Boiled Down

37. Legislative Session Won’t Further Damage Oregon Hospitality

In a year like no other, we look at how the 2021 Legislative Session will affect Oregon’s hospitality industry. Our guest and Contract Lobbyist, Bill Perry of Balance Point Strategies delves into the changes to the legislative format during the pandemic and how that has altered the exchange of information. We also talk about what hospitality-related bills came up, died, and what is still in play. Discover the latest with TLT, lottery, mobile gaming, scheduling, and making cocktails to-go permanent. We will also touch on the pitfalls of a possible Alcohol Task Force, intellectual property protections for restaurants from third-party delivery services who publish menus without consent, and how recycling and environmental protections are creating winners and losers.
 

Guest:

• Bill Perry, Balance Point Strategies

Advocacy Watch:

• Klamath Falls and John Day weigh Transient Lodging Tax increases

• OLCC Commission votes to increase prices on some of the lowest priced alcohol
• Restaurant Revitalization Fund sample application and guidance now available

Listener Question:

• Where can I find additional Covid-times training for my staff? (For the answer, see "Providing Service While Supporting Safety" training)

36. Bonus Episode: State of the Oregon Hospitality Industry

In this bonus episode, ORLA President & CEO Jason Brandt, along with host and Director of Government Affairs Greg Astley, walk through some of the many successes and challenges we’ve had this past year. They take a little deeper dive into some of the current issues, what led us to this point and the solutions we have been advocating for all along. Also hear about programs and new training opportunities developed by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation to support our industry. (Total run time = about 35 minutes)

35. Integrating New Workplace Standards

Together with SAIF Corporation experts, we try to highlight and clarify some of the new guidance Oregon’s hospitality professionals are putting into place. Hear some real-life examples of how organizations are putting procedures in place and some of the challenges in implementing the new rules. Learn about what you can and cannot mandate surrounding vaccines, what notifications you’ll need to do if a COVID-19 exposure occurs, and more about face coverings (who needs them, wash and replace, and how many employers expected to provide). We will also explore what new rules we can expect to become permanent.


Guests:

• Liz Hill, Total Worker Health Advisor, Safe and Healthy Workplace Center, SAIF Corporation
• Kim Henry, Industry Hygienist, Safe and Healthy Workplace Center, SAIF Corporation

Links Referenced:

• SAIF Corporation
• Oregon OSHA
• EEOC
• Oregon Health Authority - Dedicated Vaccine Page
• Providing Service While Supporting Safety (Guest Service course during COVID-19)
   

Advocacy Watch:

• Over 100 bills on ORLA’s engage/watch list

• Campaign to remove Oregon’s Extreme Risk category
• Federal level update: PPP Round 2, New COVID-19 Relief Package with Restaurant Grant Program

Listener Question:
New guidance for Lottery retailers in the 'Extreme Risk' category.

32. Employment Laws & COVID Considerations

A business owner’s potential liability with regard to employment practices in the workplace has been one of the most challenging exposures they have and will continue to face, including an aging workforce, #MeToo, increased wage and hour enforcement, and continuously expanding state employment legislation. And now owners face new challenges brought on by the events of 2020 like COVID-19 and political unrest.

Guests:

• Anne Hasenstab, Executive Risk & Cyber Security Practice Leade, Ward Insurance
• Haley Morrison, Partner, Labor & Employment Practice Group, Tonkon Torp, LLP

Links Referenced:

• ORLA Live! 
• Alice Training Solutions (Active Shooter) 
• Oregon OSHA (Workplace Violence)

Advocacy Watch:

• Three Oregon OSHA issues
• Government Affairs meeting, 2021 Legislative Session
• ORLA efforts on removing curfew and 100-Person Cap

31. Unpacking Tourism Promotion

Discover all the work Travel Oregon does to grow our state economy by promoting tourism. In this episode, Teresa O'Neill and Carole Astley of Travel Oregon walk us through the many programs and events offered by the Tourism Commission, including the Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism and the Oregon Rural Tourism Conference. We talk about the wide variety of research being conducted to benefit the state and help leaders make informed decisions on marketing efforts, destination management, and product development. You'll also hear the benefits of international travelers in addition to domestic guests and how hospitality businesses can get involved, partner and profit through collaboration.

Guests:
Teresa O'Neill, VP Global Strategic Partnerships, Travel Oregon
Carole Astley, Director Meeting Services, Travel Oregon

Links Referenced:
TravelOregon.com
Industry.TravelOregon.com

Advocacy Watch:
• Madras food and beverage tax proposed
• Portland Parks budget gaps, solutions proposed
• Trump Administration's proposed tariffs on some European products
• Taste Oregon Legislative Reception

Listener Question:
Single-use plastics clarification on new laws

30. Preparing for the Worst

"Hospitality begins with safety," so this episode we're talking emergency preparedness. Althea Rizzo joins us from the Office of Emergency Management to help us boil down what businesses can do to prepare for a disaster. Learn more about how communities will respond, who is most vulnerable and what resources exist to help Oregon businesses be ready.

Guest:
Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Coordinator, Oregon Office of Emergency Management

Co-Host:
Lori Little, Director of Communications, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association

Links Referenced:

• Ready.gov
• Hospitality Begins with Safety: TsunamiSafe.info
• Ready Business QuakeSmart Toolkit

Advocacy Watch:

• Pendleton's 3 New Taxes for Street Maintenance
• Taste Oregon Legislative Reception

29. Scary Stories (and how the SBA helps small businesses)

Hear cautionary tales of the industry and how the Oregon Secretary of State's Office of Small Business Assistance can help. Discover how this resource team has helped other Oregon businesses, including those starting, growing or winding down a business. Learn what to do if you believe you've been subject to unreasonable or unfair state regulatory actions, including: investigations, excessive fines or penalties, even threats or other enforcement by a state agency.

Guests:
Ruth Miles, Corporate Division Director, Tribal Liaison, Oregon Secretary of State
Trevor Leahy, Small Business Advocate, Oregon Secretary of State Office of Small Business Assistance

Advocacy Watch:

• Food & Beverage taxes being considered
• Burgerville Union strikes
• Service charges, fees and tips

28. Word on The Street

ORLA's Greg, Nicole and Steve boil down some of the industry chatter around the state, what's happening where, and the overall trends impacting Oregon's hospitality industry. From an industry-insider perspective, they touch on Portland protests and the City's counter measures, why brewpubs are closing, and a new wave of suburban migration. Hear more about new food cart pod regulations, Corporate Activities Tax rule making, and the Federal DOJ overtime rule soon taking effect. 

Guests:
Nicole Peterson, ORLA Government Affairs
Steve Scardina ORLA Regional Representative

Advocacy Watch:

• Corporate Activity Tax rule making
• Federal DOJ overtime rule
• Credit card tip window for servers

27. Liquor Liters, CBD Consumables, and Cage-free Chickens

We've got the OLCC's Executive Director and Deputy Director in the house answering all our alcohol and marijuana-related industry questions. Our conversation boils down what the License Fee increases mean and how they will help fund automation and software upgrades in the future. You'll also hear about pilot projects with liter sizes, what is legal with CBD and edibles, and new acceptable IDs for Canadians via NEXUS cards.

Guests:
Steve Marks, Executive Director, OLCC
Will Higlin, Deputy Director, OLCC

Advocacy Watch:

• Egg-laying hen protections (and enrichment) for 2024
• Lottery Retailer Forums discuss Oregon Lottery's proposed commission rates
• ORLA Regional Meetings are on the calendar; visit OregonRLA.org for details.

26. Grassroots Advocacy

Lindsey Miller, National Restaurant Association grassroots advocacy manager and Nicole Peterson, ORLA government affairs coordinator talk about the Portland Kitchen Cabinet, a civic engagement program committed to growing and preserving opportunity in the local restaurant industry. We discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy around the country as well as local community initiatives that help drive relationships with peers, neighbors and elected officials. 

Guests:
Lindsey Miller, NRA Grassroots Advocacy
Nicole Peterson, ORLA Government Affairs

Advocacy Watch:
• Possible changes to ACA reporting system
• New Pacific Power shutoff policy
• In-depth Legislative update at the ORLA Hospitality Conference