GREENSBORO, N.C. (February 25, 2026) – The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) today hosted its inaugural Hospitality Summit in Greensboro, officially launching the Association’s new statewide Hospitality Summit Series. The series is designed to convene restaurant and lodging leaders across North Carolina for timely industry insights, substantive policy dialogue, and meaningful peer-to-peer engagement.
The Greensboro summit brought together hospitality operators from across the Triad to discuss the current operating environment, workforce dynamics, regulatory issues, and market trends impacting North Carolina’s restaurant and lodging sector. The event reflects NCRLA’s continued commitment to ensuring operators have access to relevant information, advocacy updates, and strategic resources to strengthen their businesses and communities.
Senate leader Phil Berger joined the meeting for a conversation with NCRLA President & CEO Allen Thomas and Triad-area hospitality leaders. The discussion focused on key policy priorities affecting the industry, including workforce development, regulatory modernization, and the economic impact of hospitality businesses across North Carolina.
With more than 22,000 restaurants, hotels, and hospitality businesses employing nearly 11 percent of the state’s workforce and generating over $35.8 billion in annual sales, North Carolina’s hospitality industry remains a critical driver of economic growth and community vitality.
