The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will be open to small lenders this Friday, January 15, and all lenders on Tuesday, January 19. Community financial institutions are already accepting applications.
Eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets may begin accepting both first and second draw PPP applications beginning January 15. All remaining eligible lenders will be able to begin accepting applications for both types of loans beginning January 19. Hoteliers interested in obtaining a first or second draw loan are encouraged to begin working with their lenders and filling out their applications (loan details and applications available here).
SBA’s announcement on the finalized rollout schedule is available here.
HOTELS OFFER SUPPORT WITH VACCINE ROLLOUT
With vaccination distribution underway, hotels have the unique capability to serve as vaccination centers. That’s why AHLA is launching a new effort under “Hospitality for Hope” to link public health agencies and private sector partners in an effort expand COVID-19 vaccine administration sites across the country.
AHLA is reaching out to Administration officials and policymakers at the local, state and federal level with a letter offering vaccine administration sites in partnership with public health departments.
We have also created a resource that highlights the ways in which hotels are able to assist along with quotes from validating experts and organizations. By mobilizing existing sites, hotels can help strengthen the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine at a time when our nation needs it most.
2021 RESTAURANT TRENDS REFLECT INNOVATION
AND SURVIVAL IN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR
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.”
CVBs/DMOs: MARK YOUR CALENDARS! PROGRAM & REGISTRATION INFORMATION COMING SOON
