HOT TOPICS FOR 2023

Ncrla Hires New Lobbying Team

NCRLA has added two new lobbyists, Philip Isley and Hardy Lewis from Blanchard, Miller, Lewis & Isley, PA, to represent the association on restaurant and hotel policy issues for 2023. They join Isabel Villa-Garcia, who has recently been promoted to Vice President of Government Affairs for NCRLA. Isley and Lewis are replacing longtime hospitality industry lobbyist Frank Gray from Jordan Price Law Offices, who has represented NCRLA at the NC General Assembly for the last 20 years. Gray will continue to work with the association as general counsel and strategic advisor.

NCRLA FOUNDATION ROLLS OUT $1.1 MILLION HOSPITALITY TRAINING PROGRAM

As the hospitality industry continues to rebound from labor shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, the NCRLA Foundation has contracted with the NC Department of Commerce to administer a $1.1 million hospitality workforce training program. The free training resources are now available through NCRLA Foundation’s new online portal, NCRLA.training. All courses, credentials, and certifications offered are nationally recognized as best in class for the hospitality industry. This comprehensive training program is designed to upskill and advance careers of individuals currently employed in the NC hospitality industry.

Cultivating A Transparent Workplace Environment

As the idea of organized labor continues to gain support around the country, many businesses—including North Carolina restaurants and hotels—are looking for ways to redefine employer/employee relationships. In the past, organized labor was driven by large trade unions that helped employees in specific industries negotiate pay and benefits. To help business owners understand the new labor movement, NCRLA hosted a Cultivating a Transparent Workplace Environment webinar. Experts Franklin Coley of Align Public Relations and Attorney Mark Stubley of Ogletree Deakins provided updates on recent unionizing activities targeting restaurants and lodging employees. If you would like to learn about how your business can foster a positive workplace culture to avoid third-party organizing and remain in compliance with the law, contact us at info@ncrla.org.

Immigration Reform Would Help The Hospitality Industry Workforce

It’s no secret that our nation’s border security and legal immigration systems are broken. Outdated for decades, this process directly contributes to significant security challenges on our southern border. Millions of people cross into the country illegally, while those seeking to lawfully enter struggle because our current laws are unresponsive to the dynamic needs of the American economy. These failures impose significant costs on American communities and our economy. Companies—including those in the hospitality industry—are experiencing significant workforce shortages despite their sizable investments in expanding US talent pipelines. These issues can only be addressed by congressional action. This is why NCRLA has joined other state associations and signed on to the Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reforms This Year (LIBERTY) campaign to call upon Congress to enact measures this year to improve the border and our legal immigration system. Any progress that Congress can make can become the foundation for additional reforms.