Your participation in this event supports our MRAPAC. It is always a fun day with shooting stations, great food before and after, and enjoying being outside!
MRAPAC has a very simple and well-defined mission: to help elect qualified individuals who recognize the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry to Memphis and Shelby County’s economy and who will give our concerns a fair hearing. Specifically, it concentrates on our city and county legislatures.
Through the participation of MRAPAC members, the PAC gives out around $25,000 annually. This strength has provided the hospitality industry with an influential voice at the Memphis City Council, Shelby County Commission and the State Capitol. However, each year, especially in election years, MRAPAC distributes thousands of dollars to candidates for city, county and state office, so we need your continued support.
Light lunch served. Happy hour & apps after the shoot.
At the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association’s annual Day on the Hill event, held on January 29th and 30th, 2024, professionals gathered representing various facets of the hospitality and tourism sector. Participants, ranging from hoteliers to tour operators to restaurateurs, engaged in earnest discussions with state legislators, seizing the opportunity to highlight key issues and potential legislation impacting their industry. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of purpose and collaboration, as attendees shared insights and sought common ground on policies to foster growth and sustainability in Tennessee’s vibrant hospitality and tourism landscape. The event’s setting underscored the significance of face-to-face interactions in shaping the future of the industry, marking a pivotal moment for stakeholders to influence and learn about upcoming legislative changes in 2024. See more photos here.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl Annual Sponsor’s “Thank You” Luncheon – Thursday, February 22, 2024
This past Thursday, we joined all the other AutoZone Liberty Bowl sponsors at a luncheon downtown on Beale Street at Kings Palace Cafe to hear about the economic impact the Liberty Bowl had on the City of Memphis. We also heard about the sizable donation AutoZone Liberty Bowl made to St. Jude. It’s always an honor to join other sponsors at this celebration lunch every year.
Youth Villages Soup Sunday 2024 was a success
35 restaurants across Memphis gathered together with gallons of soup Sunday Feb 19 afternoon all to create a better future for young adults. Dozens of people spent Sunday afternoon filling up their bowls with soup. Read more here.
Save the Date – Beale Street Wine Race April 28, 2024
Skimpy bathing suits, lots of grapes, and plenty of wine – what could be better? Watch and root for your favorite restaurants and bartenders as they compete in four events for cash, prizes and glory! Awards for Parade, Queen of the Vine, Grape Stomp and the Great Wine Race!
This free, public event is loads of fun (prepare to have purple teeth)! Not to be missed!
Did you know that Memphis ranks third in the nation for senior food insecurity? Together we can work to change that.
Your restaurant is invited to partner with MIFA on the Spring for a Meal campaign in April. Our goal is to promote and support our restaurant partners while also raising money for MIFA’s Meals on Wheels program. We hope that you will support us as we fight senior hunger in our community!
The campaign, which will run from April 5-14, is completely driven by QR codes—no one will have to handle cash donations or POS transactions. MIFA will offer a variety of collateral, including table tents and stickers for to-go orders as well as 1-2 simple talking points for servers. Partners will be included in all promotions, which will include two postcard mailings to our donor and volunteers base (11,000 households), ads in Memphis Magazine and The Memphis Flyer, and regular and boosted posts on social media. The Memphis Restaurant Association has already been a wonderful partner to us as we work to increase awareness and raise funding for Meals in Wheels in Shelby County, and we hope that you will join us. Incentives to restaurants that raise the most money for MIFA include a group bowling party, gift cards, and two bikes from Victory Bicycle Studio!
We are opening this year’s campaign to a limited number of restaurant partners. We ask that partners commit to a minimum of three days between April 5 and 14.
Reserve your spot using our online form, available here. Please complete a separate form for each participating location. We will be in touch with the managers of those locations to ensure that we provide enough information and materials for a successful campaign.
Thank you, Sponsors!
Our Food Festival on Sunday, February 4th was a great success!
What’s better than a PAC Fundraising Golf Tournament? A PAC Fundraising TOPGOLF Tournament. That’s right, this year will be the inaugural TNHTA Back the PAC Topgolf Tournament taking place simultaneously at all 4 Tennessee Topgolf locations: Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville.
This is a very good fact sheet (from the National Restaurant Association) here.
On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule redefining what constitutes joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
The final rule, which will go into effect February 26, 2024, adopts broader circumstances in which an entity can be considered a joint employer and therefore be subject to certain obligations under the NLRA.
Information on Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule
Many restaurant operators would be challenged to pay new overtime wages for salaried managers earning $60,000/year, as explained in Association and Restaurant Law Center comments opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime rule. The comments detail significant concerns and ask the DOL to rescind the proposal originally issued in August 2023.
Implications for the Industry:
Operational Impact: Should the rule be finalized as is, many restaurant operators may need to reclassify currently exempt supervisors as non-exempt hourly employees. This is more than a procedural shift; it’s a change that could affect employees’ perception of their professional standing and access to benefits. Reclassifying supervisors as hourly employees could decrease morale, reduce productivity, and increase turnover.
Patrick Accounting Podcast in Partnership With MRA
The Restaurant Grind Podcast
We love the restauranteur story – each one is different, but they have one thing in common: that grit & grind attitude to push through when things get tough. Join JD & Matt as they here a new story each week and tackle modern day struggles faced by restaurant owners today.
As we approach the new year, we would like to remind you to ensure the continued success of our Association by renewing your membership for the year 2024. To make the process seamless, kindly log in to your account and settle your membership dues at your earliest convenience. (Thank you if you have already done so!) Your support is crucial in sustaining the vibrant community we’ve built together. Thank you for your ongoing commitment, and we look forward to another year of shared experiences and opportunities.
Join us April 15-17, 2024, in Washington, D.C., for our Public Affairs Conference and be part of the industry’s largest grassroots advocacy event. In addition to meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, conference attendees will hear from top political speakers and celebrate the industry at networking events.
Are you passionate about sharing knowledge and making a positive impact?
📚✨ We’re thrilled to announce that we’re on the lookout for hosts and speakers for our ongoing educational Facebook Live series!
This is a totally separate series from the Patrick Accounting Podcast above. We are excited to support and promote both.
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If you have a story to tell, expertise to share, or insights that can inspire, we want YOU!
Sign up now for a 30-minute segment where our Executive Director will interview you, giving you the platform to shine and connect with our engaged audience. (Must be an MRA member to participate.)
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👉 Ready to be part of something amazing? Click the link below to secure your spot and be a beacon of knowledge in our educational journey! 🚀👩🏫
