![]() Legislative Progress / ORLA Testimony / Power Outages / Mergers Senate Activity Spurs Bill Passage - With the Oregon Senate officially back with a quorum to conduct business, there's been a flurry of activity at the Capitol. All 38 budget bills have passed, with over 30 agency or commission budget bills from the House awaiting Senate action. One important piece of public safety legislation that passed the Senate, SB 337, is a funding bill for increased investments to assist with the backlog of officers awaiting training at the state policy academy. The second bill, SB 5532, is the budget bill for the new commission which also passed the Senate. Read the summary from the Oregon State Bar. ORLA's government affairs team is still engaged on several other bills of importance to the hospitality industry; see the latest bill tracking online. ORLA Testimony - Throughout the year, your association engages on a number of issues with potential impact on hospitality businesses. Our government affairs team is at the table for important discussions with other business organizations, elected leaders, and agency and government representatives, oftentimes providing testimony on behalf of our members. Here's some recent activity:
Be Smart and Prepare for Power Outages - Oregon is experiencing longer and more intense wildfire seasons than ever before. Which is why businesses need to be prepared for potential wildfire and weather-related events as well as the power outages they may cause. ORLA has curated a list of helpful information and resources that provide preventative steps to help minimize disruption in case of a Public Safety Power Shutoff. From training to refrigeration, there are a number of steps you can proactively take now to prepare your staff and business for potential planned (or unplanned) power shutoffs. Webinar on Hospitality Mergers and Acquisitions Marketplace - Take a look into hospitality deal activity trends and what you should be doing now to maximize the value of your business. Join this webinar hosted by ORLA to receive industry insight on the status of the hospitality Mergers and Acquisitions marketplace and trends associated with deal structures and valuation. Industry members will also learn how to position a hospitality business to maximize its value to attract investors and buyers. Additional topics will include planning for owner transitions and succession planning, the process of executing a successful transaction, and how to prepare your business for sale. ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research.
Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you. ![]() One Big Night Success / Lottery Rulemaking / Nominate Your Star Employees Huge Support Realized at One Big Night: Last night, ORLA held its annual One Big Night dinner and auction presented by Elmer's and Egg N' Joe, raising crucial funds for the Political Action Committee (ORLAPAC). Close to 200 industry members gathered for a fun evening while helping raise serious money for the PAC. This financial support helps further our mission of electing pro-industry legislators to serve in Salem. During the program, we debuted our new advocacy video highlighting what some of our members are saying about the valuable work we do advocating on behalf of the industry. Watch the video. Proposed Video Lottery Rule Changes: ORLA held a Lottery Subcommittee meeting last month to talk with retailers about the Oregon Lottery's Rule Changes Proposal and prepare for the Lottery's rulemaking meetings. The Lottery in recent years has faced Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) inventory shortfalls combined with budget constraints and outdated equipment management strategies. This led the Lottery to stop processing applications in 2021, and now is proposing rule changes that include pulling machines from low-producing retailers. ORLA submitted written testimony and encouraged retailers to submit their own comments on the proposed rules. We'll keep you posted on the activity. Webinar to Help Businesses Optimize Their Google Business Profile: How your business appears online matters. It’s the first thing customers see when they search online. Locl helps you simplify Google Business Profile updates, create posts, engage with customer reviews, monitor business performance and act on insights. ORLA is partnering with Travel Oregon and Locl to provide a webinar on June 14 to show how you can use the Locl platform (for free) to save time, gain valuable insights and drive business. Access the toolkit for more information, and register today for the webinar. Nominate Your Star Employees: Oregon’s hospitality industry is full of amazing individuals who go above and beyond, raising the bar for excellence in service, performance, and commitment to their team, organization, and the industry. Nominations for the statewide ORLA Hospitality Industry Awards seek to recognize some of these outstanding individuals who truly exemplify Oregon hospitality. In addition to the Employee of the Year, we are also accepting nominations for the Restaurateur of the Year, Lodging Operator of the Year, and new this year a Team Leader of the Year (mid-level employee, supervisor, or director). Be sure to submit your nomination by June 30, 2023. ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research. Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
![]() ProStart Students on Capitol Hill / Legislative Updates / Industry Workshops / Cinco de Mayo Oregon Represented at National Competition: The National ProStart Invitational wrapped up last night after two days of heated competition among 400 high school students representing 92 teams from 46 states. As Oregon state champions, Crook County and McMinnville high school teams traveled to Washington D.C. this week to compete in the culinary and management competitions, respectively. Oregon Hospitality Foundation's Courtney Smith traveled with the teams as host and to provide support at the events. Following the competition, students on McMinnville's management team met with Senator Jeff Merkley on Capitol Hill to share their restaurant concept and convey how valuable the ProStart program has been in providing training and career exploration in the hospitality industry. Way to go Oregon! Legislative Bill Deadline: Today is the Post Work Session deadline for all legislative bills. In order for a bill to be heard in committee by second chamber deadline (May 19), it has to be posted on an agenda for work session by May 5. However, this does not apply to Rules, Revenue, or Joint Committees. ORLA’s Government Affairs Committee continues to meet via Zoom every Friday for discussion and updates on legislative activity. If you are interested in joining, please sign up and we'll connect with you before next week's call. You can find the latest bill tracking on our website. "How I got Started in the Hospitality Industry:" Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) Board member Paul Paz met with culinary students at Salem's CTEC (Career Technical Education Center) to facilitate a hospitality workshop and presentations earlier this week. Management and staff from the Salem Convention Center and Bentley's Grill participated by sharing their career stories and OHF's Lupe Arellano was was on hand to talk about career opportunities within the hospitality industry. This was part of the CTEC Salem-Keizer Learning that WORKS program that helps "prepare high school students for high-skill, high-wage and high-demand careers while developing the professional skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation and real-world experience to assure their success upon graduation." Whiskey Lovers Take Note: Ticket sales for ORLA's annual Swig & Savor Whiskey Event went on sale today for the August 26 event at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. Purchase your tickets now and join distillers, master blenders and other enthusiasts to taste a multitude of special whisk(e)y pours from around the world, curated into one spectacular night. National Small Business Week: Chip Rogers, AHLA President & CEO, released the following statement today marking National Small Business Week: “Six in ten hotels are small businesses, and National Small Business Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the tremendous opportunities hotels are creating for employees and other small companies to grow and thrive,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Hotels support millions of good-paying jobs and generate billions in state and local tax revenue in communities across the nation. To continue doing so, we’re looking to hire more than 100,000 people around the country. With average hotel wages at near-record levels, better benefits than ever before, and unprecedented opportunity to move up the ranks, there’s never been a better time to start a hotel career.” Background Info:
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Oregon’s Largest Multicultural Festival is back with the Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association (PGSCA) and Treadway Events' 36th annual Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 5-7th at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. The PGSCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and strengthening partnerships and fostering goodwill between the City of Portland, and the City of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, since 1983. ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research. Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
![]() Liquor Surcharge / Minimum Wage Increase / Award Nominations / Get Involved Public Comments Requested on 50-cent Surcharge Increase: OLCC is seeking public comment on a possible increase of the current 50-cent surcharge on each bottle of distilled spirits to one dollar per bottle. The Commissioners will listen to verbal comments on this at the April 20, and May 18, 2023 Commission meetings. ORLA is in alignment with the Oregon Beverage Alliance in opposing this increase and encourages industry members to take action and provide input on how this may impact your business' bottom line. Oregon's Minimum Wage Climbs: BOLI announced late last week that Oregon's minimum wage will increase by 70 cents per hour on July 1, 2023. State law requires an adjustment to the minimum wage to be calculated no later than April 30 of each year based on annualized inflation rates, rounded to the nearest 5 cents. The consumer price index climbed 5% from March 2022 to March 2023. The minimum wage rates will increase as follows:
Nominate Your Star Employees: Oregon’s hospitality industry is full of amazing individuals who go above and beyond, raising the bar for excellence in service, performance, and commitment to their team, organization, and the industry. Nominations are now open for the statewide ORLA Hospitality Industry Awards which seek to recognize some of these outstanding individuals who truly exemplify Oregon hospitality. In addition to the Employee of the Year, we are also accepting nominations for the Restaurateur of the Year, Lodging Operator of the Year, and new this year a Team Leader of the Year (mid-level employee, supervisor, or director). Submit nominations by June 30, 2023. New Oregon Hospitality Foundation Workforce Blog: The Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) is laser focused on workforce development initiatives to do what we can to build bridges between hospitality industry employers and workers seeking employment opportunities. In an effort to keep lines of communication open with all industry operators interested in connecting with future employees for their operations, the Foundation has launched a new Workforce Blog. Follow what's happening in workforce development efforts and reach out to us if you're interested in getting involved. Travel & Tourism Industry Achievement Awards: Travel Oregon announced the recipients of the Oregon Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards during the 2023 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Oregon Convention Center. Read more about all the awards winners. ORLA Members -Get Involved in Your Association: The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is multi-faceted with a variety of different opportunities for professional development amongst hospitality professionals, including board and committee service, program participation, and networking. For those looking to get involved in some way in their state association, check out the numerous activities and opportunities for you to get involved and make the most out of your membership. Are You a Member Yet? The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
Legislative Bill Movement / Skills Standards / Celebrating Women Restaurateurs / Webinars & Events Legislative Bill Updates: ORLA's Government Affairs Committee continues its weekly calls to review and discuss the latest activity from the legislative session. As of today, SB 619 (data privacy) has moved forward with private right of action removed; HB 3308 (alcohol delivery) has moved to rules – this would set up a "server training" program for third-party delivery companies as well as a separation of liability; SB 545 (reusable containers) is expected to pass with legislative intent to make it optional to accept those types of containers. See the latest Bill Tracking online. Hospitality Industry Standards Feedback Survey: The Oregon Hospitality Foundation has been working with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Education Northwest the past couple months to help identify high school technical skills and standards for employment in the hospitality career cluster. This is critical work in getting our foot back in the door of Oregon high schools and it will also raise awareness about the intentional workforce development work through our Hospitality Foundation. Employers are encouraged to take this survey to help review and validate the technical skills we helped to identify for the ODE. Please provide your input by April 14, 2023. Biggest Industry Show in the Northwest: The Northwest Food Show kicks off Sunday, April 16 at the Portland Expo Center with hundreds of exhibit booths, emerging products and services, alcohol tasting pavilion, and Trends Center. Just announced are the educational programs in the new Trends Center each day: Explore trends to improve your business, and learn best practices from peers in these interactive presentations, designed to showcase tangible solutions you can implement tomorrow and increase your bottom line. Learn more and register online. Celebrating Women in Portland's Restaurant Industry: Plans are underway for the Women Who Stir the Pot event May 22, presented by the Portland Kitchen Cabinet and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. This event will be held at Mother’s Bistro and celebrates women in the restaurant industry, recognizing the contributions they make. Learn more. Upcoming Webinars:
ORLA in the news...
As always, should you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Representative. Thank you for staying engaged! Are You a Member Yet? The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
Legislative Update / ORLA in the News / ProStart Championships / New Mattress Stewardship Act Next Legislative Deadline Approaching: April 4, 2023, is the date bills need to be moved out of policy committees in their chamber of origin. ORLA’s Government Affairs Committee continues with Zoom meetings every Friday morning fostering good discussion and updates on legislative activity. If you are interested in joining, please sign up and we'll connect with you before next week's call. You can find the latest bill tracking on our website. All in all, we’re pleased with where we are in advocating for members at this stage in the session. ORLA in News: On several occasions these past few weeks ORLA has been tapped for industry perspective on various issues, industry events and insights. Here are some highlights:
Mattress Stewardship Act: The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on proposed rules for the Mattress Stewardship Act (SB 1576, 2022). More information on this rulemaking, including the draft rules, can be found on the Mattress Stewardship 2023 Rulemaking web page. DEQ will accept comments by email, postal mail or verbally at the public hearing on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Start time: 9 a.m.; please register prior to the meeting, using this Zoom link. Send via postal mail to Oregon DEQ, Attn: Rachel Harding/Materials Management, 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100. DEQ will only consider comments on the proposed rules that DEQ receives by 4 p.m., on April 28, 2023. Are You a Member Yet? The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
A Smart Use of Local Lodging Tax Dollars
As of January 1, 2023, a 2% increase in local lodging tax has been in effect in Lane County. How these new revenues will be spent is still undecided. The Board of Commissioners held a meeting back in September to hear public comments in support of proposals including building a new stadium for the Emeralds baseball team and an indoor multi-use stadium. ORLA’s Director of Government Affairs Greg Astley, along with a few ORLA members, provided testimony at the hearing urging Lane County Commissioners to use any new increase in lodging tax toward an indoor multi-use facility. The following summarizes why we think an indoor facility is a smarter use for those tourism revenues: As hospitality businesses continue to try and recover from the two and a half years of the global pandemic, the shutdowns that occurred because of that pandemic and the ongoing issues of inflation, rising gas prices and continued supply chain issues, there is a clear need for more stable, year-round revenue from visitors to help that recovery. Summer demand is already high in Lane County as visitors enjoy outdoor recreation, wine tasting, various festivals and sporting events and other activities undertaken during the summer months when the weather is favorable. During the winter months and shoulder seasons however, especially January through March, visitors are less likely to visit and support our local economy. Therefore, we believe the best use of any new increase in TLT is growing winter travel demand. TLT reinvested in our challenging winter economy is good for local businesses, from hotels to restaurants and retail and will support year-round employment. Additionally, increasing visitor demand in winter will grow TLT revenue for all recipient programs and jurisdictions. Finally, increases in TLT should be used in ways relevant to drawing visitors, putting “heads in beds” and continuing to increase overall TLT revenue. ORLA supports investment in an indoor multi-use sports facility, with the added feature of a hydraulic, banked 200m track. This facility can accommodate a wide range of sports tournaments, events and offer temperature-controlled emergency response in all seasons. This represents a much-needed investment in facilities serving local youth and all ages who participate in healthy activities, while also drawing visitors in winter. The Eugene/Springfield metro area is underbuilt related to active and healthy indoor facility space compared to national averages. Multi-use sports facilities draw visitors, are recession resistant and are good for our community health. Visitors already know and love Eugene and the surrounding areas of Lane County in summertime. Investing in an indoor multi-use sports facility will allow them the opportunity to experience it during the winter months and shoulder seasons helping to support local jobs, the local economy and the overall health of the community. We encourage the use of any increase in the TLT rate to go toward this endeavor. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Representative Terry Hopkins or Greg Astley. ![]() Legislative Activity / ProStart Champions / Restaurant Business Conditions Survey ORLA Bill Tracking: Today is the day legislative bills need to get scheduled for work sessions or else they get left behind (a.k.a., die). As a reminder, ORLA's bill tracking software serves as a crucial tool in monitoring activity of bills with hospitality impacts and coordinating public testimony in front of committees in representation of the industry. See the latest activity on our Legislative Session page. Oregon ProStart Champions Head to Nationals: This past Monday, ten high schools competed in the Oregon Hospitality Foundation’s statewide Oregon ProStart® Championships showcasing their skills and teamwork. The culinary challenge for the student chefs was to prepare a three-course gourmet meal with only two butane burners in under an hour. Crook County High School pulled this off with excellence, winning top honors in the culinary competition. On the management side, McMinnville High School took first place earning them a trip alongside Crook County to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National ProStart Invitational May 2-4. ProStart is a nationwide career technical education (CTE) program that prepares high school students with fundamental skills such as communication, teamwork, time management and professionalism needed to enter the workforce. For a quick recap and video capturing some of the action, see the story on Here Is Oregon, "Oregon culinary students go head-to-head in a very polite food fight." For the full results, read our press release. Survey Shows Oregon Restaurants Still Challenged: The National Restaurant Association recently released key findings from a Restaurant Business Conditions survey conducted in November 2022. Oregon data was extracted to help illustrate what our industry is experiencing locally, including continued elevated costs across all parts of the operation and expected challenges with profitability to remain through 2023. Oregon operators took a number of actions in recent months as a result of higher cost. 78% of restaurants increased menu prices and 48% of restaurants reduced hours of operation. See more insights in Oregon's survey data. ORLA Day of Advocacy Fosters Relationship Building: Over 300 hospitality industry members, state agency representatives, legislators and staff participated in a day of activities co-hosted by ORLA and AAHOA February 21. The Capitol Day Assembly provided for Q&A sessions with invited representatives from several state agencies. After meetings at the Capitol, attendees enjoyed hosted food and beverages at the Taste Oregon Legislative Reception presented by DoorDash. The reception provided industry members the opportunity to meet our elected leaders face to face in a casual setting. Read more. Are You a Member Yet? The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
As the "March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month" national campaign celebrates 20 years, ORLA wants to join the efforts in helping increase public awareness of problem gambling and the availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services. Problem gambling is defined as all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. Approximately 2 million U.S. adults (1% of the population) are estimated to meet criteria for severe problem gambling. Another 4-6 million (2-3%) meet the criteria for mild or moderate problem gambling.
ORLA President & CEO, Jason Brandt, serves on the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling whose mission is to promote the health of Oregonians through supporting efforts to minimize gambling-related harm. This organization strives to provide the highest quality, cutting-edge responsible problem gambling awareness and educational services to Oregonians. “Problem gambling is not an issue we think about just once a year in conjunction with awareness month,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of ORLA. “Gambling in Oregon generates approximately $1 billion every biennium for the State of Oregon and is the second largest revenue source behind personal income taxes. Our members who partner with the Oregon Lottery as retailers in many cases are a crucial intermediary in our collective efforts to maximize revenue for numerous state programs and services while upholding the tenants of responsible gaming. Retailers remain the most comprehensive network of operators who can identify and address problem gambling in partnership with the Oregon Lottery.” As stakeholders in the gaming industry, Oregon Lottery retailers are required to take retailer training to promote Responsible Gaming. Retailer employees can access the ‘Responsible Gaming and You’ training and earn a certificate on the Oregon Lottery website. Some warning signs of a gambling problem are:
If you know someone who may need help, they can call the National Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER for more information about problem gambling and referral to local help. Bill Tracking / Third-Party Delivery Fee Cap / Capitol Day From ORLA's Advocacy Update The following are just a couple highlights from the bi-weekly Advocacy Update email sent to all ORLA members. This members-only communication dives deeper into some of the bill activity, industry positions, and upcoming work sessions for key legislative bills we're engaged on. If you are a member but are not receiving the Advocacy Update emails, please reach out to [email protected].
ORLA Day of Advocacy Fosters Relationship Building Over 300 hospitality industry members, state agency representatives, legislators and staff participated in a day of activities co-hosted by ORLA and AAHOA February 21. The Capitol Day Assembly provided for Q&A sessions with invited representatives from several state agencies. After meetings at the Capitol, attendees enjoyed hosted food and beverages at the Taste Oregon Legislative Reception presented by DoorDash. The reception provided industry members the opportunity to meet our elected leaders face to face in a casual setting. Read more. Looking for more advocacy information or wanting to engage a bit more on the issues? ORLA members are welcome to join our weekly Government Affairs meetings (via Zoom) by completing this Contact Us form. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
Hotel Industry Report Released
[From the desk of Chip Rogers, President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association] Today, AHLA released its 2023 State of the Hotel Industry report. The report forecasts that the hotel industry in 2023 will surpass pre-pandemic levels of demand, nominal room revenue and state and local tax revenue, while inching closer to other key 2019 performance metrics. It is based on data and analysis from Oxford Economics and was created in collaboration with AHLA Platinum Partners STR, Avendra, Ecolab, Encore, and Oracle. Top findings of the report include:
You can view the report here. For more information, visit AHLA.com. AHLA is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. In addition to hoteliers, AHLA membership includes partner state associations, industry vendors and suppliers, hospitality students and those who teach and mentor them. Meet Your Elected Leaders / Service Animals / Small Business Grants Capitol Day & Taste Oregon With a record number of new legislators in Salem, in addition to a new Governor and a few agency heads, now's the time to engage in opportunities to meet face to face with these elected leaders and help them understand our unique industry issues. There's a full menu of activities with ORLA and AAHOA's Capitol Day and Taste Oregon events presented by DoorDash in Salem on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. You are encouraged to participate in one or more of these activities with multiple chances to tell your story and discuss issues of importance with our elected leaders. Take a look at the day's schedule and plan to join us for some or all the activities. While these events are free to attend, an RSVP is required. California FAST Act Update It was an incredibly busy Fall for ORLA’s colleagues down in California as the state association worked alongside the National Restaurant Association to submit over one million voter signatures to stall the implementation of the FAST Act passed by the state legislature. In short, Californians will get the opportunity to either affirm the decision of their legislature or vote against it in November 2024. Until voters decide, we will not see the FAST Act take effect in California. Expect to see an expensive and hard hitting opposition campaign during the 2024 election season for our neighbors to the south. ORLA’s Government Affairs Committee will be following the issue closely as policy issues in California and Washington tend to find their way to Oregon. A Miniature Horse Walks into a Bar... Hospitality industry members have been experiencing more situations with customers walking into restaurants and hotels with "service animals" that may not actually be trained as such. We've reposted our Boiled Down podcast episode on the subject for some good reminders on what questions business owners and employees can legally ask customers. A local employment law attorney helps shed light on the dos and don’ts of service animals in your establishment. For additional resources, including downloadable posters for your place of business, visit ORLA's web page on compliance. New Small Business Grant Applications Business Oregon has partnered with the CCD Business Development Corporation to offer $3 million in Statewide Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Assistance (SBMA). This program is funded with federal grant funds from the Oregon Community Development Block Grant program CARES Act funding for communities affected by COVID-19. The application process opens January 23 and closes February 7, 2023. The grant applications are open to microenterprises (5 or fewer employees) or small business (more than five employees) that meet the eligibility requirements. Oregon Governor’s Conference Registration Open The 2023 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be in Portland April 3-5, 2023. This is your opportunity to join your travel and tourism colleagues at Oregon's largest tourism gathering of the year. Keynote speakers and breakout session details are still to come but will focus on objectives aligned with Travel Oregon's 10-Year Strategic Vision, which includes experiences, equity, economy and environment. For more information and to register, visit Travel Oregon's industry site. Questions on Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association's advocacy work? Contact Director of Government Affairs, Greg Astley or visit our Advocacy page. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out to an ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
With the new year around the corner, hospitality employers should be aware requirements coming into play in 2023.
Close to 120 bills were passed in the 2022 short legislative session earlier this year. While some have already gone into effect, an additional 20 new laws go into effect January 1, 2023. Read more on OregonLive.com. The laws most relevant for our industry include:
Want to stay informed with ORLA's activity in the 2023 Legislative Session? Visit our website to view our legislative framework for the upcoming session, subscribe to email alerts and updates, and sign up to be a Hospitality Advocate. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
From the Desk of Jason Brandt, ORLA President & CEO
The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is your statewide partner tasked with important work to advocate on your behalf. We continue to stay focused on our mission of improving, protecting, and promoting our state’s hospitality industry. Recently, ORLA shared the latest updates on some of the notable outcomes during this past year as outlined below. While we are confident our members recognize the importance of being an active member of their statewide association, our hope is that more industry members see the value in joining their peers and assisting the association in achieving greater outcomes in the years ahead. Recently, ORLA has:
If you're not already a member, please consider joining ORLA today. This organization exists for you and more than ever we need to stand together to protect the industry and the crucial contributions it makes to local economies around the State of Oregon. | Jason Brandt, President & CEO SBA Announces $83M in New RRF Grants Our partners at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) just announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is releasing $83 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) dollars, which will fund the 169 applications at the front of the application queue. Operators receiving funds should receive notification today. Funds should be released within the next week and must be used before the RRF program expires in March 2023. More details can be found from the NRA here. SBA’s release can be found here. Today's press release from the National Restaurant Association: Washington, D.C. (Nov. 23, 2022) – Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the release of $83 million dollars in unobligated Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grants to 169 operators with pending applications. The National Restaurant Association has been requesting these funds be released, and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy made the following statement in response: “The SBA’s action represents the final chapter of our nearly three-year effort to secure dedicated federal pandemic relief dollars for local restaurants. Today’s announcement is great news for those 169 operators fortunate enough to receive an RRF grant, but hundreds of thousands more are struggling with uncertainty. “We must continue to look forward because the enormous challenges of the industry will continue beyond today. From the recruitment of employees to the constantly rising costs for food, running a restaurant right now is a daily struggle. There are steps the government can take to support restaurants in every community, and we will continue to press for solutions at the federal, state, and local level.” According to the SBA, the grants are being released to operators in the order their applications were received. Operators receiving funds should receive notification today and SBA will begin transmitting the grants next week. They have until March 2023 to spend the money. The Association was first to lay out the plan for a restaurant industry recovery fund to Congress in April 2020. Congress eventually set aside $28.6 billion dollars for the RRF in the American Rescue Plan Act. After this money was distributed, more than 177,000 applications were left in limbo at the SBA. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in July, noting SBA was holding unobligated RRF funds and the Association was first to send a letter to SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman requesting that the unobligated money be released to unfunded applicants. The restaurant industry was the hardest hit by the pandemic. In the initial shutdowns, more than eight million industry employees were laid off or furloughed. The industry still has not recreated 565,000 jobs lost at that time, which is the largest current employment deficit caused by the pandemic among all U.S. industries. More than 90,000 restaurants closed permanently or long-term because of the pandemic. About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises nearly 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 14.5 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. Contact: Vanessa Sink | [email protected] Advocating for Third Party Delivery Fee Caps ORLA has been participating in the drafting and adoption of a permanent third-party delivery fee cap for the City of Portland along with other stakeholders and the Mayor’s office in a transparent collaboration with input from all sides. See the latest draft here. During the pandemic, the city of Portland adopted a temporary 10% cap on third-party delivery fees to help restaurants. This past June, ORLA was instrumental in securing an extension of the cap another eight months. Now, the city is looking to adopt a permanent cap of 15% along with protections for restaurants. The ordinance is consistent with similar approaches taken in recent months by Seattle and San Francisco and its provisions offer strong protections and support to restaurants and food carts. This approach also reduces the likelihood of continued consumer-facing fees or constrained delivery radiuses that may negatively impact restaurant sales. Additionally, this policy will require food service platforms to provide a reasonable level of service at or below a 15% commission rate in the City. It also seeks to protect restaurants from being penalized or otherwise disadvantaged from opting into the 15% capped rate. The cap on takeout commissions will be 4% under this policy. Other notable protections and operational standards that support local restaurants and food carts include:
ORLA is pleased to have been instrumental in the creation of this new policy to protect restaurants and consumers. Next Steps: The final ordinance language will be filed with the Council Clerk. This item has been scheduled for a first reading as a time-certain item at the Portland City Council meeting on 10:40am on Wednesday, December 7. Following the first reading, it would move to a second reading and vote for adoption on Wednesday, December 14. Contact Greg Astley, ORLA Director of Government Affairs if you are interested in providing public testimony on December 7. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) keeps members informed and educated on important issues impacting the hospitality industry. If you are not yet a member of ORLA, please consider joining the association in order to access the latest industry intelligence for businesses like yours. Visit our Membership page or reach out to an ORLA Regional Representative nearest you.
Election Recap: Many Close Races, Some Still Too Close to Call [Numbers updated 11/6/22 from original post on 11/14/22] Voter turnout in Oregon for midterm general elections is typically around 70%. The results below were pulled from the Secretary of State’s site as of 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2022, and reflect a 62% turnout. This is the first Oregon Election where ballots did not have to be received by 8:00 pm on election day, but did need to be postmarked by election day. So, there is no historical perspective if this might benefit one party over the other. On the Federal side, Oregon gained an additional Congressional seat. Although that race, the 6th Congressional, is still too close to call, it looks like the Republicans in Oregon will gain at least one seat in Congress, the redrawn 5th Congressional District. In the Governor’s race, Christine Drazan has conceded the race to Tina Kotek. Betsy Johnson conceded on Election Day after the initial returns. It appears most of the Senate races are known at this time. The Democrats held a 18-12 super majority which at this point seems to be reduced to at least 17-13, with the only race still up for grabs being the Oregon City-Gladstone seat held by Republican Bill Kennemer. Kennemer and challenger Mark Meek (D) are locked in a tight race with Meek leading by 0.68% or just 397 votes. This seat is in Clackamas County so there should be a fair number of votes still to count. The House has more races where it is too soon to call. The Democrats currently hold a 37-23 super majority. Democrats appear to have enough seats to retain control with 32 races that seem to be settled. The Republicans should win 23 seats for sure. That leaves five seats up for grabs and too close to call still. Democrats would have to win four of the five to hold the super majority in the House. Governor:
BOLI:
CD4:
CD5:
CD6:
M111 (Health Care as Right):
M112 (Slavery Language in Constitution):
M113 (Legislative Absences):
M114 (Gun Sales):
State Senate: Current balance is 18 D, 11 R, 1 I. If those currently leading below hold, balance would be at 17 D, 12 R, 1 I. It appears to be down to one competitive race – SD20. SD3:
SD10:
SD11 (open seat):
SD13 (open seat):
SD16 (open seat):
SD20:
SD26 (open seat):
State House: Current balance is 37 D, 23 R. If those currently leading below hold, balance would be at 35 D, 25 R. There are several very tight races left. Pretty Wide Margins... HD12 (open seat):
HD19 (open seat):
HD21 (open seat):
HD22 (open seat):
HD24 (open seat):
HD31 (open seat):
A Little Closer... HD7:
HD32 (open seat):
HD40 (open seat):
HD48 (open seat):
HD49:
HD50:
HD52 (open seat):
HD53 (open seat):
Other State House Races of Note These races include restaurant operators running for public office (McEntee, Nguyen, Bynum). HD10:
HD38: (open seat)
HD39:
ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research.
Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you. Homeless Camping Ban / Lottery Retailer Meeting / Restaurant Revitalization Funds An End to Unsanctioned Camping in Portland Portland City Council approved a plan to ban unsanctioned camping whereby Portlanders experiencing homelessness will be moved from undesignated areas to available shelter locations. ORLA Government Affairs Coordinator Makenzie Marineau testified in favor of the proposal last week. In addition, we provided testimony at the Multnomah County Commission meeting in support of a good neighbor agreement between the County and businesses surrounding their new Behavioral Health and Resource Center located behind the Benson Hotel. ORLA Lottery Subcommittee Relaunches Next week we're relaunching our Lottery Subcommittee made up of ORLA members who rely on solid working relationships with Oregon Lottery staff and the Oregon Lottery Commissioners. If you’re a Lottery Retailer and would like to be involved, reach out to ORLA’s Director of Government Affairs Greg Astley with any questions. The subcommittee will be focusing on preparing for the next negotiation on commission rates with lottery staff, the potential for geocached in-game sports betting exclusive to bars/restaurants with retailer licenses, and progressive jackpots for ORLA members on video lottery terminals. Those issues and more will keep the group moving forward through 2023. Association, Sponsors Urge SBA to Release Last $180M in RRF The 4 sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act (which became the RRF) sent a letter to the Small Business Administration this week demanding answers about the $180M in unobligated RRF money. U.S. Reps Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Sens. Roger Wicker (MS) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) wrote a letter to Isabel Guzman, administrator of the SBA, urging for a release of all unobligated funds from the RRF no later than Nov. 14, 2022. The National Restaurant Association has been working with Congress since July to urge SBA to disburse the funds, citing over 177,000 restaurant applicants who are desperately waiting for word on whether they will ever receive funding. Read the latest letter. AHLA Honors Native American Heritage Month November is National Native American Heritage Month, and AHLA is honoring the rich history and cultures of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities in the United States. The association has developed educational resources to support your individual DE&I learning journey:
Restaurant Operator Survey for November As the National Restaurant Association and state restaurant associations continue to advocate on behalf of the industry, please help us quantify and further illustrate how current business conditions are impacting the restaurant industry. The Association Research Group developed a brief survey designed to collect important data to inform our ongoing advocacy activities. Restaurant operators: Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research.
Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you. ![]() ORLA Regional Meetings / Oregon Paid Leave / Hiring Practices / Feeding Kids Healthy Options Want a Seat at the Table? Join us at a Regional Meeting ORLA members are encouraged to attend one of the 11 regional meetings taking place across the state between November–January. We're hosting these meetings for members and new legislators before they go to Salem in February for the 2023 Legislative Session. Regardless of how the 2022 election turns out, we will have a new Governor, a new Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner, and a record number of new faces in our State House and State Senate. We need to make sure our elected officials understand our industry issues and can be partners with us in improving the climate for small businesses in Oregon. While these hosted events are free for members to attend, an RSVP is required. Are You Ready for Paid Leave Oregon? Oregon’s new paid family and medical leave insurance program, Paid Leave Oregon, will soon become operational. Employers must submit payroll contributions to fund the program beginning Jan. 1, and employees can start applying for benefits on Sept. 3. Many employers are still weighing whether to participate in the state-administered leave program or an equivalent program offered by an insurance provider. As a reminder, ORLA is actively looking into private sector solutions for an equivalent plan and will keep members posted. In the meantime, we have developed a one-pager that outlines key dates and helps answer some questions regarding Oregon’s new program. In addition, Oregon Business & Industry hosted a webinar this week with Laura Rosenbaum, an employment attorney with Stoel Rives, and Jessica Bolar, senior product manager for paid family and medical leave with The Standard and covered much of what employers need to know. Top 5 Ways to Beat the Hiring Crisis (webinar) Today's job market is exceedingly competitive. Almost every restaurant/hotel is struggling to stay staffed, and they're all looking for someone who is ready to return to work. With so much demand, you'll need a major competitive advantage if you want a chance at landing applicants. ORLA recently co-hosted a webinar presented by our allied member, Workstream, covering tactics used by top industry leaders to successfully staff their locations during the current hiring crisis. To watch the recorded webinar, click here. Leisure travel driving recovery U.S. hotel leisure travel revenue will be up 14% this year over 2019 levels, while hotel business travel revenue will come within 1% of 2019 levels, according to a new analysis by AHLA and Kalibri Labs. Surging demand has created historic career opportunities for employees, with growing wages, increased flexibility, and expanded benefits. However, the projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery will likely take several years. Promote Better-for-You Meals with Kids LiveWell℠ The National Restaurant Association is expanding its Kids Live Well (KLW) program and making it easier for restaurants to offer and promote better-for-you meals to parents and children dining out. The association has created educational resources for restaurants to support these healthier food options. KLW is a voluntary initiative to help restaurants craft healthier kids’ meal options that meet the latest nutrition criteria established by registered dietitians in collaboration with public health and consumer advocates. To learn how you can participate and access resources, visit Restaurant.org. ORLA keeps members informed and educated with the latest information, industry intelligence and research via several channels. In addition to the blog, members receive more comprehensive insights via the monthly Insider e-newsletter and access to the Member Portal with data and research.
Not a member yet? Visit our Membership page or reach out the ORLA Regional Representative nearest you. Paid Leave Info | UI Refund Checks | Proposed Labor Rule
Oregon Employment Department Refund Checks ORLA's biggest win during Covid at the state level was in House Bill 3389 where unemployment insurance (UI) tax reform passed. House Bill 3389 was collaborative legislation passed in 2021 to provide short- and long-term pandemic tax relief to Oregon employers while protecting the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. This important bill provided assistance to Oregon employers in several ways:
More Independent Contractors May Become Employees - Proposed Labor Rule Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule focused on classifying more workers as employees rather than independent contractors. The rule would 1) rescind the current independent contractor rule and 2) utilize a new “economic realities” test to determine if a worker is truly an independent contractor. This test includes factors such as investment, control, opportunity for profit or loss, and whether the work is integral to the employer’s business. The Department intends to identify more workers as employees, and therefore eligible for standard minimum wage, overtime, and other protections through the Fair Labor Standards Act. In the press release, the Department says misclassification affects a “wide range of workers in the home care, janitorial services, trucking, delivery, construction, personal services, and hospitality and restaurant industries.” Comments on the proposed rule are due by November 28. For more insight on the potential impacts of this rule, read a recent editorial regarding California's law. Oregon Paid Leave As you are well aware, Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program (PFMLI) goes into effect January 1, 2023, and is funded by employer and employee contributions. Employers with less than 25 employees are not required to contribute to the program, but their employees are. Employers will be required to participate in the program or provide an equivalent plan. ORLA is actively looking into private sector solutions for the industry and will keep you posted. In the meantime, ORLA developed a PFMLI one-pager that helps answer some questions regarding Oregon’s new Paid Leave program. You can also find this on OregonRLA.org here:
Restaurant Economic Insights The latest insights from the National Restaurant Association shows overall consumer spending in restaurants trended higher in August, inflation-adjusted (real) sales remained down from early-summer levels. Eating and drinking places registered total sales of $86.2B on a seasonally adjusted basis in August. In inflation-adjusted terms, that was $1.3B below the recent peak registered in May 2022. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your Regional Representative. |
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