Alaska CHARR - The Magazine September/October | Page 7
WELCOME
RECOVERY
BY SARAH OATES | ALASKA CHARR PRESIDENT & CEO
It goes without saying that the hospitality industry
has endured much over the last six months. Many
of you have been forced to be closed for at least a
full fiscal quarter, or possibly for the entire 2020
year, due to emergency mandates and lack of tourism.
Most on-premises locations who are currently open are
still experiencing year-over-year losses of over 50%. No
matter where you fall within the spectrum of reopening,
you have certainly modified your
operations and/or business model
in some way, and you will almost
certainly need help on this inevitably
long road of recovery.
“ TOGETHER
As we enter the fall months, my
top priority continues to be focusing
efforts on obtaining financial
aid and relief for hospitality businesses
and their employees. I will
continue to work directly with
Governor Dunleavy, his team, and
the legislature to amend the original
eligibility requirements so that
STRONG,
our businesses may gain access to
the $290 million in AK CARES Act
RECOVER.
grant funds. I will also continue to
work with Congress and our partners
at the National Restaurant Association
to advocate for the appropriation
of additional federal dollars
for hospitality. The processes have been painfully slow
and arduous, but government leaders are listening, and
they do want to help. I am hopeful that hospitality businesses
may say those dollars before it is too late.
– NOW AND
ALWAYS – WE
ARE ALASKA
AND WE WILL
You need money, and you need it soon. But we also need
to explore other options. Our team hosts regular industry
calls – sometimes once per week, and sometimes every
other week – where we bring information to you and we
ask for your input. We send out emails at least twice per
week (Note: if you are not receiving our emails but would
like to, please email [email protected] to be added).
And now we need to hear back from you.
Many legislators, local government officials, and
members of the governor’s office have asked me for
suggestions for other ways in which they can help our
industry. They see the damage and the need, and as
our elected leaders, our patrons, and our friends, they
want to help us. We need to bring them innovative
ideas that can help you in any way possible – no matter
how small or crazy they may seem.
“
Our staff is hard working and creative,
but we are not the ones owning
and running your businesses or
working the front lines. I can talk
with government officials until I am
blue in the face, but it is your impactful
stories and inventive ideas that
will help officials act in meaningful,
impactful ways. Should waiving liquor
license fees for one renewal
season be a priority? Would restaurants
like to see a cap on the fees
that third-party delivery companies
charge? Help us best help you. Please
tune into our industry calls and/or
email us at [email protected]
with any ideas that you’d like to see
fleshed out.
By the time this magazine reaches
our readers, CHARR will have
rolled out some new member benefits that will put
cash back into your pockets in the coming months,
and provide you with massive discounts on items
that are necessary to run many of your businesses
during normal operations, and throughout this pandemic.
For more information on how to obtain these
benefits, visit our website or contact our Membership
& Gaming Manager, Rory McAllister, at:
[email protected]
Together – now and always – we are Alaska Strong,
and we will Recover.
SARAH OATES, ALASKA
CHARR PRESIDENT & CEO
Letter from the President
ALASKA CHARR MAGAZINE | 5