Today, the Biden administration is announcing that its new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on November 8.

This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and travel across the Southwest and Northern land borders with Mexico and Canada. This puts in place a global international travel policy that is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent.

Today’s announcement means that on November 8, foreign national air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of their vaccination status to fly to the United States. Fully vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to show a pre-departure negative test taken within three days of travel prior to boarding.

Also starting on November 8, foreign nationals crossing the land borders with Canada and Mexico or arriving in the United States by passenger ferry for non-essential reasons, such as to visit friends or family or for tourism, will be required to be fully vaccinated. These travelers are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and to present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. By January, foreign nationals traveling across the land border for both essential and non-essential reasons will be required to be fully vaccinated.

Further guidance on the very limited exceptions to these vaccination requirements, what will be acceptable proof of vaccination, and other operational details are forthcoming from CDC and other federal agencies, as applicable, well in advance of November 8 to enable preparation for a smooth transition to the new system. CDC has already informed airlines that all FDA approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the WHO will be accepted for air travel. We anticipate the same will be true at the land border.

~ Funds will allow for major transformation for culinary program through new commercial grade kitchen equipment ~ 

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) announced the awarding of a $50,000 Kitchen Remodel Grant for the Hialeah High School ProStart Program in Miami-Dade County.

Hialeah High School was selected from more than 200 ProStart participant high schools across Florida. Grant applicants highlighted their facility size, number of program participants, age of their facility, and repairs needed. The FRLAEF board reviewed the applications to determine where the grant would be most impactful. Hialeah High School is the first school to win the award in Miami-Dade County.

“The FRLA Education Foundation has always been a great supporter of Florida’s high school ProStart and HTM (Hotel and Tourism Management) programs through annual mini-grants, but it is especially gratifying to make an even larger impact with this $50,000 kitchen makeover,” said Nick Velardo, Chairman of the Board for the FRLA Educational Foundation. “Hialeah High School is well-deserving, and we are so happy to be able to support their dedicated teachers and students.”

“This has been such a dream come true,” said Kathy Gonzalez, Culinary Academy Leader and ProStart Advisor at Hialeah High School. “We have an amazing culinary program here at Hialeah High, and this is going to take us to the next level. Our kitchen was originally built in 1954, and, while there have been some upgrades, they have been nothing like this grant is going to provide. The FRLAEF/ProStart program provides such professionalism and opportunities for our students. We are so thankful!”

The ProStart program is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s foodservice industry leaders. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world opportunities and builds practical skills and career foundations that will last a lifetime. In Florida, there are more than 30,000 ProStart students.

About FRLA

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff^® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.

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Click here for a state-by-state breakdown

TALLAHASSEE – The hotel industry in Florida is projected to end 2021 down nearly 61% or $5.3 billion in business travel revenue compared to 2019, according to a new report released today by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs.

Business travel is the hotel industry’s largest source of revenue and has been slow to return since the onset of the pandemic. Business travel includes corporate, group, government, and other commercial categories. While Florida has seen some return of business travel this year, full comparative revenue is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

The new analysis comes on the heels of a recent national survey by AHLA, which found that most business travelers are canceling, reducing, and postponing trips amid rising COVID-19 cases. The lack of business travel and events has major repercussions for employment, and underscores the need for targeted federal relief, such as the Save Hotel Jobs Act.

Hotels are expected to end 2021 down nearly 500,000 jobs nationally compared to 2019. For every 10 people directly employed on a hotel property, hotels support an additional 26 jobs in the community, from restaurants and retail to hotel supply companies – meaning an additional nearly 1.3 million hotel-supported jobs are also at risk.

“Florida is a top destination for national and international business travel, and our hotels and restaurants rely on that revenue,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “While leisure travel returned this year – in some regions higher than even 2019’s record figures – business travel still remains down overall, and Florida is projected to end 2021 with the second highest losses in the nation, behind only the state of California. We continue to advocate for hotel relief so that our industry can recover, support and employ our team members, and create those wonderful guest experiences we are known for worldwide.”

“While some industries have started rebounding from the pandemic, this report is a sobering reminder that hotels and hotel employees are still struggling,” said Chip Rogers, President and CEO of AHLA. “Business travel is critical to our industry’s viability, especially in the fall and winter months when leisure travel normally begins to decline. Continued COVID-19 concerns among travelers will only exacerbate these challenges. That’s why it’s time for Congress to pass the bipartisan Save Hotel Jobs Act to help hotel employees and small business owners survive this crisis.”

COVID-19 is the worst economic event in the history of the U.S. hotel industry. Despite being among the hardest hit, hotels are the only segment of the hospitality and leisure industry yet to receive direct aid. Hotels and their employees have displayed extraordinary resilience in the face of unprecedented economic challenges, and the industry needs support from Congress to achieve a full recovery.

About FRLA

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff^® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.

About AHLA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry was the first industry impacted and it will be among the last to recover. That is why AHLA is committed to promoting safe travel while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide through the Safe Stay initiative. With an enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees, hotels across America are ready to welcome back travelers when they are ready to travel. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

About Kalibri Labs

Kalibri Labs evaluates and predicts hotel revenue performance with its next-generation tech platform to support hotel owners, operators, brands and real estate investors. Kalibri Labs enables users to improve underwriting accuracy and to benchmark, execute plans and assess results for a hotel’s profit contribution targets. The Kalibri Labs database is comprised of guest transactions, including cost of sales and source of business information, from almost 35,000 hotels dating back more than 7 years and updated weekly to give an expansive view of the U.S. hotel industry.

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FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance has been activated for Louisiana survivors allowing for short-term, emergency sheltering options in participating hotels.

In order to receive sheltering assistance, start by applying for assistance. You must have a FEMA registration ID and approval from FEMA to participate. If FEMA has reached out to you about sheltering assistance, you can look up participating hotels.

A more detailed fact sheet is available here.

Most Are Likely to Cancel Existing Trips Without Rescheduling

WASHINGTON (August 31, 2021) – U.S. business travelers are scaling back travel plans amid rising COVID-19 cases, with 67% planning to take fewer trips, 52% likely to cancel existing travel plans without rescheduling, and 60% planning to postpone existing travel plans, according to a new national survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

Despite an uptick in leisure travel over the summer, the new survey highlights the dim outlook for business travel and events, which account for more than half of hotel revenue and aren’t expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

The lack of business travel and events has major repercussions for employment both directly on hotel properties, and in the broader community. Hotels are expected to end 2021 down nearly 500,000 jobs compared to 2019. For every 10 people directly employed on a hotel property, hotels support an additional 26 jobs in the community, from restaurants and retail to hotel supply companies—meaning an additional nearly 1.3 million hotel-supported jobs are also at risk.

The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted August 11-12, 2021. Of these, 414 people, or 18% of respondents, are business travelers—that is, those who either work in a job that typically includes work-related travel or who expect to travel for business at least once between now and the end of the year. Key findings among business travelers include the following:

• 67% are likely to take fewer trips, while 68% are likely to take shorter trips
• 52% say they are likely to cancel existing travel plans with no plans to reschedule
• 60% are likely to postpone existing travel plans until a later date
• 66% are likely to only travel to places they can drive to

The survey also tested attitudes among 1,590 people (72% of respondents) who are likely to attend large gatherings, meetings, and events—all key drivers of hotel revenue. Findings among those respondents include:

• 71% are likely to attend fewer in-person events or gatherings
• 67% are likely to have shorter meetings or events
• 59% are likely to postpone existing meetings or events until a later date
• 49% say they are likely to cancel existing meetings or events with no plans to reschedule

According to a recent Deloitte survey, corporate travel is projected to remain at only 30% of 2019 levels through the end of 2021. This lack of corporate travel would cost the hotel industry an estimated $59 billion in 2021, according to leading economists, underscoring the need for targeted federal relief such as the Save Hotel Jobs Act.

“Hotels were already on pace to lose more business travel revenue this year than we did in 2020. And now rising COVID-19 cases threaten to further reduce the main source of revenue for our industry,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “Hotel employees and small business owners across the nation have been pleading for direct pandemic relief for over a year now. These results show why now is the time for Congress to listen to those calls and pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act.”

Hotels are the only segment of the hospitality and leisure industry yet to receive direct aid despite being among the hardest hit. That is why AHLA and UNITE HERE, the largest hospitality workers’ union in North America, joined forces to call on Congress to pass the bipartisan Save Hotel Jobs Act introduced by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.). This legislation would provide a lifeline to hotel workers, providing the assistance they need to survive until travel, especially business travel, returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Survey Methodology
The poll was conducted August 11-12, 2021, among a national sample of 2200 Adults. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

About AHLA
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitality was the first industry impacted and it will be among the last to recover. That is why AHLA is committed to promoting safe travel while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide through the Safe Stay initiative. With an enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees, hotels across America are ready to welcome back travelers when they are ready to travel. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

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Positive trends improve industry outlook; uncertainty and waning consumer confidence could impact long-term rebuilding

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Restaurant Association released a mid-year supplement to the 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, which illustrates the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry. The report provides an updated look at key indicators and trends influencing the industry’s recovery as of June/July 2021, including the current state of the economy, workforce, and food and beverage sales.

Key findings include:
• Food and beverage sales in the restaurant and foodservice industry are projected to total $789 billion in 2021, up 19.7% from 2020.
• Despite a steady trend of job creation in the first half of the year, eating and drinking places are still nearly 1 million jobs, or 8%, below pre-pandemic employment levels and the restaurants and accommodations sector have one of the highest levels of unfilled job openings of any industry.
• As of June 2021, 39 states and the District of Columbia had reopened to 100% indoor dining capacity; 11 states and Puerto Rico are open at varying capacities ranging from 50% to 80%.
• Six in 10 adults have changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant.
“Faced with one of the most devastating and disruptive events of our lifetime, the restaurant industry has taken significant strides toward rebuilding over the first half of 2021,” said Tom Bené, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Consumer expectations around dining out have changed, and the industry is continually adapting to not only meet, but exceed, these expectations. Restaurant operators, along with their partners throughout the supply and distribution chain, remain focused on providing diners with a safe and enjoyable experience, amid rising food and labor costs and challenges related to the pandemic. Given these factors, our outlook through the end of the year is one of cautious optimism.”

Labor and Food Costs Remain Top Challenges
July marked the seventh consecutive month of staffing growth, translating to a net increase of 1.3 million jobs in the first half of 2021. Despite these increases, eating and drinking places remain nearly 1 million jobs or 8% below pre-pandemic employment levels. Operators also continue to grapple with higher input costs, with wholesale food prices increasing at their fastest rate in seven years.

• 75% of restaurant operators reported that recruiting employees was their top challenge as of June 2021 – the highest level ever recorded.
• The fullservice segment was down 626,000 jobs, or 11% below pre-pandemic employment levels; the limited-service segment was down 175,000 jobs or 4% in the same period.
• Menu prices have increased nearly 4% through June 2021.

Technology, Outdoor Dining, and Alcohol To-Go Are Here to Stay
The pandemic catalyzed many changes in the restaurant industry including the rapid consumer adoption of technology for online ordering, electronic payment, and order pickup. Consumers want to see restaurants continue incorporating technology and are keen to continue using outdoor dining. In 31 jurisdictions, thanks to approved legislation, consumers will be able to continue ordering alcoholic beverages with their takeout.

• 52% of adults would like to see restaurants incorporate more technology to make ordering and payment easier.
• 84% of adults say they favor allowing restaurants to set up tables on sidewalks, parking lots or streets permanently.
• A majority of adults in states that allow alcoholic beverages with takeout and delivery orders would like to see it continue on a permanent basis.

The Threat of Delta
In the first half of 2021 industry trends were positive, but there is still a long road ahead. A National Restaurant Association survey, conducted Aug. 13-15, found that the delta variant of COVID-19 threatens to reverse the gains made in the first six months of the year.

• 6 in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant.
• 19% of adults said they completely stopped going out to restaurants.
• 37% of adults said they ordered delivery or takeout instead of dining in a restaurant.
• 32% of adults said that if asked to wear a mask and/or show proof of vaccination to dine indoors again, they would be less likely to dine in a restaurant.

“The trends from the first half of the year are promising, but a lot of uncertainty remains in regard to the delta variant, consumer confidence, and ongoing labor challenges,” said Hudson Riehle, Senior Vice President of Research for the National Restaurant Association. “We expect restaurant pent-up demand will remain high in the coming months. However, in this state of flux, maintaining the availability of on-site dining with few capacity restrictions will be critical to keeping the overall sales momentum going forward, especially for fullservice operators.”

The National Restaurant Association will continue to monitor the effect of COVID-19 on the industry in the coming months and plans a full State of the Restaurant Industry Report in early 2022.

Click here to download the 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Mid-Year Update, sponsored by Sage Intacct.

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About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry’s largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2021   

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Chambers, AChambers@FRLA.org

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) announced a new exclusive partnership agreement with Besnard Insurance, a Florida-based agency that has been working in the Florida hospitality industry for more than 40 years and is a leading writer of hospitality insurance nationwide.

FRLA will exclusively promote Florida Hospitality Risk Advisors, a division of Besnard Insurance, as the preferred insurance provider for Florida restaurants and lodging establishments for property, general liability, liquor liability, EPLI, flood, cyber, and other specialty lines of coverage.

“FRLA is proud to partner with Florida Hospitality Risk Advisors to offer these affordable lines of specialty insurance coverage to our members,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “This program will protect our industry fairly and at a reasonable rate. We have worked with these companies for many years, and we are confident in the products and the accompanying service that they are providing to Florida’s hospitality industry.”

“This is a great opportunity for Florida restaurant owners to find an affordable solution to help them run the safest and most profitable restaurants and hotels,” said Adam Besnard, CEO of Besnard Insurance.  “We couldn’t be more pleased to join this partnership with such a great organization who advocates on behalf of the restaurants around the state of Florida.”

“The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has always educated and promoted the interests of Florida’s best restaurants and hotels,” said Tony Davenport, President of Florida Hospitality Risk Advisors. “We are honored to partner with them to expand that mission by providing customized, affordable solutions that help members ‘Navigate the Rough Waters of Today’s Hospitality Insurance’ to protect their businesses and investments.”

FRLA will promote this solution through their website, under the FRLA Insurance Marketplace, a streamlined system that allows members to quickly secure competitive insurance products.

To learn more about this partnership, its benefits, or how to purchase these products, visit: www.FRLAinsurance.com .

About Besnard Insurance / Florida Hospitality Risk Advisors (FLHRA): Since 1979, Besnard Insurance has excelled in supporting business owners in better managing long-term insurance costs while providing the best solutions to clients.  They are a nationwide insurance specialist with the reputation of being unmatched in the ability to provide innovative and customized solutions while delivering the highest level of personal service.  Besnard Insurance proudly supports countless small to medium sized businesses and even some of the world’s largest brands.

About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff^® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.

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~More than $2.7 Billion in unfunded Florida Restaurant Revitalization Fund applications leave local small business owners in limbo~

[TALLAHASSEE] – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), the National Restaurant Association, and other state restaurant association partners sent a letter to Congressional leadership sharing new national consumer confidence survey findings and urging swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). Florida has more than 11,500 pending applications that total nearly $2.7 billion in stabilization funding that would be addressed by the $60 billion proposed replenishment bills.

The letter urges Congress to complete the mission of the RRF and provide adequate funds to replenish the program and offer relief for the applications still pending.

“There are thousands of Florida small business owners stuck in limbo waiting to find out if Congress will act to provide the stability they need to make it through this new pandemic threat and into the future,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association]. “The rise of coronavirus variants like delta threaten to push these restaurants closer to permanently closing their doors. It’s time for Congress to step in and fulfill the promise of the RRF.”

The National Restaurant Association survey found that nationally a majority of consumers have already changed their dining behavior, which is beginning to put acute pressure back on the restaurant industry. This faltering consumer confidence comes on top of restaurant labor costs at a 10-year high, increased food and supply prices, continued labor shortage issues, and crushing long-term debt loads for countless restaurant owners.

Specifically, the survey found the following:

• 6 in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant

• 19% of adults have stopped going out to restaurants
• 9% have cancelled existing plans to go out to a restaurant in recent weeks
• 37% have ordered takeout or delivery instead of going out to a restaurant
• 19% have chosen to sit outside instead of inside when going out to a restaurant

“For an industry that requires a ‘full house’ every evening to make a profit, this is a dangerous trend,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association. “These changes indicate declining consumer confidence that will make it more difficult for most restaurant owners to maintain their delicate financial stability.”

Read the full letter sent to Congressional leadership here.

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Article Pulled From the South Florida Business Journal

Applications to enter Florida’s annual quota liquor license drawing are now open, providing an opportunity for residents and businesses alike.

Each year, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco runs a lottery to award a set number of quota liquor licenses in different counties, depending on population growth in each county. This year, the DBPR is awarding 49 licenses statewide, including two in Miami-Dade County, one in Broward County and three in Palm Beach County.

The application process runs until Sept. 29, according to the DBPR.

While liquor licenses are common throughout Florida, these quota licenses stand out in how versatile – and therefore valuable – they are, said Valerie Haber, a shareholder at Miami-based GrayRobinson who specializes in alcohol-related law.

Quota licenses, she said, are not limited in how the owner of one of these licenses can use them. While a normal license may only apply to bottle sales or on-premise consumption, quota licenses can be used for any and all alcohol sales. Quota licenses also don’t have a requirement for food sales like standard beer and wine licenses do.

That, plus the limited supply, means whoever wins one of these licenses in the lottery drawing could be in for a six-digit sale of that transferable license, easily.

“Because they are limited, they’re sort of akin to the taxi medallions in New York City,” Haber said. “They have an inherit value because they’re in low supply and in high demand.”

The asking price for a Palm Beach County-applicable quota license, for example, is $385,000 on Florida License Auctioneers.

It costs just $100 per application to enter the drawing. Individuals can apply on behalf of themselves, as well as through business entities, allowing someone to submit multiple applications.

However, applicants must be at least 21 years old to enter and have a clean criminal history over the past 15 years to be eligible.

Chances of winning a quota license, much like in any lottery, are slim. In 2020, there were 23,655 entries deemed qualified by the DBPR, but there were only 62 available licenses. That’s a 0.003% chance to win.

Those who win must pay an initial fee of $10,750 to activate the license and claim it, Haber said. It comes with a $1,820-per-year license fee, and if any license owner wants to sell its license within 36 months of when it was issued, the owner must pay $27,300 to the state.

Those fees may seem steep, but depending on what county the license is designated to, it shouldn’t be difficult to more than triple the investment, she added.

The process to be approved for a license is long, Haber said, so small-scale mom-and-pop operators rarely apply for the license as a first resort.

For example, while the application process for the 2020 quota liquor license drawing opened in August 2020, the winners weren’t announced until late June 2021. Therefore, these quota licenses aren’t a speedy option for those who need a license in the near future.

VISIT DBPR’s website here for more details.