8 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Fall 2022 The pandemic brought challenges and concerns that many of us never considered having to tackle. Forced closures, unpredictable mandates, and constant uncertainty plagued the industry for nearly two years. Even after mask mandates went away at the state level, operators were navigating through mitigation happening at the local level in places like Philadelphia. PRLA fought tooth and nail to assure that your voices were heard, that your concerns were addressed, and that the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries had a seat at the table when decisions were being made about your business. Despite the pandemic being over and mitigation orders having been lifted, operators in the industries we serve continue to face new challenges and difficulties every day. The workforce shortage has kept business from truly returning to “normal,” the supply chain disruptions and rising costs on raw materials have left many operations in a position where it’s impossible to make a profit, and unpredictability in the economy continues to keep us all on our toes. We can’t fix the problems of the past, and unfortunately there’s much we can’t control when it comes to things like the economy, but what we can do is promise all of you that the industry will always have a voice and heavy hand when decisions are made in Washington, Harrisburg, and in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. With the new year comes new opportunity. Pennsylvania will welcome a new governor in 2023, along with nearly 40–50 new State Senators and State Representatives. As the largest freshmen class of legislators prepare for their first couple of months at the capitol, PRLA is hard at work, with your help, mapping out the priorities that matter most to you and your businesses. There will be new platforms, new ideas, and new faces in Harrisburg in 2023, and PRLA is as prepared as ever to fight for the causes that matter most to you. We’re excited about all there is to accomplish, and we’re looking forward to accomplishing so much together. Sincerely, PRLA’s GA Team Lauren Brinjac & Zak Pyzik GA TEAM LETTER Lauren Brinjac Zak Pyzik
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