A campaign that was first rolled out in July of 2020 is being renewed across Michigan today as the state’s hospitality industry has finally been cleared for full capacity at bars and restaurants now that all gathering restrictions and face mask orders have been lifted.
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association is reprising its partnership with ServSafe to meet new consumer expectations going into the summer of 2021, and resurrecting the organization’s ad campaign that encourages those headed out on the town to “Look for the sign when you dine.”
The sign is the national ServSafe Dining Commitment statement from those businesses who have signed onto the safety commitment for 2021.
After more than a year of following pandemic precautions, consumers are ready to return to restaurants. To survive and thrive in the new economy, operators are finding ways to convey to employees and guests they continue to take health and safety seriously. Today, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA) and ServSafe are announcing an expanded partnership on the ServSafe Dining Commitment and the launch of a consumer ad campaign highlighting how diners can ‘go safe’ by ‘looking for the sign when they dine.’
Justin Winslow, President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, says, “We partnered with ServSafe and the National Restaurant Association on the ServSafe Dining Commitment to ensure that Michigan restaurants have a deliberate and credible way to show diners they are providing safe dining experiences,” and adds, “The foundation of the Dining Commitment is ServSafe training and certification, because when advanced food safety is part of a restaurant’s core values, consumers can have peace of mind and enjoy great experiences, so the foodservice community can thrive again.”
The ServSafe Dining Commitment was first launched in July of 2020 by the National Restaurant Association and ServSafe to showcase restaurants demonstrating their ongoing commitment to health and safety precautions. The program has evolved to incorporate changing operating requirements, requiring that operations:
- Have a ServSafe Certified Manager on staff at each location…
- Agree to follow National Restaurant Association COVID-19 Operating Guidance or Corporate Guidelines, local laws and guidelines…
- Make a commitment to train employees as ServSafe Food Handlers and encourage them to take ServSafe’s free COVID-19 training…
In addition to the ServSafe Dining Commitment decals on display at participating restaurants, diners in metro Detroit will soon start seeing commercials encouraging them to find local participating restaurants by going to http://servsafedining.org.
Sherman Brown, Executive Vice President, Training and Certification for the National Restaurant Association, says, “For 30 years, ServSafe has been at the forefront of preparing restaurant and foodservice workers to deliver safe dining experiences for their guests, while also keeping themselves safe,” and adds, “We encourage operators, and the entire restaurant and foodservice community to join us in welcoming diners back to their dining rooms with the peace of mind that their restaurant adheres to the ServSafe Dining Commitment.”
Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA) is the recognized leader of Michigan’s hospitality industry, providing essential services to the foodservice and lodging community. Founded in 1921 as the Michigan Restaurant Association and now known as the MRLA, the Association represents over 5,000 Michigan foodservice and lodging establishments. The industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 595,000 people and creating nearly $40 billion in annual sales.
