Guest Blog
[Updated; original post 2.1.24]

​Insurance underwriters research your business before issuing a quote or renewing coverage. They find clues about your day-to-day operations in customer reviews, social media profiles, and even the image gallery on your website. Since this analysis can affect your insurance rates, you want to make sure your online presence conveys an accurate story. Here’s what underwriters look for and factors you need to think about:

If you say you’re a restaurant, but you’re open until 1 a.m., are you really a bar?

Suppose you describe your business as a family restaurant where people of all ages bond through great food and conversation. However, on Yelp, several reviews compliment your cocktails and live entertainment. And your Instagram feed features young adults dancing, a flashing disco ball, and a crowded bar. 

At the very least, you can expect the underwriter to ask questions to classify your business correctly. Maybe you are a family restaurant until 8 p.m. But after that, you cater to a different target audience that wants to drink and party. The latter scenario is more expensive to insure.

What kinds of risks are you taking?

An insurance company can deny or cancel coverage if they don’t like what they see online.

One establishment featured its ice shot glasses on social media. Fun-loving patrons downed the liquor then smashed their ice “glasses” on the floor, creating a slip hazard. 

At another place, a bartender stood on top of the bar to toast a patron’s birthday. The restaurant added this celebratory picture to their website.  

Standing on the counter was not a normal activity in this workplace, but the insurance company didn’t know that. They assumed it was part of the business’s culture, and the worker’s comp carrier spoke up. They didn’t want the risk exposure.

Do you comply with laws and regulations?

Recently, a bar advertised its “happy hour” on social media with a photo showing “$1 beer all day.” Oregon law prohibits promoting happy hours on social media. Although Oregon law now allows promoting happy hours on social media, is this the reputation you want online? OAR 845-007-0020 still prohibits advertising that encourages excessive or rapid consumption. Operators should review their social media posts and online presence to ensure compliance.

7 tips for avoiding an adverse underwriting decision

In five minutes, an underwriter is sizing up your business by looking at your online presence. They are asking themselves, “Do I even offer insurance to you? If I let you in the door, will I need to charge you more because I perceive you as riskier?”

To position your business in the best possible light with underwriters: 

1. Examine your website through an insurance lens and regularly review your online presence. Does your photo gallery and social media activity accurately portray the nature of your business? Is there anything that might raise alarm bells for an insurer?
2. Set up monitoring so you receive real-time alerts if someone posts about your business. This way, you can leverage positive reviews, while managing anything that could be harmful. 
3. Reassess your business hours. There’s an old saying, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” Understand the insurance implications of staying open late. Many insurers want a midnight closure (or earlier) as a condition for coverage. Those willing to consider longer hours will charge more. Are you bringing in enough revenue to cover the extra insurance costs? 
4. Make sure the business description in your insurance policy matches what’s happening today. Maybe you were a breakfast-lunch establishment when you first started your venture, but now you serve dinner and late-night drinks. As your business evolves, you may need to adjust your insurance. An inaccurate business description can lead to coverage gaps and worse.
5. Decide if “flex hours” are delivering ROI. Some businesses allow the night manager to close early if business is slow. If your website says you’re open until 2 a.m., but you regularly close at 11 p.m., you may benefit from officially adopting an earlier closing time. You could transition your business from being “high risk” to “medium risk” just by shortening your hours.
6. Update your website. A 2018 photo can signal to an underwriter that you aren’t maintaining your website, which creates a cybersecurity concern. And if you’re not maintaining your site, what else is out of date?
7. Evaluate your website through an ADA lens (Americans with Disabilities Act). Some hospitality businesses are facing lawsuits over sites that are non-compliant. Insurers don’t want that liability.

The insurance coverage you need depends on the classification of your business. Are you a bagel bakery or a brew pub? What percentage of your revenue comes from alcohol sales — 0%, 20%, 50%, 80%?

If there’s a mismatch between the info on your insurance application and online presence, you risk an adverse underwriting decision. Insurers may decline to quote. Or if you already have coverage, you risk claim denials and the potential for policy cancellation.

Take the opportunity to shape your story. Submit a letter or video with background information you want the underwriter to consider. Highlight the steps you’ve taken this year to improve your risk profile. Provide context to help insurers understand your online reputation and business vision. | Rob Hoover

Rob Hoover of Risk Strategies Fournier Group manages ORLA’s Hospitality Insurance Program (HIP). Contact him to learn more about online reputation and insurance pricing.

The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Partners with Adesso Capital to Expedite Cash Assistance for Oregon’s Foodservice and Lodging Industry

[Wilsonville, OR - 2/13/23] – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), the association representing Oregon's foodservice and lodging industry, is partnering with Adesso Capital to offer the foodservice and lodging industry assistance expediting federal relief funds which can be used for operating capital, payroll, inventory, or other expenses.
 
The assistance includes filing for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a tax credit available to businesses that suffered reduced operating capacities or loss of revenue from COVID-19 restrictions. The credit stems from payroll taxes paid in previous years and offers up to $26,000 back per W-2 employee. 
 
Applications for ERC benefits pertaining to payroll paid from March 2020 - December 2020 must be sent in no later than April 15, 2024. For payroll paid Jan. 2021 - Sept. 2021, applicants have until April 15, 2025, to file. 
 
"We are pleased to be teaming up with Adesso Capital to provide our members with the tools and resources they need to claim this tax credit and ensure their business survives moving forward,” says Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA. “With many small businesses still struggling to stay afloat, it is crucial that these tax credits be made available so that they can continue to provide jobs and support Oregon’s economy.”
 
“I feel for the business owners who weathered COVID restrictions and kept their doors open; they’re truly the champions of the American Dream and we should all ensure they have every tool possible to keep going,” said Damon Maletta, founder of Adesso Capital. “We at Adesso feel it's our job to help businesses take advantage of the ERC, especially because there are no restrictions on how the funds are used, giving power back to the people who know how to use these funds the best. It’s a passion of mine, and I still get excited every time we get that ‘Approved!’ notice for a new client.”

Together, ORLA and Adesso have helped the Oregon foodservice and lodging industry receive over $11.4 million in refunds, infusing the local economy with vital resources that reduce unemployment and create new opportunities for community growth. Adesso’s clients average a return of $150,000 per business.
 
Current ORLA members can learn more here. Businesses interested in joining the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association can find more details at OregonRLA.org.

About Adesso Capital
With over $1 billion secured, Adesso Capital helps US-based businesses secure the critical funds they need to thrive. Thousands of business owners across the country have trusted Adesso to help fund their dreams with government relief programs or financing options like term loans, lines of credit, and SBA loans. 

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

“Our industry partners and participants have been instrumental in providing the leadership necessary to strengthen the interconnectivity within the industry,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Three years of programming for three classes of tourism professionals is creating positive industry momentum for the value of tourism to local economies throughout our great state.”

Tourism professionals currently participating in the second-year class continue to follow health and safety guidelines as they approach program conclusion in March. The third-year class will launch March 16 in Central Oregon and conclude in December of 2022 in the Willamette Valley. View a roster for the third-year class online.

Curriculum, field visits, and hands-on experiences are strategically designed to support and align with the state’s tourism goals and objectives which include 4 Strategic Imperatives:

1. Optimizing the Statewide Economic Impact of Tourism in Oregon
2. Supporting and Empowering Oregon’s Tourism Industry
3. Championing the Value of Tourism
4. Running Effective Tourism Oriented Organizations and Businesses

The OTLA experience is designed for professionals currently serving Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Interested program participants should have supervisory, managerial, or executive responsibilities in either the private or public sector. Applications from industry professionals who will soon be responsible for similar levels of responsibility are also encouraged to apply for the academy program.
 
The strategic imperatives outlined above will serve as the program’s core themes each year. Each theme will receive focus as a part of 4 multi-day experiential learning programs designed to provide academy participants with comprehensive educational experiences. Each year, approximately 20 academy participants are accepted into the program alongside industry experts and facilitators.
​
For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit www.oregonrla.org/otla

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The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which provides over 150,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently ORLA has over 2,800 members across the state.

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/20/21
Contact: Jason Brandt
503.302.5060 | [email protected]

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

“Our vision is to bring together tourism professionals from all walks of life to strengthen the interconnectivity within the industry while elevating new leaders who will help move our state forward,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The academy will continue to bring lasting personal and professional benefits to those who participate.” 

Tourism professionals currently participating in the first-year class continue to follow all health and safety guidelines as they approach program conclusion in September. The second-year class will launch in July and conclude in the Spring of 2022. View a roster for the second-year class below.

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

1. Optimizing the Statewide Economic Impact of Tourism in Oregon
2. Supporting and Empowering Oregon’s Tourism Industry
3. Championing the Value of Tourism
4. Running Effective Tourism Oriented Organizations and Businesses

The OTLA experience is designed for professionals currently serving Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Interested program participants should have supervisory, managerial, or executive responsibilities in either the private or public sector. Applications from industry professionals who will soon be responsible for similar levels of responsibility are also encouraged to apply for the academy program.
 
The strategic imperatives outlined above will serve as the program’s core themes each year. Each theme will receive focus as a part of four multi-day experiential learning programs designed to provide academy participants with comprehensive educational experiences. Each year, approximately 20 academy participants will immerse themselves in the academy’s professional development curriculum alongside industry experts and facilitators.

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

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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. ​

Today SAIF announced ORLA/SAIF partners are receiving $299,813 in dividends from SAIF for their 2019 policy period. These dividends are being paid to members this week. While dividends cannot be guaranteed and are declared at the discretion by SAIF’s Board of Directors, this clearly represents another advantage of being part of the ORLA/SAIF program. 

“Our partnership with SAIF Corporation over the past 3 years is assisting the hospitality industry in our continual pursuit of top tier safety for hard working employees across this state,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of ORLA. “Being a part of the ORLA/SAIF group is a no brainer when you add the potential for dividend payments each policy year to the group discount operators receive when they qualify for the program. We look forward to the ongoing partnership with SAIF Corporation as industry operators work to save every penny they can.”

ORLA’s endorsed service partnership with SAIF gives eligible ORLA members a workers’ compensation group discount that is validated by NCCI and approved by DCBS. As the restaurant and lodging industries face some of the most difficult workplace safety challenges, this partnership aims to reduce worker injuries and improve member’s safety programs. 

During the pandemic, SAIF has remained open for business, serving Oregon's employers and workers. This has included taking steps to help injured workers who faced challenges accessing care and working to reduce the financial burden on businesses.  

Ask your agent for an ORLA Group quote or contact SAIF directly at 888.598.5880.

About SAIF
SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company. For more than 100 years, we've been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.

ORLA Announces Inaugural Participants for New Experiential Learning Program

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

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

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

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

Participants of the 2020 Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy:

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

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

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