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Governor Northam approved permanent version of COVID-19 workplace safety rules. Employers should familiarize themselves with the new standard which is attached to this memorandum. On Wednesday, January 27th, Governor Northam announced that he has approved a permanent version of its COVID-19 workplace safety rules, which mandates employers implement pandemic precautions such as social distancing and masks. The permanent standards will remain in place at least until the end of the pandemic, at which point the Commonwealth’s Safety and Health Codes Board can reconvene to...
Throwing Bean for Beads. Mardi Gras Benefit Feeding the DMV Restaurant Community in Need on February 16th, 2021. It has been a very tough time for all of us in the restaurant industry and what helps keep us going is that we are in this together and thinking of ways to help each other. We are sharing an event we are in support of and would like to see if you wish to participate. Event co-chairs for the annual Mardi Gras Extravaganza event in DC, chefs David Guas (native New Orleanian) and Spike Mendelsohn, along with Micheline Mendelsohn, Gina Chersevani, and Bruce Pike are putting...
Groundbreaking collaboration provides detailed copyright information for more than 20 million songs, including reconciled ownership shares, offering greater transparency for the industry NEW YORK – (December 21, 2020) – ASCAP and BMI, the nation’s two leading performing rights organizations, today announced the launch of SONGVIEW, a comprehensive data platform that provides music users with an authoritative view of copyright ownership and administration shares in the vast majority of music licensed in the United States. SONGVIEW technology allows ASCAP and...
Good news on the Federal Relief front! A silver lining in this challenging week is that Congress has reached a bipartisan deal that will likely pass the House and Senate today. This is a bright spot as we head into the Holidays and are faced with many operational hindrances. The final text is finally out. Below is a quick analysis of what's included thanks to Matt Hetrick at the Harmony Group.    PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) Who Qualifies: If your business has experienced a quarter this year with a sales drop of 25%+ vs last year, you will likely...
To ensure we are reaching diners and restaurant supporters every week, we have created a Winter Marketing Timeline. This calendar of marketing promotions is active now encouraging diners to explore all our local restaurants have to offer for the holiday season, whether they are dining out, dining out at home, or looking for holiday meals and treats to order for family and friends. It continues through January, into February with Valentine’s Day, and through the month of March.    As we talk to media outlets, share on social media, and promote all that you are doing, we can...
PARTICIPATION DETAILS DEADLINE: Friday, February 19, 2021 SIGN UP HERE!   CHERRY PICKS PROGRAM:  The National Cherry Blossom Festival, in conjunction with RAMW, is proud to showcase the District’s vibrant and diverse restaurant scene to attendees of the Festival to be held March 20 - April 11, 2021. Restaurants are encouraged to enroll in the program to highlight an item for their menu. Please note: the use of cherries as an ingredient is not necessary to participate in this promotion.   Cherry Pick: You may highlight a new springtime menu item or a...
  Everyone needs something to look forward to as we head into 2021 and dining out is a delicious way to welcome in a new year and support local restaurants!    ENTER TO WIN A LOCAL LUXURY GETAWAY!  It's a great time to explore the many dining options we have in our region and enter to win a getaway to the luxurious Salamander Resort and Spa to stay, dine, and enjoy the spa, courtesy of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).   To Enter:  Dine out, takeout, or get delivery from any three (3) of the...
Get your free COVID-19 precautions videos including ServSafe Delivery, ServSafe Takeout, ServSafe Reopening Guidance and ServSafe Conflict De-escalation.
Through the ServSafe Dining Commitment, operators pledge to follow four best practices that are effective means for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Nearly 10,000 restaurants have made the commitment in which they pledge to: Adhere to the updated COVID-19 Safe Operating Guidance and/or corporate brand guidelines, which are based on CDC, FDA, EPA and OSHA guidelines. Adhere to the laws and guidelines set by their state and local municipalities. Commit to a minimum of one person per location with a current ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification....
This Guide is a compilation of Thanksgiving menus and offerings that DC-area restaurants proactively shared with RAMW. All offerings listed in our guide are available to-go in some in some capacity, whether that be preordered catering, takeout, delivery, or scheduled pickup.   This list does not capture all restaurant offerings in DC, but it features 50+ restaurants who shared their offerings directly with us for our platforms. In addition to browsing through the options below, we encourage consumers to check in with their local restaurants to see what they are offering....
Cocktail Enthusiasts, Local and International Experts, Acclaimed Chefs, and Entertainers Host Virtual Happy Hours and Cocktail How-Tos Washington, DC (November 10, 2020)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) kicks off its celebration of cocktail culture and restaurants as DC Cocktail Week returns – with a twist – November 16-22, 2020, at more than 75 restaurants across the Metropolitan Washington region. Diners can enjoy thoughtfully and deliciously paired cocktails and small plates from restaurants next week as chefs and mixologists collaborate to present...
The Washington Post is excited to offer a partnership in a “Restaurant Gift Card Giveaway”   To participate, all you need to provide is your restaurant name, hi res logo, restaurant point of contact (name, email, direct phone number) to Alexandra.Weber@washpost.com.  Deadline to participate is Monday, November 2, 2020. Details: The Washington Post will be giving away (5) $100 restaurant gift cards in an exclusive subscriber enter for a chance to win promotion Launch date November 9 and to run for 5 consecutive weeks Your Commitment to participate is...
Irrepressibly Strong Industry and Winners in Regional Award Categories Celebrated Amidst Ongoing Challenges Washington, DC (September 20, 2020)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced winners of The RAMMY Awards tonight during a virtual program viewed live by a first-ever public audience. Broadcasted live from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the two-hour streaming experience celebrated the region’s resilient hospitality community and honored winners in 20 award categories with other special distinctions. For over thirty years, The RAMMY Awards...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact: Avery Lewis | LRA PR avery@lindarothpr.com 202-369-4954   Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Announces 2020 RAMMY Award Winners Irrepressibly Strong Industry and Winners in Regional Award Categories Celebrated Amidst Ongoing Challenges   Washington, DC (September 20, 2020)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced winners of The RAMMY Awards tonight during a virtual program viewed live by a first-ever public audience. Broadcasted live from the...
Get to know the 2020 RAMMY Manager and Employee of the Year Finalists!   Member on the Menu: Jamal Flowers, ROCKLANDS Barbeque and Grilling Co. – Alexandria Jamal Flowers is the Service Manager at ROCKLANDS – Alexandria. A DMV native, he’s lived in the area most of his life and has been with the restaurant for about ten years. What's the most rewarding part about being the manager of a restaurant? I absolutely love working with our customers. Interacting with them, treating them well and becoming friends and sometimes family is the more rewarding part. I also...
Update from RY CPA Follow up to the President’s executive order (EO) to defer the employee portion of social security tax that began on September 1, 2020. The IRS issued guidance on August 28, 2020 that confirmed our reservation about enrolling our clients in this program. Here is what you should know: You have the option to not withhold and deposit your employee’s share of social security tax from their paychecks between September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. You are responsible for remitting these taxes to the IRS between January 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021 by...
Ecolab, our official training partner, is offering a series of Food Safety Month webinars to inform you of continuing best practices for your restaurants:   Health Inspections: What You Need to Know Now and Then  Health inspections are a key component for verifying your food safety program. Join us to learn more about what to expect at your next onsite or virtual health inspection, how to best prepare for it and how it will strengthen your overall food safety culture. This webinar is part of the Food Safety and Public Health Matters Webinar series and the Restaurants Rise...
The 2020 K-FOOD Cook-Off with K-Seafood will be held at the Hyatt Regency at Tysons Corner Center on Sunday, September 27th, 2020, 3-6pm. This event is sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Food Promotion Institute, the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fishery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Event partners include the Hyatt Regency at Tysons Corner Center. The purpose of this contest is to highlight the increasing global popularity of Korean food and show how K-Food enthusiasts are using their...
In recognition of the increasingly popularity of Korean food on the American culinary landscape, the 2020 K-Food Week Video Contest will feature K-Food stories shared online by K-Food enthusiasts. The contestants’ videos will describe their K-Food experience, i.e.: What’s your favorite K-Food? Why? When did you first experience K-Food or visit a K-Food market or eatery? What do you love about K-Food? We want to see how YOU view K-Food and how K-Food has impacted your life. Video submission opens September 1-26 on the KFoodinUS.com website and by posting on social media with the...
The IRS has issued Notice 2020-65 to provide guidance on President Trump’s memorandum deferring the employee’s portion of Social Security taxes normally withheld from gross wages.   The summary of the guidance is as follows: The term “Affected Taxpayers” means the employer who is otherwise required to withhold the Social Security tax. This definition is very important later on in the IRS’s guidance. The term “Applicable Wages” means wages subject to the Social Security tax, where the wages are $4,000 or less...
I am excited to inform you that we are now introducing a NO CONTACT ordering and payment service using QR codes for restaurant businesses. The service covers Take Out & Dine In orders, enabling diners to see visual menus, open tabs, and pay, using their phones with no need for any app downloads or user logins.  This service helps restaurants deter COVID to keep diners and staff safe and save on their expenses during these tough times. This service is free-of-charge for restaurants as we only charge users a fixed tiny fee ($0.50) per...
Program to celebrate resilient industry with Best of RAMMYS dining experience September 11-18 Washington, DC (August 26, 2020)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) will announce the winners of The RAMMY Awards during a virtual, live program on the evening of Sunday, September 20, from 6pm to 8pm. Broadcast live from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the two-hour streaming experience will connect the region’s hospitality community with the public in innovative ways like never before. For over thirty years, The RAMMY Awards have honored the...
It’s a new week and we just kicked off the second week of our Summer Restaurant Week promotion, which is garnering immense enthusiasm among diners and with media across the region. The outpouring of support from both audiences is so encouraging as so many people want to support restaurants in any and all ways they can. We are also sharing further details this week with the RAMMYS finalists and with the media about the live-streaming RAMMYS Virtual Awards Program on 9/20, which is another dynamic way we are encouraging industry, and those who love our industry, to celebrate and support...
We know how hard you are all working to welcome and service guests and maintain safety protocols for diners and staff.  We continue to hear that mask compliance is an ongoing issue for many operators. We are here to support as you encourage your team members to always put safety first over the wants of an individual customer who may not want to follow the rules.  We also know that you want to avoid any operational consequences of having mask violators in your establishment, as a few local jurisdictions in our region impose hefty fines, license suspensions, and even shut downs for...
We kicked off this week with cooler temperatures and more to look forward to as we head into the first of two weeks of our Summer Restaurant Week promotion across the region and as diners continue to dine out, take out, dine outdoors and support local businesses. Today, Mayor Bowser dined out to help promote Restaurant Week to media outlets and she is actively pushing out a new Mask Up DC video spot airing on Channel 16 and on social platforms featuring some of our local chef members encouraging diners to mask up for the safety of all.  In DC, we have mentioned that we are working with...

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