Five Takeaways: Small and Sustainable — The Shift of Hospitality in Denver
by Gertie Harris
Opinions expressed in this articles do not necessarily represent the point of view of Best Served. In furtherance of bringing more voices to the table, we are committed to sharing varied thinking throughout the industry.
On November 5th, we had our third Fireside Chat of the Future of Denver Series, powered by DU, and supported by Do303 and Attimo Wine. This Fireside Chat focused on our hospitality industry leaders and was filled with honesty, emotion, and a true sense of community. Our panelists were raw, real, and transparent about what they’ve experienced over the last several months and what the future looks like for them. All of our panelists made it clear that this winter will be make or break for many in the industry, which is why it’s more important than ever to support our small businesses and local restaurants. We had a talented lineup of diverse Chefs, winery owners, and educators who discussed the impeding winter season, how community members can get involved, and why it’s crucial to pass The Restaurants Act - a $120B Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund that’s sitting in the hands of our Senators. Amongst our panelists were Jon Schlegel, Tajahi Cooke, Frank Bonanno, Jacqueline Bonanno, Dr. David Corsun, Jensen Cummings, and Nicole Mattson. Watch the livestream and explore all the takeaways below!
If you're ordering in, pick up the food directly from the restaurant! Third-party delivery fees and drivers will take away money from the restaurant.
The next four months will be brutal for restaurants. It's going to take a lot of community support to see our restaurants make it through the winter.
Encourage your senators to follow the House's lead and pass The RESTAURANTS Act, establishing a $120B Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Fill in your information at SaveRestaurants.com/take-action to automatically send your senators an email.
If you're looking for a way to make a difference, become more intentional with your purchasing practices and support local farmers. This helps offset the extra produce they have and keeps the money flowing within the community.
Pick and choose with your dollars where you're going to spend your money on hospitality. Support restaurants who are supporting the rest of the community and have the same values as you!
Interested in hearing more from this panel? Watch the full “Small and Sustainable — The Shift of Hospitality in Denver” Fireside Chat below!
Gertie Harris is the Founder and CEO of Fireside at Five — a community-driven programming and activation collective that works with local organizations and businesses to educate, inspire, and mobilize through experiential in-person and virtual programming. Prior to Fireside at Five, Gertie worked as an Area Marketing Specialist for Sage Hospitality, handling the marketing and promotion for The Oxford Hotel, The Crawford Hotel, The Maven, and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon. Gertie's motivation for community building and placemaking came from her college internships at Larimer Square and City Street Investors where she got firsthand experience planning events, executing marketing campaigns, and managing tenants and partner relations.
Link to livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHgPuZFDsuw&t=3521s
