Member Update
June 5, 2020
What's Inside:
Welcome News!
Beginning Wednesday, June 10
Business Preparedness Plans
Welcome News!
Here is our statement to the media following today’s announcement:

Hospitality businesses across Minnesota received welcomed news with Governor Walz’ announcement that restaurants can open on June 10 for indoor dining at 50% capacity, capped at 250. This is a positive step toward the long and difficult economic recovery of these small businesses.

Likewise, our lodging, resort and campground businesses can open their pools at 50% capacity, along with other amenities, that will allow them to accommodate guests and stem cancellations and revenue loss.

The long shutdown has been crippling for many owners/operators, and it will take our collective efforts to support these businesses as they work to rebuild the public’s confidence in venturing out. Our industry looks forward to safely welcoming its employees and customers back.

Already reeling from the pandemic, Minnesota is also facing another long recovery from the events of the past weeks. Our hospitality businesses are uniquely suited to help bring people together and reweave the fabric of our communities. Reopening them more fully—and safely-- will foster economic recovery, promote public mental health and well-being, and help to revitalize our communities’ civic life.
Beginning Wednesday, June 10
Here is a summary of what was announced during today’s Daily Briefing. The state has launched a new  Stay Safe MN web site , providing resources such as guidance documents (see links to  individual documents below).

  • Restaurants can open for indoor dining at 50% capacity, with a maximum of 250 people.  Outdoor capacity remains at 50%, with a maximum of 250 people (up from 50).
  • Pools and aquatic centers can also open to 50% capacity. 
  • Salons can open to 50% capacity. 
  • Gyms and fitness centers can open to 25% capacity, with a maximum of 250 people. Group fitness classes are allowed with social distancing and outdoor classes are strongly encouraged. 
  • Movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, museums, etc. can open to 25% capacity, with a maximum of 250 people. Refer to guidance documents for different settings. 

Other considerations

  • In restaurants, masks are required for employees and strongly encouraged for guests. 
  • In salons, nail salons and barber shops, masks are required for both employee and customers. 
  • In gyms, fitness centers and entertainment venues, masks are required for employees and strongly encouraged for members, as long as practical and especially when moving between fitness activities. 
  • Self-service options such as buffets, salad bars and drink stations must remain closed. 
  • Those whose roles allow them to work from home should continue to do so.

Refer to these documents for specific information on what is and is not allowed.  Let us know if you have any questions .

Business Preparedness Plans
Also announced today, ALL businesses will now be required to have a completed  a preparedness plan  by June 29. Current practices do not to stop or pause until the plan is completed. State agencies will have additional guidance for preparing plans are expected no later than June 15. We’ll post those as they are made available.
It’s been a long haul, and our collective efforts to safely re-open hospitality businesses is paying off. Weeks of direct advocacy from our team and members (including video testimonials, letters, emails, op-eds and media campaigns) have moved us to this point, and even though all of us would have preferred to move faster, we are very glad to be moving forward. We’ll send out more details when the Executive Order is available to us. 

Until then, we wish you all the best as you move forward with reopening and will continue to be here to help.
Our Member Updates are generally sent to members only. In the interest of public health and the health of our industry, we encourage you to share this update widely. Additional resources can be found on our  website  and through our social media posts on   Facebook , LinkedIn  and  Twitter .