SAVE THE DATES FOR RESTAURANT WEEK!
Spartanburg: August 15-25
Greenville: August 15-25
Midlands: October 3-13
Statewide: January 9-19, 2025
Register at SCRLA.org/events
Restaurant Week Campaigns Begin in August
As the voice of the restaurant industry, the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association is dedicated to promoting our world-class culinary and beverage community right here in South Carolina. Established in 2010 by the SCRLA, Restaurant Week South Carolina is an 11-day celebration of our state’s vibrant culinary scene. Restaurant Week gives local, regional, and national food lovers the opportunity to enjoy amazing values during brunch, lunch and/or dinner at a number of participating restaurants.
Restaurant Week’s goal is to position South Carolina cities as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation by increasing awareness of the many dining opportunities available in the state, as well as stimulating business and revenue for restaurants. From fine to casual dining, participating restaurants may feature new menu items, offer fan favorites, and/or develop your own multi-course menu during Restaurant Week.
Get involved in our summer, fall and statewide campaigns! This is the perfect time to find new customers, generate repeat business, and grow your bottom line.
Battling Bed Bugs: A Hotel Operator’s Guide to Prevention and Eradication
Bed bugs are the unwelcome guests no hotel operator wants to check in. These blood-sucking pests can quickly damage a hotel’s reputation and lead to lost revenue. Here’s a guide to help hotel operators tackle bed bugs effectively.
Proactive Prevention is Key:
• Educate Staff: Train housekeeping and inspection teams to identify signs of bed bugs, including live bugs, shed skins, and fecal matter. Regular inspections of mattresses, seams, headboards, and luggage racks are crucial.
• Invest in Protective Measures: Encase mattresses and box springs in impermeable covers that trap and kill bed bugs. Consider replacing traditional bed frames with metal ones, as they offer fewer hiding spots.
• Seal the Cracks: Regularly inspect and caulk cracks and crevices in walls, baseboards, and furniture to eliminate potential harborage areas.
• Minimize Clutter: Reduce clutter in guest rooms to minimize hiding spots for bed bugs. Encourage guests to store luggage on luggage racks instead of on the bed.
Responding to a bed bug report while the guests are still onsite:
• Swift Action is Crucial: Immediately isolate the infested room and halt new guest occupancy. Contact a qualified pest management professional (PMP) specializing in bed bug eradication.
• Transparency with Guests: Communicate openly and honestly with the affected guest. Offer them a complimentary relocation to a verified bed bug-free room and express your commitment to resolving the issue.
• Treatment and Follow-Up: Follow the PMP’s recommendations for treatment, which may involve multiple applications of insecticides and heat treatments. Ensure thorough cleaning and inspection of the room and surrounding areas after treatment.
A bed bug complaint from a past guest:
• Gather Information and Verify: Reach out to the guest by phone or email to gather details about their experience. Be empathetic and express your concern about the issue.
• Verification is Key: Don’t assume the complaint is true. While taking the guest seriously, politely inquire about evidence they might have (photos of bites, bed bugs themselves).
• Inspection Regardless: Even without immediate confirmation, initiate an inspection of the room the guest occupied and surrounding rooms. This demonstrates a proactive approach and minimizes the risk of spread.
• Engage a Pest Management Professional (PMP):
Schedule an inspection by a qualified PMP experienced in bed bug eradication. Their expertise is crucial for confirming the presence of bed bugs and determining the best course of action.
• Update the Guest: Keep the guest informed about the inspection results. If bed bugs are confirmed, explain the steps being taken for eradication.
• Transparency with New Guests: If the room is undergoing treatment, ensure transparency with new guests assigned to the room later. Offer alternative options and explain the measures taken to address the situation.
Protecting Your Hotel’s Reputation:
• Develop a Bed Bug Action Plan: Create a comprehensive plan outlining procedures for staff training, inspections, guest communication, and bed bug eradication.
• Maintain Detailed Records: Document all bed bug activity, including inspection reports, treatment details, and communication with guests. This will help track progress and demonstrate a commitment to resolving the issue.
• Partner with a Reputable PMP: Choose a licensed and experienced PMP with a proven track record in bed bug eradication. Regular inspections by the PMP can help identify potential problems early on.
• Address Online Reviews: If the guest leaves a negative online review, respond promptly and professionally. Acknowledge their experience, explain the actions taken, and emphasize your commitment to guest satisfaction.
Remember: Early detection and swift action are critical in eradicating bed bugs and minimizing the impact on your hotel’s reputation. By prioritizing prevention, implementing a clear action plan, and partnering with professionals, hotel operators can effectively manage bed bugs and ensure a comfortable and pestfree experience for their guests.
A summer job in the restaurant industry is like training for the Olympics. The great athletes who will be competing this summer in Paris cross trained on skills that not only improved their game, but also those that made their mind and body stronger. For people who work in the restaurant industry, the skills they pick up in summer jobs advance their careers. For others, they’ll have cross trained in customer service, teamwork, and communication skills that they can rely on forever.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s annual Eating and Drinking Place Summer Employment Forecast, restaurant operators will add 525,000 jobs for the summer season. This is the first time on record that demand has reached this level two summers in a row.
That would be down slightly from last summer, when eating and drinking places added 552,000 seasonal jobs. While the 2024 summer employment projection is down somewhat from 2023, it would represent the second consecutive year in which eating and drinking places added at least 525,000 seasonal jobs – the first such occurrence on record. This is largely because teenagers and young adults – the age cohorts most likely to work seasonal jobs – are returning to the labor force in numbers not seen in years.
“Restaurant jobs are particularly valuable because employees can learn a host of skills in a short time that are investments for both their business and everyday life,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association.
“According to our survey, among adults who have worked in the industry, a majority (63%) think working in the industry is extremely or very beneficial for skill development. Additionally, 79% of adults agree working in the restaurant industry is valuable for professional development and that they still use those skills like teamwork, prioritization, communication, adaptability, and attention to detail.”
Often teenagers and young adults return to summer restaurant jobs to hone their skills and save up a good amount of money in a short period of time. Juan Martinez, owner of Martinez Hospitality, runs five Don Juan Mex Grill restaurants in northeast Pennsylvania. Every summer he receives emails from college students who worked for him in high school, asking if they can come back to work for the summer. He says it’s a win for the students, and a win for his full-time staff.
“The biggest impact our summer employees have is giving our full-time employees time with their families,” Martinez says. “It provides flexibility for them to take a vacation and spend time with their kids who are out of school. At the same time, it helps the college kids who are eager to make money over the summer and want to work as many hours as they can.”
The restaurant industry is the nation’s training ground. Sixty three percent of adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some point in their lives. One in 10 people currently work in foodservice, making it the nation’s second-largest private employer.
This fall, join members of the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (SCRLA) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) in Washington, D.C. for a fly-in unlike any other – Hotels on the Hill. At Hotels on the Hill, you’ll have the unique opportunity to:
• Meet with YOUR Members of Congress.
• Discuss the most pressing issues impacting OUR industry & YOUR business.
• Network with industry leaders from across the country.
• Get insider updates on the most pressing issues impacting hotels from leading experts and Members of Congress.
• Learn to advocate for your business where it matters most – Capitol Hill.
Every industry has their day. This is YOUR day. From immigration relief to per diems, when SCRLA and AHLA members share their stories with Members of Congress, it makes an impact.
Harnessing the voices of local hoteliers from across the country is the most effective way to achieve advocacy victories. That’s why Hotels on the Hill is so important. When SCRLA and AHLA members speak with their representatives, Congress listens. The face-to-face connections Hotels on the Hill facilitates are the most effective way to strengthen relationships with influential lawmakers and illustrate to Congress the essential role hotels play in creating jobs and supporting local communities.
Come make a lasting impact and let YOUR voice be heard! Registration is open now. Please visit https://www.ahla.com/hotelhill to learn more and register to attend TODAY!
Questions? Please reach out to Hank Davis, Vice President – Governmental Affairs & Community Development, at 803-766-0067 or hank@scrla.org.
