Restaurant & Lodging - Autumn 2023

AUT U M N 2023

Women Leading the Way

ORLA Membership Comes with Perks

Forging an Easier Path for Those Who Follow

2023 Legislative Report Workforce Bridge-Building

Stephanie Thornton, Executive Pastry Chef, Blue Star Donuts PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE STAR DONUTS, BY ALAN WEINER PHOTOS

OregonRLA.org 1

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ABOUT

Restaurant & Lodging is published four times a year by Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), 8565 SW Salish Lane, Suite 120, Wilsonville, Oregon, 97070 503.682.4422

PUBLISHER JASON BRANDT / PRESIDENT & CEO

JBrandt@OregonRLA.org LORI LITTLE / EDITOR

LLittle@OregonRLA.org

22

Cecilia Ritter James, Wild Pear Restaurant and Catering pictured with her late sister and partner, Jessica Ritter

To learn more about ORLA visit us online at OregonRLA.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CECILIA RITTER JAMES

AUTUMN 2023 Women in Hospitality

HEIDI JANKE / DESIGN

HJanke@OregonRLA.org

MEMBERSHIP

To become a member of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, please contact us at info@OregonRLA.org or 503.682.4422.

ADVERTISING

Please support the advertisers herein; they have made this publication possible. For information on advertising opportunities, please contact ORLA: Marla McColly Director of Business Development at 503.428.8694 or MMcColly@OregonRLA.org

COVER STORY 22 Women Leading the Way Meet Six Women in Oregon’s Hospitality Industry Who Are Leading the Way in Their Fields — and Forging an Easier Path for Those Who Will Follow.

LEADERSHIP 7 From the CEO ORLA Membership Comes with Perks

SOLUTIONS 27 Sisters for Sustainability Lolo Pass Hotel Brings Style And Sustainability To Portland’s Eastside 31

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit More Than 98% of Oregon Employers Miss Out On Thousands of Dollars

33

It’s Your Business: Preparing For Fall, Winter, And The Unexpected

SUBSCRIPTIONS

To update your digital and print subscriptions to this publication and all ORLA communications visit OregonRLA.org.

2023-24 ORLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shannon McMenamin, Chair, McMenamins Patrick Nofield, Vice Chair, Escape Lodging Komal (Tina) Patel, Treasurer ALKO Hotels Katie Poppe, Secretary, Blue Star Donuts Harish Patel, Immediate Past Chair, Florencein, Inc. Marin Arreola III, Advanced Economic Solutions (AES) Inc. Jolee Bancroft, Mo's Restaurants Terry Bichsel, Rivertide Suites Hotel Joe Buck, Babica Hen / Lola's / Gubanc's Liz Dahlager, Mereté Hotel Management Gillian Duff, El Gaucho Portland Gordon Feighner, Jam on Hawthorne Kevin Filipello, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Justin Freeman, Bagel Sphere Cheri Helt, Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails Kurt Huffman, ChefStable Alkesh Patel, Evergreen Hospitality Development Group George Schweitzer, The Benson Hotel Natalie Sheild, Togather Restaurant Consulting Jim Smith, Mountain Mike's Pizza, Cascades Coffee House Rick Takach, Vesta Hospitality Jake Vanderveen, McDonald Wholesale Co. Scott Youngblood, Benchmark / Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle Dhruti Amin, Ex Officio Board Member, ALKO Hotels

ADVOCACY 8 Advocacy Update Legislative Report Highlights Business Advocacy and Industry Intelligence 17

State Agency Appointment New Oregon Lottery Director Leads with Background in Security

OREGON HOSPITALITY FOUNDATION 19 Workforce Bridge-Building Hospitality Connections to Education Remain Critical CHAMPIONS 20 Celebrating Champions ORLA Hospitality Awards Honor Outstanding Individuals

IN EVERY ISSUE 35 Lodging Performance Report Hotel Benchmark Data 35

Restaurant Industry Snapshot Hiring Demand in Oregon

37

News Briefs Industry Happenings

38

What Your Peers Are Saying Meet Some Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Members

40

Cost-Saving Programs Member-Exclusive Benefits

41

New Members Welcome!

43

Looking Ahead ORLA Three-Month Calendar

OregonRLA.org 5

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6 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

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FROM THE CEO ORLA Membership Comes with Perks

F

all is here and with it comes our deep appreciation to all our partners, sponsors, and industry participants who joined us in Ashland earlier this month for the annual Hospitality Conference. If you didn’t have the opportunity to join us, there’s no time like the present to make a plan for our 2024 gathering at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend, September 21-23.

Our conference this year was focused on ORLA’s key pillars which include providing business advocacy, products and service of value, industry intelligence, and workforce development solutions. As we embark on another fiscal year for ORLA which began on October 1, you can rest assured that your state association is focused on accomplishing key objectives in each of these core areas.

Business Advocacy ORLA’s Government Affairs Committee is undertaking a significant initiative over the next 15 months called the Oregon Hill Runner program. Our industry is well positioned to improve our approach to relationship-building efforts with legislators given we have restaurant and lodging establishments in each of Oregon’s 90 legislative districts (60 State Representative Districts and 30 State Senate Districts).

Our industry remains a cornerstone of every local economy in the state. Oregon’s Hill Runner program will focus on formalizing a restaurant and lodging operator relationship in each district. If successful, we will have a strong network of ORLA members who have taken an intentional step to build a working relationship with their legislator.

One restaurant and lodging operator for each district would result in 180 formalized relationships between our operators and Oregon’s legislators as we prepare for the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session. For starters, we are working to identify any ORLA members who already have an established relationship. If you’re one of those members, please reach out to ORLA’s Director of Government Affairs Greg Astley at astley@oregonrla.org. Our goal is to have each ORLA member interact with their

legislator a few times each year to share their current state of business conditions so if you’re interested, know that this program is meant to be manageable from a time commitment standpoint and will come with some special perks for those who step out onto the field with us.

Member Products and Services of Value This past year, ORLA was successful in connecting our industry with over $15 million in Employee Retention Tax Credits.

Those dollars have meant the world to operators as they reestablish their approach to business with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror. ORLA’s partner Adesso Capital will continue their important work of connecting our industry with tax rebates they’re entitled to. In addition, we will expand the partnership to include services that provide commission payments to restaurant and lodging establishments who are successful in connecting independent contractors with IRS rebates they are also entitled to thanks to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This federal stimulus package included tax credits for independent contractors who were not able to work due to school closures. The fully automated system will launch later this Fall with more detail on how you can participate and make money by connecting independent contractors to the partnership.

In addition, ORLA and Adesso will launch new services to make sure restaurants are claiming their federal tax credits for Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes on tipped employee compensation. These services plus a developing partnership between Adesso and Lendio will be packaged together and referenced as the new ORLA Finance Center.

Industry Intelligence We’ve heard a lot from members about the importance of staying ahead of wage changes in the market and those rates continue to fluctuate in regions across Oregon. As an added value of membership, ORLA members will be able to log-in to ORLA’s website and download regional wage reports

for a variety of job titles within lodging and restaurant businesses. We will update these reports every 6 months so our members can stay a step ahead on compensation rates across their operation. This new service is made possible by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, ORLA’s 501c (3) entity that remains focused on meeting the workforce, educational, training, and philanthropic needs of Oregon’s restaurant and lodging industries.

Workforce Development Oregon’s hospitality industry is in growth mode with close to 200,000 Oregonians employed in our industry. 80,000 of those jobs were lost or suspended during the pandemic and as a result, operators across the state continue to reconfigure positions and recruit new teammates to their businesses. We likely have more new faces in our industry right now than ever before. As a result, ORLA is launching a new online Learning Management System with our partners at Train 321. At initial launch, ORLA’s video training modules will provide over 50 short segment trainings to assist our many independent operators with educational tools that will boost employee production. ORLA members have access to all training modules at half the retail rate. Supervisors and Managers can package video training in a way that makes sense for employees and every training includes a short quiz at the conclusion of the session.

With thousands of new faces in the industry, now is the time to improve the learning curve and do everything we can to make our teammates as successful as possible.

We hope some of these new goals established

by ORLA and our board leadership speak to the importance of your state association work focused on improving, protecting, and promoting Oregon’s second largest private sector industry. With our industry projected to grow faster than any other industry over the next decade, now is the time to make a strong commitment to organizational excellence.  JASON BRANDT, PRESIDENT & CEO, ORLA

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ADVOCACY UPDATE Legislative Report Highlights Business Advocacy and Industry Intelligence

O

RLA’s government affairs team had a busy year which kicked off with the 2023 Legislative Session followed by lots of local activity around the state the past several months. This year proved particularly critical as we focused much of our efforts on helping educate the 30+ new legislators on our industry issues.

Oregon also experienced turnover in a few state agency leadership positions including the Oregon Lottery and OLCC. Finally, our industry leadership in Portland has been actively engaged in discussions with local organizations and government officials as ORLA helps prioritize facilitation of key meetings to ensure that hospitality businesses remain a strong pillar in our economy.

2023 OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP The Oregon Legislature adjourned its 160day session on June 25, 2023. Throughout the session, ORLA’s Government Affairs team focused on several priority bills relating to Oregon's restaurant and lodging industry.

Below is the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session recap on many of the bills we engaged or monitored this past session. (Italicized text is

text taken directly from bill language.)

General Business and Labor In past sessions, there have been major labor policies passed increasing the cost of labor or making it more difficult for businesses to operate. This session, general business and labor issues were better than they have been in the past for the business community. At the beginning of this session, the House raised several labor policies and proposed amendments reducing costs or helping businesses in general. Unfortunately, these policies remained in Senate committees until the end of session and died due to lack of movement.

HB 2556 – Requires that itemized statements provided to employees explain, in plain language, amount and purpose of each deduction. Provides requirements for employer deductions for erroneous overpayments of wages.

This bill, as originally proposed, was a bad policy bill for the business community.

Amendments made in the House improved it for most industries but ultimately, the bill died in committee on the Senate side.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A HB 3028 – Requires an employer to allow an employee to take leave without pay for time spent by the employee in service as an appointed member of a state board or commission as defined in ORS 292.495.

This bill requires employers to allow employees to take unpaid leave if they are serving on a state board or commission as an appointed member. Employees cannot be coerced, threatened, discharged, or threatened with discharge if they choose to serve. Employees also cannot be forced to use vacation, sick or annual leave for time served as an appointed member of a state board or commission.

Status: Passed and signed by Governor Date of Implementation: September 24, 2023 (91st day after Sine Die) HB 3172 – Makes unlawful practice for employer to advertise employment opportunity without disclosing certain information regarding opportunity. Requires employer to

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apprise all employer's employees of promotion opportunities. Creates exceptions. Allows person to file complaint with Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries for violation.

There were versions of this bill in both the Senate and House which seemed to have traction in the beginning of session but were never moved out of their original committees.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A HB 3205 – Modifies definition of "compensation," for purposes of pay equity requirements, to exclude hiring bonuses and retention bonuses.

This had one of the broadest coalitions of support across business and local governments. The Senate even offered amendments in the House committee, after which it passed the House 41-0. The Senate then undid the bi-partisan agreements from the House, all the supporters ended up opposing the bill and it died in committee.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A

Date of Implementation: Effective date, May 8, 2023

SB 31 – Requires Director of Employment Department to determine solvency of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund for purposes of paying benefits and grant awards.

Alcohol Alcohol taxes was a hot topic in the Legislature and at OLCC this session. The primary argument from tax proponents was more money was needed for addiction services. As an industry, ORLA supports dollars being directed to addiction services.

The main problem we continue to see is taxes being proposed are not being spent specifically on addiction services but rather are going to the General Fund.

Although employees in Oregon can access Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits as of September 3, 2023, the Oregon Employment Department has been collecting revenue since January 1, 2023.

This bill would allow the Director of the Employment Department to do an analysis of the fund before the September 3rd date to determine if the fund is solvent enough to begin paying out benefits. If the Director does not believe there is enough money to pay out benefits and for the fund to remain solvent, the beginning date for benefit payout could be delayed. This bill was generally seen as a prudent policy to avoid insolvency of the fund.

At the OLCC, a temporary surcharge of fifty cents was proposed by Governor Kotek in her budget, on top of a current “temporary” surcharge, enacted back in 2009 and continued each budget cycle since.

In an OLCC presentation to the Legislature of current alcohol revenues collected by the state, only 2.93 percent is currently being directed to addiction recovery services for the 2019-2021 biennium. The projected amount for the current biennium (2023-25) is 3 percent (3.2 percent calculated).

Status: Passed both House and Senate and signed by the Governor

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ORLA is a member of the Oregon Beverage Alliance, a group of industry advocates supporting a better use of current dollars before asking the industry to pay more.

ORLA engaged the industry and advocated strenuously against the fifty-cent surcharge, with members sending over 200 letters to OLCC Commissioners on the issue and ORLA staff testifying at two Commission meetings.

Our efforts, combined with additional revenue from the May forecast, meant taxes were not raised and $200 million was put toward Behavioral Health and Addiction Recovery Services.

HB 3308 – Relating to alcohol; creating new provisions; amending ORS 471.175, 471.178, 471.186, 471.190, 471.200, 471.221, 471.223, 471.227, 471.282, 471.346, 471.410 and 471.430; and prescribing an effective date.

This bill authorizes the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to issue a delivery permit to qualified applicants to deliver alcoholic beverages to final consumers. Also

requires third party delivery drivers to have the same type of training food servers and grocery store clerks are required to take.

Status: Passed House and Senate, Governor signed on July 31, 2023 Date of Implementation: September 24, 2023 (91st day after Sine Die) HB 3312 – Requires Department of Revenue to study revenues received by state from transactions involving alcoholic beverages.

Directs department to submit findings to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to revenue not later than September 15, 2024.

This bill would have increased taxes on Oregon’s beer and cider by 1200 percent and increased taxes on wine by more than 500 percent. The stated purpose for the revenue from these taxes was for additional addiction and recovery services but as written, the revenue would flow directly to the General Fund. ORLA, along with others in the alcohol and hospitality industries, were strongly opposed to this bill.

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Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A HB 3610 – Establishes Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services.

The task force was seen to have a directive to discuss raising taxes high enough to be a deterrent and reduce alcohol consumption and raise more revenue for additional services. The Task Force is to present their findings to the 2025 Legislature.

Status: Passed House and Senate, Governor signed on July 13, 2023 Date of Implementation: September 24, 2023 (91st day after Sine Die) General Business Because of the projected $2 billion increase in income tax collections, there was little tax discussion this session. The Legislature did have a hearing on raising the exemption on the CAT tax but doing so would have ultimately increased the amount on the taxpayers so there was little interest in a straight tax shift from one taxpayer group to another.

There was also less action taken on packaging than in previous sessions even though a few changes were made regarding polystyrene and customer-provided packaging. It was the kind of session where most of the difficult bills were watered down to gain acceptance or neutrality from business groups, but little was done to try and help or promote economic development.

SB 140 – Requires Legislative Revenue Officer to study corporate activity tax. Directs Legislative Revenue Officer to submit findings to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to revenue not later than September 15, 2024.

This bill would have raised the CAT exemption level from $1 million to $2 million, but in doing so would reduce the expense deduction to 30 percent (from current 35 percent) for companies between $2-10 million in corporate activities.

In addition, SB 140-3 (the third proposed set of amendments) would have raised the tax rate for companies with corporate activities greater than $10 million to .615

percent (from current .57 percent). This was a simple tax shift, so the bill never moved out of committee and died.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A SB 543 – Prohibits food vendor from using polystyrene foam container in sales of prepared food.

ORLA was successful in working this bill to the point where it was less prohibitive than originally presented. In meetings with suppliers, cost effective alternatives are plentifully available and operators will have 18 months before it becomes effective.

Status: Passed the House and Senate, the Governor signed it on May 8, 2023.

Date of Implementation: Prohibitions become operative January 1, 2025.

SB 544 – Directs Environmental Quality Commission to establish program for source reduction of single-use plastic food ware and single-use packaging and achieve 25 percent source reductions compared to 2023 levels by 2030.

This bill did not pass due to ORLA’s work on SB 543. This bill could have removed some of the most used and cost effective to-go utensils. ORLA was successful in convincing legislators that between the cost and supply chain issues, and as the industry is still recovering from the pandemic and its financial effects on operators, now was not the time to implement such a proposal.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A SB 545 – Directs Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules allowing restaurants to allow consumers to fill consumer-owned containers with food.

This fall will start the rules process on what the health department would require to be done for a restaurant to accept a customer’s to-go container. It is optional for the restaurant and the Oregon Health division cannot require anyone to accept to-go containers. We are not sure the proponents understand the health risk involved with the practice of consumers bringing containers into food establishments.

OregonRLA.org 11

Status: Passed the House and Senate, the Governor signed it on May 8, 2023.

Date of Implementation: Effective date of May 8, 2023 (Rulemaking to take place Fall 2023 before full implementation)

Status: Passed House and Senate, signed by the Governor on June 1, 2023.

Date of Implementation: September 24, 2023 (91st day after Sine Die)

SB 569 – Requires every place of public accommodation that provides a closedcaptioned enabled television in a public area to activate closed captioning that satisfies certain specifications. Requires places of public accommodation with multiple televisions to activate closed captioning on at least 50 percent of the televisions within the area and those that sell televisions to activate closed captioning on at least one of the televisions on display.

Exempts judicial department, places of public accommodation that have television screens smaller than 12 inches, hospital rooms, and rooms to rent.

ORLA was able to ensure hotel room TVs and screens as part of a piece of exercise equipment in hotel gyms were exempted. We were also able to remove language requiring any screens not displaying closed captioning to have signage affixed noting the receiver does not output sound or the receiver is on mute.

SB 619 – Permits consumers to obtain from controller that processes consumer personal data confirmation as to whether controller is processing consumer's personal data and categories of personal data controller is processing, list of specific third parties to which controller has disclosed consumer's personal data or any personal data and copy of all of consumer's personal data that controller has processed or is processing.

Attorney General authority to enforce the law. As passed, there are still a few issues with this bill needing to be worked on and ORLA is going to meet with the Attorney General’s office to inform them and work with them on changes to relieve our concerns.

Status: Passed the House and Senate, Governor signed on July 18, 2023.

Date of Implementation: January 1, 2024 HB 3409 – Requires State Department of Energy to report on rate of heat pump technology adoption and to collaborate with designated state agencies to reduce barriers to home energy efficiency and resilience.

The Oregon Attorney General convened a Consumer Privacy Task Force in 2019 to consider legislative proposals regarding consumers' online privacy and standards for businesses that obtain consumer data about the consumer's online activities. This measure is a result of that Task Force.

This was an omnibus climate change bill, and it is not clear from an environmental policy perspective that it would have a direct impact on the industry, but the way it is constructed could undermine the statewide building code preemption.

Senate Bill 619A provides certain rights to consumers and sets responsibilities for data controllers regarding data collected from consumers' online activities and establishes

Statewide building code preemption has always been important to the industry so local governments could not make changes requiring businesses to go through expensive

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remodels if a local government passes a local ordinance different from the statewide code.

HB 3409 passed out of the House Rules Committee against several objections and concerns from the business community, but the Senate amended the bill to remove the building codes portion and passed the bill.

Status: Passed the House and Senate, signed by the Governor on July 27, 2023.

Date of Implementation: Effective date is July 27, 2023.

Lottery There was not much activity this session around Oregon Lottery operations. During the last interim, there was a Joint Committee on Gaming Regulation, but the Oregon Senate decided to pause the discussion for the 2023 session and reinstate the Joint Committee this interim.

The House had a Gambling Regulation Committee during the session but only did informational hearings around Lottery and Tribal gaming. ORLA professional staff and several members participated in multiple

hearings to provide information on the industry and perspective as the retailers for lottery products.

Unrelated to the legislative session, since the pandemic closed many lottery retailer locations, the Oregon Lottery has had a stay on new location contracts until they are able to start buying new terminals. During the June Lottery Commission meeting, the Commissioners passed a new terminal allocation rule to remove the stay on new contracts. As a result, retailers that have been waiting for new location contracts will hopefully be receiving contracts and be able to operate as a video retailer.

Tourism This session was a bit of a “hit or miss” for investments in tourism promotion. Several groups had different ideas about how to invest in tourism promotion and ways to aid different entrepreneurs, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to invest in growing economic activities around the state. The legislature did continue to invest in the Film Promotion Tax Credit to provide incentives for film companies to come to

Oregon. Those companies bolster local economies and help our industry by using local restaurants and catering companies and staying in local accommodations.

HB 2093 – Conforms applicability period for amendments to tax credit for certified film production development contributions to sunset applicable to credit.

This bill allows the Oregon Film Office to sell tax credits at auction to promote statewide development of the film, video and multimedia industry in Oregon and to enhance the industry’s revenues, profile, and reputation within Oregon and among the industry nationally and internationally.

ORLA supported this bill to continue investments in Oregon from film companies and stakeholders.

Status: Passed the House and Senate, the Governor signed on May 8, 2023.

Date of Implementation: September 24, 2023 (91st day after Sine Die).

HB 2909 – Appropriates moneys to Oregon Department of Administrative Services

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OregonRLA.org 13

for distribution to Oregon Coast Visitors Association to be expended on various projects.

This bill would have appropriated $1,900,000 to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association for various projects including: $190,000 to develop geographic information systems tools for food systems; $700,000 for a facility in partnership with the Oregon Kelp Alliance; a kitchen, processing center, and cold storage at the Newport Seafood Analytical Lab; and the development of a mobile processing unit.

The measure included $300,000 to support existing businesses connected to projects funded by the bill.

This was a rare victory as even though this bill did not pass the money was appropriated in the end of session funding bill.

This bill would have appropriated $3,500,000 to the Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD) for distribution to OSU's Extension Service and then to CORE to support outdoor recreation industry programs, innovation, and wildfire recovery. Included in the bill was also $2,000,000 to CORE to develop professional and workforce development programs.

Although HB 2910 did not pass, some of the programs were included in HB 3410, which did pass.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A

for agricultural tourism. ORLA supported the bill to help support the developing sector of agricultural tourism in Oregon.

Although HB 3251 passed out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, it was not funded.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A HB 3410 – Appropriates moneys to Higher Education Coordinating Commission for distribution for purposes related to outdoor recreation economy.

Status: Died in Committee Date of Implementation: N/A

HB 3251A – Requires Oregon Tourism Commission to establish and administer grant program to promote, develop and sustain opportunities for agricultural tourism in rural communities in this state.

This was changed at the end of session to be a smaller version of HB 2910, allocating $2 million for outdoor recreation workforce development and $1 million to be used to help build outdoor recreation areas destroyed by wildfire.

HB 2910 – Appropriates moneys to Oregon Business Development Department for distribution for purposes related to outdoor recreation economy.

This bill would have appropriated $2 million to the Oregon Tourism Commission to establish and administer a grant program to promote, develop, and sustain opportunities

Status: Passed by the House and Senate, the Governor signed on July 31, 2023.

Date of Implementation: Effective date July 31, 2023.

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For the comprehensive list of bills and outcomes, visit OregonRLA.org/legislativeframework.

Governor Announces Permanent Lottery Director Governor Tina Kotek recently announced that Michael Wells, interim director of the Oregon Lottery, has been appointed to lead the agency as permanent director, pending confirmation by the Oregon Senate. The director serves as the Secretary and Executive Officer of the Oregon Lottery Commission and is responsible for the administration and management of the agency.

From the Governor’s press release: "The Oregon Lottery funds critical state services like education, state parks, and veteran services,” Governor Kotek said.

“It is imperative that the director is an experienced leader who will champion transparency and accountability. During his time at the Oregon Lottery, Michael has worked closely with staff, the Commission, and stakeholders to lead with the highest standards of security and integrity.”

Michael Wells (he/him) has held the interim director role at the Oregon Lottery since December 2022. Previously, he held positions in leadership at the Oregon Lottery as the Assistant Director for Security & Compliance and as a Cyber Crime Manager.

ORLA Participates in OLCC Director Interview ORLA was part of a panel of stakeholders interviewing Craig Prins for the permanent OLCC Director position. Prins has held the interim director role at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission since February 2023. He has a strong background in law enforcement, regulation and working within the criminal justice system. The OLCC Commissioners, several of who were also present, were expected make a final decision on the position within the next 6 to 8 weeks.

Portland Advocacy Blog Launches This summer was the launch of a new Portland Advocacy blog in an effort to highlight the good news and work being done in Portland by ORLA and our leadership teams as well as inspire members to get more engaged. ORLA serves as a facilitator in creating opportunities for our members to meet with policymakers, opinion leaders, community leaders and partner organizations on issues of importance and to collaborate on city-wide initiatives impacting our industry. To learn more, visit OregonRLA.org/portlandblog.

Hospitality Summit Stirs Action Portland Downtown Clean & Safe, in partnership with ORLA, hosted a Hotel & Restaurant Safety Summit at The Nines hotel in August. Nearly 50 hospitality industry members were in attendance and armed with concerns and questions. Guest panelists represented the Portland Police Bureau, Portland mayor’s office, District Attorney’s office and Multnomah County.

Guests acknowledged the importance of continuing these types of meetings to bring us together and provide a bigger voice, suggesting we need to express it more directly and frequently. The mayor’s office committed to sharing more regular updates on current work done by the city to help move solutions forward. Visit the Portland Advocacy Blog for more information.

Opportunity to Support Veterans ORLA will once again be partnering with Returning Veterans to support the annual fundraiser Chow Down for Vets on Veterans Day. Local restaurants will be donating a portion of their Veterans Day proceeds to support the healing and health of our veterans and military communities. For more information and how you can get involved visit ChowDownForVets.org.

Want to get more engaged in our advocacy efforts? There are plenty of opportunities, from joining monthly calls to testifying to becoming a Hill Runner. Just let us know

how you would like to get involved. Visit OregonRLA.org/Advocacy and make sure you are subscribed to ORLA’s emails at bit.ly/ORLAsubscribe.  GREG ASTLEY, ORLA

M A R K YO U R C A L E N D A R

PRESENTED BY

T U E S D A Y, F E B 2 0 SALEM CONVENTION CENTER

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN SALEM! Taste Oregon is the industry’s unique opportunity to meet with some of Oregon’s policymakers and shapers and share the impact our hospitality businesses have on our state's economy and livability.

OregonRLA.org/Events

OregonRLA.org 15

K&F is proud to partner with Tina of Mt. Moka in Sandy, Oregon “Our recipe for success revolves around our team and its commitment to family, friends and community, which is made easy when working with outstanding partners like K&F Coffee Roasters.”

Tina Hovey - Mt Moka

The 30-year partnership between Mt. Moka in Sandy, Oregon and K&F Coffee Roasters is a powerful example of what can happen when two companies come together around common values and a dedication to excellence. Owner, Tina Hovey said, “Our recipe for success revolves around our team and its commitment to family, friends and community, which is made easy when working with outstanding partners like K&F Coffee Roasters.”

The collaboration between K&F Coffee Roasters and Mt Moka has offered unparalleled customer service and shows the value of sustaining business partnerships. Their story should motivate all women owned businesses to pursue partnerships that can not only reshape businesses, but also make a positive impact on their community. “Strong partnerships like the one we have with Tina and her amazing team at Mt Moka are the foundation of our 40 year success at K&F Coffee Roasters.” - K&F owner Rudy Zarfas.

K&F Coffee Roasters is the oldest family run specialty coffee roaster in Portland, OR. We are happy to serve the Oregon restaurant and hospitality industry for the past 40 years.

kandfcoffee.com

503.234.7788

HELP SUPPORT LOCAL VETERANS BECOME A RESTAURANT SPONSOR TODAY!

Veterans Day Saturday November 11th, 2023 Sign up today at: https://chowdownforvets.org/for-restaurants/ 16 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

STATE AGENCY APPOINTMENT New Oregon Lottery Director Leads with Background in Security

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eet Oregon Lottery’s newly appointed Director Mike Wells.

Wells began at Lottery in 2019 holding positions as the assistant director for security and compliance and as a cybercrime manager. Prior to Oregon Lottery, Wells spent more than 24 years working in local, state, and federal law enforcement. A native Oregonian, his previous roles including serving as a special agent with the Oregon Department of Justice and as a police officer for various local agencies.

What are you excited to tackle as Oregon Lottery’s new director?

The Oregon Lottery has experienced remarkable growth since launching in 1984.

Throughout this period, our primary focus has centered on enhancing game offerings.

As we move forward, I am enthusiastic about continuing to deliver entertainment to our players and supporting our beneficiary programs, while ensuring we are doing both responsibly.

In recent years, we've embarked on an ambitious journey to modernize the systems that power our lottery games that have shown signs of aging, such as our Video Lottery Terminals. This work underscores our dedication to ensuring our services, integrity, and security remain as current as possible. Collaborating closely with our staff and retail partners, I am eager to continue these modernization efforts. I want to focus on presenting Oregonians with safe and secure gaming experiences. Our pledge to provide the finest and most secure platforms remains unwavering.

What are some challenges facing the agency?

As I noted, we find ourselves navigating a set of modernization challenges that continue to require our attention. As the gaming industry embraces a more digital-forward approach, the associated technologies, security measures, and specialized personnel necessary for its operation have resulted in escalating operational costs.

While we don’t drive policy decisions, we’re working every day to ensure those that do have the best information available to make decisions. We want to be in the best position to move as those decisions are made. We’re constantly learning more about how all the parts of the Lottery connect, and how technology upgrades in one area impact another. We are actively exploring ways to streamline our operations to ensure lottery can uphold its commitment to its beneficiaries and the state. We need our business running smoothly, while maintaining the ability to adapt to the evolving industry landscape and/or requests from policy makers.

Additionally, the pandemic introduced new challenges for our retail partners. During this unprecedented period, we recognized the trials faced by businesses and extended a significant degree of understanding and leniency with regard to compliance matters.

However, the landscape has evolved, and it’s now imperative that our retailers realign with our compliance standards, such as on-premises consumption of food and alcohol, payment of prizes, tax compliance, and ADA compliance. These standards are not just arbitrary rules but are integral to ensuring Lottery remains fully compliant with Oregon's administrative regulations.

Retailers who fall short of these compliance requirements inadvertently jeopardize the entirety of Oregon's gaming industry.

While rules might not be the most popular aspect of our work, they are what secures the continuous operation of the Lottery, guaranteeing a source of funding for our beneficiaries and income for our retail partners.

How can Lottery strengthen its partnership with retailers?

I believe effective communication, unwavering transparency, and continuous education strengthen any partnership.

The relationship between Lottery and our retailers is key to our mutual success. I want to put a spotlight on our commitment to

ensure our retail partners are informed, their teams are adequately trained, and the rationale behind Lottery's operational decisions are clearly conveyed. I firmly believe this approach will create a more cohesive and synergistic teamwork dynamic.

Lottery recently made some rule changes and lifted a pause on processing new applications for Video Lottery retailer locations. How will this improve business going forward?

First, I'm happy to report that since the rule changes were proposed, we're working through the waitlist to move things forward for retailers who expressed interest in applying for Video Lottery.

As I’ve mentioned, we are actively engaged in the process of refining and optimizing our existing organizational structure.

It is noteworthy that the Governor has openly expressed reservations about expanding gaming in Oregon. Lottery must explore alternative avenues to meet revenue projections without leaning on the introduction of new games. That’s another reason I’m focused on how to improve our current operations.

We’re also performing an analysis of our existing game portfolio, with a deliberate focus on maximizing the return on investment, while ensuring responsible gaming practices.

This work has already led to promising outcomes, reflecting our dedication to enhancing the operational efficiency of the Lottery. Moving forward, our goal is to continually improve the return on our terminal investments, while minimizing the potential disruption for retailers.

Our primary objective is to strike a careful balance between optimizing our operations and minimizing potential impacts to retail businesses. This approach underscores our commitment to achieving financial objectives, while nurturing a positive environment for our retail partners.  OREGON LOTTERY

OregonRLA.org 17

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE LARGEST INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC DISCOUNT ON WORKERS’ COMP FOR OREGON’S HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS!

Ask your agent for an ORLA group quote with SAIF.

ORLA members who meet the group eligibility requirements can receive a 10% discount with SAIF on workers’ comp premiums in the ORLA group plan, upon workers’ comp renewal date.

ORLA MEMBERS:

Contact your agent and ask for an ORLA group quote, or contact SAIF directly at 888.598.5880.

EXISTING SAIF CUSTOMERS: Ask your agent or contact SAIF directly at 888.598.5880 for an ORLA group quote.

18 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

OregonRLA.org/SAIF

WORKFORCE BRIDGE-BUILDING Hospitality Connections to Education Remain Critical

Bandon Dunes team members visit Winter Lakes High School, Coquille

O

RLA’s Hospitality Foundation Board is continuing to highlight the importance of building bridges in high school and community college classrooms across Oregon.

Although workforce shortage issues have improved, we have a longterm challenge on our hands as an industry – growing demand for our businesses and stagnant supply. Our leaders on the Foundation Board, led by Eric Aebi with Chemeketa Community College’s Hospitality Tourism Management program and Ken Henson with Refettorio Consulting, are taking on one tourism region at a time with a focus on connecting industry operators with high school classrooms.

You may be surprised to hear the hospitality industry is largely misinterpreted by our nation’s youth. Instead of restaurant, hotel, and tourism-based businesses, high school students can confuse hospitality with the health care industry. It is on all of us to create inroads with high school business teachers and make ourselves available to share our career journeys and the opportunities available when choosing our industry as a profession.

This past year, the Oregon Hospitality Foundation board was focused on building stronger connections between educators and our industry along the coastline. While we continue that work, we will embark on building bridges in the Willamette Valley followed by the Portland Metro region in the following year.

In addition to guest speaking opportunities for our members, ORLA is also focused on connecting more members with job and career fairs produced by Oregon’s Employment Department and our state’s regional workforce boards. Meeting students (and prospect employees) where they live is essential to showcasing your employment opportunities and job and career fairs create environments for hundreds and in some cases thousands of youth to learn more about your business, its purpose, and the culture they could be a part of.

Courtney Smith, ORLA’s ProStart Manager and Foundation Executive Coordinator is assisting us in managing a number of workforce development projects. The Foundation continues to lead the way in managing Oregon’s ProStart Curriculum and Championship event for High Schools, Oregon’s Guest Service Gold Training for improved customer service, and the bridge-building work noted above based on interest levels at the school district level. In addition, the Foundation is undertaking more partnerships on grant proposals with regional workforce development boards to increase our financial capacity and accomplish more work focused on connecting your business story with your local education system.

We want to take a moment to thank our Foundation Board members who have concluded their service. A big thanks to Paul Paz with Waiters World, Janel Rupp with Performance Reps Northwest, Terry Goldman with Vesta Hospitality, Masudur Khan with Khan Properties, and Teresa O’ Neill with Travel Oregon. Our new board members taking on these important Foundation efforts include Lisa Itel with Travel Oregon, Amanda Cavitt with Garibaldi Portside Bistro, Joshua Willis with Sunriver Resort, Jason Bender with Evergreen Restaurant Group, and Ryan Fahey with Spirit Mountain Casino. We want to take a moment to thank these new Oregon Hospitality Foundation Board members for answering the call of leadership as they join the rest of the Foundation board in building bridges between Oregon’s Hospitality industry and our state’s education system.

To learn more about how you can connect with initiatives undertaken by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, please email Courtney Smith at csmith@oregonrla.org and make a point to check in on a regular basis with the latest content posted on ORLA’s Workforce Blog at OregonRLA.org/workforceblog.  OREGON HOSPITALITY FOUNDATION

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CELEBRATING CHAMPIONS ORLA Hospitality Awards Honor Outstanding Individuals

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ach fall the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) has the pleasure of honoring outstanding members of Oregon’s foodservice and lodging industry with the ORLA Hospitality Awards. Our industry is filled with remarkable, passionate people who give their all on a daily basis because they love what they do. This October, we’re recognizing four individuals who truly embody what the hospitality industry is about: serving others. We're also recognizing one of our trusted allied partners for their innovative contributions to the industry and commitment to exceptional service.

Employee of the Year Demetrio De La O Rendon, Maintenance Engineer, Lakeshore Inn For the past seven years, Demetrio De La O Rendon has demonstrated an unwavering work ethic and determination to do his job exceptionally well. He has one of the toughest jobs at the hotel, responsible for a wide array of duties and critical upkeep of the property. His reputation among coworkers as a hardworking and caring employee also transcends to guests who continually praise his work and comment on his “helpful nature.” There isn’t a task asked of him he isn’t willing to do and he’s always first to offer assistance to coworkers and guests whenever he sees a need. Demetrio is also an excellent trainer and teacher to those he works with, leading by example and building trust in his working relationships. Heather Welker, General Manager, feels very fortunate to have Demetrio as a team member, sharing that everyone is more at ease when he’s around. “This man strives to make the world a better place and does so silently without any thought,” she said. And the best part? He always wears a smile on his face no matter how tough the day’s challenges have been.

Team Leader of the Year Crystal Brenneman, Manager, Dixie Tavern Successful teams are usually driven by a dedicated team leader who is hardworking, respected, and helps create an inspiring environment with an open communication culture. Crystal demonstrates all of that, epitomizing a dynamic leader with a passion for hospitality, dedicated service-mentality, and serving as a role model for her colleagues. She has been a valuable team member of the Dixie Tavern for many years, consistently going above and beyond to create a positive and productive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Before she stepped into her manager role, Crystal learned every position at the tavern, including maintenance – spending much of her time helping with the remodel during the pandemic shutdown. Crystal has embraced all aspects of management, leading by example what it means to give amazing service in a fast-paced environment.

Often referred to as “the backbone of Dixie,” Crystal enjoys serving as the unofficial ambassador for Dixie Tavern, always making guests feel welcome with her patience and positive energy.

As for her motivational mantra at the start of every shift, it’s an enthusiastic “It’s going to be a great night!”

Lodging Operator of the Year Taran Patel, Managing Principal, A-1 Hospitality Group Taran Patel grew up in the hospitality industry watching his parents grow their business from a 36-room independent motel to what it is today – a premier hotel property management 20 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

company with 12 properties in the portfolio. From his youth, Taran has been motivated by opportunity and achieving the “American Dream,” but not without learning and demonstrating the true meaning of hard work. After completing his MBA in 2015, Taran started working in Operations and Development for the company, determined to continue cultivating the supportive company culture created by his parents in the early years. As with many in the hospitality industry, the pandemic tested the company’s resiliency. Taran proved to be a great leader with integrity and courage during this time. Under his guidance, the hotels supported their local communities by providing a safe place for people to isolate themselves. They also teamed up with fellow AAHOA ambassadors to donate masks to the local hospitals.

And true to their culture of “family first,” they kept each of the hotels open to ensure their teams were able to keep their jobs and support their families through difficult times. Taran’s contributions go beyond A-1 Hospitality, as he’s actively engaged in several industry boards and organizations including serving as the Northwest Regional Director for AAHOA.

Restaurateur of the Year Lisa Schroeder, Executive Chef/Owner, Mother’s Bistro & Bar Mother’s Bistro & Bar has grown over the years from a charming 90-seat restaurant on Stark Street to a beautiful 200-seat restaurant in the Embassy Suites by Hilton, garnering numerous accolades for the restaurant and its chef/owner from local and national publications. This kind of success doesn’t happen overnight, nor without years of hard work and determination. As Executive Chef and Owner of Mother’s Bistro, Lisa Schroeder has created a Portland institution, providing “better-than-authentic” renditions of traditional home-cooked dishes from recipes derived from real mothers in their own homes. Inspired by her own mother who was a hard-working single mom (and amazing in the kitchen), Lisa’s tenacity and passion for “Mother Food” helped her dream of opening Mother’s Bistro become reality. Running an awardwinning restaurant is certainly testament to Lisa’s determination and leadership, but she’s quick to recognize her amazing team and the culture they’ve built at Mother’s. Guests ‘feel at home’ with the welcoming ambiance, delicious comfort food, and hospitality-

focused service. “It’s all about the love” she says, acknowledging the nobleness of taking care of others’ needs first and making them comfortable. Lisa’s motherly instinct also extends to her community by actively participating in charitable causes and civic engagement. Lisa was recently recognized as Oregon Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Allied Partner of the Year Risk Strategies Company | Fournier Group (Pictured: Rob Hoover, VP, Business Development) Oregon’s hospitality industry is fortunate to have a large number of purveyors focused on providing the best products and services to help operators run a successful business. Risk Strategies Company | Fournier Group is one of those companies that stands out and deserves recognition for their exceptional service and innovative contributions to the industry. The team at Risk Strategies recently partnered with ORLA to launch a new member program, the Hospitality Insurance Program (HIP), to address property, casualty, and cyber insurance needs as well as save members money on premium costs. With rapidly increasing risk and liability exposures, Risk Strategies answered the call by helping business owners navigate the insurance landscape and providing tools to help them take better control of their business.

The HIP team recognizes that restaurant and lodging operators can’t be specialists in risk management, so they provide needed education and information, allowing operators to focus on their business.

These industry “champions” were nominated by their peers and recognized during the annual ORLA Hospitality Conference, held September 30-October 2 in Ashland. We applaud their passion and dedication, recognizing how each in their own way has helped raise the bar for service and excellence in Oregon’s hospitality industry.

In case you missed the event, visit YouTube.com/ORLAvideos to hear their stories. You are welcome and encouraged to nominate your own team member or colleague for the 2024 awards by visiting OregonRLA.org/nominate  LORI LITTLE, ORLA

OregonRLA.org 21

Women Leading the Way Meet six women in Oregon’s hospitality industry who are leading the way in their fields — and forging an easier path for those who will follow.

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he 2022 Women in Hospitality report from the AHLA Foundation found a promising trend: More and more women are taking on leadership roles at hospitality companies. Women now occupy an equal number of director positions as men, and one in four chief-level positions at hotel companies are held by women. Women in the restaurant industry also have a higher representation in management positions than they do in the overall economy according to the Bureau of Labor.

Oregon has long had some powerful women leading the way in hospitality. Here, we share the stories of six of them and gather their thoughts about how to bring even more women into powerful positions in the industry.

BRENNA LEECH Owner, Eugene Lodge and International Hostel Brenna Leech’s first career came to an end in the worst way possible. Though painful, that experience led to the career she believes she was meant to have as owner of the Eugene Lodge and International Hostel and mentor to others excited to find a home in hospitality.

When Leech finished high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force because she dreamed of being a fighter pilot and traveling the world. Three years later, she was medically discharged after she was sexually assaulted by her superior officer. “It really sent my life into a tailspin,” she said. “Travel and living the hostel lifestyle became my refuge and my sanctuary.”

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she found a home in Eugene, where she earned an MBA and master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon. Her next career foray was opening a coaching business, which helped her pursue her passion for helping small businesses, as well as starting a nonprofit and teaching at the UO.

22 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

When Leech began the process of buying a house, she discovered the Eugene Lodge and International Hostel was for sale. “Hostels are a dying breed in the U.S. because Americans are uncertain about the idea of communal lodging,” she said. “But they’re very important for international tourism. Lots of people are traveling between hostels along the West Coast.” Hostels are also a way for people to meet people and build relationships with folks from around the world — not to mention an important training ground for people interested in careers in lodging.

Since purchasing the property, Leech has tweaked the typical hostel model by bringing on three managers to help run the property and support the work-traders who traditionally supply much of the labor at hostels. The management team means the property is managed in a much more sustainable manner and allows the work-traders to be travelers first. “It becomes an augmentative experience — they get to come and learn about all elements of the hospitality industry — but it’s not their responsibility to make sure the hostel runs,” she said.

Leech, who was recently recognized for her contributions to the community as one of Eugene’s 20 Under 40, said using the hostel as a training ground and launch pad for women and fem-bodied individuals looking to take on greater leadership positions is hugely important to her. She acts as a mentor to her managers and provides them with extensive training. Some of this education is provided through her background as a coach and college professor.

She also takes advantage of training resources provided by organizations such as Lane Workforce Partnership.

Leech became an entrepreneur because she never wanted to be in a position where someone had power over her again. There’s nothing she likes more than helping other women become financially independent and feel like they have someone in their corner.

“Women make for incredible bosses because they understand people’s stories and think about how to implement psychological and physical safety,” she said, and she will continue to empower them to become leaders and managers in hospitality.

AMY GRAHAM COO/VP, Hoagland Properties Amy Graham, chief operating officer and vice president of Hoagland Properties, is a selfproclaimed “mama bear” who gives generously to the staff she considers family and is always willing to jump in when she sees a need. Hoagland’s mission statement, which is “to exceed guest expectations with a spotless, reasonably priced, well-appointed room and excellent service” influences everything Graham does, from how she conducts herself in the grocery store to what she does on the property each day.

Graham got her start in hospitality as a housekeeper for a hotel in Arkansas. Many years later, she took a position as a part-time bookkeeper for Hoagland, which owns hotels and apartment complexes in Florence, Oregon, and Utah. She and her husband served as live-in managers at one property for several years — one of the hardest things she’s ever done, she noted — before moving to Hawaii so he could pursue a job opportunity. When the couple returned to the mainland, Graham went back to her bookkeeping position. She accepted the role of COO and vice president in 2021.

In this new job, Graham manages the day-to-day activities at all Oregon properties (and stays in regular contact with the manager in Utah). Some days she’s in the office doing payroll; other days, she’s cleaning rooms or helping at the front desk. “I try and go above and beyond for all my staff,” she said. “We’re all a team and I want them to all feel like we’re family.” When one of Hoagland’s housekeepers contracted COVID-19 and couldn’t work for several months, Graham helped her apply for unemployment, took her grocery shopping and did chores around her house.

People sometimes believe women are pushovers and try to take advantage of them, Graham explained. This can be a trying experience for women in hospitality who are already trying to provide the best experience for staff and guests and may feel pushed to do even more. Graham certainly feels this pressure. “In the community, people don’t know me as Amy. They know me as the person who is COO for Hoagland Properties. Even when I go to the grocery store, I have to live up to our mission statement.”

To combat the pressures of this challenging yet rewarding industry, Graham believes it’s important for women to have mentors

who can help them learn to nurture their caring side while also standing up for what they need and pass on the skills they need to thrive in hospitality. “We have to be advocates for women and let them know there’s a place for them in this industry,” she said.

STEPHANIE THORNTON Executive Pastry Chef, Blue Star Donuts Stephanie Thornton’s first jobs as a pastry chef were at places where the “boys’ club” was a real thing and the worst behavior seen on TV cooking shows — chefs yelling and throwing things and otherwise engaging in bad behavior — was an occasional reality. At Blue Star Donuts, she’s been able to create a more nurturing environment for other pastry chefs as well as delicious sweets for people in Portland and beyond.

Thornton knew by the time she was 16 that she wanted to be a chef. She received a bachelor’s degree in baking and pastry at Johnson and Wales and took a job at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. “It was very eye-opening and amazing,” she said, despite the challenges she sometimes faced. “It really built my confidence that I would be able to move and work somewhere else and handle it.”

After four years of demanding work in New York, Thornton came across an ad for a pastry chef for a fledgling company in Portland called Blue Star Donuts. Since accepting the job offer in 2012, she’s led all recipe development, production operations, and played a critical role in the company’s expansion to other countries (Japan) and states (California). Recently, that expansion includes the development of a packaged product called Donut Bites that’s making its way into grocery stores across the country. Learning that sector of the food business added a whole new repertoire of skills.

“I never really saw myself as someone who was going to be that interested in gourmet donuts, but it gives me a clean slate and I get to do things differently and make my own flavors,” she said.

“There are not that many rules around donuts, so it’s always been new and interesting and fresh.”

Thornton counts her mom and husband as two of her biggest cheerleaders. “My mom is a bad-ass boss and always has been,” she said. “She’s always been my phone call when I’ve struggled.”

OregonRLA.org 23

Her husband, who also works in hospitality, has provided a sound support system. In addition, the team at Blue Star has helped her grow and become the type of manager she wants to be.

When asked how to bring more women into leadership positions in hospitality, Thornton noted, “I really find it important to grow leaders from inside the company. We try to be transparent and honest about the opportunities in the company and give people the skills to move up.”

Showcasing women in leadership positions in hospitality is also crucial, she said. “In pastry school, my instructors were primarily women, but all of my bosses until I was my own boss were men. It was very much a boys’ club. I’ve been consciously and unconsciously trying to break that mold with my own team.

Giving them an example of a female leader and chef is important.”

DHRUTI PATEL Vice President of Revenue and Sales, ALKO Hotels When Dhruti Patel was 7 years old, she could often be found sweeping parking lots or helping clean hotel rooms after school. Having grown up in the lodging industry, it might seem like a given that’s where her career would lead.

She escaped for a short period but found herself drawn back in thanks to mentorship, exploration and support from her family.

Patel’s parents have owned hotels in Eugene for as long as she can remember. She grew up in the live-in manager apartments in hotels and often pitched while her parents completed daily chores and deeper renovations around their properties. By the time she was 15, she had her first official job working the front desk.

Patel attended Oregon State University and earned a degree in management and policy, then received a master’s degree in revenue management from Cornell. “I always knew I wanted to be in hospitality. I just had to figure out my role,” she said. Working as a general manager at one of her parents’ hotels gave her exposure to many different positions within the business, which she appreciated. “That’s what I love about our industry is we have so many options and there’s so much room for growth. Most of our general managers started as night auditors or front desk managers.”

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While searching for her passion, Patel briefly left hospitality and worked in medical sales. Bruce Patel, a fellow hotel owner who served as her mentor for several years, helped her realize her love for lodging work and nail down her passions for working with people, sales, and numbers. That led to Patel returning to the family business in the role of vice president of revenue and sales.

Serving on boards has been crucial to her professional development, she noted. She is a past member of the Oregon Mozart Players board of directors, an ex-officio member of the ORLA board and sat on AAHOA’s women’s hotelier committee for several years. “We bring a lot of events to the Northwest region to engage women and provide education,” Patel noted.

She believes drawing more women into hospitality is very much about education. “It’s such a male dominated industry that it can be hard to bring women into a business and have them see they can take leadership positions,” she said. “We need to let women know what they’re able to achieve in hospitality and what steps to take to get into management positions.”

CECILIA RITTER JAMES Owner, Wild Pear Restaurant and Catering (pictured on the left with her late sister, partner, and founder, Jessica Ritter) Throughout her more than 30 years in hospitality, Cecilia Ritter James has never been afraid to speak her mind. In fact, it’s one of the attributes that has helped her become a leader in her own community and the hospitality industry statewide.

James was 17 when she took her first job at a café. She moved into management by the time she was 20 and opened her own business, Wild Pear Restaurant and Catering, with her sister a few years later. In later years, she helped launch Acme Café and Ritter’s Housemade Foods in downtown Salem.

One of the things James has done to establish a strong female leadership team is create a culture where it’s OK for women to be direct. “In my experience, people tend to expect from a woman that she says please and thank you for everything and asks people to do their job,” she said. While everybody should show appreciation when someone helps them, women shouldn’t

be expected to ask a person to do their job when a man can tell a person to do basic tasks.

“We let it be known up front in interviews what our expectations are and what our values system is,” she added. “We tell women to speak their mind because when you do that, you set your team up for success because they understand they’ll receive clear instructions and clear expectations.”

James also encourages female leaders to take a firm stand when they need to. She recounts a recent case where a manager knew she needed to fire an employee but put off doing it. When the employee was finally let go, it quickly became apparent that her job was much easier and the staff was much happier. “It was a reminder that you can still be a ‘mama bear’ and have care and consideration for people, but you’re not doing anyone any favors when you keep someone in a job they’re not destined to do,” she said. “You’re not helping them to realize what their true potential is and it brings the whole team down.”

James hopes hospitality industry professionals will continue to showcase women in leadership roles through social media, interviews, TV shows and other media, and any other place where they can be visible. “The environment now is more supportive for women leading in the front of house and back of house that it has ever been before,” she said. “When we let other women see that there are opportunities for them, it shows women they have career avenues to pursue and they shouldn’t be afraid to follow them.”

KATIE EGGE Co-Owner, 900 Wall (pictured on the left with business partner Cliff Eslinger) A person’s ability to flourish in business depends largely on their own actions and attitude. Katie Egge, coowner of 900 Wall in Bend, attributes her success to the following: “Working hard. Staying positive. Not giving up when things become challenging. Being in the right place at the right time with the right people.” Her last point is a nod to the fact that mentorship, support and allies can also play an important role in a person’s ability to be a business owner and leader.

Egge got interested in food and restaurants at a very young age.

“I remember in first grade doing a project in school about what we wanted to do when we grew up and my response was ‘own a donut shop’ — mostly because I love donuts,” she said. She taught herself to cook around the same time. A few years later, she began nurturing her entrepreneurial side by holding frequent garage sales.

Restaurants were a great way to support herself during college while she studied business entrepreneurship and fine art. After working in all kinds of restaurants in numerous cities, she landed in Bend in 2007 and began managing Merenda, which became 900 Wall in 2009. She, business partner Cliff Eslinger (who is also the chef ), and life partner Marcus Egge (the wine and bar manager) purchased the business in 2017.

Egge points to numerous people who helped her get to where she is today. Her partners have been tremendous mentors, especially Eslinger. “I have learned so much from him and he is always the person I turn to for advice,” she said. Mike Ellsworth, the previous owner of 900 Wall, played an important role in her journey from manager to owner. Egge is also quick to give credit to her family for always being there for her. “My mother was a single parent and taught me early in life to work hard, stay honest, be true to myself and treat people with respect. She and my stepmother are both strong, intelligent, independent women and they have both influenced me tremendously.”

Restaurants were very male dominated when Egge entered the industry at age 15. She remembers both management and the kitchen staff being overwhelming men until recently. She’s proud to work with several strong female managers now. “I try to support the fellow women I work with in any way I can, both professionally and personally,” she said.

In Egge’s view, the best way to bring more women into leadership positions in the hospitality industry is to “simply respect them, support them and listen to them. I'm very lucky to be in an environment that does not tolerate sexism and I'm hoping that the Me Too Movement and progressive thought will continue to fuel and empower women, particularly in leadership roles.”

Recruiting and keeping women in hospitality means creating an inclusive place where they feel a sense of belonging, the AHLA Foundation exhorted. As more women take on leadership roles and demonstrate that there is a path for others to learn and advance in their careers, that sense of belonging and empowerment will only grow stronger. Keep providing women with opportunities to grow and they will truly make a difference in hospitality.  SOPHIA BENNETT

OregonRLA.org 25

play it forward

More than 2,000 bars and restaurants in Oregon host Video Lottery and other lottery games—maybe including your business! If so, you’re earning dollars that help strengthen the bottom line, but you’re also doing so much more. By selling Oregon Lottery games, our retail partners generate funds that get passed to the places and programs that matter to Oregonians, from public schools to military veterans and more.

When you sell Oregon Lottery products, you’re playing it forward — for Oregon.

26 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

SISTERS FOR SUSTAINABILITY Lolo Pass Hotel Brings Style And Sustainability To Portland’s Eastside

Lauren Gonzalez and Lee Gonzalez, Lolo Pass Hotel, Portland IMAGE COURTESY OF: ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON

L

auren and Lee Gonzalez are a sister duo blazing trails toward the future of hospitality. Their idea for a hotelhostel hybrid shakes up the structure of a traditional hostel, attracting visitors of all kinds by offering a range of room types and price points. The Gonzalez sisters opened their first property of this type in New York. After witnessing the success of their New York hostel, The Local, they decided to bring their idea to Portland, Oregon. Thus, Lolo Pass was born.

When they decided to open Lolo Pass Hotel on Portland’s east side, sustainability was one of their top priorities. This passion came after the sisters witnessed the wastefulness of the hotel industry firsthand during their travels and endeavors. “It’s something we struggle with,” said Gonzalez. “Obviously, when people are traveling for leisure it’s energy that doesn’t necessarily need to be used and waste that doesn’t necessarily need to be made. We’ve always thought ‘how can we reduce our footprint?’”

With that in mind, the sisters chose to install energy-efficient equipment in their kitchen and coffee bar, even though it was slightly more expensive up front. For hostel owners, keeping expenses to a minimum is vital to ensuring an affordable stay for guests. Luckily, there are organizations designed to support business owners in their sustainability efforts. The Lolo Pass owners decided to work with one of these organizations, Energy Trust of Oregon, to minimize the costs of investing in energy efficiency equipment by earning cash incentives. The equipment also means the sisters will save valuable funds on utility costs, while reducing their energy waste.

Gonzalez said the timing made a big difference to their bottom line when Lolo Pass opened in the spring of 2021. “It came when we were right at the end of construction and hadn’t started making money yet. The bank account was dwindling toward zero before it started to go back up, so it was great to get that check.”

OregonRLA.org 27

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28 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

Lolo Pass Hotel, Portland IMAGE COURTESY OF: ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON

With all the challenges that the Gonzalez’s faced opening a new hotel during the pandemic—from construction delays to staff shortages to frequently changing COVID-safety rules—they were relieved to find that incorporating energy efficiency and saving took minimal effort.

“For people who are starting businesses to have this kind of money come back is super valuable,” said Gonzalez.

Beyond that, she said, the new appliances contribute to the heart of what makes Lolo Pass special. “The kitchen and the coffee bar are the touchstones in our lobby. For us it’s really important that the space is a place for neighbors as well as travelers. It’s a gathering place for guests to meet each other and a place to draw the locals in, too.”

Since opening, Lolo Pass has been consistently ranked as a top spot by distinguished publications like Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and The Today Show. Lolo Pass features a café, restaurant,

bar and seasonal rooftop bar, amenities that aim to honor the beloved food and beverage scene of Portland. Additionally, the hotel features an art gallery, a guest kitchen, and a programming calendar designed to help guests experience all that the city has to offer. While it’s easy to praise Lolo Pass Hotel for its sleek interior, mouth-watering menu or abundant amenities, it’s important to recognize the passion behind the property.

The Gonzalez sisters are an inspirational pair of women in the industry, as they bring secure, sustainable and communitycentered hospitality to Portland.  ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON ABOUT Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Oregonians benefit from saving energy and tapping renewable resources. If you are interested in reducing costs through energy efficiency, visit energytrust.org/existingbuildings or email existingbuildings@energytrust.org.

OregonRLA.org 29

$600 million

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30 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

888-549-1130

THE WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT More Than 98% of Oregon Employers Miss Out On Thousands of Dollars

I

n June 2023, Oregon’s Secretary of State reported 515,945 active businesses in the state. Yet, only a fraction of these businesses – 9,428 to be exact – are enrolled with the Oregon Employment Department’s Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) system, which helps businesses get tax benefits when they hire new employees. This stark difference suggests that many Oregon employers might be unaware of the potential savings they could be getting.

• Household member of a family who received SNAP for the previous six months

Understanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) So, what is WOTC? Essentially, it’s a hiring incentive, in the form of payroll tax credit, for employers to hire individuals who have consistently faced barriers to employment. If a newly hired employee (they must be new to the company) meets the criteria for one of the eligible categories, and the employer promptly sends in the proper forms to their state Workforce Agency, the employer can then claim a tax credit. This credit can be anywhere from $1,500 to $9,600 for each eligible hire. Best of all, there’s no limit on how many of these credits a company can get. This means businesses could potentially save a lot of money!

• Household member of a family who received Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) assistance for at least 18 months within the previous two years

Are your applicants eligible?

To benefit from WOTC, new hires need to fall within certain eligibility categories. These include: • Veterans who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits • Veterans discharged within the last year and have a 10 percent or higher disability rating • Veterans discharged within the last year and have a 10 percent or higher disability rating AND were unemployed at least six months

• Received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for any month ending within last 60 days • Unemployed for at least 27 consecutive weeks and received unemployment compensation for at least part of that time

The exact amount of tax credit depends on the qualifying category and how many hours the new hire works in their first year.

Employees must work a minimum of 120 hours to qualify for the lowest tax credit tier, and then it goes up from there by category. If they work 400 hours or more, the credit increases as well.

The WOTC application process: Simpler than you might think!

You may wonder if applying for WOTC is a complicated process.

Luckily, it is not! Oregon has streamlined the process through an online portal, which employers can easily set up with a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and contact information.

Here’s a brief overview of the process: • During the hiring process, complete the ETA 8850 form for applicants you’re considering.

• Once you’ve decided to hire, during the onboarding process, complete the ETA 9061 form no later than the applicant’s first day of work.

• Submit both forms online within 28 days of the employee’s start date.

• Veterans unemployed for at least four weeks within the last year • Veterans unemployed for at least six months within the last year • Household member of a family who received Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) assistance for nine of the previous 18 months • Convicted of a felony or released from prison within the last year • Participating in or completed a vocational rehabilitationapproved plan within the last two years OR is a “ticket holder” under the Ticket to Work program

Completing both forms should take about 70 minutes. By investing this time, you could end up saving thousands of dollars AND help someone get a job who really needs it.

It’s a mystery why numerous employers either don’t know about WOTC or have not changed their hiring process to use it. WOTC has been around since 1996 and benefits not only businesses, but people eager to work. By sharing this knowledge, we hope to encourage more employers to take advantage of this opportunity!

Visit www.OregonTaxCredit.org for more information.  CELINA KIRNBERGER, OREGON EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT

OregonRLA.org 31

Don’t you owe it to your business to take a second look?

Results show it pays!

HP

GET HIP:

The association’s Hospitality Insurance Program (HIP) powered

by Risk Strategies’ Fournier Group. This program serves ALL the industry and ORLA Members receive a free comprehensive review of their insurance and risk management programs.

• To date, average savings delivered by HIP are 15% or $5,600 per location.

• In addition to premium savings, our audit process has discovered that 60% of the polices we reviewed had significant coverage deficiencies. These deficiencies would have resulted in lower insurance payouts than expected.

EXAMPLES OF MEMBER RESULTS RESTAURANTS

• Family-style restaurant: 20% liquor, $1.4M in sales, $10,500 premium, saved $4,900 • Multi-location restaurant: 30% liquor, $6.3M in sales, $41,735 premium, saved $20,844

BARS/TAVERNS

• Neighborhood bar, no entertainment: 80% liquor, $1M sales, $38,000 premium, saved $4,300 • Neighborhood bar, no entertainment: 70% liquor, $1.2M sales, $18,500 premium, saved $3,300

HOTEL/MOTEL/LODGES

• Seasonal lodge resort: $50,500 premium, saved $9,500 • Coastal motel: $11,500 premium, saved $2,000

INTERESTED IN A FREE SECOND LOOK? Contact us: Jacob Pierron 503-820-3471 Rob Hoover 503-577-3872 GetHip@FourierGroup.com | www.GetHip.biz 32 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

IT’S YOUR BUSINESS: Preparing For Fall, Winter, And The Unexpected

W

ith summer travel behind us, preparing for changes in weather, daylight, and unexpected business interruptions is a priority.

Now is a great time to take a look around the exterior of your business with a focus on safety for guests and employees. Whether you own the property, or are renting or leasing, having a checklist specific to your business location will be a great way to prioritize maintenance and repair concerns before an incident occurs.

CHECK YOUR EXTERIOR: • Driveways, parking lots, sidewalks • Exterior lights (bulbs and fixtures) • Stair rails and treads • Security cameras • Gutters and downspouts • Entry floors and rugs • Signage Discuss and plan for natural disasters, severe weather, a nearby incident, and facility issues. Are you prepared for any situation? Develop a plan for your business and employees and communicate frequently about how the following situations should be handled at your location(s). Identify key contacts for each shift. Make sure your business address, emergency procedures, and emergency/after-hours contacts and phone numbers are easy for employees to locate, but not visible to customers or the public.

BE PREPARED FOR: • Snow and ice • Rain and flooding • Wildfires and smoke • Earthquakes • Power outages, utility issues • Severe wind • Nearby security/law enforcement/fire/chemical incident

Schedule time each quarter to train employees and discuss your emergency preparedness. Remind them to keep their keys and ID with them at all times. In the event they can’t return to your business, they can go home, use services, or access bank accounts.

HERE ARE FOUR THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: Pack a go-bag. Keep a kit handy with essential supplies. Here’s a great resource for what to include. ready.gov/kit.

Designate a contact person. A clear communication plan is vital at work and at home. You need to make sure designated individuals know the emergency plan for your business or facility and can communicate in languages understood by all employees. https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan Know your route. Identify places where staff and guests could take shelter or meet during an emergency. Be familiar with alternate routes and means of transportation. Practice designated routes for disasters such as tsunamis, floods, and fires; be prepared to evacuate on foot if necessary.

Fill your tank. Keep your car at least half full of gas at all times; stations may be closed or unable to pump during a power outage. If you don’t have a car, plan how you will leave if needed.

Make arrangements with family, friends, coworkers, or local transportation agencies.

Search for additional resources for emergency preparedness and response, including how to make a plan for your workplace, at saif.com/safetyandhealth. Other business-related toolkits can be found at ready.gov/business. www.saif.com/safety.  SAIF CORPORATION

OregonRLA.org 33

CREATE A CULTURE OF FOOD SAFETY Train Your Team with ORLA’s ServSafe® Manager Training • training to protect against foodborne illness • covers FDA Food Code / Oregon Food Code • meets the “Demonstration of Knowledge” requirement • meets “Person in Charge” requirement • meets “Food Handler” requirement • certification is valid for 5 years PRIVATE COURSES

If you have 20 or more employees for the ServSafe course, and you have a classroom setting, we can provide the trainer at no additional cost!

Companies may also combine employee groups to meet the 20-person minimum. Contact Paul Folkestad at ORLA for details at 503.753.3696.

IN-PERSON COURSES

Join other industry professionals for in-person instruction and testing. Classes are usually held throughout the state on Mondays. Find dates at OregonRLA.org/ServSafe.

UPCOMING IN-PERSON CLASSES:

• Monday October 9, Wilsonville • Monday October 16, Eugene • Monday October 23, Wilsonville • Monday November 13, Eugene • Monday November 13, Wilsonville • Monday November 27, Wilsonville • Monday December 11, Eugene • Monday December 11, Wilsonville

REGISTER TODAY:

OregonRLA.org/ServSafe 34 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

ORLA’S SERVSAFE® MANAGER CERTIFICATION COURSE Help your managers protect against foodborne illness outbreaks.

LODGING PERFORMANCE Hotel Benchmark Data The information contained in this report is provided by STR. For detailed lodging performance data for your area, contact STR at 615.824.8664 ext. 3504 or info@str.com. ORLA members can log in to access to monthly reports on OregonRLA.org in the Resource Library.

Occupancy (%)

MONTH - JULY 2023 VS JULY 2022 Avg Rm Rate ($)

RevPAR ($)

Percent Change from July 2022

2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 Occ ADR RevPAR Room

Rev

Room

Room

United States

69.1

69.5

160.31

158.26

110.80

109.91

-0.5

1.3

0.8

1.1

0.2

-0.2

Pacific

74.2

75.4

214.95

216.58

159.44

163.30

-1.6

-0.8

-2.4

-2.0

0.4

Oregon

72.7

73.5

170.56

171.73

124.07

126.18

-1.0

-0.7

-1.7

-2.3

-0.7

-1.7

Eastern+

66.8

70.6

130.18

127.87

87.00

90.22

-5.3

1.8

-3.6

-3.5

0.1

-5.2

Central+

77.6

77.1

227.70

220.79

176.60

170.31

0.5

3.1

3.7

5.4

1.7

2.2

Southern+

74.6

77.0

143.44

149.25

106.94

114.96

-3.2

-3.9

-7.0

-5.5

1.6

-1.7

Willamette Valley+

75.1

76.8

168.61

178.98

126.66

137.42

-2.2

-5.8

-7.8

-9.8

-2.1

-4.2

MT Hood/Gorge+

77.1

79.6

182.96

178.34

141.01

142.01

-3.2

2.6

-0.7

-3.0

-2.3

-5.5

Portland Metro+

69.3

68.7

148.30

151.11

102.73

103.87

0.8

-1.9

-1.1

-2.6

-1.5

-0.7

Coast+

76.2

77.2

213.08

206.61

162.26

159.48

-1.3

3.1

1.7

1.2

-0.5

-1.9

YEAR TO DATE - JULY 2023 VS JULY 2022 Occupancy (%)

Avg Rm Rate ($)

2023

2022

2023

2022

US 63.8 Pacific 67.2 Oregon 60.1 Eastern+ 55.4 Central+ 59.3 Southern+ 58.3 Valley+ 62.7 Hood/Grg+ 62.4 Metro+ 61.7 Coast+ 57.6

62.6 67.1 62.0 61.8 63.5 64.5 67.0 64.5 59.3 61.0

155.41 197.15 139.99 110.10 158.10 116.47 138.19 142.54 138.18 160.40

147.53 189.16 135.71 104.64 154.42 119.97 134.62 139.85 131.83 154.30

RevPAR ($) 2023

99.13 132.54 84.10 61.01 93.82 67.93 86.67 89.02 85.33 92.47

Avail

Sold -1.2

PARTICIPATION

Percent Change from YTD 2022

Room 2022 Occ ADR RevPAR

Rev 92.38 1.9 5.3 7.3 7.6 126.84 0.3 4.2 4.5 5.0 84.08 -3.0 3.2 0.0 -0.6 64.72 -10.4 5.2 -5.7 -5.2 98.09 -6.6 2.4 -4.3 -3.5 77.36 -9.6 -2.9 -12.2 -9.6 90.26 -6.5 2.6 -4.0 -6.3 90.17 -3.1 1.9 -1.3 -3.2 78.16 4.1 4.8 9.2 7.9 94.16 -5.5 4.0 -1.8 -3.3

Properties

Room

Room

Avail 0.2 0.4 -0.6 0.6 0.9 2.9 -2.5 -1.9 -1.2 -1.5

Sold 2.1 0.7 -3.6 -9.9 -5.7 -6.9 -8.7 -5.0 2.9 -6.9

Rooms

Census Sample

Census

63528 9493 1030 100 88 167 160 34 243 235

5624302 4254953 817072 627588 70281 51870 5051 3244 6069 4339 8749 52911 10572 7745 2252 1881 26617 24291 11244 5839

37346 4820 543 49 55 67 92 23 185 79

Sample

RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT Willamette Valley Wage Trends The following data, sourced from Lightcast, is provided by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation. Lightcast offers a hybrid dataset derived from official government sources such as the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The following illustrates trends in wage rates for specific job postings in the Willamette Valley (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics dataset).

WAGE DATA

6 MONTH INCREASE

1 YEAR INCREASE

2 YEAR INCREASE

Cooks, Restaurants

0%

6.81%

7.2%

Cooks, Fast Food

-1.39%

.05%

14.85%

Food Prep

1.63%

6.95%

16.75%

Busser

0%

8.8%

15.94%

Server (Full Service)

-1.64

10.91

22.04%

Want the full report with wage data included?

ORLA members can log in to OregonRLA.org and access regional Lightcast reports in the Resource Library.

OregonRLA.org 35

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Visit SyscoFoodie.com

36 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

NEWS BRIEFS Happenings From Around the Industry

Welcome, New Leaders

The annual member meeting during ORLA’s Hospitality Conference every fall is the time of year when we officially vote in ORLA members to serve as new directors on the board. As of October 1, we expect to formally welcome Cheri Helt (Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails in Bend), Liz Dahlager (Mereté Hotel Management), Jim Smith (Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Southern Oregon), Justin Freeman (Bagel Sphere in Eugene), Alkesh Patel (Evergreen Hospitality in Portland Metro), and Gillian Duff (El Gaucho in Portland) as board members. We also want to thank Dani Rosendahl, Masudur Khan, Tom O’ Shea, John Barofsky, Eli Katkin, and Emma Dye for their service on the board during their terms.

Best Practice Guide for Fire Response

Always Ready: Fire is the latest in a series of restaurantspecific guides designed to help restaurant owners and operators evaluate their risks and create a fire response plan. This new resource produced by the National Restaurant Association pulls best practices from official sources and restaurant operators including content on risk assessment, insurance, prevention, and communications.

Download the guide from the Resource Library available at Restaurant.org.

Member Portal: Intelligence & Resources a Click Away

One of ORLA’s new projects in alignment with our strategic plan is to make wage reports for various restaurant and lodging job types available to members.

These regional wage reports, made possible by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation with data from Lightcast, are available in ORLA’s Resource Library on OregonRLA.org.

In addition, you’ll find more industry intelligence and research including lodging performance reports, issue briefs, and tip pooling and compensation solutions.

As a benefit, members can access this data by logging in to ORLA’s website and clicking on the Additional Resources tab.

Restaurant Employee Development Training

ORLA developed a new training module in partnership with Train 321 which provides a whole new array of video training suites to ORLA members and their teammates. With thousands of new faces in the industry, our new training modules will allow managers and supervisors to create suites of video courses for completion by staff. The platform offers a variety of courses for front of house (FOH) and back of house (BOH) instruction including Front and Back of House 101, Bartending and Service Basics, Kitchen Staff and Safety Basics, and more. Learn more at OregonRLA.org/Train321

AAHOA Swings for Foundation Support

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) held its Northwest Region Charity Golf Tournament on August 14 at the Reserve Vineyard & Golf Club. Since its inception, AAHOA has engaged with local communities by supporting charitable organizations that provide services ranging from education to humanitarian efforts. The Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) was fortunate to be one of the four recipients of the funds raised from this annual tournament this year. We are grateful for the partnership with AAHOA and their shared focus on industry workforce development programs. To learn more about OHF activities, visit OregonRLA.org/workforce blog.

OregonRLA.org 37

WHAT YOUR PEERS ARE SAYING Meet Some Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Members

M

embership in ORLA means being part of the only organization in the state devoted to protecting and promoting the interests of our industry. It’s all of us together that makes that possible.

Get inspired by these peer profiles where members share about women who have inspired them, and their methods to create a strong team culture. And for a little fun, we also wanted to know about their first hospitality job and favorite book right now.

Tell Your Peers a Little About You! If you are a member, and are willing to be profiled here, please email us at info@OregonRLA.org. Also, let us know if there is a question you would like to see your peers answer.

GET TO KNOW SOME OF YOUR PEERS BY READING THEIR RESPONSES TO THESE EMPLOYEE RELATED QUESTIONS:

Who do you recognize as an inspiring female leader?

What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

MOLLY SHAUGHNESSY Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine Ashland

Title: Restaurant Manager & Sommelier Joined the Company: 2019 Member Since: 2008 First Hospitality Job: Hostess Current Fav Book: Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara Who do you recognize as an inspiring female leader and why?

Cathy Corison – She paved the way for women in the wine industry and makes some incredible wine. She even takes the time to come visit Ashland!

What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

We have fun! Work shouldn’t be overly stressful or dreadful. I am constantly finding ways for my team to enjoy what they do night in and night out.

PHADRA CHAPPELL Holiday Inn Express Downtown University, Eugene

Title: General Manager Joined the Company: 2005 Member Since: 2006 First Hospitality Job: Housekeeping Attendant Current Fav Book: Conversations With Tom Petty, Paul Zollo and Tom Petty What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

Conversing with team members, sharing relatable experiences and often giving each other feedback provides an opportunity to develop strong working relationships that build trust/respect for one another.

38 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

REBECCA "BECKI" FILAN Escape Lodging, Cannon Beach

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Partner Joined the Company: 2002 Member Since: 1957 First Hospitality Job: Corporate Management Company Current Fav Book: Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus Who do you recognize as an inspiring female leader and why?

I choose Oprah Winfrey, a woman who overcame many obstacles to reach her goals.

She is smart. She is involved. She works hard and cares hard!

What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

We strive to show how much we value each other across the company regardless of the job description.

KARI WESTLUND Travel Lane County, Eugene (Cascades & Coast)

Title: President & CEO Started the Company: 1996 First Hospitality Job: Washing motorcoaches Current Fav Book: Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World, Lauren Fleshman What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

Our values are aligned. We collaborate and communicate, aspire to do great work in service to industry and community, and take pride in our team.

TINA TIEDEMANN Bullseye Pub, Portland and The Spot Sports Bar & Grill, Tigard

Title: Owner Started the Companies: 2013; 2023 Member Since: 2016 First Hospitality Job: Hostess / Dishwasher Current Fav Book: The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

I prioritize employee happiness and work-life balance. We're a supportive family, always there for each other. I never ask my staff to do anything I wouldn't do.

CHERI HELT Zydeco Kitchen and Cocktails, Bend

Title: Co-owner Started the Company: 2004 Member Since: 2021 First Hospitality Job: Wendy’s, 15-year-old Current Fav Book: Habits What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

We support our Zydeco family by listening and showing up for each other. Our team is always there cheering each other on with encouragement and support

YOUR NAME HERE

Tell your peers about yourself! Would you like to be profiled in the next issue of Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association magazine?

Reach out to Lori Little at LLittle@OregonRLA.org Not yet a member? By banding together we make Oregon's hospitality industry stronger.

Visit OregonRLA.org/membership to see the many benefits of membership and join today!

LIZ DAHLAGER Mereté Hotel Management, Springfield

Title: Executive Vice President Joined the Company: 2009 Member Since: 1997 First Hospitality Job: Front Desk Associate at Resort at the Mountain Current Fav Book: No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement and Drive Big Results, Cy Wakeman Who do you recognize as an inspiring female leader and why?

Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer at IHG Hotels and Resorts because of her role in expanding opportunity for women in hotel development, and how she leads with grace and humor. She inspires me to keep going when I feel like I’ve hit an obstacle that is too big to overcome.

What is one thing your organization does to cultivate a strong team culture?

We do a monthly corporate “huddle” – like a hotel daily huddle but for our corporate staff. We review the latest company-wide stats just like a hotel might, as well as have a fun activity or theme. A different department leader leads it each month.

OregonRLA.org 39

HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU?

MEMBER SOLUTIONS Save Time and Money with ORLA’s Cost-Saving Member Programs | OregonRLA.org

Membership in ORLA means being a part of the only organization in the state devoted to protecting and promoting the interests of the entire hospitality industry. Contact us for questions; let us know what issues are affecting your business and how we can help. We have your back!

MEMBERSHIP CONTACTS:

STEVEN SCARDINA Regional Representative 503.718.1495 SScardina@OregonRLA.org

PREFERRED PARTNERS WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE ORLA’s group program with SAIF affords members an additional 10% premium discount if they meet the eligibility requirements.

TERRY HOPKINS Regional Representative 541.441.2219 THopkins@OregonRLA.org

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND IT SUPPORT ORLA Members receive up to 30-40% off the everyday price on select Dell products. Members can also receive round-the-clock access to IT help with ProSupport, only from Dell.

MARLA McCOLLY Director of Business Development 503.428.8694 MMcColly@OregonRLA.org

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING ORLA Members get a discounted flat swiped rate of 2.3% + .05 a transaction, plus additional fees waived and tools to run your business more efficiently.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

JASON BRANDT President & CEO 503.302.5060 JBrandt@OregonRLA.org GREG ASTLEY Director of Government Affairs 503.851.1330 Astley@OregonRLA.org MAKENZIE MARINEAU GA and Regional Leadership Teams Coordinator 541.404.0033 MMarineau@OregonRLA.org GLENDA HAMSTREET Executive Coordinator Government Affairs 971.224.1509 GHamstreet@OregonRLA.org

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS INSURANCE: HIP ORLA Members receive a free audit of insurance and risk management programs and can save an average of 10-15%.

NATIONAL PARTNERS

MUSIC LICENSING ORLA Members can save 10% on first year annual fee.

MUSIC LICENSING ORLA Members can save up to 20% off their music licensing fees.​​

HOSPITALITY PARTNERS

OREGON RESTAURANT & LODGING ASSOCIATION MAIN OFFICE: ​​

503.682.4422 • info@OregonRLA.org

40 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

Find additional member-to-member exclusive cost-saving offers and benefits aimed at improving your bottom line online at OregonRLA.org/hospitality-partners • Adesso Capital • Garth T. Rouse & Associates • HR Annie Consulting • My Accounting Team • Oregonian | OregonLive • Paylocity • Ubiquity

NEW MEMBERS ORLA Would Like To Welcome The Following New Members From May 2023 – July 2023

• Atmosphere TV, Austin, TX

• Econo Lodge S.E., Milwaukie

• Pizzicato, Portland

• Black Forest Restaurant, Grants Pass

• Jefe Mex, Lake Oswego

• Qdoba Mexican Grill, Corvallis

• Café Yumm!, Keizer

• Jorns ERC Consultants, Gresham

• Refettorio Consulting, Cloverdale

• Cascara Vacation Rentals, Sunriver

• Kachka, Portland

• River Pig Saloon, Portland

• Classic Billiards Inc, Portland

• MDI North LLC, Portland

• SCP Redmond Hotel, Redmond

• Columbia Pacific Brokerage, Milwaukie

• Morrton's, Medford

• Sea Gypsy Rentals LLC, Lincoln City

• Domino's, Sandy

• Palms Motor Hotel, Portland

• SilverChef, Mountlake Terrace, WA

• Don Pancho, Salem

• Parker Smith & Feek, Portland

• Washington Street Steakhouse, Dallas

Where to go for training O

O R L AT R A I N I N G . O R G

R LA TR A IN IN G .O R

The Only Industry Training That Supports Oregon Hospitality!

G

CHECK OUT OUR TRAINING SUITE:        

Oregon Food Handler Oregon Alcohol Server Guest Service Gold Tourism: Oregon Edition Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy Responsible Gaming Training for Retailers ServSafe® Manager ServSafe Allergens ServSafe Workplace: Sexual Harassment Prevention

   

ServSafe Workplace: Understanding Unconscious Bias ServSuccess: Certified Restaurant Professional ServSuccess: Certified Restaurant Supervisor ServSuccess: Certified Restaurant Manager

NEW:  Professional Development for Restaurant Employees with Train 321 Suite of Online Video Courses

OregonRLA.org 41

M A R K YO U R C A L E N D A R : Tuesday, Feb 20 • 4:30 PM | Salem Convention Center

PRESENTED BY

Make plans to celebrate Oregon Hospitality in 2024 at ORLA & AAHOA’s annual Taste Oregon Legislative Reception, presented by Oregon Beverage Association. Enjoy fine cuisine and beverages from around our state while mingling with restaurant and lodging industry professionals at this hosted reception. This is the industry’s unique opportunity to meet with some of Oregon’s policymakers and shapers for casual conversations and the chance to share personally the impact our industry has on our state's economy and livability.

OregonRLA.org/Events SPONSORS PRESENTING

CO-HOSTS SUPPORTING

42 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023

LOOKING AHEAD Visit OregonRLA.org for event details and registration.

SUNDAY

1

MONDAY

2

TUESDAY

3

WEDNESDAY

4

THURSDAY

5

FRIDAY

6

SATURDAY

7

ORLA Hospitality Conference

8

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

31

1

2

3

4

OCTOBER 2023

ServSafe Class, Wilsonville

15 ServSafe Class, Eugene

22

ServSafe Class, Wilsonville

29

Halloween

30

Day of the Dead

NOVEMBER 2023

Daylight Savings Ends

Diwali

5

7

8

9

10

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

1

2

8

9

12

6

Election Day

ServSafe Classes, Eugene, Wilsonville

Thanksgiving

Veterans Day

11

DECEMBER 2023

ServSafe Class, Wilsonville

3

4

5

6

7

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

18

19

20

21

22

23

25 Kwanzaa

26

27

28

29

30

Hanukkah begins

ServSafe Classes, Eugene, Wilsonville

17 Christmas Eve

24

New Year's Eve

31

Christmas Day

OregonRLA.org 43

Make Plans to Take Part in the 2024 Northwest Food Show

TOUCH, TASTE, & TRY NEW SOLUTIONS!

JOIN THE INDUSTRY • APRIL 21-22 For over 60 years, the Northwest Food Show has been bringing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry buyers and sellers together in what is now the largest and best known business-to-business foodservice event in the Pacific Northwest.

L A N YA R D SPONSOR:

PRODUCED BY

Local Chef Sponsor: Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council

N W F O O D S H O W. C O M

44 Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | AUTUMN 2023