“Raise a toast” in support of New Orleans’ hospitality workers
Like all cities that depend on tourism, New Orleans has been dealt a severe blow by the pandemic, losing an estimated $150 million in tax funds each week. Workers in the hospitality industry have been particularly hard hit, with about 25,000 of them losing their jobs.
The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, dedicated to supporting Louisiana’s hospitality industry workforce, makes crisis grants to hospitality workers in need. Their website crashed because of the flood of requests that came in when the city first shut down and Jen Kelley, the foundation’s director says they have seen a 340% increase in grant requests since the pandemic began.
Had we been able to hold the SIOP Conference in New Orleans, we would have created an estimated six million dollars in economic boost, helping the city, and the hospitality workers who create wonderful visitor experiences, recover from the economic ravages of COVID.
Since we cannot share a share a meal together in New Orleans, we are inviting, and encouraging, the SIOP community to support the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation.
Please elect a tax-deductible donation option to share your support for people who keep the good times rolling for Crescent City visitors. The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization .