DAILY VRLTA UPDATE 4/9/20
LEAD NEWS: Federal Update

VRLTA has been hearing from many restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality-related businesses that the federal relief measure has been cumbersome and difficult to obtain the necessary financial relief. We have shared many of these concerns with our partners at the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel and Lodging Association. In response, they have sent letters to congress requesting additional assistance.
 
 
Governor's Press Conference Yesterday - ABC Update

Following up from yesterday’s daily update from the Governor’s office, the Virginia ABC has released updated guidance on the deferral of payment for annual licenses and permit fees as well as the sale of mixed beverages for pickup, and delivery. You can view them here .
Free Training Resources

Hospitality

As part of AHLA’s   Hospitality for Hope Initiative,   the AHLA Foundation today announced free training and educational courses to help hotel employees continue their education and stay connected to their careers. These resources are available to employees who have lost their jobs, had their hours reduced, or simply wish to continue learning while in their current role.

Employee Resources Include:
  • Hospitality Management Training
  • Professional Development Scholarships
  • Continuing Education Scholarships
  • Short-Term Employment Resources
 
To learn more about each,visit   https://www.ahlafoundation.org/relief

Restaurant

As the industry faces ongoing challenges with COVID-19, the National Restaurant Association remains dedicated to helping everyone stay safe. Food safety training and education are more critical now than ever before. With this in mind, ServSafe will be releasing two new training videos, free to our constituents, to reinforce safe food handling during the coronavirus outbreak. These are: 


Now through April 30, the National Restaurant Association is offering both the ServSuccess Restaurant Professional and Restaurant Supervisor learning suites FREE of charge. These learning suites, created with industry experts, were designed to reinforce your skills and knowledge and will help ensure you’re ready for what’s next in your career. They also cover everything you need to know to sit for the professional certification exam, should you choose to take it.
 
Restaurant Professional Learning Suite
5 Modules | approx. 4 hours

For individuals just starting their restaurant career and working in roles like bartenders, cashier, cook, host or server.  Topics include:
  • Front-of-the-House Service & Communication
  • Front-of-the-House Basic Operations
  • Back-of-the-House Pre-Production
  • Back-of-the-House Production
  • Basic Business Operations
 
Restaurant Supervisor Learning Suite
5 Modules | approx. 5 hours

For individuals who are responsible for supervising, directing, coordinating and training employees. They might also have the job title assistant manager, kitchen lead, shift leader or supervisor. Topics include:
  • Managing Daily Operations
  • Leadership & Communication
  • Safety & Regulations
  • Cost Control Fundamentals
  • Controlling Costs
 
 
Please reach out to  jim@vrlta.org  with any questions. 
STR Providing Free Hotel Resources

Thank you to STR for providing the following resources to Virginia hotels:

  • Daily updates on the impact of COVID-19 to the industry here: https://str.com/data-insights-blog/coronavirus-hotel-industry-data-news
  • Weekly Webinars every Thursday, info at the same link above, scroll down for upcoming and past webinars
  • Free STAR report for three months for any hotel not currently receiving the report, sign up here (https://surveys.str.com/s3/Hotel-Enrollment-Form) *Please note even if you are closed, we will still be sending hotels reports.This is a tool to be used to 1) identify what hotels are charging if they are able to remain open and 2) to track when occupancy starts to pick back up

Questions? Please reach out to  Lyse Perrigo at  lperrigo@str.com
Have you received PPP or EIDL funding?

VRLTA is working to understand if members and others in the hospitality and tourism industries are receiving help . If you applied for either the PPP or EIDL funding, and have received an answer or funds, please send an email to Robert Melvin , VRLTA's Government Affairs Director, sharing the details. Thank you!
No VRLTA Daily Update Tomorrow

Unless there is breaking news, VRLTA will not send a daily update tomorrow, Friday, April 10. We'll be back on Monday with the latest update.
Are you in a position to help? Donate today to VRLTA's Restaurant & Hospitality Relief Fund
 
The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, through its 501c3 foundation (Virginia Restaurant Lodging & Travel Association Educational Foundation/VRLTAEF) has formed a new industry relief fund to aid workers displaced by the recent restaurant and hospitality industry shutdowns and also aid affected businesses. 
 
The Virginia Restaurant & Hospitality Relief Fund will be providing direct cash support to workers that have been laid off due to the recent COVID19-related business downturn in Virginia and affected businesses. The VRLTAEF will be funding the new trust with donations from individual donors and grants from local private foundations and corporate partners. VRLTA has also partnered with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to create a Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers t-shirt, and other merchandise , with a portion of the proceeds going to the Fund. Donations may be disbursed to organizations around the state which can connect the support to individuals, or, in some cases, made directly to affected individuals/businesses.
 
VRLTA is asking all of the industry’s suppliers, distributors, allied vendor partners, and other corporations to support the Fund. The restaurant and hospitality industries in Virginia are not only large employers, but also greatly contribute to the Commonwealth's economy.
 
All donations to the Fund are fully tax-deductible, subject to applicable laws and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. If you would like to direct your donation to a particular area, please reach out to  jim@vrlta.org  for assistance.

Donations can be made through VRLTA's websit  e at   https://www.vrlta.org/donations/donate.asp?id=19606  .
Continue to visit https://www.virginiaisforrestaurantlovers.com for more information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the tourism and hospitality industries. We are working to add additional resources, links, and news articles as they become available.