New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association

New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association
Name	New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association
Type	Trade association
Founded	19XX
Headquarters	Concord, New Hampshire
Region served	New Hampshire
Membership	Hotels, inns, motels, restaurants, foodservice operators
Leader title	Executive Director

New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association is a state-level trade association representing hospitality and foodservice operators in New Hampshire. It serves as a collective voice for hotels, inns, motels, restaurants, and related suppliers, engaging in member services, advocacy, and workforce development across the state. The association interacts with state agencies, municipal bodies, and national groups while supporting local tourism, taxation issues, labor standards, and public health regulations.

History

Founded in the 20th century amid regional tourism growth tied to destinations such as Mount Washington, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the White Mountains National Forest, the association evolved alongside organizations like the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, and chambers of commerce in Concord (New Hampshire), Manchester, and Nashua. Early milestones involved coordination with trade bodies such as the New England Inns and Resorts Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and the National Restaurant Association to address issues including seasonal employment, lodging taxation, and food safety standards promulgated by agencies like the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over time the association worked with regional partners like the Granite State Restaurant Association and engaged with federal representatives from districts represented by members of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire on matters of taxation and labor law.

Organization and Governance

The association is governed by a board of directors comprising owners and executives from properties across Coös County, Grafton County, Hillsborough County, Rockingham County, and Strafford County. Its bylaws reflect practices common to nonprofit trade organizations similar to the New Hampshire Bankers Association and the New Hampshire Manufacturers Association. Leadership includes committees focused on finance, policy, education, and membership, and the executive office coordinates with statewide institutions such as the New Hampshire State House and regulatory bodies like the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. The association maintains affiliations with national networks including the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute and advocacy coalitions that interact with the United States Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Membership and Services

Membership spans boutique properties in Hanover and Portsmouth, large hotels in Manchester, resort operators on Lake Sunapee, independent restaurateurs in Keene and franchise groups from brands represented in Interstate 93 corridor communities. Services include group purchasing programs similar to those offered by the National Restaurant Association Solutions platform, insurance and risk management resources like those available through the New Hampshire Hospitality Education Foundation, marketing support tied to the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development promotional initiatives, and human resources assistance addressing issues governed by laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and state labor codes administered by the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security. The association offers member discounts through partnerships with payment processors, point-of-sale providers, and distribution partners active in the hospitality supply chain.

Advocacy and Public Policy

The association leads advocacy on legislation affecting lodging and foodservice, coordinating with lobbyists and policy coalitions that work with the New Hampshire Legislature, the Governor of New Hampshire, and federal delegations including senators from New Hampshire. Policy priorities have included lodging and meals tax rules, occupational licensing administered by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, workforce immigration issues as addressed in coordination with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and public health mandates referenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group engages with statewide business coalitions such as the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts and legal counsel versed in statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act to advise members on accessibility standards and liability matters. During crises—weather events impacting the Connecticut River valley or public health emergencies—the association liaises with emergency management offices and utility providers to coordinate continuity plans.

Education, Training, and Events

The association provides certification and training programs in partnership with national bodies including the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, offering courses on food safety aligned with the Food and Drug Administration guidance and alcohol server training consistent with New Hampshire Liquor Commission regulations. It organizes annual conferences and trade shows that attract exhibitors from supplier firms in Boston and the broader New England region, convening panels on revenue management, reservation platforms used by companies like Expedia Group and Booking Holdings, and sessions on sustainability referencing initiatives by groups such as the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. Workshops target workforce development in cooperation with local institutions like Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and community colleges in the New Hampshire Community College System.

Industry Impact and Economic Contributions

The association documents the hospitality sector’s contributions to state GDP, tax revenues, and employment across tourism corridors serving attractions like Presidential Range, Franconia Notch State Park, and coastal destinations including Hampton Beach. Members contribute to lodging and meals tax receipts that fund municipal services and tourism promotion through partnerships with regional destination marketing organizations and the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development. The sector’s labor force intersects with workforce programs supported by the New Hampshire Employment Security and vocational initiatives influenced by federal programs from the United States Department of Labor. The association’s research and advocacy inform policy debates on infrastructure investments, transportation corridors such as Interstate 95, and regional development projects coordinated with metropolitan planning organizations and economic development authorities including the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Category:Trade associations based in New Hampshire