Hospitality Minnesota, the association, is one month old. The merger that brought together the Minnesota Lodging Association, the Minnesota Resort and Campground Association, and the Minnesota Restaurant Association is allowing us, in this unprecedented time, to talk with leaders about the entire industry across Minnesota. With all the complexities our state leaders are trying to address, our unified voice is making a difference. As we shared yesterday, Commissioner Grove cited Hospitality Minnesota as “an incredibly important trade association who has given the Governor, myself, and many of the leaders in state government lots of advice on how to get this right moving forward.”
We use the term “hospitality businesses” or “hospitality industry” with our members, public officials, news media and others when we talk about the devastation your business is facing. When we do, we are talking about the places people go to stay, to camp, to eat, to drink, to celebrate, to play, to explore, to connect. People should know, and will come to learn over time, that we are advocating for all businesses, even when it may look like it is focused on a single type of business.
We had very different plans for what we would be working on after the merger became official on April 1. As with your business, COVID-19 changed everything, sending our plans flying. Our staff is working remotely, fielding calls and emails as we fight for what you need. We’re finding new and different ways to work together while being kept apart.
Here’s one thing that hasn’t changed, and never will. You can count on us to work hard to help people understand and appreciate the common threads and the key distinctions among the extraordinary Minnesota businesses we serve.
