InTouch | January 2021

Save the date! Restaurant Week South Carolina is an 11-day celebration at hundreds of participating restaurants. From fine to casual dining, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions and discounts.

Learn more at RestaurantWeekSouthCarolina.com.

Restaurants are becoming ‘scapegoat for reflexive shutdowns’

The National Restaurant Association is refuting claims that restaurants are contributing to the uptick in coronavirus cases nationwide, saying that they have become a “convenient scapegoat for reflexive shutdowns.”

The NRA issued a letter to the National Governors Association claiming that there is “no scientific evidence” linking restaurants around the country— which they say operate within the Association’s COVID-19 Safe Operating Guidance and follow local public health safety regulations—to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Tom Bené, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, said that “data tying systemic community outbreaks of COVID-19 to restaurants has yet to emerge” and restaurants “are too commonly labeled as ‘super-spreaders.’”

The letter comes as the nation struggles to rebound from a now-resurgent coronavirus. The fresh load of cases is delivering yet another blow to an industry reeling from lockdowns and occupancy restrictions. And with fears surrounding the virus, it remains unclear how readily Americans will return en masse to dining out.

SCRLA Member Spotlight

Meet Jimmy Moore and the Heartland Team—Proudly Serving South Carolina’s Hospitality Industry Since 2000

As proud members of SCRLA, each and every day brings a new opportunity to help provide a service to a member or potential member across the Palmetto state.

“Leading with Heart’’ is the mindset and driver defining how choose to lead our South Carolina Payments and Payroll Division at Heartland. While this year has been much about perseverance for many, for me it’s been more about empathy, serving people, and meeting people where they are — with both employees, customers, partners and, of course, members and non-members alike.

Engaging people with a spirit of contribution versus selling a service continues to be most important. We are becoming better listeners. Businessowners and people in general can tell when we are genuine and truly care about their best interests. This is where it starts and finishes for me. When there is rapport and a trust foundation the possibilities are endless of what we can all do together. I’m proud we were able to fund an estimated $7 million for South Carolina businesses in PPP loans through Heartland Capital. Our team has been able to migrate many restaurants to a free 90-day online ordering system, or temporary free payroll & HR services, which helped many through some tough times. Providing contactless payments, electronic onboarding and other safety oriented pivots this year has been meaningful for work for our team; for this I’m grateful.

This is the way for us at Heartland; and certainly the foundation during this most unique year—a year that we will talk about for the rest of our lives. Here at Heartland, gratitude is a big part of the everyday conversation. Heartland’s current CSO MIke Brodnick, who used to lead the SC Division, opens and closes every national sales call sharing the things he is most grateful for in his personal and professional life, and encourages others to do the same. Former SC Heartland Division Manager and now South Atlantic VP, Brian Riley, shares this same belief. While things may sometimes seem hard for us as individu-

als or organizations we realize we are so very privileged and blessed in many ways. Heartland often uses the hashtag #GladToBeHere.

Our Relationship Managers and Senior Product Advisors (our W-2 payment processing and payroll/HR specialists) are located around the state and consistently engage restaurant and hotel owners each and every day searching for ways to improve efficiencies and streamline technology integration.

Membership is important! For Heartland it dates back to about 20 years as members and supporters of the SCRLA. In fact, I was the Sales and Marketing Director with SCRLA, then the South Carolina Hospitality Association, between 1999-2004, helping link Heartland and the association to create a new member benefit for Payment Processing. This included fair and fully disclosed pricing with localized personal service. In 2005 our family relocated to Tampa Bay Area, and I spent 10 years in the Florida market with Heartland. I was heavily involved with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, where I served on their Allied Member State Board along with their Marketing Council.

Heartland is home for me. I believe in our WHY: “entrepreneurs respectfully serving other entrepreneurs”. I remain so passionate about the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships revolved around business solutions with high value on people.

Join us for STARS of the Hospitality Industry Awards on February 1

The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association will host its 68th Annual Stars of South Carolina Hospitality Awards on Monday, February 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia.

We are excited to announce that Chip Rogers, President and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), will be the keynote for our Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon.

“There is an unfounded impression that restaurants are part of the problem, and we are suffering as a result of inconsistent, restrictive mandates,” Bené said.

His rebuttal comes just after the CDC reported that adults who test positive for coronavirus are twice as likely to have reported dining at restaurants within the past two weeks, whether it’s indoor, patio or outdoor seating.

Evidence pointing to a higher likelihood of contraction hinges on activities where masks are not worn and there are greater threats to exposure, including on-site eating or drinking. The CDC advised that efforts to reduce possible exposure at these types of locations “should be considered to protect customers, employees and communities.”

The Stars of South Carolina Hospitality Awards celebrate the exceptional professionalism and outstanding service of top individuals in the hospitality industry.

“Although these are difficult times, that makes it even more important to take advantage of opportunities to celebrate outstanding accomplishments. That’s one reason why we are looking forward so very much to honoring the best-of-the-best in the South Carolina’s hospitality industry,” said John Durst, SCRLA’s President and CEO. “Honoring exceptional work—which exemplifies the highest standards and best practices of the hospitality industry on a daily basis—will be a special, memorable occasion for our industry.”

To purchase your tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit scrla.org/SCRLA_Stars_21.

2020 ANd the ImpAct of covId-19

bY the NUmbeRs IN soUth cARolINA

The hospitality industry is reeling from the ongoing health crisis and the economic fallout accompanying it.

Our industry was one among the first impacted by the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover. We are a major economic driver, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions in tax revenue.

We have worked non-stop and tirelessly to speed recovery and build on our

mARch 17

Closed dine-in operations

FAmIlIes fIRst coRoNavIRUs RespoNse Act

4 Phase 1: Reopen for outdoor seating

industry’s resilience. We as an industry have crawled, walked and are now breaking into a trot.

Initiatives launched at the federal, state and local levels have pointed us in the right direction.

MARKETPLACE

INSURANCE

Pinckney Carter

Provided funding for free coronavirus testing, 14-day paid leave for American workers affected by the pandemic, and increased funding for food stamps. This bill was signed into law on March 18.

As we continue to use best practices and work together, we will be greeting more and more guests and demonstrating in every way that, “We’re glad you’re here.” oN JUlY 1, pAlmetto pRIoRItY wAs lAUNched IN collAboRAtIoN wIth scpRt ANd dhec. thIs RestAURANt commItmeNt wAs AImed At INstIllINg coNfIdeNce wIth RestAURANt-goeRs As theY choose dINe-IN seRvIce At RestAURANts AcRoss the stAte.

coRoNavIRUs AId, RelIef & ecoNomIc secURItY (cARes) Act

A $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill was signed into law on March 27.

paycheck pRotectIoN pRogRAm ANd heAlth cARe eNhANcemeNt Act

A $484 billion law that increased funding to the Paycheck Protection Program and also provided more funding for hospitals and testing for COVID-19. This bill was signed into law on April 24.

OPERATIONAL

Dining

Additionally, more than 50,000 masks, 250 gallons of hand sanitizer and $5,000 in gift cards were distributed to SCRLA members.