PRLA_Winter17

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6 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Winter 2017
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Steve Musciano
“...we successfully
integrated the
mission of providing
the unified voice for
travel and tourism in
the commonwealth
upon the dissolution
of the Pennsylvania
Association of Travel &
Tourism.”
I AM HONORED TO BE TAKING THE REINS of our great association in
2017. Under the leadership of immediate past chairman John Graf, PRLA
experienced an historic year in 2016, in terms of new member growth,
legislative successes, expanding educational programming, and financial
performance. Additionally, we successfully integrated the mission of
providing the unified voice for travel and tourism in the commonwealth
upon the dissolution of the Pennsylvania Association of Travel & Tourism.
There are many reasons for our success, but I’d like to concentrate
on just two. The industry leaders that make up our board of directors
and chapter boards across the state are second to none. The Board is
comprised of about 40 dedicated volunteers, and our state committees
and chapter boards add about another 150 to our leadership ranks. Each
treat their responsibility to PRLA like they do their own businesses.
Additionally, we have a terrific professional team. John Longstreet has
repeatedly expressed that of all the teams he has led over his many
years in industry, this is the best.
As we look to 2017, our focus is on building on the successes we have
achieved in three areas:
1) Member engagement.
As I mentioned, 2016 was a successful year in bringing on new
members but we must, with equal diligence, engage our current
members in the association so that they can receive the full benefit
of their membership. To assist in this challenge, we have added a
Member Engagement Coordinator—Gisela Kibler.
2) Helping young people join our industry.
One of the top complaints I hear from members is the challenges
of finding good employees. We need to do a better job in providing
scholarships to young people who want to pursue a higher hospitality
education and we need to grow our secondary level ProStart and
HTMP programs.
3) Enhancing our communications to our members.
Many of our members will only connect with PRLA through
communications initiatives, like Quick Bites or this magazine. We
need to build on our success by increasing our social media presence,
as well as our online and print publications. To that end we will be
expanding our communications effort in 2017.
As I said, I am honored to serve you in this coming year and readily
acknowledge that we only become better with feedback. Please feel
free to reach out to me directly at 412-780-6468 and or my email
with any thoughts you may have on how
we can make PRLA even better.
Warm regards,
Stephen Musciano
Chairman of the Board
Aramark