Governor Brown Announces Two-Week Extension for Counties Facing Moves Back to Extreme Risk
Today, Governor Brown announced a change to the Extreme Risk category rules impacting counties who move out of Extreme Risk only to face the prospect of entering back into the category two weeks later due to short-term case counts within county boundaries. View the Governor's press release. “We want to acknowledge the importance of this change and this response to our plea for changes to the 2-week rigmarole being experienced by too many Oregon restaurant workers and their families,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “When we hone in on case counts as more counties enter risk categories that allow for indoor dining, the general public are starting to see firsthand what we have been saying for quite some time – indoor dining can work well and can be embraced while also mitigating virus spread in our communities. Whether our hospitality industry is operating in a low-risk county, extreme risk county, or somewhere in between, small businesses need to know what comes next after the risk categories we’ve been living with for months. Similar to the way our state leaders laid out our plans for vaccine deployment for Oregonians, we hope to learn more soon about when our industry will be given the lifeline they need. And that lifeline has everything to do with clarity about operations beyond the current county by county risk assessment system.” ORLA continues to advocate for a statewide indoor dining policy allowing at least 50% capacity like the vast majority of states across the country followed closely by an elimination of capacity restrictions when every Oregonian who wants a vaccine has access to one. Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org A Total of 31 of Oregon’s 36 Counties Are Open for Indoor Dining as of Friday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2021 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Featured Industry Operator: John Barofsky, Co-Owner, Beppe & Gianni’s 541.517.5027 | Laperlapizzeria@live.com Wilsonville, OR– Oregon counties are on the move again with an announcement today by Governor Brown’s office lowering extreme risk levels for 10 counties which allows restaurants in those regions to open for indoor dining on Friday, February 26. “Oregon’s remaining metro areas surrounding the Salem area, Eugene area, and Medford area will be joining Portland Metro and the Bend area in bringing back indoor dining Friday,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Our operators are gearing up as we speak to make sure safety remains our number one priority for both industry employees and customers indoors. We are committed to doing this right to make employees and guests as comfortable as possible in bringing hospitality back to more of Oregon’s local economies.” The news today means approximately 91 percent of Oregonians will now have access to indoor dining in the county where they live. About 9 percent, or close to 386,000 Oregonians, still live in a county limited to take out, delivery, and outdoor dining options. Counties designated as extreme risk include Benton, Coos, Douglas, Jefferson, and Josephine counties. “We are happy to hear we have the opportunity to return to our business model which has always been reliant on full-service dining,” said John Barofsky, Co-Owner of Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria in Lane County. “We have tried hard to keep most of our employees on the payroll throughout the pandemic but have had to cut hours to make that happen. Today’s news will allow us to increase the hours available to our workers by about 30 percent now that we have indoor dining coming back online.” Barofsky and other operators across the state remain leery about the duration of time they will be allowed to continue indoor dining operations. For example, some operators in Portland chose not to open on Friday, February 12 even though they were given the green light to proceed. The two issues cited most frequently in deciding to stay closed indoors were the challenges in recruiting workers to return to work and the uncertainty indoor operations will remain open as of Friday, February 26. The open/close structure does little to assist hard hit restaurants with planning efforts that could help their employees pay their monthly bills and avoid permanent business closures. Today’s announcement confirms that all counties previously allowed to open indoor dining on February 12 will be able to continue indoor operations with the one exception in Douglas County. “Some helpful news also included in today’s announcement is the number of restaurants that will be able to move to 50% indoor capacity from 25%,” said Brandt. “25% capacity is a real challenge for operators with smaller amounts of square footage in their business. Washington and Clackamas counties for example, are moving to moderate risk levels which means restaurants can move up to 50% indoor capacity or 100 total people indoors including staff, whichever is smaller. In addition, outdoor dining capacity in moderate risk counties moves up to 150 people.” Restaurants who continue to operate in high risk counties including Multnomah will be limited to 25% indoor capacity or 50 people total including staff indoors, whichever is smaller. Outdoor dining capacity expands slightly as well in the high risk category and allows for 75 people total outdoors compared to the 50-person limit in the extreme category. Oregon also has 3 new counties in the lowest risk category. Wasco, Lincoln, and Clatsop counties which can open at 50% capacity with no limitations on total number of people. In addition, restaurants in low risk counties can have as many as 300 people outdoors and stay open until midnight instead of 11pm like the other three risk categories. For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. ORLA Continues to Support All Efforts Aimed at Comprehensive Decision Making FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2021 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Industry Operator | Media Access to Paddy’s: Jim Hall, Independent Restaurant Concepts 503.232.8355 | jim@irc-nw.com Wilsonville, OR– As recently reported, applications for the next round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) dollars are well underway with Oregon’s hospitality businesses eager to secure funding through their lending institutions. The following analysis combines the latest vaccination rates in Oregon against the funding timeline associated with round two of PPP. “We feel it is incredibly important to look at the boost provided by PPP revenue for Oregon’s hospitality industry against the pace at which we are vaccinating Oregonians,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “With 24 weeks available to use PPP, how many Oregonians are likely to be vaccinated at different intervals across that timeframe? We wanted to find out to provide one example of how crucial it is to engage in comprehensive decision making that considers our ongoing health interventions against a backdrop of Oregon’s local economies and employment opportunities.” Small business owners in the hospitality industry continue to report the onset of PPP will not on its own save their business but without it, the next 24 weeks would have been disastrous. “I have different small business restaurant and bar locations across Portland and PPP is going to be a difference maker in keeping most if not all of those locations in play,” said Jim Hall, Co-Owner of Independent Restaurant Concepts. “My two downtown locations, Paddy’s and the Independent, have been the hardest hit. I need our state leaders to commit to processing these economic realities and make sure their decision-making includes these types of assessments. It is near impossible to plan for the revival of these locations which brings jobs and hours back to my co-workers without a longer-term framework from state leaders.” ORLA’s assessment took the total number of Oregonians receiving their first Covid vaccination dose as of February 15 and overlayed the daily vaccination goals promoted by the Oregon Health Authority against 24 weeks of PPP funding. The vast majority of PPP applicants are still waiting for the official transfer of funds so the model assumes the week of February 15 as the first of 24 weeks when PPP revenue can be expended within applicable rules in order for the loan to be forgiven by the federal government as a grant. The following model shows projected timelines associated with vaccination rates as PPP funds are utilized to keep small businesses afloat. Population breakdowns were provided by Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis with the assistance of State Representative Brian Clem. “The projections represented in our analysis show how important it will be to create more flexibility for Oregon’s hospitality businesses as money from the second round of PPP starts to run out,” said Brandt. “There is good news represented here in showing when we might expect to see additional opportunities to bring back more jobs for Oregonians as we hit vaccination milestones over the course of the coming weeks and months.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. A Total of 22 of Oregon’s 36 Counties Open for Indoor Dining Friday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2021 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Industry Operator | Dixie Tavern Access: Dan Lenzen, Co-Owner of Dixie Tavern 503.516.5249 | danl@venturehre.com Wilsonville, OR– Hundreds of Oregon restaurants will open their doors to indoor dining starting Friday, February 12 as case counts per 100,000 residents drop below the coveted 200 case mark over the course of the previous two weeks in specific counties. As industry suppliers and restaurant owners scramble to safely open for indoor dining, two prevailing issues remain – continuity of restaurant operations and getting employees back on the schedule. “Today’s announcement represents a significant step in the right direction,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It’s our job to make sure the Governor’s Office and Oregon’s Legislators understand what we think will happen next because of today’s news. Top on the list are the challenges facing small businesses attempting to manage two weeks of operational certainty at a time which includes finding workers who are trying to pay monthly bills. And we must acknowledge the 14 counties with restaurant operations still trying to survive in the winter with no indoor dining.” Opening and closing restaurant operations continues to be cited as the number one challenge facing the industry with the biggest issues revolving around worker schedules and forecasting food supply needs in a limited time period once announcements on changes are made. “It is our job to be there for our workers and we will be doing our best to explain the uncertainty surrounding future work schedules,” said Dan Lenzen, Co-Owner of Dixie Tavern in Portland. “I hope our ability to open indoors represents a turning point allowing us to be open longer than two weeks. To stay in business, we need the ability to safely use some of the space inside our restaurant consistently and provide the jobs that go along with it.” February 12 appears to represent a key marker in the fight to mitigate virus spread as most Oregonians will now have indoor dining back as an option in their community for the first time in months. Still, restaurant operators in 14 counties continue to rely on Payroll Protection Program funds, limited outdoor operations if available, and takeout/delivery to scrape by. Approximately 38 percent of Oregonians still live in a county where indoor dining is not currently available. “We continue to be faced with incredible headwinds in the restaurant industry with the ban on indoor dining in Marion County,” said Conrad Venti, Co-Owner of Venti’s Taphouse and Basement Bar. “Every change we have managed as a company has impacted our employees just as much. We have permanently lost several long-term employees, including management, who have chosen to move on to other industries because of the complete instability and continuous changes we’ve had to face in the last year.” “With recent numbers trending in the right direction I was hopeful we would be inviting our guests and community back in to dine with us, and bringing employees back to work,” said Kevin Boyles, Co-Owner of Sassy Onion Restaurant in Salem. “Being in the extreme risk category while most of the state reopens is even more frustrating knowing my long time customers are able to make a small trip and enjoy a dining experience elsewhere, while my business continues to suffer.” ORLA is mounting a grassroots effort of industry professionals this week to continue encouraging outreach to Oregon’s Legislators and Governor Brown’s professional staff given the clear divide being experienced in a state with just over half its restaurants open while the others attempt to hold on. “We know firsthand how difficult it is for Oregon’s restaurant industry to ramp up their businesses two weeks at a time,” said Brandt. “Our goal in facilitating ongoing communication is to provide our elected leaders and their professional staff with the personal stories behind these challenges in hopes of providing more runway and a glide path for work schedules Oregonians can rely on. The easiest way to accommodate this would be to move to a system based on Low, Moderate, and High COVID-19 risk in each county and eliminate the Extreme Risk category altogether. Having three levels of risk instead of four would provide an additional level of flexibility needed as restaurants continue their fight for survival.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. The State’s Most Diverse Industry Pushes to Bring Jobs Back Now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2021 ORLA Board Chair: Masudur Khan, ORLA Board Chair 248.910.8170 | mkhan@seasidelodgingllc.com ORLA Board Member: Harish Patel, President, Florencein, Inc. 503.443.4686 | harish@flcnw.com Wilsonville, OR– Oregon’s restaurant and lodging industries carry the distinction of having 17.1 percent of its employment base represented by people of color, the highest share of any industry in the state. Yet, Oregon’s foodservice and accommodations sector continues to reel from disproportionate restrictions forced upon these small businesses and their employees. “At this time there is a heightened sense of social unrest with racial inequities,” said Harish Patel, President of Oregon hospitality company Florencein, Inc. “The current leaders in the State of Oregon are throwing a blind eye and are out of touch with the industries they are continuing to restrict.” According to the Oregon Employment Department’s website, the Accommodation and Foodservice sector reached a historic high of 193,204 employees in August of 2019. According to the latest available data from December of 2020, the sector now employs 119,400 representing a staggering 38 percent drop in jobs. “The ORLA Board of Directors and our professional leadership do not question the role of public health interventions, but we fail to see an additional benefit to business closures,” said Masudur Khan, Chair of ORLA’s Board of Directors and Owner of Seaside Lodging LLC. “Studies show these ongoing restrictions on our hotels and restaurants damage our important work in providing equity and opportunities to people of color here in the State of Oregon.” A new study by the Bureau of Economic Research with participation by academic experts from Duke University, John Hopkins University, and the Harvard Medical School concluded the long-term loss of life over the period of the next 15 years could far surpass those we have lost directly to Covid. That study is available for download through the following link and provides comprehensive analysis on the impacts of unemployment for all with an emphasis on underrepresented populations: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28304/w28304.pdf “Our results suggest that the toll of lives claimed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus far exceeds those immediately related to the acute COVID-19 critical illness and that the recession caused by the pandemic can jeopardize population health for the next two decades,” the researchers said. In addition, studies from past decades have concluded there is a correlation between increased unemployment and higher death rates citing a 1.2 percent increase in mortality for every 10 percent rise in the number of people unemployed, according to Harvey Brenner in his 1979 study titled ‘Influence of the Social Environment on Psychology.’ An article published by the Oregon Employment Department in November of 2020 sums up the challenge and its impact on the Oregon hospitality industry stating the following: “Unfortunately, the industry that is the most racially diverse, and the second most ethnically diverse, is having a difficult time recovering after the initial COVID-19 impacts.” ORLA continues their call for a return to limited indoor dining statewide in perpetuity as one of the most crucial steps that can be taken now to counteract the increasing toll government restrictions are having in real time on the livelihoods and health of Oregonians. “We have all heard the saying ‘we are all in this together’ as we have worked to fight against the virus,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “That is simply not the case. We are certainly all in the same storm together, but we need to be honest with ourselves about what vessels the good people of Oregon are in as they try to weather that storm. Some are in cruise ships while others struggle to turn over their capsized kayak. There are too many capsized kayaks right now in Oregon’s hospitality industry.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. Changes to the Payroll Protection Program will assist with Oregon’s industry survival rate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2021 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Featured Industry Operator | On-Site Access: Shannon McMenamin, McMenamins 503.804.3556 | Shannonm@mcmenamins.com Wilsonville, OR– Applications continue to be submitted in real time for the next round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) dollars available to Oregon hospitality operators through the passage of the federal government’s $908 billion Coronavirus relief package. “The changes negotiated on behalf of our nation’s hospitality industry are considerable and will directly assist small businesses in their push to survive the prolonged nature of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Oregon’s hospitality businesses have been applying at a feverish pitch for the program in partnership with their lending institution and the benefits of round two are considerably better compared to the benefits of round one.” A number of boosts from the federal government should make a considerable difference in the number of hospitality businesses able to hold on–although hundreds if not more are still expected to permanently close their doors in Oregon alone. Recent benefits secured include:
“Local, family-owned businesses like us (McMenamins), that have grown up here in Oregon will find it increasingly difficult to stay afloat if the current relief measures are not combined with more sustainable operations,” said Shannon McMenamin who helps lead the family business of pubs, breweries and historic hotels. “We are incredibly limited in what we can do to keep our people employed in an unpredictable environment without more flexibility from Governor Brown and her professional staff. I know we can provide some indoor dining safely right now.” Brandt echoed the call for more sustainable options for the hospitality industry as the state association continues fielding calls from small businesses across the state in need of more flexibility. “Outside of PPP support the industry in Oregon continues to have considerable concerns about the path back to sustainable operations,” said Brandt. “PPP will help a significant number of small businesses fight through the coming months, but the importance of effective and efficient vaccine distribution can’t be overstated. It’s the key ingredient to helping propel statewide consumer demand and we remain hopeful that pent up demand will be our new best friend.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. Data assessment shows a lack of correlation between economic sanctions and virus mitigation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 2021 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Featured Industry Operator / On-Site Access: Treva Gambs, Gamberetti’s Italian Restaurants 503.881.5761 | Treva@gamberettis.com Wilsonville, OR– Oregon’s restaurant and lodging industries continue to suffer greatly according to the latest data made available by the Oregon Employment Department. Leisure and hospitality businesses lost 25,500 jobs in December. An announcement today from the Governor’s office is welcome news for lottery retailers, restaurant operators with functional outdoor dining space, and Oregon’s lodging industry eager to bring amenities including indoor pools and hot tubs back online for their guests. Still, thousands of restaurant operators are not assisted by these helpful modifications if they are not lottery retailers and lack available space for outdoor dining options. “Oregonians in our industry can’t pay their monthly bills with two weeks of employment certainty at a time,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The reality of the 2-week county risk category assessments is taking us down a dangerous path where tens of thousands of Oregonians no longer have paychecks again. The lack of continuity in operations is permanently altering too many Oregonian livelihoods. We must open some indoor dining statewide now, and we can do it safely.” Oregon’s aggressive economic restrictions on one of the state’s largest private sector employers continues to lack data to substantiate the disproportionate sacrifices being endured by these small business operators. According to weekly reports by the Oregon Health Authority and a declaration from Dr. Dean Sidelinger in federal district court, Oregon’s foodservice industry accounts for less than 1 percent of all workplace outbreaks and 4.7 percent of Oregon’s overall outbreaks, respectively. Yet, Oregon’s foodservice operations continue to be shut down in the vast majority of the state. “It doesn’t make sense to me how I can have all this space to safely spread out my customers in my restaurant and have the government continue to tell me I can’t use it when I know I can do it safely,” said Treva Gambs, owner of Gamberetti’s Italian Restaurants in Salem and Albany. “The discrimination we are facing is keeping me from taking care of my employees and my customers in ways that can really help our communities get through an emotional and depressing time.” A recent analysis of December data on the status of restaurant closures across states with mask mandates shows no correlation between the number of cases and deaths and the decisions to close indoor dining. The chart below illustrates the lack of connectivity. In addition, the year 2020 included multiple press conferences highlighting the lack of data to close foodservice operations across Oregon. Governor Brown and Dr. Dean Sidelinger shared comments in press conferences on multiple occasions acknowledging the lack of connectivity to the hospitality industry during periods of the year where hospitality businesses remained open and case counts remained low. “ORLA will continue our call for a reconvened Economic Advisory Council to solve a chronic problem we currently face – there is no formal dialogue taking place between government officials, health advisors, and industry leaders to fully understand the devastating impacts prolonged restrictions are having on all aspects of Oregon’s once thriving hospitality industry,” said Brandt. “The data above should bring us all to ask one important central question – what evidence is there to justify the crippling impacts of ongoing closures on Oregonians?”
For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. According to the Oregon Employment Department’s December data, over 50,000 Oregonians that once had a job in hospitality do not have work available to return to. Sustaining Operations and Avoiding Closures will Still Prove Challenging FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President and CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Today, Congress unveiled a $900 billion relief bill to provide short-term economic relief to the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes several items that will benefit restaurants and lodging establishments, most importantly a second round of access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with unique provisions aimed to assist the restaurant and lodging industries, which continue to endure unparalleled job and revenue losses. In addition, the Oregon State Legislature is holding a third special session of 2020 and is poised to pass To-Go Cocktails legislation as well as statewide caps on third party technology and delivery expenses charged to restaurants. “Hospitality operators in Oregon have been pleading for both long-term and short-term economic support,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Today’s developments will assist restaurant and lodging establishments with their quest to survive. However, it does not change the unsustainable trajectory facing thousands of Oregon small businesses who have ongoing bills for their dining rooms with little to no revenue to cover those expenses.” Today’s developments in the Oregon Legislature are expected to assist operators in realizing additional revenue for cocktail programs accompanying food purchases for takeout and delivery while also assisting operators with cost control on expenses. “The progress made today at both the state and federal levels feels like getting a new pair of running shoes,” said Brandt. “There is still a race for survival in conjunction with vaccine distribution and the majority of operators will remain unprofitable. Our reality remains the same – we are attempting to stretch out our cash until we actually get to the light at the end of the tunnel we’ve all been talking about.” The federal plan announced today targets restaurant and lodging relief with provisions including:
Other provisions in the bill that will benefit hospitality operations include the deductibility of business expenses paid with PPP loans, enhancement of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), extension of the augmented Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), and increased tax deduction for business meals. ### 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. Financial Support in Motion for Legal Battles on Multiple Fronts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association has officially launched a Legal Defense Fund as authorized by the state association’s Board of Directors. The fund will be used to address multiple inequities facing Oregon’s restaurant and lodging establishments in their quest to survive the ongoing pandemic. “Operators from all corners of the state have reached their breaking point and have asked for continued legal support to fight for their rights,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “There is a growing list of inequities facing Oregon’s hospitality industry that require additional judicial oversight.” Tens of thousands of hospitality businesses have permanently closed across the country due to government mandates including hundreds in Oregon. “Local and state government in Oregon over the past year have taken away business operations for public purposes,” said Brandt. “Small businesses across the state are owed compensation whether we’re talking about taking a dining room for virus mitigation or taking an entire lodging location for a certain duration of time.” Operators across the state are also growing more frustrated by a lack of adjustment to taxes and fees that fail to consider the operational reality of the year 2020. Examples include exponential increases in unemployment insurance tax rates for 2021 and beyond, county health inspection fees based on the number of dining room seats in your establishment, and licenses for on-premises alcohol consumption. “There are some local governments in Oregon deserving of recognition for the ways they have provided historic flexibility to operators,” said Brandt. “We need to build on that awareness within our government institutions to illustrate the severity of the situation. No operator should have to pay exponential increases in their unemployment insurance rates or normal costs for county health inspections or on-premises alcohol consumption licenses as if 2020 was another normal year of operation.” ORLA’s Legal Defense Fund will provide financial support to operators interested in moving forward as plaintiffs in court. Lawsuits filed will be unique in nature and dependent on the circumstances facing operators with a focus on government restrictions causing a hospitality business location to close permanently. “There will be those that argue these businesses would have had to close anyway due to the impacts of COVID-19 on consumer demand,” said Brandt. “We can prove that is simply not the case. Financial proof of the direct impact of government restrictions outside of consumer demand is widely available to us and will be shared with the courts as we fight for the survival of Oregon small businesses and the tens of thousands of Oregonian jobs within them.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. To donate to the Legal Defense Fund, click here: New Survey Findings Reveal Dire Situation for Restaurant Operators without Federal Financial Assistance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2020 Contact: Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs, ORLA 503.851.1330 | Astley@OregonRLA.org Today, the National Restaurant Association is releasing a letter to Congress with the results of the latest survey on the economic health of the industry, and the findings are bleak:
In Oregon, the findings are as follows:
For months, Congress has been trapped in a political tug-of-war while restaurants continue to go dark. A group of moderate Democrats and Republicans last week unveiled a compromise plan bringing both parties back to the negotiating table. They are calling for a $909 billion relief bill, including a second round of Paycheck Protection Program grants, which with improvements could provide immediate assistance to restaurants. “We need Congress to pass the Blueprint for Restaurant Revival,” said Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). “While we are waiting for that to happen, we also need to make sure Congress at least passes some type of financial relief plan before leaving town for the year. Our industry simply cannot wait for relief any longer.” While the recent $55 million in state funds will help the hospitality industry to some degree, it will not be enough to cover the massive losses brought about because of the pandemic and economic shutdowns. “As costs continue to rise and revenues continue to fall for operators, and with more layoffs likely in the future, Oregon’s hospitality industry needs Congress to put aside the turf wars and come together to pass a relief package,” said Astley. “Without it, your neighbor’s job is in jeopardy and your favorite neighborhood restaurant may be the next one to forever close their doors.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. International Society of Hotel Associations Honors ORLA and Portland Lodging Alliance with 2020 Award of Excellence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2020 Contact: Christina Pappas | 1-617-536-0590 BOSTON, MA - The International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) announced its Awards of Excellence, honoring the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and Portland Lodging Alliance for their Hospitality with Heart downtown cleanup events. In September 2020, ORLA’s Portland Lodging Alliance teamed up with SOLVE Oregon, the Portland Business Alliance, Clean & Safe, Travel Portland, and the City of Portland for the 2nd annual Hospitality with Heart litter cleanup event, bringing over 500 volunteers and community members together to improve the wellbeing of our city. Since then, the Portland Lodging Alliance has been helping coordinate monthly cleanup events. The ISHA Awards of Excellence recognizes those lodging associations who have had exceptional programs in the areas of Communications, Events and Fundraising, Government Affairs, Member Programs and Public Relations over the past year. The Awards of Excellence winners include:
“ISHA is pleased to recognize these six award winners,” stated Christina Pappas, Executive Director of ISHA. “While the majority of the programs focus on pandemic response to members and the industry, these programs truly help set the standard for others to follow.” ISHA presents the annual Awards of Excellence for the best lodging association programs and services and are widely recognized as the best of the best within the hotel and lodging association industry representing innovation and creativity that has brought tangible results to the association and its members. Award winners receive complimentary registration to a future ISHA Conference. ### ISHA provides professional development and networking opportunities for lodging associations, and represents the unified voice of state lodging associations in collaboration with our national industry partners. For more information visit www.isha.biz. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2020
Contacts: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA | 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Angelo Amador, Executive Director, RLC | 202.492.5037 | AAmador@Restaurant.org Interview Coordination: Glenda Hamstreet, Executive Coordinator | ghamstreet@oregonrla.org Portland, Oregon – Today, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) and the Restaurant Law Center (RLC) filed a joint complaint in federal court for injunctive relief from the “Two-Week Freeze” mandated by the Governor, which prohibits indoor and outdoor dining in restaurants from November 18 through December 2. This action was taken to save many restaurants around the state, and to protect the livelihoods of thousands of food service workers who rely on restaurants and their customers. Both restaurants and their employees continue to suffer from the devastating effects of ongoing regulatory orders in Oregon during this pandemic. “The restaurant industry prefers engaging in partnerships with our leaders in government,” said Jason Brandt, President and CEO of ORLA. “The latest restaurant restrictions in Executive Order 20-65 published on November 17 lack equity and due process. We hope to engage in communication with Governor Kate Brown and her professional staff as soon as possible to work towards a resolution that has not been available to us at this stage. In the meantime, Oregon’s restaurant operators must continue to follow all orders executed by the Governor until a federal court addresses the serious legal concerns brought forth by the industry.” “The number one priority of America’s restaurant industry is to provide a safe and healthy environment for guests and employees,” said Angelo Amador, Executive Director of the Restaurant Law Center. “The industry is following applicable federal, state and local operating guidelines, and, where necessary, adapted their business models and adopted countless new measures to ensure that diners and workers remain safe. A blanket ban on indoor and outdoor dining is wrong and we believe the latest executive order in Oregon is also illegal. We hope our Complaint will encourage the Governor and other officials to meet to develop a more reasonable and pragmatic approach that protects the livelihood of restaurant industry workers and restaurateurs across the state.” Click here to read the Complaint. About the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. About the Restaurant Law Center The Restaurant Law Center is a public policy organization affiliated with the National Restaurant Association dedicated exclusively to defending the restaurant industry against government overreach at the local, state, and federal level by providing a voice for the industry in our judicial system. Available Data Translates into Ongoing Inequities for Oregon Hospitality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2020 Contact: Glenda Hamstreet, Executive Coordinator, ORLA 971.224.1509 | ghamstreet@oregonrla.org Wilsonville, OR– On November 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the latest available data on workplace outbreaks in Oregon. In a November 18 published report, the OHA has identified 3,097 active Covid-19 cases associated with workplaces. Of those cases 18, or 0.58 percent are tied to restaurants. Lodging operations, which have no current outbreaks, don’t even appear on the list. “Oregon’s restaurants are struggling mightily. The state’s new restrictions are forcing an unsustainable round robin of furloughs and layoffs in our industry, an industry that is second to only health care in the number of people it employs,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We continue to seek answers to better understand the sacrifices being experienced by Oregon’s hospitality businesses and our industry employees based on available data.” The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) has been an active partner in transforming thousands of hospitality environments to promote guest and employee safety. The industry continues to argue additional restrictions on controlled environments pushes virus spread to uncontrolled environments. “We can turn the corner in this state on coronavirus infections while still supporting the livelihoods of our fellow Oregonians as long as we make reasonable decisions based on available data,” said Brandt. “The data has clearly shown Oregon’s controlled restaurant and lodging environments offer a safe alternative to the private, social gatherings state officials have identified as the primary culprit driving the virus’ spread.” The state association continues to advocate for necessary adjustments to restaurant dining room protocol. For example, Governor Brown’s November 13 press conference stated private gatherings should be limited to 2 households or a maximum of 6 people. ORLA is advocating the same standard for group dining physically distanced from others be allowed immediately in dining rooms across the state. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Confidential, No-Cost Advisor Network Made Possible by Coronavirus Relief Funds FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2020 Contact: Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative, ORLA 541.441.2219 | THopkins@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) and Oregon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network are pleased to announce the launch of a new, no-cost, one on one confidential advisor network. The Oregon Restaurant Covid Assistance Program includes a network of seven professional restaurant consultants ready to assist industry operators with ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. “We feel a strong sense of urgency to build program awareness now as independent restaurant operators wrestle with what comes next,” said Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It is time for operators to engage in an exercise of humility because no one is bigger than COVID-19 and every single operator can benefit from an additional expert perspective.” Focal areas for advisor support were determined by a mass survey of restaurant operators earlier this fall. Results from survey feedback resulted in the following core areas of concentration:
Advisors are standing by to engage in confidential consulting conversations and are paid through SBA CARES Act relief funds authorized by the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature. Restaurants operators participating in the program will incur no cost for services rendered. “It was incredibly important to us to prop up a program that allows operators to sign up in less than 5 minutes to access these free top-tier consulting services,” said Hopkins. “We know this will prove to be a unique opportunity for restaurant operators who choose to take a leap of faith and engage an advisor. We can save independent restaurants in this state by sharing expertise and resources that assist our small businesses in finding a path forward.” To sign up for advisor connectivity and to review the list of participating advisors, visit: Oregonsbdc.org/orca. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. The Oregon Small Business Development Centers work in partnership with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association in providing vital assistance to Oregon's restaurants. Creation of a $75 Million Hospitality Relief Fund is Needed for Industry to Survive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Another shutdown of Oregon’s restaurants, bars and foodservice establishments is crippling an already broken and damaged industry. While other industries in Oregon have experienced revenue losses on average of five percent from last year, the hospitality industry in Oregon has experienced revenue losses on average of at least thirty percent. Because of this massive economic disparity, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, has sent a letter to the Legislative Joint Emergency Board asking for the immediate creation of a $75 million Hospitality Relief Fund to help operators and their employees survive another shutdown. “There is no federal relief package waiting to be voted on and distributed from Congress or the White House,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “There are no stimulus checks being printed to help Oregon families pay their bills. There is no weekly check for $600 available for those servers, cooks, hosts and hostesses about to lose their jobs or have their hours cut again because restaurants can’t survive on takeout and delivery if they can do it at all.” Restaurants and bars are still paying rent and there has been no extension of the commercial rent moratorium even though revenue has been cut by as much as 65% for some operators because of the shutdowns, “pause” and now a “freeze.” Restaurants and bars are still paying OLCC license fees even though they are not able to serve hard alcohol or offer cocktails to go for customers doing pickup or delivery. They are still paying health inspection fees based on the number of seats they have in their establishment even though they cannot seat anyone in their establishment. There are payroll taxes, corporate activity taxes, property taxes on property they cannot fully use and commercial personal property taxes on property restaurants own. In addition to the immediate creation of the $75 million Hospitality Relief Fund, ORLA is recommending several other solutions to the Legislature to help the hospitality industry survive. Those solutions include:
“We were already hearing from members they were concerned about what another shutdown would do to their chances of staying open,” said Brandt. “Without significant help from the state, the hospitality industry in Oregon–many of your favorite restaurants, hotels, bars and other places– will have to permanently close their doors, putting tens of thousands of people out of work.” “Hospitality businesses need immediate help. We cannot wait for February and hope a relief package will materialize and be approved at the federal level,” said Brandt. “This is an emergency and we need the Joint Emergency Board to take action now to save our industry and the tens of thousands of Oregonians who rely on it to put food on the table, pay their rent or mortgage and provide for their families’ needs.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Statewide Industry Shutdown of Dining Rooms Does Not Add Up
Wilsonville, OR– On Friday, the Oregon Governor’s office announced wide ranging closures of all indoor and outdoor dining rooms across Oregon starting November 18. The announcement on November 13th came one day after a newly published report from the Oregon Health Authority identifying 2,893 Covid-19 cases associated with workplaces. Of those cases, 22 were tied to restaurants representing 0.76% of current workplace outbreaks. “Our industry, along with the fitness industry, are the official targets of the latest directives from Governor Brown’s office,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We desperately need an explanation, and we are not getting straight answers. If 0.76% of active workplace outbreaks represent a need to shut down an entire industry, we have a real time crisis in how we are making regulatory decisions as a state.” The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) has been an active partner in transforming thousands of hospitality environments to promote guest and employee safety. The industry continues to argue additional restrictions on controlled environments pushes virus spread to uncontrolled environments. “We are running out of ways to express our deep concern about the correlation between dining room shutdowns and private behavior,” said Brandt. “If human interaction is going to take place during the course of the holiday season, then it is much more advantageous to have those interactions take place in controlled environments.” The state association continues to advocate for necessary adjustments to restaurant dining room protocol. For example, Governor Brown’s November 13th press conference stated private gatherings should be limited to 2 households or a maximum of 6 people. ORLA is advocating the same exact standard be allowed immediately in dining rooms across the state. “Why are we allowing 2 private households to gather with up to 6 people in an uncontrolled environment and closing dining rooms when those same interactions can take place in a controlled dining room environment with oversight from a third party?” said Brandt. “We stand ready to help in getting this state back on track as thousands of livelihoods are at stake.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Industry Seeks Solutions Beyond Shutting Down, Putting People Out of Work
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Today, the Oregon Governor’s office announced further restrictions on restaurants statewide beyond the previous two-week “pause.” The restrictions are being announced one week after the “pause” was announced and just two days after it went into effect. The restrictions take effect Wednesday, November 18th and prohibit dining indoors or outdoors at any bar or restaurant. Drive-thru, takeout, delivery and curbside pickup will still be allowed. “Knowing small social gatherings are the focal point for the transmission of this virus, it is incredibly disappointing to see our industry once again targeted and to know bar and restaurant operators are having their employees’ and their own livelihoods put at risk,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We continue to be asked to make significant sacrifices as an industry due to the nature of our business models. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is recommending several solutions to help the hospitality industry survive. Those solutions include:
“We were already hearing from members they were concerned about what another shutdown would do to their chances of staying open,” said Brandt. “This latest round of regulations focused on restaurants will trigger an unknown amount of permanent closures impacting the livelihoods of thousands of Oregon families.” In addition, ORLA is recommending these solutions to help stop the spread of the disease further:
Oregon’s business community is sending the following letter to Governor Brown’s office in response to the latest round of restrictions. “Businesses throughout Oregon have proven that they can make the operational changes necessary to keep their employees and their customers safe, even during this unprecedented pandemic. What we need now is a plan to address the root of the problem without causing additional harm to Oregonians throughout the state,” said Brandt. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Newly announced restrictions on indoor restaurant spaces defy logic, data, and goals designed to reduce virus spread in Oregon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2020 (Updated 11.9.20) Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Today, the Oregon Governor’s office announced new restrictions on restaurants located in specific counties. The restrictions take effect next week and further reduce the total number of people, including staff, that can be on premise. The new restrictions for specific counties will change the current maximum of 100 people indoors and reduce the maximum to 50 people indoors. In addition, group dining at restaurants in affected counties will be reduced to a maximum of 6 people. The two-week pause applies to Multnomah, Marion, Jackson, Malheur and Umatilla counties. On Monday, Nov. 9, four more counties were added to the pause list; Washington, Clackamas, Baker and Union counties. “We have said all along we were going to follow the data as a state and we have some of the most comprehensive, transparent data in the country being provided by the Oregon Health Authority in their weekly COVID reports,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “These new restrictions do not follow the data available to us. This action will directly result in more Oregonians interacting in uncontrolled, private environments as opposed to restaurants with controlled, regulated environments.” The Oregon Health Authority’s weekly COVID report is published mid-week with the latest edition released on Wednesday, November 4. A copy can be obtained through the following link: The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) remains committed to thorough weekly reviews of any workplace outbreaks connected to the industry. In the latest edition, only 2 foodservice locations are identified out of approximately 75 workplace outbreaks across the state. The workplace outbreak section can be found starting on Page 22 with details included in Table 7 of the weekly report. “We are one of the largest employers in Oregon and the efforts being undertaken by our operators across the state is nothing short of monumental. The weekly data continues to prove the importance of controlled, regulated environments like restaurants as an alternative to private gatherings,” said Brandt. “We are literally making decisions that could drive us in the wrong direction as a state.” “We have a role to play in providing safe alternatives to private settings. We need more opportunity to be a part of the solution.” Early in the COVID-19 crisis, the Governor’s office convened the Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council, but the council was disbanded months ago with no alternative for collaboration amongst industry leaders and health experts. ORLA is recommending an economic advisory council be reestablished immediately to assist the Governor’s office with the intelligence needed to understand the wide-ranging impacts to local economies triggered by new regulations.
“There will be thousands of operators across the state who will be unable to comprehend an additional arbitrary limit on the total number of people they can have indoors with no consideration given to the square footage available,” said Brandt. “We will have less paychecks to provide to struggling Oregonians, less opportunity for Oregonians to take a ‘mental health break’ in controlled restaurant environments, and we will drive more people to unregulated, private gatherings leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.” Restaurants able to physically distance guests by party with at least the recommended six feet between tables, should be allowed to do so without arbitrary restrictions. For establishments with a larger footprint, capping capacity to 50 or 100 people when they can safely seat more means robbing them of the opportunity to keep people employed and keep Oregonians from struggling more than they already have this year. With some reports suggesting as many as 85% of independent restaurants will close without some form of financial assistance or less arbitrary regulation from government, further reducing restaurants’ ability to generate revenue makes that figure seem even more likely. ORLA is creating an online interface to track Oregonian paychecks lost from restaurants located in counties where the additional restrictions will take effect. Operators will share their business name, their county location, and the number of paychecks lost due to the new restrictions. “We believe wholeheartedly in collaboration and partnership and our industry must continue to do whatever we can to mitigate virus spread and support the heroes in the health care sector who are putting their lives on the line to save their fellow Oregonians,” said Brandt. “We have a role to play in providing safe alternatives to private settings. We need more opportunity to be a part of the solution.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Roughly 30%, or 55,000 jobs, remain lost in the industry as a result of the COVID pandemic. Oregon Hospitality Industry Continues Push for Midnight Curfew and 100-Person Cap Removal10/28/2020
Safe Adjustments Needed to Regulations for Restaurant and Lodging Establishments
Wilsonville, OR– The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is convinced two key regulations are ready for adjustments based on recurring COVID-19 weekly workplace outbreak reports. The weekly reports, available through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website, consistently show negligible outbreaks occurring in foodservice and lodging operations. “We review the weekly reports from OHA religiously and can see the care being taken by our operators in controlled and highly regulated environments they manage,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It is time, regardless of county phase, to allow operators the ability to stay open until midnight and to allow larger venues with ample square footage more flexibility in safely managing their capacity.” Currently, the Oregon Health Authority requires all foodservice operations in Oregon to close at 10pm regardless of their current phase of operation. In addition, all foodservice and event venues including lodging event space must limit their indoor capacity to 100 people including staff. “On the surface we realize a 100-person limitation sounds like an appropriate preventative measure to mitigate virus spread in Oregon,” said Brandt. “However, large scale venues have the ability to provide ample physical distance between associated parties of 10 or less and can accommodate more employees with hours while still operating safe, controlled environments.” ORLA is focused on facilitating communication between the Governor’s office and small businesses operating restaurants and lodging establishments across Oregon. A recent push this past week to communicate stories with the Governor’s office resulted in over 100 small business stories being shared about how a midnight curfew would help save restaurants. ORLA hopes to share similar stories about the impact of the 100-person indoor cap as well and the ripple effect it has on local economies throughout the state. “Some of the loudest voices in our industry on the importance of removing the 100-person indoor cap rule are coming from businesses who don’t have space to accommodate over 100,” said Brandt. “This showcases the ripple effect that hits smaller businesses when larger venues can’t accommodate larger groups in a community. Without the additional flexibility there is less activity and commerce in local communities and our operators rely on that foot traffic to stay afloat.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Hospitality and Tourism Professionals to Embark on Experiences of a Lifetime Wilsonville, OR – In partnership with Travel Oregon and the Oregon Destination Association, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is proud to announce the launch of Year 2 for the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA). Participants will begin their first multi-day program experience in Eastern Oregon, April 28-30, 2021, pursuing in-depth experiences and knowledge that will elevate their passion and excitement for our state’s extraordinary offerings. The deadline to apply for the class launching in 2021 is Friday, December 4, 2020. “Much has changed in our world since the inception of the program and we're seeing incredible things happen with the current program participants who are half way through the inaugural year experience," said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. "The value of program experiences and professional connectivity created by the program will provide lasting benefits to those accepted to the program each year.” OTLA has spent great deal of time and attention into keeping all participants safe in the age of COVID-19 and are committed to refining all logistics and experiences each year to protect the integrity of the program and the value it brings to those involved. The Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy is a new experiential learning program 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. 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. For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit OregonRLA.org/OTLA. ### 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. |
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