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On the Radar: Latest Trends & Updates

Here, you'll find timely updates, industry insights, and exciting announcements about our association and the vibrant restaurant community we serve. Stay informed about upcoming events, important initiatives, and key developments that impact our industry. We’re thrilled to keep you connected and engaged with the latest happenings in the world of hospitality.

18TH ANNUAL LOUISIANA SEAFOOD COOK-OFF 

By tnorris95 | April 28, 2025 | Comments Off on 18TH ANNUAL LOUISIANA SEAFOOD COOK-OFF 

Latest News Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board officially announced the Northshore as the location for the 18th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO). This year’s competition moves to The Harbor Center in Slidell, our venue partner, on Friday, June 27, 2025. This will be the first time the competition…

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A person in a blue suit and red tie sits at a table with papers, gesturing with hands outstretched. An American flag and a flag with an eagle emblem are in the background.

Tariff Pause Offers a Brief Reprieve

By tnorris95 | April 14, 2025 | Comments Off on Tariff Pause Offers a Brief Reprieve

Latest News President Trump has announced a 90-day pause on broad-based tariffs, while simultaneously increasing tariffs on Chinese imports. For the restaurant and hospitality industry, this temporary delay does not mean we’re in the clear. If anything, it introduces more uncertainty into an already volatile economic environment. Uncertainty Is the Real Threat The biggest challenge…

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Crawfish of Connectivity: Strength in Numbers, Power in Advocacy

By tnorris95 | April 9, 2025 | Comments Off on Crawfish of Connectivity: Strength in Numbers, Power in Advocacy

Latest News Just like a crawfish boil brings people together, the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) create a network of support, advocacy, and resources that strengthen Louisiana’s restaurant industry at every level-local, state, and national. A recent survey of restaurateurs nationwide by the NRA revealed that LRA members are more…

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Flavorful Tribute: Louisiana’s Mom and Pop Restaurants Shine on National Business Day

By wwaren@lra.org | March 29, 2024 | Comments Off on Flavorful Tribute: Louisiana’s Mom and Pop Restaurants Shine on National Business Day

Latest News Don’t let the term “Mom and Pop” give you the impression that these business owners aren’t sophisticated. In the realm of restaurants, it signifies a world of dedication, versatility, and unyielding passion. A restaurant owner can seamlessly transition from chef to host, electrician to human resources manager, all in the span of a…

Serving Up Technology: New Data Shows How Tech Integration is Transforming the Restaurant Experience

By wwaren@lra.org | March 27, 2024 | Comments Off on Serving Up Technology: New Data Shows How Tech Integration is Transforming the Restaurant Experience

Latest News National Restaurant Association Technology Landscape report showcases industry innovation and where consumer desires are pushing trends Technology use in restaurants is accelerating, creating new touchpoints between restaurants and the consumers they serve, according to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Technology Landscape Report 2024. The report, released today, identifies the varying expectations consumers have…

Proposed Settlement Requires Visa and Mastercard to Reduce Swipe Fees, But Long-Term Solutions Needed

By wwaren@lra.org | March 26, 2024 | Comments Off on Proposed Settlement Requires Visa and Mastercard to Reduce Swipe Fees, But Long-Term Solutions Needed

Latest News On March 26, a proposed settlement agreement was announced requiring Visa and Mastercard to reduce swipe fees charged to restaurants and other merchants to process credit card transactions starting in April 2025. While this news is welcome, it merely provides temporary relief while allowing credit card companies to raise rates in the future.…

NRA Urges the Senate to Pass HR 7024

By wwaren@lra.org | March 22, 2024 | Comments Off on NRA Urges the Senate to Pass HR 7024

Latest News Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 What just happened: The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act has momentum coming into the Senate, following sweeping bipartisan votes in both the House tax committee (40 – 3) and on the floor (357 – 70). The Senate has an opportunity to…

Restaurant Reservation Ruckus: Inside the Controversial World of Appointment Trader

By wwaren@lra.org | March 12, 2024 | Comments Off on Restaurant Reservation Ruckus: Inside the Controversial World of Appointment Trader

Latest News In the realm of fine dining, a shadowy online marketplace has emerged, promising prime reservations at top-tier restaurants for exorbitant prices. Dubbed Appointment Trader, this platform has sparked outrage among restaurateurs and industry insiders alike, as it capitalizes on the scarcity of coveted dining experiences while leaving eateries in the lurch. Led by…

LRA Education Foundation Announces Winners of Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational

By wwaren@lra.org | March 11, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Announces Winners of Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational

Latest News The LRA Education Foundation presented the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational on March 6-7 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum in nearly 60 Louisiana high schools, with 2,000 juniors and seniors participating. Sixty-three percent of Louisiana’s ProStart program attended the Invitational. The Invitational…

State of the Union Address

By wwaren@lra.org | March 8, 2024 | Comments Off on State of the Union Address

Latest News The National Restaurant Association is assessing the implications of President Biden’s State of the Union address for the restaurant industry, paying close attention to key points that demand our attention. First, President Biden underscored his commitment to eliminating so-called “junk fees” throughout the U.S. economy. Why it matters: His administration is proposing a rule targeting “junk…

Fees, Taxes Top LRA’s Fed Agenda

By wwaren@lra.org | February 28, 2024 | Comments Off on Fees, Taxes Top LRA’s Fed Agenda

Latest News By Stan Harris CEO & president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association This piece was a guest column in the Beltway Beat by LaPolitics, part of the State Affairs network, February 28, 2024.  Louisianians love celebrations, and each of these occasions-be it a birthday, anniversary, or the opening of football season-involves our world-famous cuisine. The heritage…

LRA Education Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars

By wwaren@lra.org | February 26, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars

Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) Board of Directors, through its Scholarship Fund, will award $60,000 in scholarships to 17 students. The LRAEF Scholars will be honored on March 6 during the annual “Serving the Future-Celebrating Careers in Hospitality” presented by Ecolab event in New Orleans. The LRAEF Scholarship Fund was created…

LRA Education Foundation Presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024

By wwaren@lra.org | February 14, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024

Latest News Chef Patron E.J. Lagasse Keynote Speaker at ProStart Awards The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation proudly presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024, at the Morial Convention Center, Hall J. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum offered to juniors and seniors in nearly 60 high schools in Louisiana.…

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