September 2005
By Dale J. Venturini
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
From January until mid-July, the platform on which most are used to seeing the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association is undoubtedly political. As the official advocacy group of the hospitality and tourism industry in Rhode Island, RIHTA is committed to making the industry’s voice stronger where it counts most – from our town halls, to the State House.
However, the Association is not just a lobbying organization. During an active legislative session like the one that just wrapped up, members may overlook the host of benefits that we, together with our national partners, provide. Now that the legislators have adjourned for the year, it’s a great time to remind members of RIHTA’s numerous offerings that not only keep you informed of the impending issues that can affect your business, but can also help you increase productivity, and save money.
As the famous advertising adage goes, “Membership has its privileges.” RIHTA members can enjoy numerous privileges with their investment in the Association, from automatic memberships into the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel and Lodging Association, to discounts on employee training programs like ServSafe® Food Safety and ServSafe Alcohol™ server training courses, to group buying programs that can lower the cost of utilities. We keep you informed of critical legislative issues through editorials such as this one, and through faxes, emails and monthly member newsletters. We bring hospitality professionals in different fields together –security, vending, human resources, and management, to name a few – for meetings and seminars that reinforce best practices and offer valuable networking opportunities. And, we connect you with partner companies that offer discounted supplies, programs and services.
It seems that few members take full advantage of the resources provided by our national partners, the AH&LA and the NRA, perhaps because they are not fully aware of the substantial programs and services they each offer.
RIHTA-member hotel properties with 50 rooms or more receive free membership into the AH&LA, which not only represents your interests in Washington in efforts such as the increase in the H-2B Visa cap, but offers several workforce development programs, and sizeable discounts on health insurance, training materials, and with companies like Staples supply stores and Hertz rental cars.
In addition to offering its everyday discounts and training programs, the AH&LA regularly launches new programs to best serve its members. One of these initiatives is the New York Police Department’s “Operation Nexus,” a broad network of businesses working together in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks. The AH&LA has joined “Operation Nexus” in their efforts to share best practices to hoteliers and their employees, which help workers apply their knowledge of the lodging industry with every customer encounter – giving them the tools necessary to discern suspicious activities that might indicate a link to terrorism. For more information on “Operation Nexus” or any of the AH&LA’s offerings, log on to www.ahla.org.
Have you visited the NRA’s website, www.restaurant.org, lately? There, you will find out about the NRA’s newest programs and services. Along with the AH&LA, the NRA is at the forefront of introducing new programs that offer the highest benefit to members. Two of the NRA’s most recent programs, “TakeCharge” and “AskUs!” do just that.
Introduced in February, the “TakeCharge” program provides exclusive rates for credit card processing to small and mid-size restaurants, as well as increased payment choices. Besides accepting all major credit cards provided through the NRA’s “TakeCharge” partner, First Data Corp., the program offers a secure, expedient way to process payment methods. PIN-secured debit acceptance through leading networks like the STAR® network ensures secure transactions, and near-instant processing and TeleCheck Electronic Check Acceptance® service ensures quick transactions.
Another great new program from the NRA is “Ask Us!” This new offering is a voluntary, nationwide effort to help restaurants determine dietary content in dishes, and help nutrition-conscious customers make informed menu choices. “Ask Us!” not only helps improve the image of your business within today’s increasingly health-conscious environment, but it also helps our industry as a whole demonstrate its willingness to help Americans make responsible eating decisions. To make it even easier for restaurants to participate in “Ask Us!,” RIHTA is currently in the process of purchasing software that will enable the Association to analyze the dietary content of dishes for its members.
Being a RIHTA member has many privileges, but perhaps the biggest benefit RIHTA members gain is status within the community. As a member of RIHTA, you are grouped with the most prominent hospitality businesses in the state, and other industries see you in that light. When the media calls the Association for reaction or feedback on a hospitality-related issue, whether it be an increase in minimum wage or new fire code requirements, RIHTA redirects the press to its members, when appropriate. Because of this, your business becomes known as a leading authority in the media, at the statehouse, and within the business community. It’s a win-win for everyone, not to mention a remarkable benefit.
For every “privilege” we offer, RIHTA continually looks for additional cost saving programs and beneficial services for our members. It’s our way of ensuring that you receive a return on your investment in the association, and more. Call us at (401) 223-1123 for more information on these programs, or to offer suggestions on other membership benefits we can provide, to help serve you best.
By Dale J. Venturini
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
From January until mid-July, the platform on which most are used to seeing the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association is undoubtedly political. As the official advocacy group of the hospitality and tourism industry in Rhode Island, RIHTA is committed to making the industry’s voice stronger where it counts most – from our town halls, to the State House.
However, the Association is not just a lobbying organization. During an active legislative session like the one that just wrapped up, members may overlook the host of benefits that we, together with our national partners, provide. Now that the legislators have adjourned for the year, it’s a great time to remind members of RIHTA’s numerous offerings that not only keep you informed of the impending issues that can affect your business, but can also help you increase productivity, and save money.
As the famous advertising adage goes, “Membership has its privileges.” RIHTA members can enjoy numerous privileges with their investment in the Association, from automatic memberships into the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel and Lodging Association, to discounts on employee training programs like ServSafe® Food Safety and ServSafe Alcohol™ server training courses, to group buying programs that can lower the cost of utilities. We keep you informed of critical legislative issues through editorials such as this one, and through faxes, emails and monthly member newsletters. We bring hospitality professionals in different fields together –security, vending, human resources, and management, to name a few – for meetings and seminars that reinforce best practices and offer valuable networking opportunities. And, we connect you with partner companies that offer discounted supplies, programs and services.
It seems that few members take full advantage of the resources provided by our national partners, the AH&LA and the NRA, perhaps because they are not fully aware of the substantial programs and services they each offer.
RIHTA-member hotel properties with 50 rooms or more receive free membership into the AH&LA, which not only represents your interests in Washington in efforts such as the increase in the H-2B Visa cap, but offers several workforce development programs, and sizeable discounts on health insurance, training materials, and with companies like Staples supply stores and Hertz rental cars.
In addition to offering its everyday discounts and training programs, the AH&LA regularly launches new programs to best serve its members. One of these initiatives is the New York Police Department’s “Operation Nexus,” a broad network of businesses working together in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks. The AH&LA has joined “Operation Nexus” in their efforts to share best practices to hoteliers and their employees, which help workers apply their knowledge of the lodging industry with every customer encounter – giving them the tools necessary to discern suspicious activities that might indicate a link to terrorism. For more information on “Operation Nexus” or any of the AH&LA’s offerings, log on to www.ahla.org.
Have you visited the NRA’s website, www.restaurant.org, lately? There, you will find out about the NRA’s newest programs and services. Along with the AH&LA, the NRA is at the forefront of introducing new programs that offer the highest benefit to members. Two of the NRA’s most recent programs, “TakeCharge” and “AskUs!” do just that.
Introduced in February, the “TakeCharge” program provides exclusive rates for credit card processing to small and mid-size restaurants, as well as increased payment choices. Besides accepting all major credit cards provided through the NRA’s “TakeCharge” partner, First Data Corp., the program offers a secure, expedient way to process payment methods. PIN-secured debit acceptance through leading networks like the STAR® network ensures secure transactions, and near-instant processing and TeleCheck Electronic Check Acceptance® service ensures quick transactions.
Another great new program from the NRA is “Ask Us!” This new offering is a voluntary, nationwide effort to help restaurants determine dietary content in dishes, and help nutrition-conscious customers make informed menu choices. “Ask Us!” not only helps improve the image of your business within today’s increasingly health-conscious environment, but it also helps our industry as a whole demonstrate its willingness to help Americans make responsible eating decisions. To make it even easier for restaurants to participate in “Ask Us!,” RIHTA is currently in the process of purchasing software that will enable the Association to analyze the dietary content of dishes for its members.
Being a RIHTA member has many privileges, but perhaps the biggest benefit RIHTA members gain is status within the community. As a member of RIHTA, you are grouped with the most prominent hospitality businesses in the state, and other industries see you in that light. When the media calls the Association for reaction or feedback on a hospitality-related issue, whether it be an increase in minimum wage or new fire code requirements, RIHTA redirects the press to its members, when appropriate. Because of this, your business becomes known as a leading authority in the media, at the statehouse, and within the business community. It’s a win-win for everyone, not to mention a remarkable benefit.
For every “privilege” we offer, RIHTA continually looks for additional cost saving programs and beneficial services for our members. It’s our way of ensuring that you receive a return on your investment in the association, and more. Call us at (401) 223-1123 for more information on these programs, or to offer suggestions on other membership benefits we can provide, to help serve you best.
No comments:
Post a Comment