Urgent: Tell the Federal Trade Commission service charges and delivery fees are not “junk fees”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule which would only allow restaurants to present guests with one price up front. Service charges, even for larger parties, delivery fees, surcharges or any other fee added to a guest bill will be illegal if this rule...
New cash ordinance for unincorporated Snohomish county
On Oct. 25 the Snohomish County Council voted unanimously to pass a new cash ordinance for unincorporated Snohomish County. On Jan.1, 2025 all businesses will be required to accept cash payments of up to $200 if operating in unincorporated Snohomish County. The...
The city of SeaTac announces minimum wage for 2024
Renton Raise the Wage Initiative
On July 3, campaign organizers submitted signatures to place the “Raise the Wage Renton” initiative on the November 2023 ballot. While groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America and various unions are promoting this effort and focusing on the initiative's...
King County Council vote on cash acceptance
In a narrow 5-4 vote, the King County Council voted on July 27 to require retail businesses, including restaurants in unincorporated King County to accept cash payments. Your government affairs team opposed this legislation and advocated throughout the process to...
Washington Hospitality Association Endorses Mark Mullet for Governor
Today, state Sen. Mark Mullet announced that he is entering the 2024 race for governor of the state of Washington and the Washington Hospitality Association Government Affairs Committee voted to offer him our endorsement in the race. It’s hard for our team to imagine...
Local government affairs working to build strong relationships in Snohomish County
Over the past month, your local government affairs team has had productive meetings with the new Director of the Snohomish County Health Department and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and his team. We are working to build strong relationships to better serve...
Anthony Anton op-ed: Hospitality industry urges lawmakers to act on public safety
Two signature-gathering efforts launched in Bellingham
Last week, Community First Whatcom, formerly People First Whatcom, launched signature-gathering efforts for two local ballot initiatives for the City of Bellingham. If passed, the first measure would increase the minimum wage in the City of Bellingham to $1 above the...
Congress tackles food waste, helps restaurants with food donations
The Food Donation Improvement Act specifically expands liability protections to include donations of an apparently fit grocery product or apparently wholesome food that is “donated directly to a needy individual by a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education for which the recipient is charged a good Samaritan reduced price that is no greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the food or product.”