ORHMA - News & Events

H1N1 Influenza A

Information
The provincial public health authority has confirmed the first
cases of H1N1 Influenza A in Ontario. All are said to be mild cases.

The ORHMA is continuing to work with industry partners and the provincial government on a daily basis to monitor developments
in the outbreak.

Food Safety
Federal officials have confirmed that H1N1 Influenza A is a contagious respiratory disease - NOT a food safety concern.
It remains safe to eat properly cooked pork products.

For more information, visit the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency’s website by clicking here.

Precautionary Measures
Public health officials continue to encourage the use of the
following precautionary measures:

• Ensure a high level of sanitation at all times;
• Wash hands frequently;
• Cover your mouth and nose when one coughs or sneezes;
• Keep shared surfaces clean; and,
• Stay home and avoid contact with others if you feel ill.

Please find an information bulletin outlining these measures
that you may post or distribute to your employees.

Flu Prevention Fact Sheet (pdf)

Staying Informed
Public health officials are encouraging the public to stay informed
by following the media and by utilizing the following resources:

A service Ontario info line at 1-800-476-9708 has been opened to directly answer questions that Ontarians have about the outbreak.

Please feel free to contact the ORHMA (905-361-0268/
1-800-668-8906) with any questions or if need help with
a media call.

Flu Quick Facts (pdf)

“King of the Maitre ‘D’s, My Life Among the Stars”
by Louis Jannetta – ORHMA Exclusive Book Offer

In King of the Maitre ‘D’s, Louis Jannetta brings to life his true stories and secret moments shared between power brokers, entertainment moguls, politicians and superstars spanning his almost 50 year career in the Imperial Room at the legendary Royal York Hotel. From humble beginnings in Italy, Jannetta pens of his climb to the top and how he fulfilled his dreams of living a different life through the stars of the big screen.

To order your copy of “King of the Maitre ‘D’s” by Louis Jannetta for $24.99, please contact ORHMA at (905) 361-0268 / (800) 668-8906 or info@orhma.com.

An Open Letter to Members of the ORHMA Rapidly Escalating Merchant Payment Card Fees

A number of recent and troubling developments related to credit card merchant fee rates have significantly raised the level of concern among hospitality operators, retailers and other merchants, and the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is working together with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and acting on your behalf – but we need your help.

Did you know?
- Over the past year, merchant fees rose faster and higher in Canada than anywhere else in the world?
- Your rates will increase again in October this year?

Hard to believe? Well, it’s true, and merchants have had enough. Merchants of all sizes and formats deserve to receive fair and transparent rates from credit card companies. We need every merchant across the country to get involved and stand together as we fight this important battle.

The Story of Credit Card Rates
In just twelve months, credit card companies increased rates to retailers four times:

• RATE INCREASE – October 2007: The interchange rate (that is, the percentage you pay to the credit card companies) for foreign-issued cards and domestic cards increased your costs.

• RATE INCREASE – April 2008: A new credit card rate structure increased your costs.

• RATE INCREASE – May 2008: Interchange rates on premium credit cards increased your costs. Some cardholders were reclassified as “commercial accounts,” causing interchange rates to increase again.

• RATE INCREASE – Coming soon – October 2008: In the coming weeks you’ll hear from your credit card providers about another processing fee increase and new administrative charges that
all merchants will have to pay. Be forewarned: the language that
explains these new rates is difficult to understand. We’ll do our best
to make sense of it for you in the weeks to come.

How you can join the fight against unfair credit card fees

The ORHMA is mobilizing its members, and like-minded businesses and associations from across the country to demand fair rates from credit
card companies. Here’s how you can help:

• Visit www.stopstickingittous.com and sign a petition about credit card fees. Your response to four short questions will help us build a
strong case against these unfair fees.

• Share this letter and the web petition with neighbouring businesses, particularly merchants who are not ORHMA members and will not receive this letter directly. This issue is larger than the hospitality sector and affects anyone who accepts payments by credit card.

• Watch for regular updates. We’ll keep you informed of our efforts and
let you know what other actions you can take as we push forward.

• Stick with us. We’ve heard from our members that credit card companies gouge retailers who aren’t on ORHMA’s discount plan. We will continue to provide a competitive discount package that will help our members to mitigate some of the rate increases.

This battle will not be won overnight. But we believe that straight talk, a balanced examination of the facts, and a strong collective response by
the retail industry will help us build a strong case for fairer rates.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Tony Elenis, ORHMA President & CEO,
1-800-668-8906 ext. 320,
telenis@orhma.com
or
Michelle Saunders, ORHMA Manager of Government Relations,
1-800-668-8906 ext. 307, msaunders@orhma.com

Scholarship Program

The Toronto Region of the ORHMA
helps local culinary students take a
bite out of the cost of tuition.

FIRE UP YOUR FUTURE with the second annual Toronto Region of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) College Entrance Scholarship.

Click HERE to download the 2009 Application

This year, the Toronto Regional of ORHMA will be funding two industry scholarships worth $3000.00 each that will help fund graduating high school students who choose to enter the fields of Culinary Management or Food and Beverage Management in Ontario community colleges.

2008 Scholarship Winner….This Could Be You!

Last year’s winner, Michael Kolesar (center) accepts a
$3,000 cheque from ORHMA Toronto Region President,
Jost Rittershaus ORHMA President Tony Elenis, and
ORHMA Toronto Region Secretary and Scholarship
Champion Robbie Stewart (left to right).

MISSISSAUGA, February 22, 2008 – The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with eCornell on a new venture that will provide Ivy League online learning and professional development to ORHMA members throughout Ontario.

Developed by Cornell University's world-renowned School of Hotel Administration, Johnson Graduate School of Management, and School of Industrial Relations, ORHMA's members will have the ability to take courses and earn Certificates from Cornell University in the fields of Hospitality Management, Foodservice Management, Financial Management, Change Leadership, Executive Leadership, Supervisory Skills and Human Resources Management.

ORHMA's President & CEO, Mr. Rob Evans stressed, "Given our ongoing commitment to enhance the industry’s competitive position through cost effective high quality training and education, ORHMA is very pleased to bring eCornell online as our premier learning partner. As the largest provincial hospitality Association in Canada, we are proud to partner with a leading group like eCornell and look forward to our members realizing the benefits of this partnership for continuous improvement to operating standards and bottom line growth."

eCornell courses provide Cornell University’s Ivy League content through the structured flexibility and convenience of eCornell’s virtual classrooms. The eCornell learning model & portfolio deliver a highly interactive e-learning solution with live Cornell instructors and dynamic collaboration for the ultimate learning experience.

Mr. Bob Delaney, President of Canadian HR Press (Canada’s eCornell Affiliate) added, "eCornell's proven content, global learning perspectives, turn-key implementation and ability to complement internal brand standard programs were all critical factors in ORHMA’s decision to enter into partnership with us."

ORHMA's Manager of Training & Professional Development, Fatima Finnegan commented, "We are delighted to offer our members the wide selection of professional education programs from such a recognized institution as Cornell University. The flexible schedules, affordable costs, and accessible "e-classrooms" make eCornell the perfect learning solution for our members."

About Canadian HR Press:
Canadian HR Press is Canada's eCornell affiliate and premier provider of educational products that help individuals and organizations increase their earnings through learning. Canadian HR Press has assisted thousands of business professionals to meet their career goals through our study products and training and professional development programs. To find out more about how eCornell can help meet your training needs visit us at www.EarningThroughLearning.com or contact us by phone at 866-607-0876 ext. 3, or contact Ian at ian@ecornell.ca.

About Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA):
The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is Canada’s largest provincial, not-for-profit, industry association representing the interests of its 4,100 members and 11,000 establishments that are part of Ontario’s foodservice and accommodation sectors. Hospitality industry sales in Ontario exceed $18 billion and directly employ 411,000 Ontarians. The ORHMA is dedicated to fostering a positive business environment for Ontario’s hospitality industry while providing value-added services to its members.

Effective January 31, 2008, oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted by U.S. Customs.

Requirements for U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border are as follow:

* U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate

* Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate

* Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel

All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change.

For further information, please visit: