'Follow Your Joy' to New Orleans for the Holidays

New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC) launches its 30th Annual Christmas New Orleans Style campaign to national, regional and internet audience

New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, (NOTMC) and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) announce four new additions to its seasonal Christmas New Orleans Style celebration.  

“New Orleans always has something magical about it, but especially at Christmas," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Music, unique Reveillon dinners, and holiday traditions give families an opportunity over six full weeks to learn and experience the season while enjoying moderate temperatures." 

The 2014 Christmas New Orleans Style experience features four new additions this holiday season. Luna Fete, which runs through the first week in December, will see iconic Gallier Hall become the canvas for a brilliant display of art and light. Reveillon on the rocks will debut over 45 specialty holiday cocktails, and NOLA Christmas Fest will take families inside the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to experience a holiday adventure. NOTMC is also launching 'New Orleans City Store', an e-commerce portal that will sell officially branded New Orleans merchandise, just in time for gift-giving.

“Plan your trip ahead by using followyourjoy.com,” said Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “While in town, be sure to pick up a free ‘Christmas New Orleans Style’ guidebook from a concierge or Visitors Center. The guidebook is the only place to find everything there is to experience, eat, drink – and have fun – during the holidays in New Orleans!”

A fifteen-second 'Follow your Joy' TV spot features the voice of actor and New Orleanian John Goodman, along with a soundtrack by the New Birth Brass Band. Iconic New Orleans scenes include historic architecture, attractions throughout the city, holiday food, and seasonal events.'

The spot is airing in 13 regional television markets that include Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and the Monroe LA/El Dorado, AR market; Houston, and Dallas, TX; Memphis, TN; Montgomery, and the Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL market, Jackson, Columbus/Tupelo, and Gulfport/Biloxi, MS. 

Programming highlights include prime time shows such as 'The Voice,' morning news and late night TV, as well as high-profile sporting events such as Thanksgiving Day NFL football, the 41st Bayou Classic, and holiday specials 'Shrek the Halls' and 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'.

"New Orleans will welcome visitors and locals all over the city this season,” said Mark Romig, President and CEO of NOTMC. “From NOLA Christmas Fest, to Celebration in the Oaks at City Park, to historic French Quarter caroling and old-fashioned Christmas performances with the Victory Belles at the National WWII Museum, the city will burst at the seams with beautiful lights, the songs of the season, and satisfying holiday food and drink.”

The spot is viewable online at GoNOLA TV found on YouTube. The website, FollowYourJoy.com, showcases 'Christmas New Orleans Style' events listing concerts, Christmas shopping, Reveillon dinners, and Papa Noel hotel rates. Additionally, visitors and locals are invited to share personal holiday scenes on Instagram by tagging photos with #FollowYourJoy.

To learn more about Christmas New Orleans Style, and to view the 2014 CNOS guide book listing all scheduled events, visit FollowYourJoy.com or FQFI.org. Hotel reservations, including special citywide rates, can be booked via direct links to hotels on FollowYourJoy.com.

For a schedule of events or more information on Christmas New Orleans Style, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.FollowYourJoy.com.
  

Holiday Greetings from Stan Harris, LRA President/CEO

It's hard to believe we are approaching the end of another year, with the holiday season approaching quickly. This time of year brings many end-of-the-year business deadlines and also provides the time for giving thanks for our families, friends, employees and customers. As a business owner, what's on your holiday to-do list? You may be shopping for competitive workers' compensation, health care options for you and your employees, or just feel like you could be doing more to support positive changes in our industry.

If you are not taking advantage of the LRA Self Insurer's Fund for your workers' compensation needs, you are missing our competitive rates, in-house claims handling, complimentary safety services and potential safety dividends. The LRA SIF is governed by a Board of Trustees, your fellow LRA members, who along with our management team, are focused on efficiency and timely handling of claims.Members of the LRA SIF should be on the lookout for renewal packets and safety dividends for eligible members in the coming weeks. We thank you for allowing us to be your solution provider for your workers' compensation needs.

The Trustees have declared a dividend to be distributed in 2015 of $2.2 million, which is the 27th consecutive year our fund has returned this to its members. Since 1988, the LRA SIF has returned $103.9 million in unused premium and safety dividends to its eligible members. In addition to lowering our rates three times in past four years, your SIF fund continues to grow topline revenue while using best practices for efficiently processing member claims. 

We know that navigating the Affordable Care Act appears daunting and effective January 1, 2015, penalties for some large employers will take effect. The LRA, along with the National Restaurant Association, have partnered with United Healthcare to offer special pricing for association members. If you have questions about the Affordable Care Act, or its implementation, please give us a call.

As you make your resolutions for the New Year, I hope that you would consider staying connected with the LRA and your fellow members. If your schedule doesn't allow you to attend every Chapter meeting in your area, please consider joining us in the first quarter of 2015 for your LRA Chapter's Legislative Night. At the LRA. we are dedicated to protecting and enhancing this industry every day of the year. It's at the holiday time especially that we are grateful for the opportunity to serve our diverse membership across Louisiana. 

Our industry has been barraged with an attack on its reputation. Our message must be strong and consistent when countering these attacks. No industry offers opportunity to those with limited skills or experience like ours. And for those willing to put forth the effort, there are pathways to prosperity and financial opportunities that are immeasurable. The restaurant and foodservice industry is a job creator and it is critical that we remind customers, our elected officials and our team members of its value to the state and national economy. Don't be afraid to share why you chose this industry or career path. We should be proud of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our industry's growth and success.

It is our privilege to serve you as a member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season. 

State of the American Consumer: Caution remains, but signs point toward improvement

A majority of American consumers remain uncertain about the economy and cautious in their spending habits, based on the results of a new NRA survey.  On the positive side, the survey suggests that this recession mindset is not a permanent state for consumers, and they will continue to come out of their shell as their personal finances improve, according to the NRA’s chief economist Bruce Grindy. His Economist’s Notebook commentary and analysis appears regularly on Restaurant.org and Restaurant TrendMapper.

Although the official trough of the Great Recession was more than five years ago, many American consumers have yet to climb out of the rut, according to a new survey* commissioned by the National Restaurant Association.  When asked earlier this month to rate the current state of their own personal finances, a majority of adults described them as either fair (36 percent) or poor (18 percent). Less than one in 10 adults say their personal finances are in excellent condition.

Flash back to 2010 when the economy was just beginning to add back some of the nearly 9 million jobs that were lost during the recession, and the responses to the same question were almost identical. Nearly six in 10 adults said their personal finances were in fair (41 percent) or poor (18 percent) condition, while only seven percent described them as excellent. 

 

With the personal economies of many consumers trending sideways, it’s not surprising that this persistent recession mindset is negatively impacting spending. Consumer spending, which generally helps propel the economy out of a recession, has been lackluster during the current recovery. 

In the 21 quarters since the official end of the recession, total personal consumption expenditures rose just 11.8 percent in inflation-adjusted terms, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. During the same period following the previous three recessions, consumer spending increased by an average of 21.8 percent. 

Post-recession spending has been even more sluggish for the Services category, which includes many discretionary sectors like restaurants. Real spending on services rose just 8.5 percent during the last 21 quarters, or less than half of the average 19.6 percent gain that followed the previous three downturns. 

Even now, a solid majority of American consumers remain reticent to spend. When asked to describe their personal spending behavior right now, seven in 10 adults say they are holding back on spending in some fashion. 

Twenty-seven percent of adults say they “are very concerned about the economy and are holding back significantly on spending,” while 42 percent say they “are taking the wait and see approach and are holding back somewhat on spending until the economy improves.” Only three in 10 adults (29 percent) say they “are confident in their financial situation and are not holding back on spending.”

While it’s not surprising that lower income households are more likely to be curtailing spending right now, it is somewhat unexpected that a majority of higher income households are also cutting back. Among individuals in households with income of $100,000 more, one in five say they are holding back significantly on spending, while 35 percent are holding back somewhat. 

NRA partners with SBA to boost dining out on Small Business Saturday

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator, Maria Contreras-Sweet, announced that the federal agency is partnering with the National Restaurant Association to promote dining out during Small Business Saturday on November 29th. The partnership will amplify restaurants during the national push to support our nation’s small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

“Local restaurants pack a big punch to our nation’s economy, as part of the economic powerhouse that is American small businesses. The restaurant industry is projected to add 1.3 million jobs over the next 10 years and to project $683.4 billion in total sales, equaling 4 percent of the U.S. GDP,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “The SBA is proud to partner with the National Restaurant Association to champion this great sector of American small businesses.”

Dining out on Small Business Saturday will emphasize the accomplishments of small business restaurants across the country while encouraging consumers to patronize eateries in their neighborhoods. Restaurants are a significant factor in the nation’s economy as the industry’s economic impact is estimated at $1.8 trillion. Additionally, each dollar spent in restaurants generates an extra two dollars in sales for other industries, spurring economic activity in their communities and across the nation.

“Restaurants provide valuable jobs and careers for more than 13.5 million people and are strong economic engines in communities nationwide,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, NRA. “While the industry is the nation’s second-largest private sector employer, the overwhelming majority of restaurants, more than 90 percent, have fewer than 50 employees. The National Restaurant Association is pleased to join forces with the Small Business Administration to showcase the industry’s critical role in overall small business creation.”

Additionally, the SBA and the NRA are encouraging small business owners and community members to share success stories of restaurants in their areas on social media using the hashtag “#DineSmall.” This will allow communities big and small to come together and show their support for entrepreneurs across the country.

To encourage not only the public to dine small, but for restaurants to prepare for the busy day, the Small Business Administration will launch a social media campaign called #ShowUsYourMenu.   Restaurants are asked to create a special menu for Small Business Saturday and promote it on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to spotlight their business and remind everyone to #DineSmall while they #ShopSmall.

Visit the Small Business Saturday website for a list of participating restaurants.

The SBA is the voice for small business in the U.S.A. and advocates on behalf of 28 million small businesses, jumpstarting and nurturing their ideas. To learn more about support and products available to small businesses through the SBA, visit: www.sba.gov/<http://www.sba.gov/tools.

As holidays near, Entergy disconnection scam resurfaces

Don't get so caught up in the spirit of the season that you let your guard down and fall prey to scammers. The Entergy disconnection scam reared its head again today, and resulted in Louisiana Restaurant Association Member Phil deGruy notifying the association.

“Two of the three Phil’s Grills were called, but fortunately, we knew it was a scam,” said deGruy in a text. “The LRA is good about letting us know about these things, but we can never be reminded enough, so I contacted the office.”

Here’s how the scam works. A con artist will give you a call and say that your electric bill payment is past due and that your service will be disconnected within the hour if you don’t pay up. Then you are directed to transfer funds electronically, sometimes through the system known as “MoneyPack.”

We've also heard of this scam in other parts of the state with the con artists using the local utility provider's name in place of Entergy, in this case. 

Last year, LRA member Keith Dusko, owner of Chiba restaurant in the Riverbend neighborhood, was immediately suspicious and avoided getting duped by scammers. He shared his encounter will Nola.com readers here. 

Entergy doesn't want you to fall victim to this scam and reminds you:

• While the company does place courtesy calls if you are at risk for disconnection, these are recorded calls, and are not calls from live customer service representatives. Entergy NEVER demands immediate payment.
• While you may pay your Entergy bill by phone or credit card, it is ONLY through BillMatrix, a third-party vendor we use for this purpose.
• You shouldn't give your personal information to strangers. If a call sounds suspicious, call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to speak with an Entergy customer service representative.
• You should only use authorized methods and legitimate banking information to pay your Entergy bill. 

If you believe you're a victim of this scam, you should notify the proper authorities, such as the local police or the state attorney general's office. If you believe your Entergy account has been affected, call 1-800-ENTERGY (800) 368-3749) to speak with an Entergy customer service representative.

LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter announces annual award recipients

Steve Pettus named LRA GNO Chapter Restaurateur of the Year, Antoine's Restaurant receives Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Greater New Orleans Chapter (GNO) is pleased to announce its annual award recipients. During a ceremony November 19, 2014 at The Chicory, 2014 LRA GNO Chapter President Mike Maenza, owner of Mr. Mudbug and MMI Culinary Services, presented the following awards—Restaurateur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Hall of Fame, Presidential Award, Active Member of the Year, Distinguished Service Award and Associate Member of the Year.

 

Mike Maenza with Steve Pettus, who receives the
LRA GNO Chapter's Restaurateur of the Year award. 

Steve Pettus, owner and managing partner of Dickie Brennan & Company, was selected as the LRA GNO Chapter’s Restaurateur of the Year. His restaurant group owns and operates four New Orleans restaurants—Bourbon House, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Palace Café and Tableau. Given to a member who contributes unselfishly to the advancement of the hospitality industry, Pettus has continually dedicated himself to the LRA and has been a LRA GNO Chapter Board Member since 2007. He is an LRA Self Insurer’s Fund for Workers’ Compensation Trustee and also serves on the board of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau and the French Quarter-Marigny Historic Area Management District.

“Steve has been a tremendous asset to the Greater New Orleans Chapter,” said Maenza. “His connection to New Orleans’ business community, coupled with his knowledge of the restaurant industry, not only makes his restaurants very successful, he also makes the association stronger.”

 

Antoine's Restaurant proprietor Rick Blount and mother
Yvonne receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Iconic New Orleans institution Antoine’s Restaurant was honored with the 2014 LRA GNO Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award. Current proprietor and CEO Rick Blount and his mother, Yvonne Blount, represented Antoine’s and accepted the honor on its behalf. Antoine’s has been a proud LRA member for 56 years.

“With Antoine’s 175^th anniversary approaching, we could not be more pleased to honor this world-famous establishment,” said Maenza. “New Orleans is home to some extraordinary restaurants, but only Antoine’s has the distinction of being the longest, continuously family-owned and operated restaurant in the country.”

Mike Maenza inducts Mr. B's General Manager
Randy Stein into the LRA GNO Chapter Hall of Fame. 

Randy Stein, general manager of Mr. B’s Bistro, was inducted into the LRA GNO Chapter’s Hall of Fame. Stein has a long history of faithful, dedicated and outstanding service to the LRA and serves as a director of the LRA State Board and previously served as president of the LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter.

Octavio Mantilla, partner in the John Besh Restaurant Group, received the LRA GNO Chapter Presidential Award. His restaurant group owns and manages nine restaurants in Louisiana and Texas—August, Besh Steak, Domenica, Lüke New Orleans, Lüke San Antonio, Borgne, Pizza Domenica, La Provence and Johnny Sanchez.  For five years, Mantilla has volunteered his time to the chapter and has actively worked to bring new members to the association.

Stanton Ripp, owner and operator of Barcadia, was named the LRA GNO Chapter Active Member of the Year. The award is given to an individual in the food service industry who is involved in chapter affairs, events and meetings, and encourages his peers to join the association and become active.

Bob Becker, CEO of New Orleans’ City Park, received the LRA GNO Chapter Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to an individual outside of the association in recognition for innovations and significant contributions to the advancement of the hospitality industry.

Anthony Lamm, Global Staffing Solutions’ sales and marketing manager, received the LRA GNO Chapter Associate Member of the Year Award for graciously volunteering his service to the chapter and its activities, fundraisers and efforts.

“Each one of these individuals have been chosen to receive these awards because of their selfless dedication to the advancement of the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the New Orleans restaurant industry,” said Maenza. “They use their positions and influence for the greater good, and we are grateful they volunteer their time and talents.”

The LRA 2015 Chair Tony Abadie, director of catering and events at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, installed the officers of the LRA GNO Chapter Board during the ceremony. 

Is a major tax headache brewing for restaurants?

Who wants to file their taxes twice next year?

The answer, or course, is nobody. But that’s what business owners and individuals who want to take advantage of certain tax provisions might be forced to do just that if Congress doesn’t take action to renew several key tax extenders before the year ends. Congress has historically renewed them for two years at a time, but gridlock and dysfunction has so far delayed action in the current session despite bipartisan bills to renew the tax extenders being introduced in the House and Senate.

If Congress waits until 2015 to take action, restaurateurs who have already filed their taxes would likely have to file them again to benefit from the renewed tax extenders.

While more than 50 tax provisions expired at the end of last year, the National Restaurant Association (NRA)has been aggressively pressuring Congress to renew three that stand to have a significant impact on restaurants:

• A 15-year depreciation schedule on restaurant-building improvements and new construction, retail improvements, and leasehold improvements. Without congressional action, the depreciation schedule will remain at 39.5 years.
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which offers businesses tax credits of $2,400 to $5,600 for hiring employees from demographic groups who historically have a hard time finding employment.
• The enhanced tax deduction for businesses and individuals that donate food inventory to charity. 

NRA research has found that uncertainty surrounding the tax depreciation schedule is a factor in restaurateurs’ decisions to take on new renovation or construction projects. About three in 10 operators who responded to an NRA survey on the topic said they were delaying projects because of uncertainty over the tax treatment of those projects. Most restaurants remodel and update their buildings every six to eight years, according to NRA research.

The NRA joined 30 state restaurant associations and more than 500 other groups in sending a letter to Congress on Tuesday, urging members to vote to renew and permanently extend the tax provisions during the current lame duck session.

“Failure to extend these provisions is a tax increase,” the letter stated. “It will inject instability and uncertainty into the economy and weaken confidence in the employment marketplace…A delay in the tax filing season will delay tax refund checks and spending decisions, resulting in an immediate negative impact on the economy.”

The NRA is asking restaurant operators to contact Congress to urge them to take action. Tell your representatives in Congress to vote for tax certainty for restaurants!