With the travel and tourism industry driving a significant portion of sales across the restaurant industry, the National Restaurant Association is continuing its work to promote policies to welcome more international visitors to the United States.
As a Leadership Committee member, the Association is joining in the re-launch of the “Discover America Partnership,” a coalition of business and hospitality industry leaders united in their efforts to help the U.S. become more competitive in the global travel marketplace. The stakeholders were on hand at the National Press Club today as the U.S. Travel Association released its new report, “Ready for Takeoff.” The report outlines recommended reforms to the U.S. visa system, which are designed to create more than one million new jobs and drive economic growth.
“Travel and tourism are significant drivers of sales growth for the restaurant industry,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “As a leader of the Discover America Partnership, we will work to achieve common-sense reforms that will allow us to welcome millions of new visitors to the United States and into our restaurants, the country’s second largest private sector employer and an engine of economic growth.”
The National Restaurant Association and its fellow Discover America Partnership members will work to advance a smart visa policy as outlined in the Ready for Takeoff report by:
• Educating policymakers and opinion leaders on the economic significance of tourism and business travel to the United States;
• Highlighting the barriers that prevent the United States from maximizing its potential in the global travel market; and
• Presenting high-impact solutions with low or no cost that will enable the United States to create hundreds of thousands of sustainable American jobs.
According to National Restaurant Association research, casual- and family-dining restaurants derive an average of 25 percent of annual sales from travelers and visitors. The trend is even more prevalent among operators of fine-dining establishments, with an average of 40 percent of revenues coming from travelers and visitors. In the quickservice segment, an average of 15 percent of annual sales come from travelers and visitors.
The restaurant industry employs nearly 13 million individuals – close to 10 percent of the U.S. workforce. Each additional million dollars in restaurant sales generates 34 jobs for the economy, and every restaurant job supports almost a full job position elsewhere in the economy. In addition, every dollar spent by consumers in restaurants generates an additional $2.05 spent in our nation’s economy.