January 2010
By Dale J. Venturini
President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association
“And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.”
- Thomas Hood, 19th Century British Poet and Humorist
Ah, 2010. How many of us are happy to ring in this new year if only to say goodbye to the adversities of 2009? This past year marked an unparalleled time in our nation’s economy, employment and overall prosperity. I don’t think many of us went unaffected by recent economic turmoil.
With unemployment levels reaching the double digits across the nation, people had less money to spend, less discretionary income to use on things like restaurants and entertainment. Instead, folks were focused on trying to maintain their mortgages, pay their bills and keep food on their table. Indeed, it has been a trying year for anyone trying to keep a business afloat.
What times of great adversity show us, however, is the stuff we’re made of. Sadly, it often takes a crisis to pull people together, to forge connections, and to unite to find common ground.
In that connection, we often find a culture of community. I know you’ve heard me talk about this in the past, but I truly feel that a culture of community is at the root of all that we do in this industry. And, if you are not seeing this in your individual business, you need to reach out and create it in order to move ahead.
The culture of community is comprised of what I call, ‘the four Cs’: cooperation – working together for a common effort to benefit our industry; collaboration – encouraging teamwork, support and community partnerships; communication – exchanging ideas, information and opportunities; and connection – creating lasting relationships within the industry.
2010 represents the perfect time to really instill this philosophy into your organization. At the RI Hospitality Association, we have a renewed focus on these guiding principles and it has already paid dividends. Our membership is up this quarter over last year at the same time. And, as many of you know, Rhode Island has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. So, getting new businesses to sign up is really no small feat.
As I said, in troubled economic times, people really need each other. They seek out others that are in the same situation or predicament in order to find strength in numbers. It is through a common effort that change can occur. It is through an exchange of ideas and opportunities that ultimately leads to lasting relationships. And, lasting relationships are what the future is built on.
Join me in adding the culture of community to your New Year’s resolutions. Embrace it, make it your own and change the course of 2010 for your business. As we ring in the New Year, there has never been more opportunity or promise on the horizon.
Happy New Year.
President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association
“And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.”
- Thomas Hood, 19th Century British Poet and Humorist
Ah, 2010. How many of us are happy to ring in this new year if only to say goodbye to the adversities of 2009? This past year marked an unparalleled time in our nation’s economy, employment and overall prosperity. I don’t think many of us went unaffected by recent economic turmoil.
With unemployment levels reaching the double digits across the nation, people had less money to spend, less discretionary income to use on things like restaurants and entertainment. Instead, folks were focused on trying to maintain their mortgages, pay their bills and keep food on their table. Indeed, it has been a trying year for anyone trying to keep a business afloat.
What times of great adversity show us, however, is the stuff we’re made of. Sadly, it often takes a crisis to pull people together, to forge connections, and to unite to find common ground.
In that connection, we often find a culture of community. I know you’ve heard me talk about this in the past, but I truly feel that a culture of community is at the root of all that we do in this industry. And, if you are not seeing this in your individual business, you need to reach out and create it in order to move ahead.
The culture of community is comprised of what I call, ‘the four Cs’: cooperation – working together for a common effort to benefit our industry; collaboration – encouraging teamwork, support and community partnerships; communication – exchanging ideas, information and opportunities; and connection – creating lasting relationships within the industry.
2010 represents the perfect time to really instill this philosophy into your organization. At the RI Hospitality Association, we have a renewed focus on these guiding principles and it has already paid dividends. Our membership is up this quarter over last year at the same time. And, as many of you know, Rhode Island has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. So, getting new businesses to sign up is really no small feat.
As I said, in troubled economic times, people really need each other. They seek out others that are in the same situation or predicament in order to find strength in numbers. It is through a common effort that change can occur. It is through an exchange of ideas and opportunities that ultimately leads to lasting relationships. And, lasting relationships are what the future is built on.
Join me in adding the culture of community to your New Year’s resolutions. Embrace it, make it your own and change the course of 2010 for your business. As we ring in the New Year, there has never been more opportunity or promise on the horizon.
Happy New Year.
