Supporting Rhode Island’s Hospitality Industry This Holiday Season - December 2025
By Farouk Rajab, President/CEO, RI Hospitality
The holiday season is a special time for the hospitality industry. Restaurants, hotels, and event venues come alive with energy, welcoming families, colleagues, and friends who gather to celebrate. For guests, it is a season of joy and connection. For those of us who work in hospitality, it is also a time of hard work, dedication, and pride in what we do.
Behind every festive meal, hotel stay, and celebration are the people who make it possible. The cooks who arrive early to prepare holiday menus, the servers who balance countless tables, the bartenders, housekeepers, and managers who keep things running smoothly. These individuals represent the heart of Rhode Island’s hospitality community - often sacrificing time with their own loved ones - and deserve recognition for all they do.
Our industry is built on small businesses that depend on a strong holiday season to carry them through the quieter months ahead. In many cases, December sales determine a business’s ability to invest in staff, equipment, and improvements going into the new year. Yet this important period arrives amid continued challenges. Rising costs, supply shortages, and staffing struggles make it harder for operators to maintain the level of service guests expect. That is why local support matters more than ever.
If you are making holiday plans, consider how your choices can help. Dine out at your favorite neighborhood restaurant or try a new one you have been meaning to visit. Make reservations early so local businesses can plan staffing and inventory. Purchase gift cards from Rhode Island restaurants, hotels, and bakeries for family, friends, or employees. Choose local caterers for your gatherings or pick up desserts from a hometown bakery instead of ordering online or shopping at a big box store. These small actions have a lasting impact, keeping dollars in our local economy and supporting jobs for our neighbors.
For business owners and managers, this is also a time to care for your teams. The holidays are demanding, and our employees often spend them serving others instead of being with their own families. A thank-you note, a staff meal, or a day off after the rush can mean more than we realize. Our people are the foundation of this industry, and their well-being directly shapes the guest experience we deliver.
At RI Hospitality, we are committed to supporting our members through advocacy, education, and training. Our Education Foundation connects students and jobseekers with rewarding careers in hospitality, helping to build a sustainable workforce. We continue to work with policymakers on issues such as tax relief, workforce development, and economic competitiveness so that Rhode Island’s hospitality businesses can thrive.
The hospitality sector contributes more than eight billion dollars each year to Rhode Island’s economy and employs tens of thousands of residents. Beyond the numbers, it embodies the generosity and community spirit that define this season. Hospitality brings people together, creates memories, and reminds us that service to others is at the heart of what we do.
As we move through the holidays, I encourage guests and operators alike to take pride in the strength and resilience of this industry. Every meal served, every room booked, and every gift card purchased helps keep Rhode Island’s hospitality community strong. Together, we can ensure that the people and businesses who make our state so welcoming continue to succeed.
From all of us at RI Hospitality, thank you for your hard work, your support, and your commitment to excellence. Wishing you and your teams a happy and successful holiday season.