Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine January 2016

Washington Restaurant Association 510 Plum Street SE, Suite 200 Olympia, WA 98501-1587

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Inside

www.warestaurant.org

Features

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Why Government Affairs Matters

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2015 Election Results

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2016 Legislative Preview

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The 2016 Session

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Local Government Outlook for 2016

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Speaking Out: Taylor Hoang Gives Voice to Seattle’s Ethnic Restaurants and Businesses

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Consider these Five Resolutions for 2016

In Every Issue

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PREVIEW

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12/21/2015 11:51:55 AM

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President and CEO: Hospitality – It’s What Unites Us

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News Briefs

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Education Foundation Update: Your Secret Weapon

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New Members/Calendar

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Marketplace

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Ask the Expert: Attracting the Right Talent to Supercharge Performance

On the cover

The Washington State Legislature reconvenes this month for a short legislative session, and the Washington Restaurant Association and Washington Lodging Association will be working together on issues that are priorities for members. Learn about these priorities on page 15, and find out on page 9 why your participation at the January 25 Hill Climb and Taste Our Best Legislative Reception matters.

January 2016 | 5

EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher, Anthony Anton Executive Editor, Lex Nepomuceno Managing Editor, Paul Schlienz Contributing Editor, Andy Cook Contributing Editor, Stephanie Davenport Contributing Editor, David Faro Contributing Editor, Evan Fassler Contributing Editor, Marianne Scholl Research Editor, Sheryl Jackson Art Director, Lisa Ellefson JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WRA Chair, Phil Costello Stop n’ Go Family Drive In WLA Chair, Matt Van Der Peet Westin Bellevue Hotel WRA EXECUTIVE TEAM President and CEO, Anthony Anton Vice President, Teran Petrina Director of Business Development, Ken Wells Director of Communications & Technology, Lex Nepomuceno Director of Education, Lyle Hildahl Director of Government Affairs, Bruce Beckett Director of Internal Operations, Bekah Cardwell

President and CEO

Hospitality – It’s What Unites Us

By Anthony Anton I have spent the better part of the past year getting to know and bringing together the leaders of the hotel industry with the leaders of the restaurant industry. I have learned that hospitality, the service of others, unites us. On grand levels and local levels, our industry is about people. Lawmaking is the same; at its foundation it is about serving the public.

As the restaurant association and lodging association have combined forces under a joint operating agreement, I have witnessed a new synergy through working together. Finding how we are the same, while accepting how different we are – the heart of cooperation – has made us strong. There is new appreciation of what the other brings to the table. It is my hope that this year the same ability to recognize others’ strengths will be used by lawmakers.

Our state government has been polarized over many issues; perhaps none as polarizing as minimum wage changes. I believe our industry can serve as a guide for merging great ideas, finding new ways to operate and lifting people up in the process.

I know that feels simplistic, but I have watched a process happen at the chair level, the Executive Committee level, the staff level, the city level, the committee level and so on. I’ve seen a process that starts with recognition of need, moves to fear of differences, grows into an awareness of similarities and ends in synergy.

510 Plum St. SE, Ste. 200 Olympia, WA 98501-1587 T 360.956.7279 | F 360.357.9232 www.warestaurant.org │walodging.com Letters are welcomed, but must be signed to be considered for publication. Please include contact information for verification.

Reproduction of articles appearing in Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine are authorized for personal use only, with credit given to Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine and/or the Washington Restaurant Association.

Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Washington Restaurant Association, Washington Lodging Association, their Boards of Directors, staff or members.

Products and services advertised in Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine are not necessarily endorsed by the WRA or WLA, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the WRA, WLA, their Boards of Directors, staff or members.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Michelle Holmes Allied Relations Manager 206.423.3902 michelleh@warestaurant.org Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine is published monthly for WRA and WLA members. We welcome your comments and suggestions. email: news@warestaurant. org, phone: 800.225.7166. Circulation: 6,310.

6 | |warestaurant.org warestaurant.org

It’s the goal of the WRA and WLA to bring this same synergy to our discussions on the Hill and all our government affairs work. This year our objective is to find common ground, gather the decision makers around the table and look for solutions that benefit our members and our state.

Whether it be about minimum compensation, liquor regulations or tourism, there is commonality to be found. Lawmakers and our industry have the same job: to serve the public and make our state stronger.

You, our members, are critical to this process! You have your fingers on the pulse of your communities and on what businesses need to thrive in Washington. When you come to Hill Climb on January 25, reach out and get to know your fellow members of our new joint operations whether they are restaurant, hotel, bowling alley or other types of members. Our strength is in our unity. 

Primary Source of Information | News Briefs Get WRA’s New Event App for the 2016 Hill Climb and Taste Our Best!

This year we are excited to announce the launch of our new mobile application “WRA & WLA Events” for our January 25 Hill Climb and Taste our Best! The mobile application features everything our hospitality members will need to have a stress-free day at the Capitol.

From a full day’s agenda, a Capitol Campus Map, a list of legislators and their districts, talking points, and a social wall to share your experience with family and friends, the WRA/ WLA Events application is your guide to a great 2016 Hill Climb!

The app will go live in midJanuary, and we encourage all of our members to download it at hillclimbapp.warestaurant.org.

For more information, contact the WRA’s Evan Fassler at evanf@ warestaurant.org.

2016 Standard Mileage Rates for Business Go Down for 2016 Each year the Internal Revenue Service issues optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

For 2016, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck are:

54 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 57.5 cents for 2015 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 23 cents for 2015

14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates. For more information, go to www.irs.gov.

Workers’ Comp Rate Increased The average base rate Washington businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance increased two percent on January 1. L&I uses wage inflation as a benchmark to help determine workers’ comp rates for the coming year. As wages climb, the cost of coverage rises. Washington’s most recent wage inflation rate is 4.2 percent. The 2016 premium increase will be less than half that amount. For more information, see www.lni.wa.gov/rates.

Big Players Move into Food Delivery Business Restaurant food delivery service is a big thing that’s about to get even bigger. Nearly every city in the U.S. and Canada has several food-ordering apps and numerous existing services – like Seamless and Postmates – that specialize in quickly bringing meals from restaurant to customer. Now the big boys are moving into this lucrative business.

Amazon, for one, is adding restaurant delivery to its rapidly expanding array of on-demand services. After a trial run in Seattle, Amazon recently announced that its Prime Now food delivery will soon expand to 20 major metropolitan areas across the U.S. Amazon, however, is not the only big player with eyes on food delivery. For the full article, go to www. wra.cc/wra0116g.

January 2016 | 7

Hospitality The

industry that serves.

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Careers.

Communities.

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Why Government Affairs Matters & Why You Need to Get Involved As the great Athenian statesman Pericles once observed, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”

By Paul Schlienz Politics has a bad rap these days, but it is more important than ever to pay attention to what your lawmakers are doing. That’s because what happens in Olympia can directly affect you and your ability to run your business.

WLA and WRA members have excellent opportunities to influence the political process through the WRA’s Government Affairs Committee and through Hill Climb and Taste Our Best, two important events on January 25 that allow our members to bring their concerns directly to lawmakers.

“Hill Climb and Taste Our Best both represent excellent opportunities to speak to the matters that are important to your business and industry with those who help make laws and regulations,” said Tim Bathke, chair of WLA’s Government Affairs Committee and general manager of Warwick Seattle Hotel.

Standing together as one voice helps ensure that elected officials and government representatives understand our industry and recognize the strength of our associations.

Washington’s restaurants and hotels employ more than 250,000 Washingtonians and generate $17.7 billion in revenue each year. Our industry serves people, careers and communities and is vital to the economic health of communities across the state.

“I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to attend these events and help us swell the number of participants to record levels. Even if you are not comfortable speaking much, just being a part of the gathering can prove helpful,” says Bathke.

Shannon Boldizsar, co-chair of the WRA’s Government Affairs Committee and Starbucks’ government and community affairs manager, also urges restaurateurs and hoteliers to get involved.

“Hill Climb is a great way for WRA members to connect with their elected representatives and share real-life examples of how the policies being made in Olympia impact restaurants every day,” said Boldizsar. “Our customers are their constituents, and the decisions lawmakers make impact us all. Our legislative system

is based on people making their voices heard, so it’s important to have member participation for the system to work effectively.”

These are exciting times for the hospitality industry. As the WRA and WLA draw closer together, there is strength in our impressive numbers.

“Our lawmakers, in Olympia, are well aware of the WRA and WLA coming together and will be attentive to what that means to them when it comes to working with our GA representatives. We need to make it clear that our Government Affairs team truly does represent us by being available with a show of numbers when needed,” said Bathke.

Getting involved, showing our numbers and getting the word out to lawmakers that a healthy hospitality industry is critical to Washington’s economy and Washington’s communities is what it’s all about. Don’t let anything get in the way of joining us at this year’s Hill Climb and Taste Our Best. 

HILL CLIMB AND TASTE OUR BEST January 25

9 a.m.

Registration @ Columbia Room, State Capitol Building 10 a.m.

Legislative Briefing Noon Lunch (box lunches provided) 12:30 p.m.

One-on-one Meetings with Legislators 6 p.m.

Taste Our Best Reception @ Hands on Children’s Museum Register now hillclimb2016form.instapage.com

January 2016 | 9

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2015 Election Results The 2015 election cycle was very busy for the Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association.

The hospitality industry led by the WRA and WLA played an important role in many races this fall, from statewide legislative races to city council races and local initiatives, and helped secure important wins. We’re looking forward to the positive outcomes of the 2015 election cycle strengthening the hospitality industry in 2016.

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STATEWIDE

The 2015 election cycle featured two legislative races from very different parts of the state: District 30, which covers Federal Way, Auburn and Des Moines, is considered a swing district. This year it featured the most anticipated legislative race in Washington state between appointed Democrat Carol Gregory and WRA/WLA-endorsed Republican challenger Teri Hickel.

Teri Hickel won with over 54 percent of the vote and will be a friend to the hospitality industry. We look forward to working with her in the upcoming session on a variety of issues.

District 9 is a rural district that includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield and Whitman counties as well as part of Spokane County. It had two Republican candidates seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.

The voters decided with over 63 percent of the vote to retain the WRA/WLA-endorsed Mary Dye, who was appointed after Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, resigned in May 2015.

Even-numbered years have a full slate of legislative races as the entire State House of Representatives, and up to half of the Senate, are up for re-election. Add in the presidential and gubernatorial elections, and 2016 will be an especially dynamic election year.

LOCAL Seattle

This year’s Seattle City Council races were of high importance to the Seattle Restaurant Alliance (SRA) and Seattle Hotel Association (SHA). In a positive turn of events, the SRA and SHA endorsed five candidates who came out on top in the general election. We look forward to working with these and other council members and will continue to educate them on the issues facing the hospitality industry.

Seattle voted to fundamentally transform the city’s election process by passing Initiative 122 with more than 60 percent of the total vote. I-122 reforms Seattle elections by tightening campaign finance restrictions and giving each registered voter $100 “Democracy Vouchers” each election cycle to give to the candidate(s) of his or her choice. I-122 also puts a spending cap on how much money each campaign may spend, a cash contribution limit of $250 per voter and bans contributions from city contractors, lobbyists and regulated businesses.

Tacoma

To the relief of many residents, businesses, and employees, Measure 1B passed instead of Measure 1A. Measure 1B raises the minimum wage to $12 an hour over two years in the City of Tacoma; while 1A would have raised it to $15 immediately.

Voters overwhelmingly supported an increase with 58 percent of the vote. Voters were even more adamant that the increase should be a reasonable, phased-in increase of $12, as Measure 1B passed with over 71 percent of the vote. The outcome of this vote was a big win for the hospitality sector in Tacoma.

Tacoma’s new Minimum Wage Ordinance will take effect Feb. 1, 2016. We have created a Minimum Wage Survival Guide

which you can reach using the website link below. This guide is intended to help businesses navigate the new law. The City of Tacoma is still going through the process of adopting rules that will more precisely define the administrative and regulatory processes for business, and the guide will be updated to reflect the final rules. Use the guide at www./wra.cc/0116a.

Spokane

The WRA and WLA are pleased with the re-election of Mayor David Condon and look forward to working with him on a host of issues that will face the hospitality sector in the City of Spokane this year. Condon is the first mayor of Spokane to be re-elected since the early 1970s.

Besides the closely watched mayoral race, Spokane voters also had a wage initiative on the ballot. The measure would have required businesses with 150 or more full-time employees to pay a wage that would cover housing, food, child care and transportation. If approved by the voters, Proposition 1 could have increased the minimum wage in Spokane by as much as $21 an hour. It was the fourth time the advocacy group Envision Spokane tried to pass this kind of measure. Spokane voters rejected Proposition 1 by 64 percent.

Fircrest

In November, Fircrest voters decided to end the 80-year ban on the sale of liquor for onpremise consumption. Fircrest has been a dry city since its founding in 1925. The last time residents voted on removing the ban was in 1975, when they unanimously voted to keep it in place. The WRA and WLA are pleased with the outcome of this vote, which allows businesses to sell alcohol for on-premise consumption and no longer keeps them at a disadvantage to businesses in neighboring cities.  January 2016 | 11

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2016 Legislative Preview Hospitality, the industry that serves – that is the theme of our Hill Climb in 2016 and the background to all we will do as your GA team in this year. With your voices, and with the addition of our new hotel and lodging partners, this year we go into the legislative session stronger than ever. We are excited to have a unified and aligned hospitality sector that can bring their concerns and ideas to legislators.

The hospitality sector has seen continued encroachment of new, expensive, wage and benefit regulations on individual cities. Minimum wage increases have advanced in some cities, and many cities are exploring their options. The WRA and WLA have invested in studying public perception of our industry as a whole. We’ve done polling, conducted surveys and measured the success of recent ballot measures. Real life numbers tell the story. Restaurants are often small businesses; similarly, most hotels are operated by local business people. Most neighborhood restaurants in our state have fewer than 20 employees, three fewer people than the national average. Yet this industry of small and local businesses contributes more than $811 million dollars annually in state and local taxes.

Each restaurant and hotel has a story. Each hospitality employee has a story. Restaurants and hoteliers serve their community. Restaurants and hoteliers provide critical training and career opportunities. Hoteliers provide the important lodging and services necessary to grow tourism and business opportunities in communities. Without this industry, Washington loses a critical part of its identity.

2015 was an important year for the hospitality industry, and the 2016 session is even more critical: Legislators may choose to address the minimum wage, or other benefit issues, in the legislative process. If they don’t, we are likely to have these issues appear on the 2016 ballot without the benefit of debate and compromise. Legislators can address the competitive imbalance inherent in the 17 percent fee imposed on the sale of spirits from retailers to licensees – and lawmakers have the opportunity to restore efforts to promote tourism in Washington state – an activity that benefits the entire hospitality industry.

In Washington we have a citizen legislature, which means lawmakers serve on a part-time basis and the Legislature does not work full time. Legislators return to jobs and families, and what happens in their districts matters to them – not just as lawmakers, but as citizens in communities.

Communities where the hospitality industry makes a difference.

You can be involved. The WRA/WLA GA team is dependent on our members to provide guidance on issues that arise during the session. At times, the legislative process moves very fast, and it is essential to have members that are engaged and willing to voice their opinions. Please join our weekly GAC conference calls every Wednesday between 10 and 11 a.m. Call us at 800.956.7279 or email kaaren@warestaurant.org for more information.

Sincerely,

Bruce Beckett Bruce Beckett WRA/WLA Government Affairs Director January 2016 | 13

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The 2016 Session The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to last 60 days. Given that the 2015 legislative session went a record 176 days, all estimates are that lawmakers will work hard to ensure this short session stays short and ends on time.

2016 is the second year of this Legislature’s biennial cycle, which means that the bulk of the Legislature’s work was finished in 2015 when the Legislature passed a full twoyear budget. This session, legislators’ primary duty is to make tweaks to the budget in response to any changes between actual revenue and revenue as projected when the spending plan was approved.

A priority for lawmakers will continue to be the Legislature’s response to the State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, which ruled that the Legislature was not adequately funding basic education. Over the past two biennia, the Legislature has drastically increased spending in K-12 education, but it has still not met the court’s expectation. In mid-2015, the State Supreme Court held the Legislature in contempt, fining the Legislature

$100,000 per day until it provides a reasonable plan to achieve the court’s expectations.

Additionally, the State Supreme Court ruled that the voter-approved initiative creating a charter school system was unconstitutional. The Legislature will be focused with finding solutions to these education issues.

Compounding all of this is the passage of Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1366, which will drastically impact the state’s budget. The voter-approved initiative requires the Legislature to have a two-thirds majority for tax increases, and if it fails to follow this requirement the initiative imposes a one-percent reduction in the state sales tax.

While many feel the initiative will ultimately be overturned by the State Supreme Court, there may be lawmakers who want to begin responding to the will of the voters.

All of these issues will have to be resolved by a Legislature that is operating in what is essentially a political tie.

Democrats, plus the governor, make up 74 seats.

Republicans and the Majority Coalition Caucus also occupy 74 seats. Major policy changes in a 60-day session are highly unlikely unless they have been fully worked out ahead of time, and with each chamber held by a very small majority, the Legislature and the Governor will be forced to negotiate and compromise to get things done.

THE NUMBERS State Senate: 49 members divided between 26 Majority Coalition Caucus members and 23 Democrats

250,000

For the past three years, the Senate has been led by the Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC), a unique partnership of Democrats and Republicans.

$17.7 billion in annual

House of Representatives: 50 Democrats and 48 Republicans for a total of 98 Representatives

restaurant & hotel employees

sales at hotels & restaurants

In 2015, the House Republican caucus picked up one seat in a special election, giving the House Democrats just a two-seat majority.

The Governor’s Office: Year Four for Gov. Jay Inslee

Democratic Gov. Inslee enters his fourth year with a nearly unchanged Senate but a very different political dynamic in the House of Representatives. He is up for re-election in 2016.

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2016 Legislative Priorities This past fall, your Government Affairs team and the Government Affairs Committee met with WRA and WLA members at nine regional meetings to identify this year’s legislative issues. These member-identified and member-approved priorities will be a focus of our 2016 legislative work. The GA team will also be closely monitoring other issues that impact Washingtonians.

MINIMUM WAGE The WRA and WLA believe that the state should set and regulate wage and benefit policies and that the minimum wage should be increased the right way.

Accordingly, WRA and WLA will advocate for the Legislature to address the minimum wage issue in the 2016 session.

There are several reasons why a state solution is best.

City-by-city adoption of unique wage and benefit standards creates a difficult patchwork of laws for businesses to adhere to. In local ordinances, there is often a delineation between types of employers, but wage and benefit policies set at the state level, would ensure that all employers are treated equally and consistently. A patchwork of cityby-city laws requires more taxpayer resources and new city agencies to enforce and regulate an extraordinarily difficult environment for businesses.

Additionally, proponents of a higher minimum wage are going directly to voters as they have in Tacoma, Spokane and SeaTac. The WRA and WLA believe that proponents will go beyond a city-by-city approach in 2016 and put forward a statewide ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage. It’s become clear why advocates for a higher minimum wage prefer going to the ballot: voters generally support increasing the minimum wage and voter initiatives avoid the debate and compromise inherent in the legislative process.

The associations believe that wage and benefit standards should be the outcome of legislative debate and dialogue between lawmakers elected by the people. The initiative process does not provide for any discourse or compromise – it’s a “take it or leave it” process.

The WRA and WLA support raising the minimum wage the “right way.” That means:

Washington’s minimum wage law should recognize all

forms of taxable compensation provided to employees – including medical and dental benefits, tip income, education assistance and other compensation that is taxable under state and federal law. If it’s taxable, it should count towards meeting wage requirements.

Policies should encourage employers to hire youth, students and adults who are re-entering the workforce.

The hospitality sector provides critical first-time jobs for students and youth, and opportunities for adults in need of change. Wage policies should assist businesses in creating those important first-time jobs.

Increases in minimum wage should be phased in to allow businesses, suppliers and vendors time to adapt their business models.

In the past, the Legislature has put forward plans that were not supported equally by Democrats and Republicans and compromises could not be reached. As such, the measures did not pass. Some of these measures supported an increase to $12 dollars over four years, others proposed an increase to $13 dollars over five years with the consideration of other forms of taxable income. During the 2016 session, the WRA and WLA hope to bring together leaders on this issue to revisit workable solutions like these from the past.

ALCOHOL Passage of SB 5301/HB 1343 Last year, the WRA was very successful in flooding lawmaker’s offices with requests by restaurant operators to remove the unfair 17 percent fee on retail sales of alcohol to restaurants. Stories of how this fee has impacted the marketplace, and the harm the additional fee has caused were relayed time and time again.

More than 5,000 emails, letters, and phone calls were placed to targeted lawmakers.

January 2016 | 15

The 17 percent fee is the result of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) rulemaking during implementation of the voter-approved Initiative 1183. Voters passed I-1183 which privatized the sale and distribution of spirits in Washington and gave on-premise licensees more options for suppliers than businesses in any other state. This initiative was critical to developing a private, competitive marketplace and establishing supplier relationships directly with distilleries, distributors, and 1500 new spirits retailers.

However the LCB took a few major steps to cut off our industry’s relationship with spirit retailers: It restricted the amount of spirits we could purchase per day, and imposed a 17 percent fee on sales for resale.

promotion and pricing specials, including “family plans,” and from establishing a customer relationship beyond a single, one-time order. The rules are harmful and unfair to restaurants and hotels, and WLA and the WRA believe the courts will ultimately find the rules to be illegal. In October, the WRA filed a lawsuit against the LCB over its rules that restrict options for negotiating liquor prices, and WLA, the Northwest Grocery Association and Costco joined the suit.

This year, we will continue to remind lawmakers of the importance of removing this fee. Our collaboration with the lodging industry will help strengthen our voice.

The WRA and WLA will not be requesting any legislation on this topic because we do not wish to change the law; rather, we feel the law is clear and are asking the court to uphold the law by overturning LCB rules.

The WRA filed a legal challenge of the LCB’s per day limitation on sales of spirits to our industry, and prevailed.

For the past three years, the WRA has asked the legislature to repeal the 17 percent fee so that a level of competition can be restored, businesses can have more options, and smaller operators can pursue supply options that better fit their needs.

Opponents of our efforts to remove the 17 percent retail fee, led by the two large spirits wholesalers that collectively control 94 percent of spirit sales, have argued that many jobs will be lost if they are forced to compete with retailers for our industry’s business.

Currently, Senate Bill 5301, sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, sits in the Senate Rules Committee. The House version of the bill, House Bill 1343, sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, and Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, sits in the House Finance Committee.

WRA and WLA Challenge LCB Pricing Rules During the past two years, the WRA has been challenging the LCB’s attempt to further restrict marketplace decisions.

After hearing from auction winners of the former state-run liquor stores and former contract stores about how they were unable to negotiate preferential pricing, the LCB decided price differentials were unfair. They then adopted a rather complicated pricing scheme, prohibiting our industry from negotiating price despite a number of legitimate business reasons for doing so.

The rules, adopted by the LCB in September, establish a strict system of uniform quantity discounts for spirits that specify when and how volume discounts can be calculated.

Businesses are prohibited from taking advantage of product 16 | warestaurant.org

The WRA and WLA contend that despite the LCB’s feelings regarding marketplace decisions, the law specifically allows for businesses to negotiate price, and the LCB cannot arbitrarily choose which industry sector to favor.

TOURISM PROMOTION Tourism is a $16.4 billion dollar industry in Washington that annually generates $1.8 billion dollars in tax revenue and supports over 150,000 jobs.

Despite its importance for the state and local economies, in 2011 the Legislature eliminated Washington’s Office of Tourism and cut all funding for promoting the state as a travel destination. Concerned that Washington’s tourism industry would lose visitors to neighboring states, industry stakeholders stepped in and formed the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) to advocate, develop and sustain the economic well-being of the Washington tourism industry.

The foremost goal of the WTA is to establish an industryfunded and industry-governed state tourism promotion program. In 2014 the WTA, with support from the WRA, WLA and other partners, secured the passage of legislation that established the principle of a privately-funded state tourism and marketing program based on industry assessments on five industry sectors: lodging, food service, retail, attractions and entertainment, and transportation.

After much deliberation and industry feedback, a legislative proposal was developed that incorporated assessments for each sector apportioned in relation to their share of the tourism “pie. ” The proposal reflected assessment plans that were developed by each industry sector on how

YOUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM Bruce Beckett, Government Affairs Director bruceb@warestaurant.org best to assess themselves. Special care was given to using existing collection systems and to not creating any new bureaucracies. Making it easy to collect and comply was also given considerable attention.

The proposed funding model for restaurants is an assessment based on adjusted gross revenue. Sixty nine percent of our restaurant members would pay $25 per year, and only 2.5 percent would pay more than $700. Lodging chose an assessment of 15 cents per room per occupied night. Collectively, the hospitality industry would raise $4.5 million under this private funding model. Combined with assessments on the other three sectors, a total of $7.5 million would be raised.

The spending plan will be governed by a board of directors comprised of 13 members representing the tourismrelated sectors, including: lodging (four members); food service (three members); retail (two members); attractions and entertainment (one member); transportation (one member); and regional destination marketing organizations (two members). At any point, a majority vote of the board would be able to terminate the funding authority as well as the fee collection if the program was not working.

The legislation, House Bill 1938 and Senate Bill 5916, was introduced during the 2015 legislative session. Despite our efforts, these bills failed to pass during the session and will be considered again in 2016. Both the WRA and WLA will continue to support the work of the WTA and advocate for tourism funding next session.

The goal is to end Washington’s distinction as the only state in the nation that does not invest in state-level tourism promotion, and to stop losing market share and visitors to neighboring states which have robust programs that attract travelers and their travel spending. ď Ž

Julia Gorton, Senior Manager, State Government juliag@warestaurant.org John Lane, Senior Manager, Local Government johnl@warestaurant.org Marian Ericks, Government Affairs Manager mariane@warestaurant.org Stephanie Davenport, Communications Advocacy Manager stephanied@warestaurant.org Kaare Ness, Member Engagement Grassroots Manager kaaren@warestaurant.org Evan Fassler, Local Communications Manager evanf@warestaurant.org Morgan Hickel, Local Government Coordinator (Seattle) morganh@warestaurant.org Samantha Louderback, Local Government Coordinator samanthal@warestaurant.org Zachary Lindahl, Local Government Coordinator (Spokane) zacharyl@warestaurant.org

Visit www.warestaurant.org/government-affairs/team to learn more about the experience and skills this team brings to their job of representing WRA and WLA members at the state and local level.

Important dates

January 11 First Day of Session

March 10 Last day of session

January 25 Hill Climb and Taste Our Best Legislative Reception Find the most current legislative calendar for committee meeting times and more at www.wra.cc/0116c.

January 2016 | 17

LODGING

Watching Out for Lodging Interests Restaurant and hotel owners and operators share business and employer concerns and have similar legislative interests on a wide range of hospitality issues. There are some issues, however, that are specifically lodging related, and your Government Affairs team will be proactive in monitoring these throughout the 2016 session.

Protect lodging tax revenues for marketing efforts that increase spending by tourists.

Tourism is an important economic engine for communities across Washington, and continuing to invest lodging tax revenues in marketing that promotes cities and counties as tourist destinations is important for local economies and the state as a whole.

Given that Washington remains the only state in the country without a statewide tourism marketing program, the use of lodging tax revenues for tourism promotion is more important than ever. There have been many legislative attempts over the years to raid lodging tax revenues for spending on purposes unrelated to tourism promotion, and WLA and the WRA will oppose any attempt in 2016 to undermine the appropriate use of lodging tax revenues.

Stop any legislative attempts to shift liability for a guest’s lost items to lodging properties.

In 2014 there was an attempt to pass legislation that would have removed a hotel’s ability to

18 | warestaurant.org

contractually limit liability for a guest’s lost items. WLA opposed the bill because the existing statute adequately protects guests while also protecting hoteliers from exorbitant and fictitious claims for lost items. The 2014 attempt died in committee, and your Government Affairs team will respond with equal force should there be an attempt to introduce similar legislation in 2016.

Hold online shortterm rental companies to the same health, safety and taxation standards as other types of lodging businesses.

Competition creates a healthy business climate and benefits consumers, but it is important that competition takes place on a level playing field. Online short-term rental companies and the accommodations they sell to the public are not currently held to the same licensing, insurance and health and safety standards as hotels, B&Bs and other types of lodging establishments. To protect the traveling public, and to ensure fair competition, they should be.

In October 2015 Airbnb, the most recognized of the online short-term rental companies, took an important step forward when it announced that it would voluntarily collect lodging and sales taxes on behalf of Washington state “hosts” who use Airbnb as a platform to rent out their home and properties. In addition to paying these taxes, short-term rentals should follow existing zoning, licensing or other laws to protect consumers and the safety and integrity of communities. This area of concern for Washington hoteliers is being closely monitored by your GA team. 

Local Government Outlook for 2016 TACOMA On February 1, Tacoma’s minimum wage goes up to $10.35 as the first step toward the $12 minimum wage approved by voters in November 2015.

This phased-in, reasonable increase was supported by the WRA. Voters chose this approach to increasing the minimum wage while rejected an initiative to immediately introduce a $15 minimum wage.

Tacoma’s Paid Leave Ordinance also goes into effect on Feb. 1, 2016, requiring nearly all private sector employers to provide employees who work in Tacoma accrued, jobprotected paid leave for personal illness, family care, domestic violence and bereavement. The WRA’s Tacoma Paid Leave Guide, published online at www.wra.cc/ tacoma16, helps members navigate the complicated ordinance.

In 2016, the Tacoma City Council may consider an ordinance banning disposable shopping bags. Your local GA team is monitoring this issue closely and working on getting the rules to exclude restaurants due to public health laws. If you have any questions, contact Local Government Coordinator Samantha Louderback at samanthal@ warestaurant.org.

SEATTLE Seattle held its first elections under its new council district system, and in 2016 the city council will have four new council members. Lorena Gonzalez, who won in District 9, was sworn into office in November ahead of her colleagues, replacing temporary Councilmember John Okamoto who was appointed when Sally Clark resigned. Councilmembers-elect Lisa Herbold (Dist. 1), Rob Johnson (Dist. 4), and Debora Juarez (Dist.

5) take office this month.

The Seattle City Council is currently considering a new ordinance which would modify enforcement procedures and penalties for the city’s wage theft, minimum wage, paid sick and safe leave, and job assistance ordinances. Your local government affairs team and a representative for the Seattle

Restaurant Alliance and Seattle Hotel Association worked in close collaboration with the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and other business community organizations to provide comments to the Office of Labor Standards (OLS), the Mayor’s Office, and council members during the drafting process. One key message was the need for additional outreach by OLS to employers to provide guidance on the complexities contained within each of the ordinances. The Council will vote on the new ordinance shortly after this issue goes to press. Look for updates on www.warestaraurant. org. If you have questions about Seattle issues, please contact Local Government Coordinator Morgan Hickel at morganh@warestaurant.org.

OLYMPIA The Olympia City Council held a special study session in October 2015 to discuss the possibility of raising the city’s minimum wage.

The session was in response to Councilmember Jim Cooper proposing legislation on minimum wage, paid sick leave and predictive scheduling. In a memo to the council, Councilmember Cooper had made it clear that the goal of his proposed legislation was to begin the first of many discussions about how to address wage increases in the City of Olympia. That discussion got underway in front of a full house in the October study session when the council weighed the pros and cons of an increased minimum wage. It is unclear at this time when, or if, the Olympia City Council will act on this issue, but the local GA team will continue to monitor developments as it works with the Thurston County Chamber.

BELLINGHAM Since July, your local government affairs team has been monitoring and attending meetings on the possibility of the Bellingham City Council adopting a paid sick leave policy. In December, the Bellingham City Council voted 5-2 in support of a resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass a sick and safe leave law in the 2016 session. This vote follows the Economic Development Committee’s unanimous resolution calling on Gov. Inslee to find a statewide solution. 

January 2016 | 19

LODGING

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Speaking Out: Taylor Hoang Gives Voice to Seattle’s Ethnic Restaurants and Businesses

By Andy Cook

WRA Board Member Taylor Hoang entered the Seattle’s food scene holding her mother’s apron strings.

Her family emigrated to the Northwest from Vietnam in 1982 when she was just a girl. Like many foreign nationals striving to integrate into America’s melting pot, the Hoang family launched a food business. Theirs was a Com Thang (“gum-tan”), a type of food delivery service with deep Vietnamese cultural and historic roots.

Today, Taylor is well known among Seattle foodies as the founder of the Pho Cyclo Café (“fuh sik-low”), now with five locations in and around Seattle. She also has Lavender Jade Catering and recently revived her parents’ specialty delivery service.

But what many people don’t realize is just how connected she is to Seattle’s many ethnic and immigrant communities.

Seattle’s progressive City Hall got to know Taylor quite well when she spoke out on behalf of small, ethnic businesses on the controversial topic of a $15 minimum wage. Taylor stood at the fulcrum between City Hall and a panoply of immigrant communities and businesses, informing Seattle’s decision makers about the impact their choices would have on these vital, yet less visible businesses.

Thanks to her tireless efforts, and to the credit of Seattle’s leadership, Mayor Ed Murray recognized that Seattle’s ethnic communities and businesses are all too often unnoticed or inadequately considered in Seattle’s sprawling 20 | warestaurant.org

landscape. To bridge that gap, Taylor leveraged the conversation that began with minimum wage, garnered the support of City Hall and founded the non-profit Ethnic Business Coalition (EBC) and its public-facing website EthnicSeattle.com.

Support for Taylor and the EBC’s mission has been overwhelming, not only from ethnic businesses and communities but also from big names and organizations. Her fans include the Seahawks, Doug Baldwin, Comcast, and KING 5’s New Day NW. Crosscut, a readersupported electronic news journal focused on the Pacific Northwest, recently recognized the importance of Taylor’s work, awarding her a 2015 Crosscut Courage Award.

In 2015 the WRA jumped at the opportunity to work with the EBC and EthnicSeattle. com, and the Association is now contracted to provide social media marketing, video production, and overall communications support to the young organization. Our communications team has joined Taylor, EBC outreach specialist Keiko Okada, and their team of enthusiastic interns on whirlwind tours of Seattle’s ethnic enclaves.

Many of Seattle’s trendsetters have volunteered to step in front of the WRA’s video camera, from Mayor Ed Murray and Tom Douglas to KIRO’s Rachel Bell and KCTS’s Josephine Cheng. You’ll find our combined work at EthnicSeattle.com and on YouTube. Take a look and start exploring the world! 

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Ethnic Fusion with Tom Douglas

By Taylor Hoang

Restaurateur and Ethnic Business Coalition founder and executive director Taylor Hoang recounts a day exploring Seattle with one of the city’s most prominent chefs.

Seattle is known for its melting pot of cultures along with its rich culinary cuisines.

Here you will find everything from Cuban sandwiches to steaming bowls of pho, Ethiopian injera bread and all-American clam chowders.

It’s really hard to mention Seattle’s culinary food scene without mentioning its beloved chef Tom Douglas. Tom’s creativity with local ingredients and his incorporation of ethnic cuisines in his restaurants have helped put his restaurants and Seattle on the national stage.

I first met Tom when I opened my SODO Pho Cyclo Café in 2003. As he sat enjoying his food, my staff and I were teetering on our toes with anticipation and expectation awaiting any sign that would indicate his approval of our food. That day he didn’t say much, except he left a big tip, smiled his gentle smile and lifted his hand in a wave as he left. We felt a bit anxious and a bit proud that he did come in after all, and that perhaps, if we were lucky, he would be back again. Little did we expect that a week later he would speak of us on his radio show and give us a glowing review.

A few months after that, he placed an order for 150 banh mi sandwiches for his Christmas party! For a little known Vietnamese restaurant open less than a few months, that was a big deal!

Twelve years later, not much has changed about Tom, except perhaps he’s a bit busier with his rapidly growing empire, his never-ending community and philanthropy work, and his insatiable quest to inspire a new generation of chefs and home cooks. Through it all, Tom still gets out to support his local restaurants and communities. On any given day, you may find him at one of the many mom-andpop-owned restaurants around town in areas such as the International District or Columbia City.

EthnicSeattle.com and I recently had a great opportunity to sit down with Tom at Hing Hay Coworks where their gracious staff made a comfortable space for us to enjoy lunch and chat with Tom about his love of ethnic food and how he perceives ethnic culture and cuisine fitting into Seattle’s everyday life.

I was curious to discover what essential ethnic ingredients have a place in Tom’s pantry, so we took a stroll down the aisles of Beacon Hill’s Fou Lee Market to find out. While there, we savored fresh produce and sampled varieties, including different types of curries –a perfect option to cook up for a cold Northwest evening.

Afterward, we journeyed to Amy’s Mercado, an East African market and bakery in the Central District, and were delighted by its hidden treasures. We couldn’t help but explore and inhale the aromatic herbs and spices that lined the shelves of this small store. And finally, after a long day of exploration, the simple act of sitting down to a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony offered by the store’s owner Judy was not only a welcome chance to rest our feet, but also an opportunity to converse with Judy about her family’s life both here in Seattle and in Ethiopia.

On a day such as this, when it is pouring down rain, with occasional peaks of sunlight breaking through, I couldn’t help but feel blessed to be surrounded by such wonders and beauty and the amazing cultures and ethnicities around me.

The EthnicSeattle.com video series with Tom will guide you to the best of the best, but it will also let you take a glimpse into the ever-blending cultural diversity of our city and the common thread that binds us and establishes Seattle as a truly world-class city.  January 2016 | 21

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Consider these Five Resolutions for 2016

By David Faro It’s January and a time for both reflection and fresh starts.

Take the opportunity this month to think about what you will do differently in 2016 to up your game, and then make the commitments you need to increase your success. Here are five possible resolutions for hospitality owners and operators and resources to help you achieve them.

Put a better social media marketing plan in place.

Even if you already have a healthy online presence, the social media landscape is dynamic and changes from day to day. Robust social media marketing no longer simply means having a Facebook page. A broad range of social platforms from Twitter to Instagram to YouTube can provide access to new markets.

Companies like WRA member Via121 allow for targeted marketing through a number of platforms that can dial right in to your neighborhood and amp up your local appeal while also offering guests online ordering that integrates with multiple social media sites. Be resolved. Increase your social media presence and reap the rewards.

Use more tech.

With the recent changes in credit card liability laws promoting EMV compliance, many hospitality businesses are retooling their payment and point of sale systems.

Use this opportunity to take a broader look at technology and find out what is available that could help improve your bottom line. Tech investments are often hard to swallow, yet companies that make wise investments experience rewards that keep on giving. If one of your resolutions this year is to bring your organization into the 21st century, WRAmember companies like Maître’d and Dinerware have a range of options to fit most budgets. If this isn’t your year for serious upgrades, make the resolution to at least explore the hospitality tech that is out there.

Focus on your human resources.

The success of your whole operation balances on the ability of your employees to deliver outstanding customer service and a great dining or lodging experience. Since your staff is one of your most important assets, ask yourself some important questions: Have you been investing enough time to help employees deliver value? Are your new hires ready when they hit the stage? Do your current employees feel as if there is room to advance? Are you providing enough training or mentoring opportunities? Do you have

a recognition plan in place? If you invest in their success, your employees will invest themselves in yours. And with the increasing competition for talent, it is a smart business practice to invest in understanding what makes your staff tick and how you can empower employees to support your brand. In 2016, resolve to identify your needs with regard to training and retention, and then create a plan to meet those needs.

The WRA Consulting Network (www.warestaurant.org/ resources/consultant-network) and the WRA Marketplace (www.warestaurantmarketplace.com) are great resources for expert HR, operations and customer service information and guidance.

Get organized.

After the breakneck speed of the holidays, managers often return in January to an office where it looks like a bomb went off.

Becoming more organized is a common New Year’s resolution, and it is a worthy one to try to follow. Break it into small bites. Walk through your entire operation and ask yourself, what did we do well this week? What could we improve on? What is coming in the next two weeks that we need to be prepared for? Agile organization that allows for the dynamic and ever-changing hospitality environment helps employers be at the top of the policies that keep their staff and operations streamlined. There are all sorts of organizational techniques that can bring your work load into a manageable enterprise. Now is the time to find what works for you.

Employ change.

Make a commitment in this new year to test a few fresh ideas. You don’t have to go nuts, or break the bank, or come up with a whole new brand, you just have to attempt to do something that you have not done before… and carefully monitor the results. Perhaps that new cocktail you were thinking about will be a hit? You won’t know unless you try. Thinking about offering some gluten free or vegan fare? Thinking of a new staff configuration? How would that work? You won’t know unless you try. Experiment and then build upon your success. Keep an eye out for the next issue of your Washington Restaurant & Lodging Magazine which will feature food, menu and lodging trends.  January 2016 | 23

Your Secret Weapon: The Education Foundation Bridges Barriers Between Government and Business

By Lyle Hildahl, Washington Restaurant Association Education Foundation Director

It’s time again to meet with our legislators in Olympia. The legislative session is around the corner and before you know it, Hill Climb and Taste Our Best will be here. As a restaurateur, it’s an opportunity to use your strongest arguments to encourage our government officials to assist, rather than be a barrier we have to deal with on a daily basis.

When you sit down with your legislators, you might consider opening the conversation by mentioning the work you do with the Education Foundation (EF) through our many nationally-acclaimed safety programs. Or perhaps you could tell them about your support of the ProStart program, which helps teens get jobs and build careers.

They will listen and the government barrier will drop for a moment. Take advantage of the power of the foundation.

As a former restaurant owner, I found it very frustrating to work with a plethora of government agencies putting up barriers to running my business. I wanted to focus on team motivation, customer service, hospitality, food and beverage and entertainment—the stuff that motivated me to get in the business in the first place. But as an owner, I was spending most of my time on taxes, permits, licenses, inspections, lawsuits, etc., from the DOL, WSLCB, DOR, DOH, L&I, INS, ICE. The list goes on, and as a business operator I’m sure you know what each of those agency abbreviations stand for!

One of my best discoveries in dealing with these government agencies was that I did not have to do it alone.

By joining the WRA, I found some comfort in having a resource to channel my frustrations and frequently gained tangible positive results. WRA leaders at the time—Gene Vosberg, Trent House and Anthony Anton (back when he

24 | warestaurant.org

was director of WRA Government Affairs)— were quite helpful whenever I needed them.

Another discovery I made was the Education Foundation. It turns out that the foundation works with the majority of the government agencies I listed.

Connecting with the EF helped me build better relations with government agencies and inspectors, which in turn created a business environment that the agencies looked to support, rather than close down. When people like you, they tend to support you. If they don’t like you, well… it can be a less than pleasant experience.

In addition to working with government agencies on a daily basis, EF is also well-connected to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. This is one of the most powerful tools available to us in building strong legislative support for the restaurant industry. Through ProStart, graduation rates go up, at-risk teens find a way to succeed, restaurants find motivated and talented workers and, ultimately, the economy grows. Pretty amazing how that works, huh?

I strongly believe that the ultimate outcome of building relationships with kids, teachers, government officials and the agencies is TRUST. Once you have that, the barriers come down and the path to success is made clear.

Why not give it a try? The WRA and WRAEF have 46 board members, 125 industry ambassadors, 46 team members, 35 ProStart high schools and 6,000-plus members to support you, your business and our economy. Get connected. Start the relationship. It all comes down to trust. 

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INDUSTRY CALENDAR Jan/Feb

NEW HOSPITALITY MEMBERS

Training

88 Keys Dueling Piano & Sports Bar, Seattle

Kickin’ A Saloon & Dance Hall, Ferndale

Jan. 21

ServSafe® Manager, Tacoma

Beardslee Public House, Bothell

Kory Dyer, Oak Harbor

Jan. 25

ServSafe® Manager, Kent

Beryl, The, Spokane

Kraken Congee, Seattle

Feb. 2

ServSafe® Manager, Seattle

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, Spokane

Lionhead, Seattle

Feb. 9

ServSafe® Manager, Kent

Blind Onion Pizza, Vancouver

Lone Star Restaurant & Waterin’ Hole, Concrete

Feb. 11

ServSafe® Manager, Tumwater

Bramling Cross, Seattle

Marination LLC, Seattle

Feb. 15

ServSafe® Manager, Everett

Brief Encounter Cafe, The, Bellevue

Mazatlan Restaurant, Puyallup

Feb. 23

ServSafe® Manager, Port Angeles

Brouwer’s Cafe, Inc., Seattle

Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop

Cabin Tavern, Bellingham

New Way Vapor Lounge, Port Orchard

Feb. 25

ServSafe® Manager, Tacoma

Can’t Stop Smackin’, Normandy Park

Nirmal’s, Seattle

Meetings

Carnation Cafe, Carnation

Obbar Pocha, Seattle

Chick Fil A @ 38th & Steele, Tacoma

Outlook Inn on Orcas Island, Eastsound

Jan. 5

Executive Committee

Chick Fil A, Lynnwood

Pacific Southern, Tacoma

Jan. 11

Session Starts

Copper Top Tap House & Growler Fills, Kennewick

Park Public House, Seattle

Jan. 12

Board Development Committee

Don Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant, Lacey

Penn Cove Tap Room, Coupeville

Jan. 19

Finance Committee

Emerald Heights F&B, Redmond

Pizza Factory Suncrest, Nine Mile Falls

Weekly (Mondays)

GAC Conference Calls

Empire Pizza, Port Orchard

Quality Inn, Seatac

Fan Club, Lakewood

R Place A Seattle Pub, Seattle

Feb. 2

Executive Committee

Fieldhouse Pizza & Pub, Liberty Lake

Red Polo Ventures, Fall City

Feb. 10

Retro Trust

Floatation Device Pub & Grill, The, Gig Harbor

Rib Ticklers Barbeque, Gig Harbor

Feb. 10

MSC Sub Committee

Hackers Bar & Grill, Gig Harbor

San Juan Cruises, Bellingham

Happy Family Restaurant & Bar, Vancouver

Schooner EXACT Brewing Co., Seattle

Hart’s Mutineer Cafe, Grayland

Sparks Firehouse Deli, Puyallup

Holeshot Pizza & Brew, Spokane

Staybridge Suites, Seattle

I Love Pho, Bellevue

Streamliner Diner, Bainbridge Isle

Islander Motel, Westport

Subway #4981, Pullman

Jacksons Catfish Corner, Seattle

TownePlace Suites, Olympia

Jeremiah Kerk LLC, Issaquah

U: Don Fresh Japanese Noodle Station, Seattle

Events Jan. 1

Education Foundation Resource to Initiative Successful Employment Launch

Jan. 25

Hill Climb and Taste Our Best

Feb. 2

Spokane Chapter Gala

Feb. 27

ProStart Invitational

Keller Ferry Marina/Seven Bays Marina, Davenport

NEW ALLIED MEMBERS BDO Beth Rutherford brutherford@bdo.com 2528 One Union Square Building Seattle, WA 98101 206.403.4025 bdo.com

Elhard Group Jon Saporito jon@jonsaporito.com 33434 8th Ave S Ste 103 Federal Way, WA 98003 206.854.9932 www.jonsaporitohomes.com

BDO is one of very few CPA firms in the U.S. with a robust and dedicated restaurant practice. Our professionals serve hundreds of clients across the country, including franchisors, franchisees, public companies, and independents. We also serve all segments quick service (QSR), fast casual, casual dining, pizza, fine dining, and emerging chains. From menu engineering to capital structure, our professionals draw on extensive knowledge of best practices in order to help our clients drive profitaility and growth. In addition to a full array of tax and assurance services, we also provide a wide range of advisory services, including internal control reviews, benchmarking studies, and repairs and maintenance studies.

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NationSat(isfaction) feels like luxury. NationSat Directv provides the industry’s highest quality HD programming. The number and variety of channels offered by NationSat provides guests with a reason to never leave their room. We will create a designer package of channels that will have your guests looking for reasons to book with you agin and again. This is a specialzed hospitality experience that fits your operational budget.

Retail Lockbox Merchant Services LLC Craig Dawson Craig@Retaillockbox.com 105 14th Ave Ste 300 Seattle, WA 98122 7305 206.624.2871 www.retaillockboxmerchantservices.com Retail Lockbox Merchant Services, LLC is a premier provider of point of sale debit/credit card processing, online payments, ACH processing, and phone payments.

Seadan Consulting Bil Smith bil.smith@yahoo.com 123 200th Pl SE Bothell, WA 98012 425.231.9355 seadan.com Over 25 years of restaurant experience. With a background in all aspects of the industry I have the resources, and contacts you need to make your business more profitable. I specialize in cost control, marketing, training, and menu development.

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FIRST AID/CPR/AED This comprehensive course covers all the basics of First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Employers in WA state are required to have first-aid trained personnel available on all shifts, if the business is not in near proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or hospital. Completion of the course provides all the necessary certifications to meet state requirements, in a fun and engaging four hour course. We also offer an optional module for Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training. This session is for employees that may potentially become exposed to any body fluids, either through daily job or through applying first aid to another person in need. Visit wraef.org/ training/first-aid-cpr-aed/

According to ACRAnet, the WRA employee background check partner, one-third of job applicants lie on their applications and another five percent falsify their social security number. In today’s economically challenging times, employers are more likely to see a rise in embezzlement and other potentially harmful behaviors. In fact, a reported $4 billion is lost annually to embezzlement and a violent employee incident costs employers on average an incredible $250,000. These sobering statistics make any small business owner cringe. However, employers can protect themselves with a mere $19 investment in an employee background check. Visit warestaurant.org for more information.

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Listen from noon until 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday on KLAY Radio, 1180 A.M. www.klay1180.com www.facebook.com/dinenorthwest Interested in promoting your restaurant on DineNW?

WRA members pay nothing so contact David Faro at davidf@warestaurant.org.

Ask the Expert: Attracting the Right Talent to Supercharge Performance

By Rick Braa, CHAE

Q:

Recently, I’ve filled a few position openings that were vacant for quite some time. The people I’ve hired don’t seem to stick around and actually do more damage than good. With the labor pool tightening, what are the best ways to attract the right talent?

A:

Attracting the right talent is the highest priority in every business, yet the days of attracting plenty of candidates with passive hiring through the placement of a simple ad in the paper are long gone. A common complaint among operators is that there is little to no response for advertised positions, and companies using passive recruiting tactics find that the quality of candidates has also changed. Readily available candidates may have changed jobs frequently or may possess inadequate experience, talent or work ethic. To find talented employees who can supercharge your organization, consider the following: Advertise the position with the employee in mind. Employees want to make a difference and to work for a company that shares this commitment. Describe what your position offers the employee and how that benefits the company and community. If the position is a gateway to development, describe the development phases and benefits. Strong candidates are now looking for companies that stand out.

Companies that take the time to craft an ad that speaks to the humanity of the candidate have the highest probability of a response.

Use proactive recruiting tools. Many job boards today offer proactive recruiting tools that target both active and passive job seekers. Employees can post resumes on a job site such as indeed.com, and within moments of an employer posting a job opening, potential candidates will receive notice of a job matching key words on their resumes or listed as a priorities for their job search. These online job boards offer ease of application, and because candidates can answer several ads within minutes, they cast a wide net of opportunity.

Use an applicant tracking system (ATS). An ATS allows tracking and filtering of resumes through online applications and screening questions. For example, if a job requires three years’ experience in a high-volume kitchen,

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an applicant must agree whether he or she meets the criteria in advance of applying for a position. Unqualified applicants, recruiting services and spam are automatically filtered out.

Added benefits of applicant tracking systems generally include onboarding and compliance tools to help you better navigate the time-consuming new hire and employee personnel management process.

Offer an employee referral program. The best candidates come from employee referrals. Offer a meaningful reward, say $250 to $500 or more, when an employee refers a new hire who remains employed for at least six months.

Statistically, most turnover happens within the first six months, so having an advocate and a system supporting retention is wise. This also adds an additional layer of employee engagement, that of bonding and being connected to co-workers. Employee-connected workforces are more highly engaged, produce better results and have less turnover.

Move fast. There are currently more jobs than candidates.

Until there is another recession, the job market is going to remain white hot. Candidates applying for a position may already be deep into the interviewing process with another company, so time is of the essence. Contact candidates, interview, and offer jobs quickly. The good candidates don’t last.

By being proactive, organized and quick to hire, you’ll improve your recruiting process. Once the recruiting process is effective and streamlined, you’ll be able to replace unproductive and unengaged employees without fear while upgrading your staff to supercharge performance.  For a more information on improving profitability and driving sales, contact AMP Services at rbraa@ampservices.com. Rick Braa is the co-founder of AMP Services, an accounting and consulting firm specializing in helping companies grow profitability.

HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

Are you lying awake at night wondering if you are compliant with all of the healthcare laws? Let the WRA help you sleep better!

The Washington Restaurant Association has added “HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS” to our program offerings. To find out what works best for your business, visit: wra.cc/hcsolutions to walk through our healthcare options for your business.

Or, ask your broker. Don’t have a broker? Call or email and I will set you up with an expert in our industry!

Contact Stephanie Conway for more information at 32 | warestaurant.org 360.581.5788 or email her at stephaniec@warestaurant.org.