Dale J. Venturini
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association
"The future depends on what we do in the present."
- Mahatma Gandhi
I don’t know about you, but here in Rhode Island, our entire political landscape has changed. Many of our incumbent legislators – both friends and foe – have been replaced. We’re now facing a brand new group of lawmakers; many of whom don’t know or understand our industry. This is both an opportunity and a burden, as we will once again have to reinforce our industry’s value so that we do not wind up with a target on our back at budget time.
Some of the states in New England have relatively low unemployment like New Hampshire and Vermont, others including Rhode Island are not as fortunate. And, with the economy largely predicted to remain flat in 2011, states are going to need more revenue to function and plug burgeoning deficits. We really need to be proactive so that our industry doesn’t wind up looking like a cash cow to lawmakers.
It’s been said a thousand times, but it really is all about who you know. No matter where you are in New England, our industry is really a community. And, as in most communities, someone knows somebody, who knows somebody, who can get you in front of the right person.
Now is the time to reach out to your membership and contacts and see who knows whom. Don’t wait until your legislature is already steaming full speed ahead to try and educate them on the importance of our industry. It’s important to take a leadership stand immediately if you already haven’t done so.
First, do your homework. Each of us should know where our own state politicians stand on all the issues that affect our industry including: tourism, small business taxes, immigration, health care, casino gaming, and job creation. Embrace the politicians who understand the importance of the industry and who are already onboard. Having these folks in your corner will make all the difference during the legislative season. What works well, I’ve found, is offering legislators the ability to get in front of our membership and have a meaningful dialog. They appreciate the platform and members appreciate the interaction.
At RIHA, we recently hosted a meet and greet breakfast for all of our new legislators, co-hosted by many of our community and tourism partners and attended by our Board of Directors. It was a great way for our leadership to get to know their new representatives and vice versa. It all goes back to the culture of community – fostering a relationship to find common ground and understanding.
This was also a great forum to showcase the economic and human impact the industry has on your own state. We put together a simple report that lists all the stats on what our industry contributes to the state in terms of taxes from meals, hotels, and tourism; how many residents we’ve had a hand in training through our education foundation; the partnerships with state and non-profit organizations that we’ve affiliated with and supported, etc. When you take a look at everything that your industry contributes from both a financial and human standpoint – the numbers are staggering.
Expanding on that thought process, it’s equally important to form the right partnerships in the community. We’ve all heard the phrase that there is strength in numbers, right? Well, I’m sure you’ve discovered that some of the heads of your Chambers, CVBs and other tourism entities have perhaps changed – it’s just as important to set up meetings with these folks.
Everyone who comprises our industry needs to be on the same page, using the same voice and delivering the same message. It’s only then that we’ll have the numbers, resources and ability to continue growing and continue being an economic cornerstone of our communities.
