The Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce was set to resume in-person
meetings in January, when the pandemic took a turn for the worse and the
chamber held off once again. But with the coronavirus waning, in-person
meetings are now on the agenda, and fortunately for the chamber, January’s
scheduled speaker will be able to kick things off in April.

Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging
Association (ORLA), will offer a picture into the state of Oregon’s hospitality
industry with the latest available trends and data at the Tuesday, April 5
meeting, held at 10 a.m. at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, 68010 E. Fairway
Avenue in Welches.

“Oregon’s hospitality industry is vast with varying business models and
types,” he explained in an email to The Mountain Times. “The way the
pandemic felt varied greatly based on the business type of the operator and
where the operator’s business is located in the state.”

Brandt noted that staffing challenges remain a constant in the industry and
hopes that consumers can be patient as businesses attempt to resume full
service, while continuing to embrace dining and to go services.

“Pending any major wildfire challenges Oregon could have a significant rebirth
this summer after two plus years of pandemic anxiety,” Brandt continued.
“The best case scenario would be record sales and top level demand for
Oregon’s restaurant and lodging locations so our operators can continue
working to pay down the debt they took on to stay in business during the
pandemic. Paying down debt will be a major behind the scenes focus for many
of our establishments post pandemic.”

He noted that the trend towards mobile and flexible work plans created new
opportunities and changed the dynamics of the industry, with some regions
benefiting while others didn’t.

“A number of Oregon’s coastal, gorge, and valley markets saw record sales
months during periods of the pandemic,” Brandt wrote. “Others more reliant
on business and conference travel like Portland took a hard hit and continue
their recovery process. We have certainly seen a tale of two realities within
the hospitality industry over the course of the past two years.”

“I’m excited to see everyone again,” wrote Coni Scott, co-president for the
chamber, in an email.

“Many of us have not been working with one another these last two years and
now are excited to get back in the loop,” she added
For more information on the chamber, visit
https://www.mthoodchamber.com.