NRA Association News

Are card terminals slowing you down?

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 21, 2008

The National Restaurant Association's TakeCharge program offers state-of-the-art terminal solutions for restaurants of all sizes. Created in partnership with First Data, a leading payment processing provider, TakeCharge terminal options can process all major credit, signature debit, gift and purchase cards –- quickly, securely and accurately. Get in the fast lane with terminal solutions today. For more information, call 800-617-6285 or visit the Web site today.

Is your compensation strategy competitive?

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 21, 2008

Take part in the National Restaurant Association and People Report's new Compensation for Salaried Personnel in Restaurants survey and get a free copy of the report when it's published. The report will include comprehensive wages/benefits information on 35 salaried and executive positions that will help you develop a winning recruitment and retention strategy. Take the survey by Dec. 19.

NRA expands Fishbowl partnership

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 20, 2008

Fishbowl, the leader in online marketing solutions for restaurants, has expanded its product suite. Through a partnership with the NRA, members have access to these new solutions at exclusive members-only pricing. In addition to e-mail marketing, Fishbowl offers mobile marketing via text messaging, online ordering and online reservations. These new solutions will drive more guests and more sales to your restaurant. Visit Fishbowl today to learn more.

Card-check eases unionization, denies worker rights

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 20, 2008

Now is the time to increase communication with your congressional members to defend your right to a secret ballot. Defeating card-check legislation will be a top priority of the National Restaurant Association in the coming Congress. Letters, e-mail and phone calls to your elected officials are critical. Urge your members of Congress to oppose union card-check legislation. Visit the "take action" section of RestaurantActionNetwork.org now to help defeat card-check.

Save 60% on NRA Show 2009 registration

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2008

Register now for only $30 and save 60% with the new "early-bird special" pricing until Dec. 1. The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is scheduled May 16 to 19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. It is the Western Hemisphere's largest, most comprehensive gathering of foodservice, lodging and retail professionals and is expected to draw attendees from over 100 countries. Register today.

NRA announces online course

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2008

The ServSafe Manager Online Course, Fifth Edition, prepares managers for certification or recertification by providing consistent, self-paced training that maximizes learner retention. Key course enhancements include a redesigned interface to make navigation more intuitive, activities using real-life situations and an updated 60-question post-test written in the same style guide as the certification exam. The course is available in English and Spanish. Visit the ServSafe Web site today.

What's a sound compensation strategy?

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008

The National Restaurant Association is the industry's leading authority on industry-related research and we need your help with our newest project. Complete the 2008 Compensation for Salaried Personnel in Restaurants survey by Friday and receive a copy of this important research for free. The report will help you develop and manage a sound and competitive compensation strategy, which can help motivate and retain talent. Take the survey now.

Grow revenue with gift cards

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008

The National Restaurant Association's TakeCharge program helps you keep more prepaid dollars in your business through gift cards. Two of three gift card users spend more than the value of their cards and consumers buy more gift cards than ever before. Now you can build increased awareness for your business and encourage repeat visits. Be a part of this growing trend today through the TakeCharge program. Call today at 800-617-6285.

Housing Open for NRA Show 2009

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 14, 2008

Secure your hotel rooms online through NRA Show Travel Desk today. The NRA Show Travel Desk is the most convenient and affordable way to book hotel reservations. Check back often for inventory updates. The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is set for May 16 to 19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. NRA Show 2009 is the world's largest single gathering of foodservice and lodging professionals. Book today!

Track the industry is the current economy

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 14, 2008

Did you know wholesale food prices are on pace for their strongest increase in 29 years? Did you know restaurant operators' plans for capital spending fell to an all-time low last month? Did you know grocery store prices are growing more than 3 percentage points faster than menu prices? Subscribers to Restaurant TrendMapper do. Learn more on the Association's Web site.

Get ready to be floored

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 13, 2008

Floored!, the official Web blog of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, returns for its second season with breaking news alerts, highlights, important deadline reminders, in-depth industry expert interviews and culinary superstars and insights. It's your go-to resource for all things NRA Show 2009 and IWSB. Don't get left behind, get Floored! today.

National Restaurant Association expands Fishbowl partnership

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 12, 2008

Fishbowl, the leader in online marketing solutions for restaurants, has expanded its product suite. Through a partnership with the NRA, members now have access to these new solutions at exclusive member-only pricing. In addition to e-mail marketing, Fishbowl offers mobile marketing via text messaging, online ordering and online reservations. These new solutions will drive more guests and more sales to your restaurant. Visit Fishbowl today to learn more.

NRA Conserve to host free lighting webinar

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 12, 2008

Join NRA Conserve for its next free webinar, "Focus on Lighting – From CFLs to LEDs and Beyond," at 2 p.m. EST Thursday. EST. Get insider tips from industry experts Richard Young (Food Service Technology Center), Mark Shoemaker (Eco-Story), and Scott Shippey, (Chipotle). For more information or to register, visit the Conserve Web site.

NRAEF presents 2008 SPIRIT Awards

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 11, 2008

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, along with Nation's Restaurant News and sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, presented the 2008 SPIRIT Awards during the recent Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Conference in Washington. Carino's Italian, Morton's The Steakhouse, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Sodexo were recognized for outstanding workforce practices. To learn more about the SPIRIT Awards and the four winners, visit the MUFSO Web site.

Be part of new research

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 06, 2008

The National Restaurant Association is the industry's leading authority on industry-related research and we need your help with our newest project. Complete the 2008 Compensation for Salaried Personnel in Restaurants survey by Nov. 21 and receive a copy of this important research for free. The report will help you develop and manage a sound and competitive compensation strategy, which can help motivate and retain talent. Take the survey now.

Great rates on industry's best online recruiting tool

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 06, 2008

The National Restaurant Association's Career Center, powered by Hcareers, gives you access to the nation's largest searchable, online database of candidates and job openings specific to the restaurant and foodservice industries. And NRA members receive a 20% discount on all services. Access more than 750,000 job candidates each month at Hcareers, the leading hospitality job board in the country.

Is your gift card program legally compliant?

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 05, 2008

Many state governments claim unredeemed balances on gift cards as abandoned property. The National Restaurant Association has partnered with CardFact to offer an exclusive program for members to help navigate the complicated terrain of state gift card "escheatment" rules. Maximize profits from your gift card program. Visit CardFact to learn how.

Get out the vote with online tools

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2008

Tomorrow is the day! The National Restaurant Association encourages members to reach out to employees, fellow restaurateurs, friends and family members to encourage them to register to vote. Check out www.restaurantsvote.com for resources. Contact Meredith Nethercutt for more information.

September RPI at record low

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 31, 2008

The outlook for the restaurant industry worsened in September as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of restaurant activity fell to a record low. The Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 96.7 in September, down 1.7 percent from August and its 11th consecutive month below 100.

2009 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards applications now accepted

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 30, 2008

Showcase your cutting-edge foodservice equipment in the exclusive Kitchen Innovations (KI) Pavilion during the 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The Show is scheduled May 16 to 19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. All 2009 NRA Show exhibitors are eligible to apply. KI products are judged by an independent panel to be among the world's newest and most innovative. Submit your application today.

TakeCharge of credit card processing

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 29, 2008

Designed by restaurants for restaurants like yours, the National Restaurant Association's TakeCharge program can improve the operational efficiency of your credit and debit card processing at special low processing rates. What's more, TakeCharge is simple and fair. When you TakeCharge, you avoid hard-to-read statements and hidden fees. So why not begin to take back more of your bottom line? For more information, call 800-617-6285 or visit the Web site today.

Restaurateurs: Get out the vote

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 29, 2008

To support its members, the National Restaurant Association has created online resources for civic-minded restaurateurs. Its new Web site, www.restaurantsvote.com, aims to help restaurateurs participate in election activities and encourage employees and guests to register to vote – and turn out on Election Day. Use www.RestaurantsVote.com as your voter resource today. Contact Meredith Nethercutt with any questions.

Get out the vote with new online tools

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 28, 2008

In the months leading to Election Day, the National Restaurant Association encourages members to reach out to employees, fellow restaurateurs, friends and family members to encourage them to register to vote. Check out www.restaurantsvote.com for resources. Then call any candidate's campaign and volunteer to help get out the vote. For more information, contact Meredith Nethercutt.

Maximize your gift card profits

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 24, 2008

Many state governments claim unredeemed balances on gift cards as abandoned property. The National Restaurant Association has partnered with CardFact to offer an exclusive program for members to help you navigate the complicated terrain of state gift card "escheatment" rules. Make sure your gift card program is legally compliant. Visit CardFact to learn more.

Call for education sessions topics now open

National Restaurant Association SmartBrief | Oct 23, 2008

Submit your topics for the 2009 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event today. Education sessions are vital to the experience at IWSB. Proposal content should fall into one of the following categories related to the beverage alcohol industry: Beverage alcohol and the culinary experience; industry trends; beverage sales building strategies; building strong distributor relationships; and out-of-the-box marketing and promotions strategies for bar programs. Submit today!

Sign up for National Restaurant Association SmartBrief

Designed specifically for executives like you in the restaurant and food service industries, National Restaurant Association SmartBrief is a FREE daily e-mail newsletter. It provides the latest need-to-know news and industry information that maximizes your time, giving you an edge over your competition. Learn more