Unnecessary price hike would burden families and small businesses already facing rising costs Raleigh, NC (July 24, 2026) — By a margin of more than four-to-one, North Carolina voters oppose a proposed increase in the price of alcohol sold at restaurants, bars, and liquor stores, according to a …
NCRLA
NCRLA Opposes Supreme Court Occupancy Tax Decision
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 22, 2026) – The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association strongly opposes a recent North Carolina Supreme Court decision that threatens the long-standing framework ensuring local occupancy taxes are used to promote tourism and strengthen the state’s hospitality …
Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center and Asheville High School High School Advance to 2026 National ProStart Competition
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 9, 2026) – North Carolina’s next generation of hospitality professionals took center stage March 8–9 as five teams from four high schools competed in the North Carolina ProStart Invitational (NCPI), hosted by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Foundation …
NCRLA Launches Statewide Hospitality Summit Series with Inaugural Meeting in Greensboro
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 …
NCRLA Recognizes Hospitality Excellence at 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards
DURHAM, N.C. (February 24, 2026) – The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), the unifying voice of North Carolina’s restaurant, foodservice and lodging industry, proudly celebrated the very best of hospitality at its annual Stars of the Industry Awards, held last night at the …
Sheri Erhart Elected Chair of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Board
DURHAM, N.C. (February 23, 2026) – The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), today announced the election of Sheri Erhart, chief operating officer of CMC Hotels, as chair of its board of directors. Erhart was officially sworn in during NCRLA’s Annual Meeting in …
North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown Winners Announced
DURHAM, N.C. (August 5, 2025) – The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), the driving force behind North Carolina’s $35.8 billion restaurant, foodservice and lodging industries, announced the winners of the ninth annual NCRLA Chef Showdown, presented by Got to Be NC, on Monday, …
The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Names Allen Thomas as Incoming President & CEO
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) announced today that Allen Thomas has been unanimously selected by its Board of Directors as the association’s next President & CEO, following an extensive national search. Thomas will assume his new role on …
2025 Chef Showdown
Taste, sip, and vote at NC’s top culinary competition—Aug. 4! Experience the Ultimate Culinary Competition Join us on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Bay 7 in Durham for the Grand Finale of NCRLA’s Chef Showdown—North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition. Presented by Got To Be NC, …
