Ohio Restaurant Assn

OUR MISSION IS TO REPRESENT, EDUCATE, ASSIST AND PROMOTE MEMBERS, ULTIMATELY HELPING THEM SUSTAIN AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO IMPROVE AND EXCEED MEMBER EXPECTATIONS.

MEMBER SERVICES:-ORA HOLDS SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE AND FOOD SAFETY TRAINING EVENTS ANNUALLY. ORA HELD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORA MEMBERS. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS, ORA OPENED THESE SESSIONS UP TO THE GENERAL FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY FOR A LIMITED TIME REGARDLESS OF MEMBERSHIP. TOPICS INCLUDE INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC RISK AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, FOOD AND EMPLOYER SAFETY RELATED EDUCATION. ORA PARTNERS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO DESIGN STRUCTURED INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC CONTENT. - ORA PROMOTES SAFETY TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MEMBERS THROUGH WEBSITE, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EVENTS BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS. - ORA CONDUCTS IN-PERSON MEMBER VISITS THROUGHOUT OHIO WITH SAFETY/INJURY PREVENTION AS A PRIME SUBJECT.

MEMBER MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS:THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE ALL ASPECTS OF OUTREACH TO MEMBERS IN 2021, INCLUDING AN OVERHAUL OF THE ORA WEBSITE & ADDING NEW TECH TOOLS TO OFFER MORE STREAMLINED AND ACCESSIBLE ONLINE CALENDARS, SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULING & ONLINE MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT LIBRARY. DIGITAL ADVERTISING PROMOTIONS FOR MEMBER RECRUITMENT AND EVENTS TURNED IN 2021. MARKETING REWORKED ITS WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR BETTER READABILITY & INLCUSIVE INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND ADDED TIKTOK TO ITS SOCIAL REPERTOIRE. MEDIA RELATIONS & PR SLOWED SLIGHTLY WHILE BRAND AWARENESS REMAINED ON THE RISE. PROMOTION OF THE PREFERRED VENDOR PROGRAM GREW & INCORPORATED A STRUCTURED MARKETING PLAN WITH ADDITIONAL PROMOTIONS OF VENDOR MEMBER COMPANIES' PRODUCTS & SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF ALL MEMBER BUSINESSES TO ASSIST THEIR GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. ORA EVENTS INCLUDED A MIX OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON, ONCE AGAIN.

MEMBER ADVOCACY: THE ORA CONSTANTLY ADVOCATES FOR COMMON SENSE, PRO-ECONOMIC GROWTH POLICIES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN OHIO CONTINUES TO ALLOW OUR MEMBERS TO THRIVE, EMPLOYING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OHIOANS AS OHIO'S 2ND LARGEST PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYER AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIBRANCY OF COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL THROUGHOUT OHIO. IN 2021 OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS SIGNIFICANTLY INCLUDED FIGHTING FOR RELIEF FROM COVID RELATED OPERATING LOSSES AND RESTRICTIONS AND ESTABLISHING THE SAFETY OF RESTAURANT OPERATIONS DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES THAT EXPAND OPPORTUNITY IN OHIO, INCLUDING FOR STRUGGLING OR DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS, AND WE CONTINUOUSLY STRESS OUR INDUSTRY'S FOCUS OF FOOD SAFETY AND WORKFORCE SAFETY TO OUR MEMBERS AND TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND REGULATORY BODIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE A STRONG VOICE FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OHIO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THRIVING HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES ARE INCREASINGLY CENTRALLY IMPORTANT TO VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. WE EMPHASIZE THIS REGULARLY TO OTHER OHIO LEADERS. THIS FACT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE TRUE THAN IT IS TODAY; AS OHIO ATTRACTS MORE AND MORE EMPLOYERS TO OUR STATE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS VIBRANT, THRIVING RESTAURANT, FOODSERVICE AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES THAT WILL ATTRACT THE EMPLOYEES NEEDED FOR WHAT COMES NEXT HERE IN OHIO.

TO REPRESENT, EDUCATE, ASSIST AND PROMOTE MEMBERS, ULTIMATELY HELPING THEM SUSTAIN AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.