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Hospitality
industry
creates
powerful
new
voice
through
association
merger
Michigan
Restaurant
Association
and
Check In
Michigan
merge to
become
the
Michigan
Restaurant
&
Lodging
Association
LANSING
- The
Michigan
Restaurant
Association
and
Check In
Michigan
(formerly
the
Michigan
Lodging
&
Tourism
Association)
announced
today
that
each of
their
boards
have
approved
a letter
of
intent
to merge
their
two
statewide
associations.
The
proposed
merger
will
result
in a
unified
and
commanding
new
voice
for the
hospitality
industry
in
Michigan.
The
successor
organization
will be
known as
the
Michigan
Restaurant
&
Lodging
Association
(MRLA).
Once
member
approval
of a
plan of
merger
is
obtained,
will
officially
launch
April 1,
2019 at
the
current
headquarters
of the
Michigan
Restaurant
Association.
“This
proposed
merger
feels
like the
natural
evolution
of our
two
organizations,”
said
Justin
Winslow,
President
& CEO of
the MRA,
who will
serve in
the same
capacity
for the
new
MRLA.
“We
already
share
many
members,
legislative
priorities
and
industry
challenges.
Through
this
proposed
merger,
we have
the
opportunity
to
elevate
the
voice of
the
hospitality
industry
in
Lansing
and in
Washington
D.C.,
while
expanding
upon the
value
and
vision
we
already
provide
for our
members.
The
restaurant
and
lodging
industries
play an
integral
role in
Michigan’s
economy.
The
restaurant
industry
employs
nearly
450,000
people
and
creates
more
than $16
billion
in
annual
sales,
while
the
lodging
industry
employs
more
than
155,000
people
and
creates
nearly
$24
billion
in
sales.
“Our
organizations
represent
unique
industries
that
have
many of
the same
interests,”
said
Deanna
Richeson,
President
and CEO
of Check
In
Michigan.
“We look
forward
to
joining
forces
with the
Michigan
Restaurant
Association
on this
proposed
merger
to
enhance
the
goals
and
priorities
of the
hotel
and
lodging
industry.”
The
respective
boards
of the
501(c)(3)
educational
foundations
of each
association
also
approved
a letter
of
intent
to
merge,
to
create a
unified
education
foundation
for the
restaurant
and
lodging
industries.
Once
approved,
it will
serve as
a
philanthropic
foundation
of the
MRLA to
enhance
the
education,
community
engagement
and
promotion
of
career
opportunities
for the
industries.
The
Detroit
Restaurant
Association,
a local
chapter
of the
MRA
operating
in
Wayne,
Oakland
and
Macomb
Counties
with a
special
focus on
the city
of
Detroit,
will
rebrand
as the
Detroit
Restaurant
&
Lodging
Association
(DRLA).
While
the
merger
will not
be
finalized
until
2019,
the
Michigan
Restaurant
Association
will do
business
as the
Michigan
Restaurant
&
Lodging
Association
effective
immediately,
with
changes
to its
external
presence
already
underway.
The new
website
domain
is
mrla.org
and
social
media
handles
for the
MRLA are
@TheOfficialMRLA.
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