Washington Hospitality Association
Washington state’s leading hospitality trade group.
Who We Are
Our Mission
We deliver wins for the hospitality industry.
Our Vision
Produce the preeminent hospitality climate in the world.
The Washington Hospitality Association is the state’s leading hospitality trade group, representing more than 6,000 members of the hotel, restaurant and hospitality industry.
The Washington Restaurant Association (established in 1929) and the Washington Lodging Association (established in 1920) joined forces in 2016 to create the Washington Hospitality Association, which supports and advocates for restaurateurs, hoteliers and related hospitality industry professionals across the state.
Our Core Values
Trust
We trust and are open with our team members, honoring each other as individuals working toward a greater good, every day, both professionally and personally.
We acknowledge our weaknesses, ask for help when needed and support each other without judgement.
We assume good intent and remain curious by asking clarifying questions.
We give each other autonomy to take ownership and follow through with commitments.
Healthy and Constructive Conflict
We believe in constructive conflict as a tool for strengthening our shared vision of greatness.
We use the listening model by, listening attentively, asking clarifying questions, and seek to understand before responding.
We challenge ideas, not people. Discussions remain centered on the topic.
We allow all voices to be heard and engage with different viewpoints that are accepted without judgement.
Desire for Greatness
We commit to constant, never-ending improvement and strive for excellence in all areas of our association. This includes embracing diversity in thoughts, opinions, cultures and backgrounds.
We continuously seek personal and professional development through mentorship, training, and self-improvement.
We see failures as opportunities, ask questions and actively seek new knowledge.
We hold ourselves to always show up prepared while maintaining a relentless drive to be better and adapt strategies as needed.
Passion to Serve Others
We have a passion to serve the hospitality industry, our team and our communities.
We regularly ask "How can I help?"
We consistently solicit feedback to improve outcomes.
We consistently give the extra effort for our team and our members.
Commitment
We reach SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) decisions that have clarity, complete team buy-in, timely follow up and follow through.
We execute decisions even when we disagree with them.
We confirm clarity before ending meetings.
We document decisions in SMART format and communicate it clearly.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our successes, challenges and reputation and honor our commitments to each other and to our members.
We speak up when a teammate doesn’t deliver on their commitments.
We proactively provide timely updates on work status, potential obstacles and necessary adjustments to keep projects on track.
We take responsibility when errors occur or targets are missed, acknowledge them openly and focus on solutions.
Attention to Results
We understand our goals define our success and work diligently to achieve them, with honesty and integrity.
We establish clear success measurements in our three-year plan and team members are consistently engaged in tracking through progress reports and KPIs.
We expect every team member to articulate and understand what success looks like for the organization, their team and themselves.
We confirm accuracy and quality, not simply finishing the task, before presenting to stakeholders.
We recognize and celebrate all sucessess - big and small - across the organization.
Member Savings
Restaurateurs and hoteliers work on tight profit margins. Any assistance helping their bottom line is welcome.
We offer several member savings programs, such as a workers’ compensation program, health insurance, group purchasing and other money-saving opportunities.
We developed a rigorous process to find reputable companies, leverage your numbers to negotiate pricing on your behalf.
Learn more on our Member Savings and WorkSafe pages.
State & Local Advocacy
The Washington Hospitality Association state and local government affairs teams are focused on achieving wins for the industry and driving solutions to many of the issues raised in the halls and hearing rooms of the Legislature in Olympia and in city council chambers across the state.
In addition to their work building relationships with elected officials, the state and local government affairs teams lead the association’s grassroots program and the political action committee.
The team also staffs the association’s Government Affairs Committee, where eligable members of the Washington Hospitality Association have an opportunity to make their voices heard when public policy is being developed.
Head over to our Advocacy page to learn more.
News, Information & Resources
The Washington Hospitality Association aims to be our members’ primary source of industry news, information and resources. As a member of the association, you recieve:
- Access to more than two dozen toolkits covering a range of topics such as employee recruitment and retenion, wages and salaries, tip pooling and services charges, isolated workers, sexual harassment prevention, and much more!
- Regional wage reports and industry snapshots that give you critical insight into the changing business climate in your community
- Regular webinars that share industry best practices, legal and regulatory compliance guidance, and cost savings opportunities.
- Annual labor poster updates.
- Access to the association’s Advisory Network made up of a team of industry experts who can provide you with up to 30 minutes of compimentary consultation services each year.
- Annual updates to our Handbook for Excellent Restaurant Operations and Handbook for Amazing Lodging Operations.
- Head over to our News & Resources page to learn more.
Illuminating Career Pathways
The Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation’s aims to illuminate pathways of success for people interested in and working in the hospitality industry through workforce development.
The Education Foundation plays an integral role in the future of our industry. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation we have developed and support ProStart®, a restaurant management and culinary training program in over 30 high schools throughout Washington.
And our IndusTree Resource Hub is a comprehensive platform offers invaluable insights into the industry’s vast potential. In hospitality, your career can truly soar—the only limit is your imagination.
Learn more on the Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation website.
Training Solutions
Our industry-leading education and training programs provide opportunities for your workforce to advance and succeed in the hospitality industry.
Our ServSafe training opportunities include:
- Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) offers in-person and blended classes around the state, as well as online and private group classes.
- The ServSafe Alcohol Washington Online Course provides the fundamentals of responsible alcohol service by combining interactive exercises, audio and video and role-play activities to help prepare participants for real-life scenarios.
- The Sexual Harassment Prevention courses were developed in compliance with EEOC guidelines, and take a frank and modern approach to addressing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. (Available to employees and managers.)
- The De-Escalation and Active Threat Response in the Restaurant Industry course provides managers and employees with an introduction to the skills needed to maintain situational awareness for safety, to de-escalate challenging situations before they become a problem, and to manage those situations that could lead to workplace violence.
- The ServSafe Allergens Online Course and Exam is a comprehensive solution that delivers consistent allergens training for people who prepare food.
- The First Aid, CPR, and AED Training course teaches students how to develop the skills and knowledge they need to save a life in an emergency situation.