InTouch | November 2022

INtouch

PO Box 7577, Columbia, SC 29202

november 2022

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ANNUAL

MEETING

Save the Dates!

JANUARY 18, 2023

2023 SCRLA ANNUAL MEETING IN JANUARY The SCRLA will host its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia. The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m.

VISIT SCRLA.ORG/EVENTS OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER TODAY.

The Annual Meeting is free to attend and open to all SCRLA members who are in good standing. Advanced registration is required.

UPCOMING EVENTS January 12-22 Restaurant Week South Carolina Statewide

During this meeting, we will elect new board members, make important decisions regarding the Association, and inform SCRLA members of present and future activities.

SCRLA News

2023 SC PROSTART INVITATIONAL IN MARCH

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEEKING NOMINATIONS

The South Carolina ProStart Invitational will take place March 5-7, 2023 at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront.

The Nominating Committee of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association is seeking highly motivated and qualified candidates to serve on its Board of Directors.

Make plans to attend the competition to talk with the teachers and students to learn more about the ProStart Program.

To register for this event or to volunteer, please email Christal VanWickler at christal@ scrla.org or visit scrla.org/events.

The Nominating Committee encourages you to bring forward that expertise through the nominations process and through participating in the Association’s elections at the Annual Meeting in January. Consider nominating yourself or a colleague for possible inclusion on the 2023 Candidate Slate.

Please consult Susan Cohen, President and CEO, at scohen@scrla.org with any questions you may have. To submit a nomination, please visit scrla.org/nomination or scan the QR code to the right.

February 20 Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala in Charleston March 5-7 South Carolina ProStart Invitational in Myrtle Beach

The South Carolina ProStart Invitational is the state’s premier competition for high school culinary arts and hospitality students. See teams from across the state compete in both the culinary and management competitions to claim a spot at the National ProStart Invitational in Washington D.C.

The Board of Directors provides strategic guidance to the Association as it seeks to advance and protect the interests of the foodservice and lodging industry. The board members provide the necessary governance for the Association to develop a platform for statewide cooperation and leadership on workforce development, advocacy issues, along with guidance to provide valuable support services to SCRLA members.

Board members must be employees of SCRLA-member companies, who are in good standing. Board terms are a minimum of two years, with the eligibility of serving three consecutive terms (six years).

January 18 SCRLA Annual Meeting in Columbia

April 18 SCRLA Board of Directors Meeting in Columbia April 19 Hospitality Day at the State House in Columbia

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SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS USING THE QR CODE ABOVE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE 2023 CANDIDATE SLATE FOR SCRLA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

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2023 Travel Predictions from booking.com Travelers are set to make 2023 a big year for getting out and exploring the world. Excited about the year ahead, Booking.com has conducted extensive research to reveal the travel trends of 2023, including where travelers want to go, their inspirations for traveling, and how budget plays a big role in their plans.

Reimagining Travel As the world adapts to “the new normal” following a period of limited international travel and national lockdowns, travelers are eager to get out and see the world in earnest.

As travel restrictions and COVID testing become a thing of the past, research reveals that 73% of people are more optimistic about travel than they were in 2022. For many, a change of scenery and a chance to soak in some sun is enough of a reason to go on vacation. However, 2023 is likely to see a shift in why we’re looking to get away, as well as the types of vacations we take.

A vacation is a great way to unwind and relax, but in 2023 many travelers want to take it one step further and use their adventures to treat their minds, bodies and souls. More than 42% of travelers want to go on a break that focuses on their mental and physical health, while almost half want to go on meditation or mindfulness retreats.

Virtual Reality Inspired Travel Choices While the world isn’t ready to embrace sci-fi movie-esque travel just yet, it offers travelers a glimpse of what they can expect to see. For instance, 43% will use virtual reality to inspire their choices, with more likely to travel somewhere they otherwise wouldn’t have if they could experience it virtually first.

However, some are keen to spend multiple days in the Metaverse, with over a third revealing they’d take a multiday AR or VR travel experience. As haptic feedback technology advances, virtual travelers will soon be able to feel the sand between their toes and the sun on their skin without even having to step outside.

While this sounds exciting, it’s not enough to dissuade the majority of travelers, who agree that virtual travel isn’t as fulfilling as being there in person. This means Booking.com’s 2023 travel predictions don’t include travelers swapping sunglasses for VR goggles for the most part.

Taking Travel Off-the-Grid Following various international lockdowns in which many people weren’t allowed to leave their homes, let alone travel, we became reliant on technology for entertainment. Now that most restrictions have been lifted, travelers are keen to disconnect, with 55% wanting to spend their vacations off-grid. Sitting in front of a cozy, crackling fireplace somewhere deep in the woods and miles from the nearest microchip is many travelers’ idea of bliss.

Budget-Savvy Traveling Following travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021, many travelers were able to save the money they would have otherwise spent on vacation. However, with the global economy not showing any immediate signs of improvement as we head into 2023, travelers are becoming more budget-conscious even though 50% say investing in a vacation is still a top priority. More than 53% say they are happy to travel off-season or via longer routes. That means 2023’s off-season may be a little busier than last year’s.

Increase in H-2B Visas Is a Big Win for Travel Industry U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman praised the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent announcement that it will make available an additional 65,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year FY23: “After months of vociferous advocacy from the U.S. Travel Association, this announcement—the largest ever supplemental visa release—is a lifeline for an industry whose workforce shortage tops a million open positions,” Freeman said. “This will provide the travel industry with thousands of workers ahead of the peak travel season, allowing businesses to adequately prepare for a surge in demand.”

“U.S. Travel is a vocal advocate for increasing the cap of H-2B visas, and we will continue to call on Congress to pass an exemption to the cap in FY23 and enact a permanent expansion of the H-2B program,” Freeman said. “We extend our gratitude to Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden administration for their swift response to such a critical workforce need and their ongoing support of the travel industry’s recovery.”

For more information, visit ustravel.org

Clemson Extension document helps residents navigate SC Cottage Food Law revisions

The pandemic allowed businesses to see the positive impact remote working could have, which led to many employers embracing a “work from anywhere” mentality. While employees have enjoyed hitting the beach during their lunch hour or working on their laptops by the pool, working while traveling trends are set to change in 2023.

The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association in partnership with Clemson Extension, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, South Carolina Meat-Poultry Inspection Department, and South Carolina Small Business Development Center, have developed a guidance document to help educate the public on South Carolina’s newly amended Home-Based Food Production Law.

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The South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law, or Cottage Food Law, is the law governing food items produced and sold from homes in the state. The law was amended in May 2022. The document is free and available for download at https:// bit.ly/SC_CottageFoodLawGuide, and helpful tips as well as dos and don’ts of homebased food production.

Travel Predictions 2023 research was commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total, 24,179 respondents across 32 countries and territories were polled

Persons who should read this document include those who produce food for sale under the Cottage Food Law, state farmers’ market managers and retailers who plan to sell foods produced under the law.

GET CUTTING-EDGE CULINARY EXPERTISE, THE LATEST FOOD TRENDS AND GAME-CHANGING SOLUTIONS Scan the QR code to learn more.

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“This document was prepared because the collaborating agencies wanted to provide an instrument cottage food producers could use to get a thorough understanding of the law – what foods are allowed and what foods are not allowed to be produced, as well as how to label cottage foods,” said Kimberly Baker, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service Food Systems and Safety Program director.

Questions about the new law can be emailed to sccottagefood@clemson.edu. heartland.us/restaurant

November 2022 • SCRLA.org

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