Tennessee Notes - June 2016

An Official Publication of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association

June 2016

Overtime – Will You Be Compliant?

Is Your Business Ready for a Dept. of Justice ADA Audit?

Preparing Our Industry’s Future

Workforce & Leaders

8

12

13

Contents | June 2016 Features

Departments

8

4

rom the TnHTA Chair, F Tom Loventhal

Story Preparing Our Industry’s Future Workforce & Leaders

6

rom the TnHTA President, F Greg Atkins

12

Lodging

7

elcome, W New TnHTA Members

15

Local Association News

18

Index of Advertisers

13

Cover

Lines Overtime — Will You Be Compliant?

On

the Menu Is Your Business Ready for a Department of Justice ADA Audit?

14

Tourism Talk

Strength in Unity

Cover photo: 2016 TnHTA ProStart Competition. Photo by Sean Fisher.

2 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

An official publication of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association 475 Craighead Street l Nashville, TN 37204 l T: 615-385-9970 l F: 615-385-9957 l john@tnhta.net l www.tnhta.net

Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street l Franklin, TN 37064 l T: 615-790-3718 l F: 615-794-4525 l info@leadingedgecommunications.com l www.leadingedgecommunications.com Tennessee Notes Editor: John Whisenant, TnHTA | Managing Editor: Liz Nutter, Leading Edge Communications

2016 TnHTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS * Denotes Executive Committee Member Tom Loventhal (2016 Chair)* Noshville Delicatessen, Nashville Darik Dawes (2016 Vice Chair)* MainStay Suites, Chattanooga Bo Connor (2015 Treasurer)* Connor Concepts, Knoxville Ken Maples (Immediate Past Chair)* Comfort Inn & Suites Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge Carol Agee Dollywood Entertainment Park, Pigeon Forge Andrea Anderson Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association Martha Axford* ABC Design and Consulting, LLC, Knoxville Jim Bambrey Station House Restaurant, Chattanooga Dennis Barber* Residence Inn – Nashville/Vanderbilt Regena Bearden Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Shannon Bowles* Marriott – Nashville Airport Ben Brock Amerigo Italian Restaurant, Nashville

Bob Cantler General Morgan Inn & Conference Center, Greeneville

Dan Haskell Gullett, Sanford, Robinson, & Martin, PLLC, Nashville

Lori Nunnery Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau

Danny Sumrall* The Half Shell Restaurant, Memphis

Kimberly Carlson Memphis Restaurant Association

Tom Headla Bluff Mountain Rentals, Pigeon Forge

Ray Ogle* The Inn at Christmas Place, Pigeon Forge

Butch Sypridon Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Johnny Hill Holiday Inn, Pigeon Forge

Radesh Palakurthi The University of Memphis

Steve Holmes Cornerstone Insurance Group, Chattanooga

Heetesh Patel* Neves Investments, Franklin

Wayne Tabor* Holiday Inn Select – Downtown Memphis

Lauren Chesney Sevierville Hospitality Association Christie Connatser Hampton Inn – Gatlinburg Claire Crowell Puckett’s 5th and Church, Nashville Tom Cupo The Chattanoogan Conference Center & Hotel Shawn Danko* Kooky Canuck, Memphis Cornelia Dobbins Hilton Garden Inn, Gatlinburg Bob Dollinger 3H Group Hotels, Chattanooga Christina Drew Hampton Inn & Suites, Sevierville at Stadium Drive Jeff Dunham The Grove Grill, Memphis

Anthony House Chick-fil-A Germantown, Memphis Brad Ivens Eagles Ridge Resort, Pigeon Forge Patrick Jordon The Westin Memphis Beale Street Teresa Karson Representative of Buddy’s Bar-B-Q, Pigeon Forge Anita Lane* Hampton Inn & Suites – Downtown, Knoxville

Troy Edwards Sysco Nashville, LLC, Nashville

Jackie Leatherwood* Greystone Lodge on the River, Gatlinburg

Anne Marie Famalette Courtyard by Marriott, Collierville

Dee Lundy Lundy & Associates, Knoxville

Will Freeman Hilton – Nashville Downtown

Andy Marshall* Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, A.Marshall Family Foods, Inc., Franklin

Doug Browne The Peabody Hotel, Memphis

Michael Gibson* M. Gibson Hotel Group, Knoxville

Fred Bullard Hilton Garden Inn – Knoxville West

Ben Goldberg Strategic Hospitality, Nashville

Brenda McCroskey Sevierville Chamber of Commerce

Kim Bumpas* Visit Knoxville

Gary Hahn Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Memphis

Jeff Messinger* Mt. Vernon Restaurant, Chattanooga

Rick Cadena Courtyard by Marriott – Hamilton Place, Chattanooga

Jacob Hall Rutherford County Hospitality Association, Murfreesboro

Claudia Moody Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association, Johnson City

Mary Calorio* Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel, Memphis

Theresa Harrington Clarksville/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Hugh Morrow* Lookout Mountain Attractions, Chattanooga

Mitch Patel Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Collierville

Bobby Tanner S&D Coffee, Inc., Chattanooga Karl Thomas Inn on the River, Gatlinburg

Scott Pejsa Homewood Suites by Hilton, Knoxville

Jill Thompson Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association

Mary Phillips Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg

Pete Weien Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville

Chuck Pinkowski Pinkowski & Company, Memphis

Brenda Whitson Johnson City Chamber of Commerce

Michael Riley The Oliver Hotel Restaurant, Knoxville Deanna Ross Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association, Millington John Rothkopt MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport

Melissa Woody Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Mahasti Vafaie The Tomato Head Knoxville

TnHTA STAFF

John Rucker Key Magazine of Memphis

Greg Adkins President & CEO

Matt Scanlan Gullett, Sanford, Robinson, & Martin, PLLC, Nashville

Lisa Bass Director of Business and Membership Development

Paul Schramkowski JHS Holdings, LLC, Nashville

Jessica Cardwell Director of Finance and Administration

Sarah Scokin Vista Host, Inc., Jackson Dawn Southworth The Omni Nashville Hotel Max Stephenson Puckett’s Chattanooga Jindy Strader InterContinental Hotels Group, Franklin

Sandi Goad Director of Membership Retention & Restaurant Liaison John Whisenant Director of Tourism and Events, and Editor of Tennessee Notes Austin White Director of Education

The Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Notes, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2016 by the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. Notes is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the editor for contribution information. Advertising: For advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 3

Message from the Chairman

Your Association —

Our Future!

It’s

hard to believe that we’re at the halfway mark of 2016! Our association has been so active and busy, it seems like the time has just flown by!

One of the things that impresses me about TnHTA is how broad and farreaching our mission is as an association. As you look through this issue of NOTES, you will see reflected many different aspects of who we are and what we do: government relations, events and updates from our lodging, restaurant and tourism sectors, as well as information from our local associations across the state.

You’ll also find a feature article on a very important element of our program of work: education.

I am delighted that we are focusing on this, because it is something that is such a vital part of our association’s mission and something I believe in strongly. Many of our members aren’t aware of how extensive this programming is and how much it affects the future of so many young lives and of our industry.

Through our education programming and the work of the TnHTA Education Foundation, we are able to provide truly exceptional educational experiences and opportunities for high school and college students from across the state who have interest in hospitality and tourism careers, including over $1 million a year in college scholarships! Programs such as ProStart and HTMP provide our industry with qualified employees and help prepare the next generation of industry leaders. Also vital to our industry are the partnerships and cooperative programs that TnHTA is developing with the growing number of culinary, hospitality and tourism programs being offered at the state’s universities and colleges.

I think you’ll find it interesting to learn more about this important work of the association, and I hope it will encourage you to become involved in and support this program.

In the end, that’s the real key to the success of our association, isn’t it? Your involvement and support. We have a genuinely outstanding staff and strong leadership, but as with any group such as ours, we’re only as successful as the involvement of our members. Your active participation is vital.

I want you to know how much we truly value your membership in the association. I also hope you will take full advantage of your many membership benefits, including those provided to us by our strategic partners. If you have questions about your membership benefits or how to utilize them, or if you would like to get more involved in the work and activities of your association, please feel free to contact our staff.

TnHTA exists to serve you, to foster an environment that promotes the success and growth of your business or destination, and to ensure that you receive genuine value and an excellent return on your membership investment.

It is a pleasure and honor to work alongside you all as we grow Tennessee’s second-largest industry!

Tom Loventhal 2016 TnHTA Chair

4 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

After an Accident 1. Assess the damage. If possible, move the vehicle to a safe place.

See if anyone is injured, and assess the extent of damage to the vehicle.

Knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier.

Be Prepared • Keep registration and auto insurance papers, and any relevant medical information, in the car.

• Make sure you have the right amount of auto coverage to fit your needs.

Middle Tennessee: Reno Benson, Anderson Benson Insurance – 615-630-7805, reno@andersonbenson.com All Other Tennessee Areas: Corey Lane, State Auto Insurance – 615-851-1426, corey.lane@stateauto.com

2. Call the police or highway patrol. Let law enforcement know if anyone is hurt and the extent of injuries. Get officers’ names and badge numbers, and ask where you can get a copy of their report.

3. Collect as much information as possible. Get names and contact information of everyone involved, including witnesses. Ask for the license number of any other driver involved, car registration and insurance ID card. Make note of the make and model of the cars involved, the location, time of day and weather conditions. Do not discuss who was at fault, or how much insurance you have, with others.

4. Don’t leave the scene of the accident.

5. Get the claims process started. Notify your insurance professional immediately. Fill out claims forms as soon, and as accurately, as possible. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask your claims adjuster.

6. Keep a file of all of your notes and any claim forms.

Courtesy of the State Auto Insurance Group (www.StateAuto.com).

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 5

Message from the President/CEO

“Legislating”

Our Way to a Stronger Industry T

ennessee’s 2016 legislative session is now history. It was a busy few months for our team as we’ve worked hard to represent the industry and protect its interests.

We had many, many issues to deal with this year and had a number of successes, including the defeat of both the minimum wage and Airbnb bills. Both were killed this year due to all your hard work lobbying the legislature and your participation in the 2016 TnHTA Day on the Hill.

Speaking of Day on the Hill, I have to say that it was one the most successful legislative events ever! There are a lot of moving parts and details in putting on this event. I want to say a special thanks to John Whisenant for being the main organizer of the event, but as with everything we do, it really is a team effort — great job, and thanks Austin, Sandi, Lisa and Jessica for really stepping up to the plate!

Many legislative staff members and lobbyists were shocked at the amount of people that we had attend. We received a lot of great feedback from our pineapple invitations, pancakes and politics and the reception. A few great measurables of the event were: • Approximately 160 TnHTA members participated.

• More than 160 individual legislative meetings were conducted.

• 400 pancakes and 4 cases of bacon were cooked and served at the “Politics and Pancakes” Breakfast.

• More than 300 people attended the Legislative Reception.

• More than 50 women attended the WITHT Reception.

• Three powerful state officials (Governor Bill Haslam, Speaker Beth Harwell and Tourism Commissioner Kevin Triplett) spoke to TnHTA and supported the hospitality and tourism industry in their comments.

So now, with the legislative session over, it’s time to start helping candidates through our PAC. The Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Political Action Committee (TnHTPAC) is a non-profit organization supported by the collective interest and generosity of hospitality and tourism industry professionals and related industry friends. Its mission is to help elect qualified individuals to the Tennessee State Legislature and other offices who recognize the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry to our economy and who will give our concerns a fair hearing.

We need your help!! After giving out more than $100,000 in the last state legislative election cycle and our contribution to the Governor, the PAC is running low on funds. With your help, we can make it one of the largest business PACs in Tennessee. Don’t forget that in Tennessee, it is legal to give corporate contributions to PACs. The contributions made to selected candidates are the first crucial steps in the political process that allows TnHTA to effectively represent the collective interests of the hospitality and tourism industry in Tennessee.

Greg Adkins TnHTA President & CEO

6 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

Welcome, New TnHTA Members!

(January 1 – April 30, 2016)

Associate

Tourism

Camille Taylor – Professional Server Training Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE) Mary Queen of Angels, Inc. Metro Memphis Attractions Association Provision Center for Proton Therapy Southwest Tennessee Community College Tennessee Association of Chauffeured Transportation Tennessee State University – College of Business White Glove Restaurant Solutions

Caney Creek RV Resort & Marina Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce See Rock City Stewart County Chamber of Commerce Union County Chamber of Commerce

Preferred Vendors AC Furniture Company Cates Laundry Equipment Comcast Business Digital Benefit Advisors Double D Piping & Fire Protection, LLC

Fintech (Financial Information Technologies, Inc.) Josco Products Honey Grail Hospitality Staffing Solutions, LLC Labor Staffing, Inc. Laundry Systems Miner Corporation Oasis Outsourcing Proof Branding Performance Foodservice – Hale QE Restoration LLC Tennessee Logos, Inc. TIS Insurance Service, Inc. United Healthcare

Lodging Big Cypress Lodge Fairfield Inn & Suites – Chattanooga/Hamilton Hampton Inn & Suites Knoxville Papermill Drive Hampton Inn & Suites Sevierville at Stadium Drive Hilton Garden Inn – Nashville Downtown/Convention Center Holiday Inn – Franklin/Cool Springs Holiday Inn Murfreesboro Scarritt Bennett Center Whispering Pines Condominiums

Restaurants Hard Rock Café – Nashville Harpoon Harry’s Crab House Kooky Canuck Peg Leg Porker Puckett’s Chattanooga | Grocery & Restaurant Rick’s Barbecue, Inc. Skulls Rainbow Room The Tomato Head

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 7

Cover Story

Preparing Our Industry’s

Future Workforce

& Leaders

By Austin White, TnHTA Director of Education, and John Whisenant, TnHTA Director of Tourism, and Editor, NOTES

8 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

T

here is no question that TnHTA is a business association: its goal is to provide a healthy environment in which the hospitality and tourism industry in Tennessee can grow and prosper. We accomplish that mission through a variety of means — government relations and advocacy, communications and businessbuilding member services and programs.

What many people don’t realize is that we also accomplish that mission through an active and multi-faceted program of education and professional development.

Through our education programs, we are preparing a well-trained and experienced work force, providing opportunities for good-paying jobs and professional careers for young people, and equipping the next generation of leaders for our industry.

Through the association’s professional development programs, individuals already in the industry have an opportunity to improve their skills, learn new management concepts and receive recognition and certifi- cation for their experience and knowledge.

seniors to hospitality and tourism careers and to prepare and equip them for either post-graduation employment or for higher education in college and university hospi- tality, culinary or tourism management degree programs.

ProStart, a program of the National

Restaurant Association and coordinated and promoted on the state level by TnHTA, is a two-year high school program that gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents in the field of culinary arts.

From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum

Education programs

The conduit of the association’s education programs is the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Education Foundation (TnHTEF), a registered 501(c)(3), established in 2008 for the purpose of furthering the educational goals of TnHTA. Through TnHTEF, the association coordinates and provides industry guidance for high school and college hospi- tality and tourism programs and raises money for annual college scholarships.

TnHTEF has directly raised over $100,000 for educational programs and scholarships since its establishment and has provided students with several millions of dollars in scholarship offers from some of the nation’s top culinary and hospitality schools.

The association’s educational focus begins with programs directed to high school students. Through programs such as ProStart and the Hospitality and Tourism Manage- ment Program (HTMP), the association works with high schools and teachers across the state to establish and provide classroom learning and real-life learning experiences in the industry. The goal of these programs is to introduce high school juniors and Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 9

Cover Story

provides real-life experience opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime.

HTMP, an educational program of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) that TnHTA coordinates in Tennessee, is a high school curriculum that introduces the hospitality and tourism industry on a global scale to students. The

10 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

program is delivered through classroom instruction and provides students with broad-based learning on the tasks, knowledge and skills required by anyone wishing to build a career within the hospitality and tourism industry.

TnHTA also works to coordinate this high school programming with postsecondary institutions that offer industry-

related degree programs to ensure seamless articulation for those students pursing higher education after graduation.

Professional development

Equally important to the mission of TnHTA as are high school and college education activities is our program of professional development. Through the wide variety

Cover Story

of industry-specific continuing education, training and certification programs offered through the association, individuals already employed in the industry are provided with excellent opportunities for personal and professional growth.

In the area of lodging and hotel management, TnHTA works closely with the AH&LA’s Education Institute to provide both continuing education and certification.

The Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) is the most prestigious certification available to a hotel general manager and hospitality executive. It identifies the recipient as being part of an elite group of hospitality profes- sionals who, by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry, have achieved a high level of expertise. TnHTA coordinates the offering of CHA® review classes and examinations for its members and makes them available at a discount.

In addition to executive-level hospitality certification, TnHTA also works with AH&LA to make a wide variety of training and certification programs for front-line

personnel in the areas of front-office man- agement and operations, food and beverage, and facility management and maintenance.

TnHTA is also working to provide its members with AH&LA’s Guest Service Gold® program, a comprehensive program designed to produce guest service-oriented line-level employees.

In the food-service industry, TnHTA serves as the state coordinator and facilitator for two large and critically important train- ing and certification programs from the National Restaurant Association: ServSafe® and ServSafe Alcohol®. ServSafe® classes and testing train employees on topics such as foodborne illnesses, food allergens, food preparation, holding and serving guidelines, food safety-management systems, sanitation guidelines, integrated pest control and food safety regulations. The ServSafe Alcohol® program provides the fundamentals of responsible alcohol service, including under- standing alcohol laws and responsibilities, patron identification, evaluating intoxication levels and dealing with difficult situations.

For TnHTA’s tourism-related members, TnHTA plans and executes a number of professional-development programs. The annual mid-winter professional-development conference known as “The Blizzard” provides specific training and continuing education for the state’s destination-management organizations. As a part of The Blizzard, TnHTA also offers a special two-day course, “Foundations of Destination Management,” which is designed to assist individuals who are new to their positions in the industry.

The association also plans, produces and executes the annual TnHTA Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, which brings together the entire hospitality and tourism industry to experi- ence nationally known and highly soughtafter keynote speakers and seminars on cutting-edge topics. Currently under devel- opment is the Certified Tourism Industry Management Professional (CTIMP) Program, an upper-level professional development course and certification for members of the Tennessee tourism industry. J

ProStart Invitational, February 20, 2016

Each

year, high school teams from across the state compete in the annual Tennessee ProStart Invitational. The competition, which is the culminating event in the course of the two-year culinary arts curriculum, features teams in both culinary arts and in restaurant management, adjudi- cated by professional chefs, restaurant industry owners, managers and suppliers, and culinary arts and hospitality manage- ment educators from the state’s universities and community colleges. The stakes are high, with more than one million dollars in schol- arships offered to the top three winning teams and an opportunity for the top teams in each division to travel to the national competition.

The 2016 Tennessee ProStart Invitational was held on February 20 at the Randy Rayburn School of Culinary Arts at Nashville State Community College. Competitors from 14 high schools, along with their instructors, parents and supporters, partic- ipated in the daylong event.

At right are the top winners in this year’s competition.

Management

1st Place: Lebanon High School, Lebanon 2nd Place: Wilson Central High School, Lebanon 3rd Place: Jay Uiberall Academy, Memphis

Culinary

1st Place: Glencliff High School, Nashville 2nd Place: Sevier County High School, Sevierville 3rd Place: Smyrna High School, Smyrna

Dallas, Texas, from April 29 through May 2, 2016, to compete against 45 other teams from across the country at the 15th Annual National ProStart Invitational. Both teams did very well, with Lebanon High School’s management team placing 12th in the nation and Glencliff High School’s culinary team placing 24th.

“Best in Class” Management Rachel Burkett, Wilson Central High School, Lebanon

“Best in Class” Culinary

Juan Cocuyo, Glencliff High School, Nashville

“Teacher of the Year”

Alyce Scrivner, Glencliff High School, Nashville The two first-place teams from Lebanon and Glencliff High Schools traveled to Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 11

Lodging lines

? t n a i l p m u Be Co

Will Yo

By Jackie Leatherwood, Lodging Caucus Chair; General Manager, Greystone Lodge on the River, Gatlinburg

As

you have probably heard by now, the Federal Depart- ment of Labor (DOL) is taking steps earlier than anticipated to implement new proposed overtime rules. These proposed rules significantly increase the minimum salary that must be paid to an employee to be exempt from over- time. The new rule will increase the minimum salary requirement from the current level of $23,660 to $50,440 annually.

Background

This past summer, President Obama announced proposed changes to federal regulations that will affect whether millions of salaried workers are eligible for overtime pay. Based on the DOL’s actions in May 2016, we now expect the NEW overtime rules may go into effect as early as July 2016. The earlier implementation date effectively prohibits Congress from utilizing the Congressional Review Act to try to rescind or alter the rule once it is final.

Be prepared to make changes for exempt positions

TnHTA is working with the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity (PPWO) on this issue. We do not yet know the exact date that DOL’s proposed rules will become effective or even the final wording 12 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

for the rules. We will advise our Tennessee members of the final effective date and final rules as soon as we get that information.

In the interim, you do have some options to make changes to your overtime policies for overtime-exempt employees who will be affected by the anticipated increase in the base salary requirement.

1. For example, if any of your overtime-exempt employees’ current annual salary is just below the new minimum thresh- old, you may want to consider increasing that employee’s base pay to at least the new minimum threshold. Keep in mind, however, that this employee’s duties must also continue to meet the other threshold requirements for an exempt employee.

2. If it makes more financial and organizational sense, you can consider converting employees who are currently overtimeexempt to an hourly wage, and pay those employees timeand-one-half for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in any workweek.

3. Another option is to hire additional employees, and reduce hours for all employees to minimize the impact of any potential overtime compensation requirements.

Updates to follow

TnHTA will continue to provide up-to-date information on this issue as it develops. If you have additional questions, please contact Greg Adkins at greg@tnhta.net, or call at 615-385-9970. J

on the menu

Is Your Business

Ready for a

Department of Justice

ADA Audit?

By Andy Marshall, Restaurant Caucus Chair; Owner, A. Marshall Family Foods, Inc.

T

here has been a significant amount of activity (lawsuits, ADA com- pliance warning letters and service- animal complaints, etc.) on ADA compliance in Tennessee in recent months, and TnHTA wants to make sure you are prepared to deal with ADA challenges. To assist in making sure you are current with the Americans with Disabilities Act and in full compliance with the latest ADA accessibility standards — whether you’re building a new restaurant, hotel or attraction, renovating a current location or removing existing barriers to guests with disabilities — we are providing several tools available for our hospitality members that give you all the facts on how ADA standards could affect your hospi- tality business. This information is free for members and includes: 1. An overview of Title III of the ADA, which prohibits restaurants and other places of public accommodation from discrimin- ating against guests with disabilities.

2. Specifics on federal accessibility guidelines, which set ground rules defining everything that makes a hospitality business “acces- sible,” from restrooms to signage, elevators, ramps, parking spaces and more.

3. A checklist that you can use in your business to evaluate such features as dining areas, hotel rooms, self-service counters and children’s play areas.

4. What to do if you are sued under the ADA. 5. Guidance on regulations covering the use of service animals and mobility devices in hospitality businesses.

This information was provided in our TnHTA Tips email or can be found at our association website at www.tnhta.net.

Also, if you are not sure that you are in compliance after reading the information, you can always call on an ADA professional.

A TnHTA preferred vendor can help you out to make sure you are in compliance: contact Beau Wildman, Accessibility Spe- cialist with PDS American, beau.wildman @pdsamerica.com or (615) 650-1254.

Lastly, there is a great resource for specific information for ADA issues from the TN Disability Coalition at www.tndisability. org/ada-resources.

If you have any questions on ADA issues don’t hesitate to contact Greg Adkins at greg@tnhta.net, or call 615-385-9970. J Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 13

Tourism talk

Strength in Unity

By Kim Bumpas, Chair, TnHTA Tourism Caucus; President, Visit Knoxville

The

late young author Mattie Stepanek dis- played wisdom beyond his years when he wrote, “Unity is strength…

14 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”

As the president of a convention and visitors bureau, I have experienced first-

hand the value of bringing together all the different elements of the tourism industry in our community to achieve a common goal. Working together works!

That is exactly what we have seen over the last couple of years as our state’s destina- tion marketing organizations and attractions have become fully integrated into the work and leadership of our association. We now work alongside our lodging, restaurant, preferred vendor, education and associate partners to address the many issues facing our industry and association. We all have different parts to play and different constit- uencies to represent, but we all have equal representation and input into the discussions affecting our industry and association. And when we speak, we do so with one voice as a united industry.

This unity has been the dream of many in our industry for years. And now that it’s been achieved, I want to encourage all of us in the tourism sector to fully engage ourselves in the work, programs and activities of TnHTA. Your involvement not only benefits our association, but it also it benefits your individual organization/business, our industry as a whole and you personally and professionally.

We have both great opportunities and even a few challenges in the days ahead.

But working together, we got this! J

Local association news

Local Association News and Updates Asian American Hotel Owners Association In the first quarter of 2016, AAHOA added over 1,500 new members.

AAHOA’s annual convention was held in March in Nashville. The event was attended by approximately 5,000 members, vendors and industry professionals. The convention welcomed Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and NFL MVP Peyton Manning as keynote speakers. During the convention, AAHOA elected their first-ever female officer, Jagruti Panwala, who will assume the position of chair in 2019.

For more information, visit www.aahoa.com.

County Hospitality Alliance’s annual Trade Show in April, which was again a huge success for the area and the industry.

For more information, visit www.gatlinburghospitality.com.

Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association GCHA hosted the “Hospitality Expo” on February 17 at the Chattanooga Conven- tion Center. Approximately 100 students attended from high schools in East Hamilton County, Brainerd, Hixson, Ooltewah and

Howard. The association worked with David Cowen, of the Hamilton County School Department of Education, and Dan Zink, hospitality instructor with Chattanooga State Community College, in creating the program. Breakout sessions for the students included both lodging and culinary topics.

The event also featured a working tour of the downtown Staybridge Suites.

Other monthly meetings have included the January meeting at The Doubletree Hotel, with a program on human traffick- ing, and the March meeting at The Car Barn, featuring a program on public safety.

Also in March, many GCHA members traveled to Nashville to participate in the

Gatlinburg Hospitality Association The GHA January membership meeting was held at the Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center and featured Tricia Corwin with Best Read Guide and a presentation by the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau on 2016 special events and marketing and sales updates. Speakers from the CVB included Jim Davis with the CVB’s special events office and Chad Netherland with the CVB’s marketing department.

Social networking and web-based market- ing was the topic of the February meeting, and featured Rich Benjamin of RBA Marketing. The presentation also included information on the growth of hacking and best practices to protect your business.

Government relations was the focus in March, as a large delegation of representa- tives from Gatlinburg’s hospitality- and tourism-related businesses participated in the 2016 TnHTA Day on the Hill in Nashville.

GHA was an active partner in planning, producing and promoting the 2016 Sevier

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 15

Local association news

TnHTA 2016 Day on the Hill. The annual GNHA Golf Tournament was held in May at the Bear Trace Golf Course.

The association is working hard in planning the 2016 Stars of the Industry event in June, as well as planning the many events related to hosting the 2016 TnHTA Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, which will be held in Chattanooga in September.

For more information, visit www. chattanoogahospitalityassociation.com.

Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association GKHA, Visit Knoxville and the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council cosponsored The East Tennessee Region State Legislators Luncheon. Legislators were presented with a top three “hit list” of hospitality and tourism-related issues.

Guest speaker for the event was Shannon Gray, CEO of Gray Research Solutions, who delivered a presentation entitled “Travel Industry Snapshot: Keeping Up With the Times.” A large delegation from Knoxville also participated in the TnHTA Day on the Hill event in Nashville in March.

The Old City section of downtown Knoxville continues a reemergence with new restaurants and the opening of another event center, The Jackson Terminal. The Knoxville Convention Center complied a report of 2015 economic impact, which revealed events at the center contributed more than $50 million to the local economy.

The GKHA Housekeeping Champion- ship Games were held with 16 teams competing in the “Positive Attitude, Positive Difference” games presented by Ecolab. The trophy was captured by the Hilton Garden West Knoxville.

The Pauly Awards and Scholarship Presentation was held in May at the Knoxville Convention Center, and featured guest speaker James Williams, Ph.D., from the University of Tennessee Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Manage- ment and author of From Thug to Scholar.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/GreaterKnoxville HospitalityAssociationGKHA.

16 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016

Greater Nashville Hospitality Association The GNHA board of directors kicked off 2016 with a strategic planning retreat and board meeting in January at the Sewanee Inn in Sewanee, TN. Also in January was the annual GNHA Bowling for a Cause event, benefiting The ARC of Nashville to help support persons with disabilities transition into the hospitality workforce.

The January GNHA membership meeting was held at the Renaissance Hotel and featured presentations by Melanie Barnett, community development director for Room in the Inn, and Greg Adkins, president/ CEO of both GNHA and TnHTA. In February, a large number of GNHA members volunteered and assisted with the 2016 TnHTA ProStart Invitational held at Nashville State Community College.

March was a busy month for the asso- ciation and its members. The 2016 TnHTA Day on the Hill saw a large delegation of GNHA members participating. The March membership meeting was held at the ScarrittBennet Center and featured a presentation by Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, who talked about the economic impact of hospi- tality and tourism on the Nashville economy and the NCVC’s upcoming marketing and event plans.

A new event was launched in March with the joint GNHA/NCVC Workforce Development Career Fair held at the Music City Center. The event was a great success with a huge turnout of both exhibitors and attendees interested in jobs in Nashville’s hospitality and tourism industry.

For more information, visit www.gnha.net.

Metropolitan Memphis Hotel and Lodging Association MMHLA held its annual Lodging Industry Update in February at the Hilton Memphis.

The event featured Isaac Collazo, vice president of Performance Strategy for InterContinental Hotels Group; Chuck Pinkowski of Pinkowski & Company; Jeff Higley, editorial director of

HotelNewsNow.com; and Lee Hunter, COO of Hunter Hotel Advisors.

MMHLA teamed up with the Kemmons Wilson School at the University of Memphis for its annual Trivia Night in February at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis. The event was a great success and raised funds for the school.

In March, MMHLA held a networking reception at the Hilton Garden Inn – Wolfchase. The event was a great success and featured outstanding food, excellent wine and beer selections, and great opportunities for meeting with members. Guest speakers for the event were TnHTA’s Austin White, who spoke about the Young Professionals project, and John Davis with Heartland.

The annual MMHLA Stars of the Industry event was held in April at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

For more information, visit www.mmhla.com.

Memphis Restaurant Association The Memphis Restaurant Association has had a busy program of activities over the last several months. Associate members enjoyed a Coffee Club in March, which provided them with a great opportunity to learn more about the association and receive the maximum value on their membership investment. In the area of government relations, several MRA members participated in both the TnHTA Day on the Hill in Nashville and the National Restaurant Association’s Day on the Hill in Washington, DC. The 52nd annual MRA Banquet was held in March at the Hilton Memphis with the theme “FANdemonium” paying homage to all the great Memphis sports teams. Guests were greeted by University of Memphis cheerleaders, Pouncer the Tiger, Rocky the Redbird and a Grizzlies gear giveaway.

Volunteers from the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality manned the reception desk and directed party goers. Highlights of the evening included entertainment by “Almost Famous,” fan favorite-inspired hors d’oeuveres and specialty cocktail stations and bars. Ben Brock of 4 Top Hospitality was awarded the MRA Restaurateur of the

Local association news

Year, and John Seay of State Systems, Inc., was awarded MRA Associate Member of the Year.

For more information, visit www.memphisrestaurants.com.

Nashville Originals

PFHA members were active participants in two major events in Nashville in March: the 2016 TnHTA Day on the Hill and the 2016 TnHTA ProStart Invitational. The March membership meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center and fea- tured a program on “Solving the Workforce Puzzle.” Many members also participated in the March Sevier County Economic

Development Job Fair, also held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

The PFHA was an active partner in the planning and production of the Sevier County Hospitality Alliance’s Trade Show held in April. The April membership meeting was held at the Music Road Hotel and featured an outstanding presentation on the economic impact of tourism on Sevier

The Nashville Originals digital presence continues to grow, with the website attracting more than 75,000 visits in the first quarter of 2016. Also, social-media numbers continue to climb, with Facebook approaching 14,000, Twitter at 6,500 and Instagram over 2,500.

These numbers reflect a tripling of the following over the last two years.

The Originals are ramping up advertising programs in 2016, including print, online, outdoor, radio and social-media campaigns designed to promote Mother’s Day, the group’s discount sale in May, the CMAs in June, Restaurant Week in August and the holiday season.

The Originals will participate as a sponsor in Second Harvest Food Bank’s Generous Helpings event and Highballs and Hydran- geas benefitting Cheekwood. The group will also have a presence at the Music City Food and Wine Festival in September.

For more information, visit www.nashvilleoriginals.com.

Pigeon Forge Hospitality Association The PFHA has had a busy 2016 thus far! January saw two major events: the monthly membership meeting was held at the Riverstone Resort with the theme “Full Speed Ahead.” That was followed by the annual PFHA Bowling Tournament held at the Pigeon Forge Community Center.

Also in January, the PFHA assisted in spon- soring and executing a TnHPAC fundraising event at Harpoon Harry’s.

In February, PFHA members participated in an open house at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, as well as enjoying a “Forging Together After Hours” networking event at Ole Smoky Moonshine. The February membership meeting was held at the LeConte Center and featured the “State of the City” address by Mayor David Wear.

Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association • 17

Local association news

County by Dr. Steve Morse of Western Carolina University.

For more information, visit www.pfhospitality.org.

Sevier County Hospitality Alliance

The January SHA meeting was held at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort with guest speaker Pete Owens, who updated the group on Dollywood’s upcoming projects, including the new Lightening Rod roller coaster and Dolly’s Lumberjack Adventure.

The February meeting was hosted by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, which presented its 2016 marketing plan and described how the additional hospitality

tax is being utilized to promote Sevierville as a destination.

Other monthly meetings have been held at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, the Golden Corral and at Tennessee Smokies Baseball.

SHA participated with the Knox County School System for its 2016 Career Day. The event provided students with information on the hospitality industry as they plan their educational paths.

SHA participated with the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Hospitality Associations to plan and produce the 2016 Sevier County Hospitality Alliance Tradeshow in April at the Sevierville Convention Center. The event was a great success, with 474 attendees and 179 exhibitor booths.

SHA will again be awarding $4,800 in scholarships to Sevier County High School students who work in or whose parents work in the tourism/hospitality industry.

Plans are now underway and nominations being accepted for the 2016 Sevier County Hospitality Alliance’s Stars of the Industry awards.

For more information, visit www. seviervillehospitalityassociation.com. J

Advertiser index AAA – The Auto Club Group.............. 10 www.aaa.com Ecolab................................................. 14 www.ecolab.com Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, PLLC................. 18 www.gsrm.com Kooky Canuck.................................... 15 www.kookycanuck.com Koorsen Fire & Security..................... 17 www.koorsen.com M. Gibson Hotel Group.............. Inside Back Cover www.mgibsonhotels.com Nolan’s Audio Visual, Inc.................... 13 www.nolansav.com Point of Sale Connection, Inc............... 7 www.pointofsaleconnection.com Purity Dairies, Inc................................ 9 www.puritydairies.com Sysco, LLC............................ Back Cover www.sysco.com 18 • Tennessee Notes • June 2016