Fall 2017

4  • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Fall 2017 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK IF YOU ARE A FREQUENT VIEWER of my Longstreet Beat, you probably have noticed recurring themes of positivity, doing good, and helping others. I can’t help it—I’m an optimist and love sharing stories of humanity at its finest. Unfortunately, not all people are good. We are made well aware of that fact every time we turn on the news. Headlines screaming data-breaches at national restaurant and hotel chains, workplace violence incidents around the country and world, food-borne illness outbreaks at popular eateries, human trafficking rings busted and more, pummel us almost daily. As employers, we are responsible for the physical and online safety and security of our employees and guests. And, as employers in the restaurant and hospitality sector, we must be vigilant in our efforts. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis of 2010 data, 15 percent of workplace homicides involving guns occur in the leisure and hospitality sector. It’s the third leading industry for fatal shootings, following the retail trade and government. Restaurants and bars also have become frequent terrorist targets, notably Pulse Nightclub in Orlando in 2016, Paris in 2015, and, most recently, Burkina Faso in August 2017. Restaurant and bar patrons were also directly affected by the attacks in London and Barcelona this summer. Trustev, a company that detects and combats online fraud, found that online fraud has almost doubled since 2015. It’s a serious issue as hotels and restaurants shift toward more IT-centric operations through third parties to enhance the customer experience. According to the 2017 Trustwave Global Security Report, the biggest global report on data breaches, 20 percent of all data breach incidents in North America are in the food and beverage industry. The same study found that 38 percent of data breaches world-wide occur in hotels. What are we to do? We should continue seeking out the good in people, but don’t foolishly believe that all people choose good. We cannot put our “heads in the sand” thinking that these things can’t or won’t happen to us and therefore not be prepared. We take the steps necessary to protect our employees, our customers, and our businesses from the people who choose to do bad. This edition of Restaurant & Lodging Matters focuses on security issues and the resources available to you to safeguard your employees and guests. John Longstreet President & CEO “As employers, we are responsible for the physical and online safety and security of our employees and guests.” John Longstreet