The Connecticut Restaurant Association put more on its plate Tuesday.
The organization said it has undergone what it calls a “major strategic shift” in its mission by including hotels in promoting and advocating for hotels, not just restaurants, bars and caterers in the state’s tourism industry.
Scott Dolch, president and CEO of what is now called Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, said they have added 10 board of directors seats, going from 25 to 35 seats and integrating seven new lodging-specific members to ensure diverse representation across the hospitality spectrum, according to a statement.
The change “reflects the modern reality of an industry where dining and lodging are intrinsically linked,” according to a statement.
“By bringing hotels and restaurants together, we are building a unified front with the scale to fight more effectively for our members at a time when they face unprecedented costs and challenges,” said Dolch. “For years, our association’s work has been tied to overlapping partner businesses that form a broader hospitality ecosystem. Now, this is a logical evolution that ensures Connecticut’s hospitality community remains a world-class destination.”
The change was revealed at the Goodwin Hotel atrium in Hartford, and included Gov. Ned Lamont and restaurant and hotel industry leaders.
“This is the most critical time for our industry to unify,” said Scott Miller, CRHA Chairman and COO/partner of DORO Restaurant Group. “Whether you are a single-location restaurant or a full-service hotel, our challenges are aligned. Moving forward as one association gives us the political strength and confidence to advance our core objectives in a shifting landscape.”
The announcement came amid a “a multi-year period of record growth for the CRA,” and successful efforts to redefine Connecticut’s hospitality landscape on the national stage, Dolch said, noting the change “will amplify the industry’s voice at the state Capitol on major issues relating to the state’s economic future.”
The “strategic evolution marks a new era for the state’s hospitality ecosystem, bringing local restaurants, bars, caterers, and lodging partners under one unified banner in order to better support and grow a hospitality industry that contributes more than $1.5 billion in annual state taxes and [makes] nearly $21 billion in economic impact on the state of Connecticut,” the statement said.
The move designed to amplify the sector’s voice at the State Capitol, and to allow the association to provide even more extensive support and benefits to its members, the statement says.
“As a lodging operator, I’ve seen firsthand how the success of our hotels depends on the vibrancy of our culinary scene,” said Amanda Arling, president of Whaler’s Inn, Shipwright’s Daughter, and Mystic Fish Camp and member of the CRHA executive committee. “Joining forces allows us to better serve our guests and our employees by sharing resources, training, and a collective seat at the table where decisions are made.”
With the change, Connecticut becomes the 31st state in the nation to adopt this combined model. That Includes 10,000 hospitality businesses, 170,000 hospitality employees and nearly $21 billion in economic impact to Connecticut.
