With new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing staggering job loss to the hospitality and leisure industry, the American Hotel & Lodging Association has released a “Roadmap to Recovery,” calling on Congress to prioritize relief for hotel workers and small businesses in the next stimulus package.
The organization said the April Jobs Report showed the hospitality and leisure industry was the hardest hit, losing 7.7 million jobs—nearly as many jobs as the next four sectors combined.
AHLA is urging Congress to provide immediate assistance in these four areas:
• Help hotels retain and rehire employees by extending the Paycheck Protection Program, offering employees direct tuition assistance or tax credits, and expanding the Employee Retention Credit.
• Protect employees and guests through tax credits for cleaning equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Keep hotel doors open by providing relief for hotel commercial mortgages and increasing the size and flexibility of PPP loans.
• Incentivize Americans to travel again when it’s safe with a new, temporary travel tax credit and restoring the entertainment business expense deduction.
Hudson Headwaters And PrimeLink Join To Provide Free WiFi At Two Health Centers
Hudson Headwaters Health Network and PrimeLink Inc. have joined forces to offer free Wi-Fi at two area Hudson Headwaters health centers, enabling patients without access to reliable internet service to be able to access telehealth visits with their health care provider.
The free connections are available for patients to use from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at the health centers located at the Kingsbury Health Center in Fort Edward and at the center on Broad Street in Glens Falls.
Services are also offered at Hudson Headwaters facilities in Champlain, Plattsburgh, Ticonderoga.
In response to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, Hudson Headwaters Health Network expanded its telehealth capabilities to enable provider-patient visits online. The service allows patients to receive care without needing to physically enter their health centers, limiting potential exposure to the coronavirus.
Officials said patients can meet with their providers through an internet connection on their computer or other electronic device in the same way they would take part in a video conference. Providers can see and speak directly with patients and family members providing an opportunity to address patients’ health concerns and make determinations about ongoing care.
New OrbitalFire Security Service Is Launched To Help Small Businesses
Courtesy Reg Harnish
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
OrbitalFire, a managed security service provider headquartered in Queensbury, launched a new service platform in early June. It is designed to help small businesses.
“OrbitalFire provides cybersecurity solutions specially designed for small and medium-sized businesses, including regulatory compliance, risk management, assessment, training, security monitoring and other services that have traditionally been available only to enterprises,” according to CEO Reg Harnish.
“Cybersecurity is confusing for most businesses—they don’t know where to start. Our goal at OrbitalFire is to redefine cybersecurity for small businesses. Your small to medium business doesn’t look like Target, or Walmart, or Boeing. So you shouldn’t think about cybersecurity in the same way they do,” he said.
Business Report: What You Must Do Now
By Michael Cruz
As we re-open our local economy, we can’t quickly go back to normal. It is important to re-examine all aspects of your business. What you were doing before COVID is not necessarily what you should do next. Examine your business plan. I often say that a plan is like a road map.
The only time you don’t need a map is when you are going where you have already been. Or, when you don’t care where you are going.
Things are not going to be the same for quite a while. You need to figure out how to rekindle sales. You need to make sure your product pipeline is solid.
Your customers are having the same challenges you are. Everyone will be a little more cautious as to where they spend their money. Each of us needs to reassess our priorities. We need to figure out which expenditures are required. And, which purchases we can delay until we are sure of the recovery.
Lobbies Slowly Re-Opening For Customers As Banks Come To Terms With Safety Rules
By Jennifer Farnsworth
As the Capital Region and North Country navigate their way through phases one and two of New York state’s reopening, phases, questions remain as to what is considered open for business and what’s not. Banks are no exception.
With decisions being made on a company-by-company basis, and sometimes even a branch-by-branch basis, local banks are working to roll out a plans that both meet customer needs while and state safety guidelines.
At NBT Bank, officials are evaluating conditions specific to each region and market. Customers are encouraged visit the company’s website to learn about branch hours and service options, before visiting any location. Crystal DeStefano, president and director of public relations for Strategic Communications LLC, which works for NBT, said they will be implementing a number of new protocols to ensure safety for customers and employees.
BNI Networking Group Replaces Face-To-Face Meetings With Weekly Online Sessions
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Business Network International, known as BNI, has revamped its networking approach in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The group, which has chapters in Saratoga and Warren counties, refers to the transition as a “brand refresh.”
The international organization has more than 9,500 chapters worldwide. Eleven of these are in the Albany and surrounding region.
Michael Cruz, chapter director consultant for the Greater Glens Falls BNI chapter, said “there was a project already underway within BNI. We were figuring out how to turn live, face-to-face training, into online training. BNI had purchased 10 seats of Zoom to begin this training. Ironically, at the time, they thought they overbought. Then the shutdown happened, and BNI decided to re-purpose the training platforms into meeting platforms. By the third week of March, we’d launched BNI Online,” said Cruz.
“Almost immediately, we were able to do meetings online,” he said. “We produced a slide deck that mimicked the in-person meeting presentation as close as we could. For the most part, we kept the tenor of the meetings the same. Passing referrals, the one to ones that members do with each to build trust—all of this went to the Zoom platform. We tried to do everything we could to keep it flowing. And we were able to do it for all of our chapters.”
Annual Americade Motorcycle Event In Lake George Is Postponed Until July 21-25
Courtesy Lake George Chamber of Commerce
Americade, a popular tourist attraction in the Lake George region for nearly 40 years, has been postponed during the COVID-19 crisis, but will be held in 2020.
The event is traditionally held the first full week of June, but will be pushed back until the week of July 21-25, said Americade organizer Christian Dutcher.
“The health of our community and our guests is paramount, but it is our sincere hope that by late July, it will be possible to bring Americade back to Lake George as long as there are no federal, state or local regulations that would preclude it,” Dutcher said. “We will be very sensitive to public health concerns. We will conduct Americade 2020 in a manner that is respectful of the terrible ordeal this pandemic has caused.’’
The 2020 “touchless’’ Americade will emphasize current public safety protocols including social distancing and hand washing and scenic tours rather than large group gatherings. Organizers will comply scrupulously with health and safety guidance and work closely with Warren County Public Health Services.
Hotel, Tourism Officials Are Hit With Challenges As Summer Event Season Arrives
R.J. DeLuke
By Christine Graf
Although it is too soon to know what impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the local summer tourism season, the local business community is trying to remain optimistic.
In Lake George, it will be difficult for hotels to weather any lengthy closure. Dunham’s Bay Resort on the east shore just outside the village, is typically open year-round but has closed its 40-room hotel. It’s restaurant remains open for take out only.
According to general manager Matt Taormino, the hotel furloughed about 10 percent of it staff. He credits the hotel’s New York City owner for making this possible.
“They made a commitment to us when this first started to make sure everybody would have a job that needed a job,” he said. “We’re fortunate that our owners take care of us. They really care about us and take care of the property.”
Warren County Tourism Businesses Form A Commission To Plan Economic Recovery
The Warren County Lodging Association, local Chambers of Commerce and the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, in conjunction with Warren County Tourism Department and government officials, have established a commission to develop specific guidelines and best practices for safely reopening businesses in the county.
Officials said the goal of the commission is to ensure the opening of businesses in the Lake George area safely, responsibly and with the health and well-being of the entire community, guests, and team members at the forefront.
Credible hotel and business experts committed to the safe operations of the region have invested significant efforts to develop an outline of communication and operational actions designed to understand guest needs and concerns and to position the tourism businesses in the Lake George region to safely welcome guests back as soon as possible, officials said.
As Cuomo Begins To Re-Open NY, Warren, Washington Counties Said To Be ‘Close’
Parts of New York’s economy in some areas of the can begin reopening in phases, but not the Capital Region, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on May 11.
At press time, some of the phasing-in could have started as of Friday, May 15.
Members of the group in the Capital Region leading the reopening effort include Robert Henke, Washington County board of supervisors vice chairman, and Ryan Moore, Warren County administrator.
Other members are Ruth Mahoney, Regional Economic Development Council co-chair and Albany market president for KeyBank; Mike Blue, Capital District Area Labor Federation president; Dan McCoy, Albany County executive; Steve McLaughlin, Rensselaer County executive; Rory Fluman, Schenectady County manager; Spencer Hellwig, Saratoga County administrator; Shaun Groden, Greene County administrator; Matt Murell, Columbia County board of supervisors chair, and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.