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home | Why Join a Restauran . . .
 

Back Cover of RS&G
Back Cover of RS&G


Why Join a Restaurant Association?

Among the best investments you can make when starting or expanding your restaurant is to join a restaurant association. Local, state and national restaurant associations represent owners at all levels of government, provide rich member benefit programs, and offer invaluable industry contacts and a knowledge base that can help you be more efficient and profitable. And talk about a great deal!

The real dollar value of a restaurant association far exceeds the cost of dues, even if you only consider the lobbying and representation, which is not available from any other source. Add the many tangible benefits, and restaurant association membership can be the difference between success and failure in starting a restaurant.

No one argues that starting or expanding a restaurant in today's business environment is not a complex and time-consuming task. Laws vary from one jurisdiction to the next, distribution channels fluctuate, and just staying abreast of regulations and how they affect your business can be daunting.

Restaurant association membership can help you navigate the tangled bureaucratic and regulatory environment with information and assistance on legal and risk management issues, such as workers' compensation and liquor control. And as they help you dodge obstacles and challenges, restaurant associations help keep your business on course toward financial success with return on investment profiles, profitability targets, special vendor arrangements, and a host of other advantages and tools.

Restaurant association membership keeps you in touch with your industry colleagues, both down the street and across the country. You can learn what your peers are doing in a collegial setting; however, these associations are far more than just social clubs. They give restaurateurs a collective voice that's absolutely necessary in today's special-interest political environment.

But that collective voice is only as loud as the number of individual voices. More members mean greater representation and bargaining power, and better, broader and more affordable benefits. Participation in your restaurant association not only makes sense, but, frankly, it is the right thing to do -- for your investors, your employees, your fellow restaurateurs, and for you.

A network, a voice, and a rich source of business resources are ingredients for success in the restaurant business. That's why your restaurant association deserves your support and membership dollars. Join today.

 

Starting up your restaurant doesn't have to be overwhelming. Good, sound advice is out there, if you know where to look. While RS&G and RestaurantOwner.com can answer many of the questions you'll have as you put together your dining business, consider referring to the list on this page. Groups like the National Restaurant Association and its partner state associations can play an important role in the success of your restaurant. Who knows, your answers might be only a phone call or a Web site visit away.

National Restaurant Association
Washington, D.C. • (202) 331-5900
www.restaurant.org

Alabama Restaurant Association
Montgomery, Ala. • (334) 244-1320
www.alabamarestaurants.com

Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association
Anchorage, Alaska • (800) 478-2427
www.alaskacharr.com

Arizona Restaurant Association
Phoenix • (800) 888-0701
www.azrestaurant.org

Arkansas Hospitality Association
Little Rock, Ark. • (501) 376-2323
www.arhospitality.com

California Restaurant Association
Sacramento, Calif. • (800) 765-4842
www.calrest.org

Colorado Restaurant Association
Denver • (303) 830-2972
www.coloradorestaurant.com

Connecticut Restaurant Association
Middletown, Conn. • (800) 382-5619
www.ctrestaurant.org

Delaware Restaurant Association
Newark, Delaware • (866) 372-2545
www.dineoutdelaware.com

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington
Washington, D.C. • (202) 331-5990
www.ramw.org

Florida Restaurant Association
Tallahassee, Fla. • (888) 372-9119
www.flra.com

Georgia Restaurant Association
Atlanta • (866) 467-2201
www.garestaurants.org

Hawaii Restaurant Association
Honolulu • (808) 536-9105
www.hawaiirestaurants.org

Idaho Lodging and Restaurant Association
Boise, Idaho • (208) 362-4745

Illinois Restaurant Association
Chicago • (800) 572-1086
www.illinoisrestaurants.org

Restaurant and Hospitality Association of Indiana
Indianapolis • (800) 678-1957
www.indianarestaurants.org

Iowa Hospitality Association
Des Moines, Iowa • (800) 747-1453
www.iowahospitality.com

Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association
Wichita, Kan. • (800) 369-6787
www.krha.org

Kentucky Restaurant Association
Louisville, Ky. • (800) 896-0414
www.kyra.org

Louisiana Restaurant Association
Metairie, La. • (504) 454-2277
www.lra.org

Maine Restaurant Association
Augusta, Maine • (207) 623-2178
www.mainerestaurant.com

Restaurant Association of Maryland
Columbia, Md. • (800) 874-1313
www.marylandrestaurants.com

Massachusetts Restaurant Association
Southborough, Mass. • (800) 852-3042
www.marestaurantassoc.org

Michigan Restaurant Association
Lansing, Mich. • (800) 968-9668
www.michiganrestaurant.org

Hospitality Minnesota
St. Paul, Minn. • (651) 778-2400
www.hospitalitymn.com

Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association
Jackson, Miss. • (800) 898-0343 www.msra.org

Missouri Restaurant Association
St. Louis • (877) 413-7029
www.morestaurants.org

Montana Restaurant Association
Billings, Mont. • (808) 388-0236
www.mtretail.com/rest.htm

Nebraska Restaurant Association
Lincoln, Neb. • (402) 488-3999
www.nebraska-dining.org

Nevada Restaurant Association
Las Vegas • (702) 878-2313
www.nvrestaurants.com

New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association
Concord, N.H. • (603) 228-9585
www.nhlra.com

New Jersey Restaurant Association
Trenton, N.J. • (800) 848-6368
www.njra.org

New Mexico Restaurant Association
Albuquerque, N.M. • (800) 432-0740
www.nmrestaurants.org

New York State Restaurant Association
Albany, N.Y. • (800) 452-5212
www.nysra.org

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
Raleigh, N.C. • (919) 844-0098
www.ncrla.org

North Dakota Hospitality Association
Bismarck, N.D. • (701) 223-3313
www.ndhospitality.com

Ohio Restaurant Association
Columbus, Ohio • (800) 282-9049
www.ohiorestaurant.org

Oklahoma Restaurant Association
Oklahoma City, Okla. • (800) 375-8181
www.okrestaurants.com

Oregon Restaurant Association
Wilsonville, Ore. • (800) 462-0619
www.ora.org

Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
Harrisburg, Pa. • (800) 345-5353
www.parestaurant.org

Rhode Island Hospitality & Tourism Association
Cranston, R.I. • (401) 223-1120
www.rihospitality.com

The Hospitality Association of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C. • (803) 765-9000
www.schospitality.org

South Dakota Retailers Association
Pierre, S.D. • (605) 224-5050
www.sdra.org

Tennessee Restaurant Association
Franklin, Tenn. • (866) 798-9191
www.thetra.com

Texas Restaurant Association
Austin, Texas • (800) 395-2872
www.restaurantville.com

Utah Restaurant Association
Salt Lake City, Utah • (801) 322-0123
www.utahdineout.com

Vermont Lodging & Restaurant Association
Burlington, Vt. • (802) 660-9001
www.visitvt.com

Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association
Richmond, Va. • (800) 552-2225
www.vhta.org

Washington Restaurant Association
Olympia, Wash. • (800) 225-7166
www.wrahome.com

West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association
Charleston, W.Va. • (304) 342-6511
www.wvhta.com

Wisconsin Restaurant Association
Madison, Wis. • (800) 589-3211
www.wirestaurant.org

Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association
Cheyenne, Wyo. • (307) 634-8816
www.wlra.org

.

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It's Restaurant Business News, Views and Useful Information for Independent Restaurateurs Who Want to Build Their Businesses, Improve Their Systems and Increase Their Profits.

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