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National Restaurant Association Releases 2020 Top Food and Menu Trends

2021 Restaurant Trends Reflect Innovation and Survival in Unprecedented Year

National Restaurant Association releases top trends from forthcoming State of the Restaurant Industry Report

 

Contact: Vanessa Sink, National Restaurant Association

[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 12, 2021) – Last year was full of change and the search for comfort, according to the 2021 Restaurant Trends Report released today by the National Restaurant Association. The list reflects the pivots restaurants had to make early in the pandemic to survive and the innovation that has opened up needed new revenue streams.

The top Food and Menu Trends included changes such as off-premises dining taking precedence, but it was also a year where nipping and bundling made important impacts on operations and revenue. According to a survey of 6,000 restaurant operators and 1,000 customers, the top trends included:

• Streamlined menus
• Selling groceries
• Alcohol to go

This year, to identify what’s truly selling best during the pandemic, the Association surveyed restaurant operators to find out their Top Menu Sellers right now. They indicated that consumers were looking for more tried-and-true than new. Demand from both full-service and limited-service restaurants included:

• Burgers
• Pizza
• Chicken items
• Breakfast items

“These food and menu trends didn’t offset the industry’s devastation, but they do illustrate the resiliency, innovation, and commitment of restaurateurs,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of Research and Knowledge for the Association. “The pandemic served to accelerate many trends we were already seeing, while it taught more consumers how to digitally access the restaurant meals they wanted, so expect many of these innovations to be long-term trends and not fads.”
The Restaurant Trends are excerpted from the forthcoming 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, which will be released on Jan. 26, 2021.

See the full 2021 Restaurant Trends Report here.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Hotel Industry Convenes Virtual Anti-Trafficking Summit Ahead of Super Bowl LV

Contact: Maura Morton

[email protected]

FRLA Joins Attorney General Moody, Florida Lawmakers, National Organizations and Local Partners at AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking Event

TAMPA – To mark Human Trafficking Awareness Day, on Monday, January 11, hotel industry officials, lawmakers, local partners, and leading experts are joining forces ahead of Super Bowl LV to rally against human trafficking.

The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation), in partnership with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), is welcoming Attorney General Ashley Moody, state lawmakers, local hoteliers and human trafficking prevention organizations It’s a Penalty and A21 to expand on nationwide efforts to combat human trafficking and unveil a new campaign.

Despite travel to the Super Bowl being limited in 2021, events such as the Super Bowl can create opportunities for instances of human trafficking. The hotel industry is tackling this by raising awareness through the No Room for Trafficking Program and support of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The event will take place at The Hilton Downtown in Tampa, and in-person attendance will be limited, in accordance with local and state guidance, and the hotel industry’s Safe Stay Guidelines. The event will also be streamed virtually on the official It’s a Penalty YouTube page and will feature a virtual human trafficking training.

Each year, thousands of hotel employees are trained on how to identify and stop trafficking. With the launch of the AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking program, the hotel industry builds on its strong record by convening the entire industry around the goal of training every hotel worker.

The event will be streamed on the “It’s a Penalty Campaign” YouTube page. Watch Live Here at 10:00 am EST.

WHO:

AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers

Attorney General Ashley Moody

FRLA President & CEO Carol Dover

Commissioner Kimberly Overman, Hillsborough County

Corporal Alan Wilkett, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Commander, Pasco County Human Trafficking Task Force

Dr. Heather Curry

Dr. Kat Rosenblatt, Survivor

John Parkinson, Area Vice President, Hilton

Josh Miller, U.S. Director of Partnerships, It’s a Penalty Campaign

Mollie Thorsen, U.S. Director of Advocacy, A21

Sarah de Carvalho, CEO, It’s a Penalty Campaign

 WHEN: 

Monday, January 11, 2021 at 10:00AM ET

 WHERE:

The Hilton Downtown

Bayshore Ballroom

211 North Tampa Street

Tampa, FL 33602

RSVP:

Maura Morton

[email protected]

202-381-8644

Availability for in-person press attendance is limited.

 AHLA CEO Chip Rogers will be available for scheduled, virtual post-event interviews upon request.

 FRLA CEO Carol Dover will be available for interviews onsite immediately following the event.

 

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VIDEO RELEASE: FRLA Restaurant Members Discuss Importance of Staying Open

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), released a video of restaurant members and employees thanking Governor Ron DeSantis for supporting Florida restaurants by allowing them to remain open and safely operating.

“On behalf of that 10,000 members of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), I want to thank Governor DeSantis for his support for our industry and the people we employ,” SAID CAROL DOVER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FRLA. “While other states go backwards, shutting down restaurants, putting people out of work, and crippling an already-devastated economy, Governor DeSantis promotes accountability and personal choice, and he recognizes that our teams have a right to safely operate and earn a living. Thank you, Governor DeSantis, for having the backs of more than 1.5 million Florida families who work in the greatest industry in Florida – hospitality.”

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PRESS RELEASE: FRLA Palm Beach Hosts Virtual “Eat in For Education”

For Immediate Release
January 7, 2021

CONTACT: Ashley Chambers
[email protected]

PALM BEACH – On January 20 and 21, the Palm Beach chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) will host its first ever “Eat in For Education” event to support educational scholarships for local culinary and hospitality students.

Numerous local restaurants and hotels are participating by donating meals for this first-of-its-kind event. FRLA encourages local Palm Beach County residents to participate in this great opportunity to support local restaurants and enable students to grow in the hospitality industry.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, this annual event – previously named Palm Beach E.A.T.S. – was a hit with local diners and, over the past four years, has raised nearly $80,000 that FRLA donated to local students launching their careers in the Florida hospitality industry. This year’s modified virtual event still aims to help students and an industry that has been hit harder than any other in the Sunshine State.

“2020 has been a difficult year for the restaurant community. We are committed to being able to provide scholarships for our local students,” said Jodi Cross, Regional Director of the Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “This event is one of our best fundraisers, so we got creative and designed a take-out theme. The menus are delicious, and the value is amazing. I predict it will sell out quickly.”

How it works: Local popular restaurants are providing three-course meals available for takeout. Diners have a two-tier option to spend $50 or $100 on a takeout meal for two. The $100 ticket includes a bottle of red or white wine.

“Receiving the FRLA scholarship has helped me learn and grow in my career,” said John, a previous FRLA scholarship recipient. “After gaining the opportunity to further my education, I am pursuing a career as a manager and want to work in the product development side of the food industry. Food science and hospitality are passions of mine that have greatly benefited from this wonderful event.”

Below are the restaurants participating in the event. Diners can choose meals on a first-come, first-served basis:

  • Echo Palm Beach
  • Cucina Palm Beach
  • Café Chardonnay
  • Evo Italian
  • Henry’s Palm Beach
  • Temple Orange, Eau Palm Beach Resort
  • The Sundy House
  • Galley, WPB Hilton
  • Pistache French Bistro
  • 3800 Ocean, Marriott Singer Island
  • Frank’s No Anchovies, Café Chardonnay
  • Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar – Boca Raton
  • Park Ave BBQ Grille – Boynton Beach
  • Kapow Noodle Bar
  • Little Moir’s Hibiscus Street Catering

 

For more information on Eat in For Education or to purchase dinner tickets, please visit https://eatinforeducation.org/.

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VIDEO RELEASE: Florida Restaurants Thank Governor DeSantis For Keeping Restaurants Open TALLAHASSEE

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), released a video of restaurant members and employees thanking Governor Ron DeSantis for supporting Florida restaurants by allowing them to remain open and safely operating.

“On behalf of that 10,000 members of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), I want to thank Governor DeSantis for his support for our industry and the people we employ,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of FRLA. “While other states go backwards, shutting down restaurants, putting people out of work, and crippling an already-devastated economy, Governor DeSantis promotes accountability and personal choice, and he recognizes that our teams have a right to safely operate and earn a living. Thank you, Governor DeSantis, for having the backs of more than 1.5 million Florida families who work in the greatest industry in Florida – hospitality.”

Last week at the Okeechobee Steak House in West Palm Beach, Governor DeSantis held a press conference where he discussed the unfair targeting of restaurants, the closure of restaurants in other states, and his promise to not shut down Florida restaurants as they try to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

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Congress to Pass $900 Billion COVID Relief Legislation

~Florida Restaurants and Hotels to Get Much-Needed Financial Assistance~

TALLAHASSEE – Today, Congress is expected to pass a $900 billion relief bill to provide short-term economic relief to the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes several items that will benefit restaurants and hotels, most importantly a second round of access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with unique provisions aimed to assist Florida’s hospitality industry, which continues to endure catastrophic job and revenue losses.

“Millions of hard-working families in Florida’s hospitality industry have been given hope at the end of a very hard year as Congress will pass substantial COVID relief legislation today,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “As a top tourist destination, Florida’s hospitality industry has suffered unparalleled damages from the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning of this crisis, FRLA has worked with local, state, and federal leaders, alongside our national partners at the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), to advocate for relief for tens of thousands of Florida restaurants and hotels and their 1.5 million workers. The value to our members cannot be overstated. Simply put, for many, this means the survival of their business and the livelihood of their employees.”

The plan announced today targets industry relief with provisions including:

  • Enhanced PPP Loan Size: The PPP provides a business with a forgivable loan based on 2.5 times its monthly payroll costs. Restaurants and hotels, however, can seek forgivable loans based on 3.5 times monthly payroll costs.
  • Enhanced Access to PPP: Companies that employ a total of 300 or more employees at all locations (combined) are deemed ineligible for the PPP. Today’s bipartisan plan reflects the reality that many mid-sized and larger restaurant groups are on the verge of bankruptcy and allows restaurants to qualify for PPP if they do not employ more than 300 employees at each physical location.
  • One-year extension for Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR) relief (Section 4013 of the CARES Act), which will allow for banks to continue to work with borrowers to gain additional forbearance and debt relief through the end of 2021.

The relief package is also expected to include the following:

  • Direct payments to individuals: $600 for an individual making up to $75,000 a year; $1,200 to a couple making $150,000 a year and $600 for each child dependent.
  •  An additional $300 a week will go to individuals receiving unemployment benefits

Other provisions in the bill that will benefit restaurants and hotels include the deductibility of business expenses paid with PPP loans, enhancement of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), extension of the augmented Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), and increased tax deduction for business meals.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association have shared a resource document with additional information here.

For more information, visit the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association website, and follow FRLA’s social media channels linked below.

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

 

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PRESS RELEASE: Tampa and Clearwater-Area Restaurants and Hotels Achieve Top Sanitation and Safety Award from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

TALLAHASSEE – Hospitality establishments across the Tampa and Clearwater Areas have achieved the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Seal of Commitment, demonstrating their dedication to enhanced safety and sanitation practices at a time when it matters most. The FRLA Seal of Commitment is a promise to guests and employees that their safety is a priority, that the restaurant or hotel meets superior safety and sanitation standards, and that staff are well-trained in these procedures.

Since the launch of the program, nearly 150 establishments have achieved the Seal, with dozens more in progress, representing the statewide commitment of the hospitality industry to the health and safety of employees and guests. Awarded establishments have invested considerable resources to prioritize the safety and health of the staff, guests, and establishment.

Of the first group of Seal of Commitment Designees, the following achievers are in the Tampa and Clearwater Areas:

“Employee and guest safety is paramount for Florida’s hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, FRLA President and CEO. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our hotels and restaurants adhered to strict sanitation, food safety, and training guidelines, but it is important for our guests to know we are going above and beyond. With the Seal of Commitment program, we have built on the foundation of excellent standards to do even more to ensure cleanliness and safety to help build consumer confidence. Establishments can display their awarded Seal as a promise to guests of their strict adherence to these rigorous standards as they welcome back their guests and create memorable experiences.”

“We always want our guests to be safe and healthy” said Michael Kilgore, Chief Marketing Officer of Columbia Restaurant Group. “That’s even more true now, in these times. When they see our independently verified FRLA Seal of Commitment, it’s a symbol. It’s our promise that we have implemented thorough safety and sanitation standards and completed specialized training.”

“Being open for business today, it is more critical than ever to continue doing things that provide our guests and team members with a high level of comfort within our business environment,” said David A. Yamada General Manager of Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. “Having intensified our efforts to this end, including incorporating the practices recommended by the CDC, we wanted to find a credible way to help us get this message out. Because of the process required to earn the FRLA Seal of Commitment, we felt this achievement would help us in our goal to ensure safety and comfort.”

Awarded establishments have completed rigorous safety and sanitation training. In a post COVID-19 atmosphere, when guests see the FRLA Seal of Commitment on an establishment’s door, they can be confident that the business is committed to sanitation excellence and protecting employees and guests.

Visit https://frla.org/sealofcommitment/ to learn how to achieve the FRLA Seal of Commitment.

 

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PRESS RELEASE: Sarasota and Bradenton Restaurants and Hotels Achieve Top Sanitation and Safety Award from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

TALLAHASSEE – Hospitality establishments across Sarasota and Bradenton have achieved the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Seal of Commitment, demonstrating their dedication to enhanced safety and sanitation practices at a time when it matters most. The FRLA Seal of Commitment is a promise to guests and employees that their safety is a priority, that the restaurant or hotel meets superior safety and sanitation standards, and that staff are well-trained in these procedures.

Since the launch of the program, nearly 150 establishments have achieved the Seal of Commitment, with dozens more in progress, representing the statewide commitment of the hospitality industry to the health and safety of employees and guests. Awarded establishments have invested considerable resources to prioritize the safety and health of the staff, guests, and establishment.

Seal of Commitment achievers in the Sarasota and Bradenton Area include the following:

“Employee and guest safety is paramount for Florida’s hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, FRLA President and CEO. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our hotels and restaurants adhered to strict sanitation, food safety, and training guidelines, but it is important for our guests to know we are going above and beyond. With the Seal of Commitment program, we have built on the foundation of excellent standards to do even more to ensure cleanliness and safety to help build consumer confidence. Establishments can display their awarded Seal as a promise to guests of their strict adherence to these rigorous standards as they welcome back their guests and create memorable experiences.”

“Back in June, we wanted to be the first restaurant to receive the FRLA Seal of Commitment as we feel it is so important to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, in keeping our restaurants safe and secure for our guests and our staff during these crazy times,” said John Horne, Owner and President, Anna Maria Oyster Bar. “Having the FRLA’s Seal behind us lets our guests know loud and clear that we are committed to ensuring that, as COVID-19 is again on the rise in Florida, the Anna Maria Oyster Bars are four of the safest places to dine and gather in small groups with loved ones this holiday season.”

Anthony Puccio, Owner of Anthony’s Italian Deli and Eatery, said “We sought this designation to ensure the health and safety of our customers, staff, and families.”

Awarded establishments have completed rigorous safety and sanitation training. In a post COVID-19 atmosphere, when guests see the FRLA Seal of Commitment on an establishment’s door, they can be confident that the business is committed to sanitation excellence and protecting employees and guests.

Visit https://frla.org/sealofcommitment/ to learn how to achieve the FRLA Seal of Commitment.

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Florida Lodging Employers: January 1 Human Trafficking Training Compliance Deadline is Approaching  

~Florida Law Requires Training Completion by January 1, 2021~

 TALLAHASSEE – To help aid in the prevention and reporting of human trafficking in Florida, legislation was passed in 2019 that requires human trafficking awareness training and the establishment of reporting procedures for Florida’s lodging operators and employees with a compliance deadline of January 1, 2021.

“Florida’s hospitality industry is committed to stopping human trafficking in our state,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “Properly training our team members on the front lines in lodging is essential to spot and stop this horrific crime. FRLA stands ready to ensure that our people are trained and that our industry is no longer targeted or vulnerable for trafficking.

“When this important legislation passed in 2019, we knew it was crucial to the fight against human trafficking,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. Now more than ever, training is imperative. The pandemic’s impact on our economy has unfortunately created hardships, which traffickers have exploited. Adding more eyes and ears in our hotels and restaurants will ensure this horrific crime is identified and reported. As your Attorney General, I remain committed to using all the resources at my disposal to ensure victims are rescued and restored while traffickers are prosecuted and punished. We are grateful to have a partner in FRLA in this important endeavor.”

Section 509.096, Florida Statutes, mandates training for those lodging employees who perform housekeeping duties or work at the front desk or reception areas within 60 days of hiring or by January 1, 2021, whichever occurs later. To ensure the utmost vigilance, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) recommends that lodging operators train all guest-interactive staff as well, including concierge, bell staff, valet, and others who have direct guest contact. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which regulates lodging establishments, released an Industry Bulletin that provides additional details on the new law.

Those details include the following:

  • Training programs must be approved by DBPR. FRLA is an approved trainer and offers online training at no cost in English and Spanish. In person training by FRLA is also available for a fee.
  • Covered employees must complete training by January 1, 2021, or within 60 days of hire – whichever is later – and must re-train annually thereafter.
  • Covered lodging properties must implement a procedure to report suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or local law enforcement and must post prescribed signage in employee areas regarding the hotline.

For more information on FRLA Human Trafficking Awareness Training or requirements under the law, please click here.

 

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