By Dale J. Venturini
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
In 1982, the Rhode Island Hotel and Motel Association and the Rhode Island Restaurant Association merged to form RIHTA. We have come a long way from those humble beginnings. Today, the Association represents more than 500 hospitality and tourism-related businesses and membership is considered synonymous with excellence in our industry. This year, we celebrate our 25th anniversary, and boy, have we come a long way.
While our greatest mission is that legislative advocacy, both on state and national levels, and providing the best education and training programs, the benefits of membership extend far beyond those roles. We have taken the lead in developing cost-saving programs for energy, insurance, and health care to help increase profits for member businesses. We are in the forefront of service and food safety training. Our newsletters and special member alerts keep our members informed on the issues and trends that will affect the success of their companies, now and in the future. Last, but not least, we provide the largest networking opportunities for the hospitality and foodservice industries, where members can enjoy the knowledge of others in their industry, friendship, and the opportunity to share ideas and work together towards mutual professional goals.
But, there is work still to be done. Although we have made great strides in communicating the importance of the Association, membership is only a fraction of the more than 5,000 hospitality businesses in Rhode Island. As the Association looks to improve the value of membership and to increase membership roles, part of the responsibility falls on businesses owners themselves.
Time and time again, I hear from business owners who want the Association to defeat a piece of legislation or to help advocate changes in laws and regulations to help their business. What strikes me most about these calls for action is that, more often than not, they come from non-members.
All too often, business owners businesses won’t join the Association, for a variety of reasons, but rely on the Association to fight for their cause. That attitude is doing a disservice to the business, it is doing a disservice to the Association, and it is doing a disservice to the hospitality industry as a whole. The strength of the Association comes from its members, and our efforts should be put forth to protect the interests of the membership. As the old political adage goes, you can’t complain if you don’t vote, and, with the Association, you can’t be represented if you’re not a member.
We’ve done a heck of a job for the past 25 years – playing a major role in reforming workers’ compensation in the state, defeating Harrah’s Entertainment, raising the level of professionalism of those who work in the industry, and educating the public on the role the industry plays in the quality of life we enjoy. Think of what we could get accomplished if the Association represented even more hospitality businesses.
As we celebrate the last 25 years, instead of your well wishes and your congratulations on our anniversary, I hope you will consider giving the Association a present – become a member of the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. I guarantee it is one present that will give back ten fold.
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
In 1982, the Rhode Island Hotel and Motel Association and the Rhode Island Restaurant Association merged to form RIHTA. We have come a long way from those humble beginnings. Today, the Association represents more than 500 hospitality and tourism-related businesses and membership is considered synonymous with excellence in our industry. This year, we celebrate our 25th anniversary, and boy, have we come a long way.
While our greatest mission is that legislative advocacy, both on state and national levels, and providing the best education and training programs, the benefits of membership extend far beyond those roles. We have taken the lead in developing cost-saving programs for energy, insurance, and health care to help increase profits for member businesses. We are in the forefront of service and food safety training. Our newsletters and special member alerts keep our members informed on the issues and trends that will affect the success of their companies, now and in the future. Last, but not least, we provide the largest networking opportunities for the hospitality and foodservice industries, where members can enjoy the knowledge of others in their industry, friendship, and the opportunity to share ideas and work together towards mutual professional goals.
But, there is work still to be done. Although we have made great strides in communicating the importance of the Association, membership is only a fraction of the more than 5,000 hospitality businesses in Rhode Island. As the Association looks to improve the value of membership and to increase membership roles, part of the responsibility falls on businesses owners themselves.
Time and time again, I hear from business owners who want the Association to defeat a piece of legislation or to help advocate changes in laws and regulations to help their business. What strikes me most about these calls for action is that, more often than not, they come from non-members.
All too often, business owners businesses won’t join the Association, for a variety of reasons, but rely on the Association to fight for their cause. That attitude is doing a disservice to the business, it is doing a disservice to the Association, and it is doing a disservice to the hospitality industry as a whole. The strength of the Association comes from its members, and our efforts should be put forth to protect the interests of the membership. As the old political adage goes, you can’t complain if you don’t vote, and, with the Association, you can’t be represented if you’re not a member.
We’ve done a heck of a job for the past 25 years – playing a major role in reforming workers’ compensation in the state, defeating Harrah’s Entertainment, raising the level of professionalism of those who work in the industry, and educating the public on the role the industry plays in the quality of life we enjoy. Think of what we could get accomplished if the Association represented even more hospitality businesses.
As we celebrate the last 25 years, instead of your well wishes and your congratulations on our anniversary, I hope you will consider giving the Association a present – become a member of the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association. I guarantee it is one present that will give back ten fold.
