As accessibility to vaccines goes up and warmer weather approaches, the state’s dining industry is looking ahead to the possibility of new challenges. Ark Valley Voice spoke with the CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA), Sonia Riggs, on what rural restaurants and tourist towns may experience during this large push for reopenings.
When asked how restaurant reopenings from the COVID-19 pandemic in tourist towns differ from metropolitan neighborhood spots, Riggs explained “Cautions differ across Colorado as counties are operating individually under different restriction levels, and so therefore different capacities.”
Riggs also raised the point that tourist towns take on a bigger role than hospitality.
“Restaurants in tourist towns also have the additional task of educating out of state guests on the requirements in Colorado, such as masks and social distancing. We have heard anecdotally from our members in tourist towns that they can face some backlash from guests from different parts of the county for the requirements in this state.”
Sonia Riggs, CEO of of the Colorado Restaurant Association. Courtesy image
“As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and the state opens up, one of the highest priorities is getting all restaurant workers vaccinated and opening all restaurants up to 100 percent capacity with no restrictions. Vaccines are the first step toward increasing capacity in restaurants and regaining a sense of normalcy.
She added “In addition, it is vital for residents in tourist towns and around neighborhood spots to support local businesses including restaurants. One thing we’ve begun looking at for both tourist towns and neighborhood spots is summer outdoor dining, and once again working with state and local governments to expand outdoor dining to help restaurants increase capacity.”
Patios were utilized during the summer of 2020 to expand seating while under public health orders, and restaurants may continue to follow this trend this year. Riggs explained, “Expanded summer patios were popular with diners, municipalities, and restaurants in 2020 – for many restaurants, it was the difference between surviving and closing.”
Riggs then went on to explain what rural restaurants should be more concerned about. “Our highest priority is getting restaurants back to 100 percent capacity without restrictions and vaccinating the industry. Thus far, more people outside the Denver metro area have not been able to access vaccines than inside metro area.”
In regard to mountain towns, Riggs said “The timing of capacity increases is even more crucial for tourist town restaurants where their business is largely seasonal. Many of our mountain communities have had limited availability on the ski resorts and lower access to vacation lodging which has had an impact on business to local restaurants. It is even more important that these communities see increased capacity so that they do not lose out on their busiest season.”
She added the perspective of the CRA regarding public health restrictions; “Further, restaurants will not even begin to recover until they are given a path to 100 percent occupancy without restrictions, and six feet of distancing keeps many restaurants well below 50 percent occupancy.”
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