Connecticut Restaurant Association Expands, Rebrands

The Connecticut Restaurant Association is expanding to include the hospitality industry and changing its name to reflect its larger focus.

It will now be known as the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, according to an announcement Tuesday.

The expansion unites restaurants, bars, caterers, and lodging partners under one organization.

Scott Dolch, president and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, said, "By bringing hotels and restaurants together, we are building a unified front with the scale to fight more effectively for our members at a time when they face unprecedented costs and challenges.”

This change aims to amplify the sector’s voice at the State Capitol and provide more extensive support to members. Connecticut has about 10,000 hospitality businesses and 170,000 hospitality employees, according to the association.

The association has increased its Board of Directors from 25 to 35 seats, integrating seven new lodging-specific members.

Amanda Arling, president of Whaler’s Inn, Shipwright’s Daughter & Mystic Fish Camp and a member of the association's Executive Committee, said, "As a lodging operator, I’ve seen firsthand how the success of our hotels depends on the vibrancy of our culinary scene."

She said joining forces allows better service to guests and employees by sharing resources, training, and a "collective seat at the table where decisions are made."

The association will be getting input from stakeholders as it enters a final planning phase for the full rebrand rollout.