You are greatly appreciated!
• This is a wonderful way for all of us to share food, camaraderie, and companionship. Thank you for all you have done for us and are doing for those in need now.
• Thanks for all you do! We are ordering dinner from Cabezon, one of our favorite local restaurants, and planning to watch the movie as part of our Mother's Day celebration.

The event has not only resulted in new relationships that will help us create additional fundraisers but has been an amazingly rich and grounding experience for me personally. I have had the privilege of working with so many kind and generous people who are passionate about their work, while helping others, and who prove that #StrongerTogether is much more than a hashtag.

Immediate Results 
The foundation felt it important to use 100 percent of proceeds the OHF received from the Takeout promotion to benefit eligible restaurants because we wanted to make a significant impact with our first fundraising effort. Thanks to ticket sales, contributions from individuals and the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, and a generous donation from Grubhub, we were able to provide funds for an estimated 11,500 meals to restaurants who are committed to supporting our frontline heroes and those experiencing food insecurity.

First Award Recipients 
We’re happy to announce the first ten recipients of our fundraising effort. More awards, made to restaurants throughout the state, will soon follow along with an announcement of our next movie fundraiser. Thank you for your support!​

• 7 Devil’s Public House, Coos Bay ($2,640): Created the Community Meal Program to provide family-sized take-and-bake meals to unemployed service industry workers, as well as comforting soup deliveries to the homeless community.
• Botanist House, Portland ($8,000): Created a new model to use ongoing donations to hire drivers and deliver 750 meals per day to unemployed service industry professionals.
• Celilo Restaurant, Hood River ($6,900): Prepared Meal Kits twice a week for foodservice industry workers, essential workers and food-insecure families. To date, Celilo has prepared and delivered over 1,000 meals with the help of donations from local farms and vendors and individual sponsorships.
• Falafel Republic, Ashland ($2,700): Created the “Pita with a Purpose” program to provide healthy meals for essential workers, food-insecure families, first responders and school food programs.
• Portland Mercado and Clackamas Women’s Services, Portland and Oregon City ($4,380): The Mercado Meals partnership between the Mercado’s vendors and Clackamas Women’s Services feeds domestic and sexual violence survivors sheltered in alternative housing during the pandemic. Funding will provide support for over 350 additional meals.
• Harbor Light Restaurant, Reedsport ($2,000): Prepared over 500 fresh meals and desserts for families at the local food bank, Project Blessing. Funding will support 2 weeks of dinners for this organization.
• Northwest Pizza, Ashland ($4,520): Provided meals for the homeless community every week, as well as donated over $1,000 worth of gift cards to food-insecure school families. This grant will expand food donations to the homeless community and more local schools.  
• Restaurant O, Coos Bay ($2,060): Created the Pay it Forward program to provide meals to homeless children, first responders and foster care families.
• Rudy’s Steakhouse, Salem ($4,140): Created the program Crisis Meals to provide meals to first responders and unemployed workers. To date, Rudy’s has provided over 8,000 meals in the local Salem community.
• Toro Bravo Restaurant Group, Portland ($3,800): Created the Feed it Forward PDX program to feed the homeless community at P:ear, Rose Haven, and New Avenues for Youth. They also provided free food bags for anyone in need and a sliding scale pay structure for meals to healthcare workers on the frontline.

See the press release for full details at Oregonrla.org/hospitalityhelp. Also, at press time, there were still funds available to award. If you, or anyone you know, fit the criteria please apply at Oregonrla.org/takeoutapp.

Thank You
As you probably have realized from your own experiences the past couple months, innovation is not something that can be accomplished alone. None of what OHF has accomplished thus far would be have been possible without the enthusiastic support of ORLA’s crew and the people and organizations below that expand and make our team even stronger.

• Valerie H. Sasaki and her colleagues at Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP who proactively offered pro bono assistance with the legal requirements and actions for OHF’s expansion and name change requirements. 
• The WHH Foundation that proactively reached out to see how they could support Oregon’s hospitality industry and provided a grant to assist us in our transitional needs. 
• Annie Lundgren and her team at JOMA Films for their model partnership with Takeout & A Movie. 
• Grubhub Community Relief Fund for their generous donation to Takeout & A Movie. 
• OHF’s volunteer Board of Directors for their expertise, enthusiasm, and guidance.

Unfortunately, looking toward the upcoming fiscal year, the foundation anticipates a 75 percent drop in revenue due to contract funding changes. Your in-kind and financial contributions are greatly appreciated so that we may sustain and continue our good work. | Wendy Popkin, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, Oregon Hospitality Foundation

     “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further” - Thomas Carlyle

About 
Wendy Popkin is the Executive Director of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the restaurant and lodging industry’s education and training needs as well as providing charitable work, economic relief, and technical assistance to the industry. Wendy is a 30+-year career veteran who describes herself as “fanatically enthusiastic about helping others enjoy the same type of fabulous career opportunities I have enjoyed in the hospitality industry.”  Oregonrla.org/Foundation

ORLA is advising all industry members to follow all guidelines announced by the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor’s Office. Face coverings for employees and customers as stipulated in guidance documents are critical and must be taken seriously.

We know restaurants across this state will do whatever they can to make sure customers and employees are complying with face covering regulations. We hope fines will be imposed on customers, not businesses as a matter of common sense when customers forcibly refuse to wear face masks causing confrontational problems with industry employees - many of which are young Oregonians learning customer service and problem-solving skills as part of a first-time job.

Update: Effective July 15, face coverings are required outdoors.

For quick reference, see the following guidance:

• Statewide mask, face shield, face covering guidance
• Guidance and best practices from OSHA on face covering challenges with customers
• Mask wearing and the American with Disabilities Act (Disability Rights of Oregon)

As always, if you have questions related to guidance and best practices for restaurant and lodging operations, reach out to your statewide association.