Formed in 1919, today the NRA represents sixty thousand member companies with more than three hundred thousand restaurant venues. Its role in the restaurant industry can hardly be overestimated: this is the NRA that helps its members develop and deliver better and better quality products to us, customers. The development and growth means more well paid jobs and, finally, a highly positive influence on the economy of the state and wealth of each citizen. The NRA is a member of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), a network of national associations, international chains, hotel operators, restaurateurs and supplier companies in more than one hundred and fifty countries, representing over seven hundred and fifty thousand establishments.
The NRA's functions, services and activities are multiple and valuable for each member of the Association. One of the Association's major contributions to the research and potential growth of the restaurant industry is its annual and thorough Restaurant Industry Forecast that is presented at press conferences and unveils the present and future development of the restaurant industry in each state of the USA. The annual Forecast provides an in-depth analysis of the industry's prospects for each coming year and discusses varied trends of the development throughout the restaurant industry.
The members of the NRA enjoy opportunities to participate in a variety of training programs, aimed at the professional development and growth. The major training programs include the ServSafe®, which is a top-rated and most widely used food safety program; the ServSafe Alchohol™ that deals with new standards of the effective alcohol service; theProMgmt. ® Program that is designed for students, pursuing a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and the Supervisory Skill Builders Program, aimed to improve skills of instructors and foodservice supervisors. Each member also has an access to Information Service and Library that is an expert and searchable database, all in one place.
All the latest industry products and services are annually showcased at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, which is the most comprehensive foodservice and hospitality event in North America.
The success is impossible without the competition, and the NRA's members are invited to participate in the Restaurant Neighbor Award and show their best practices. The Restaurant Neighbor Award is a program that honors the restaurants for the best community involvement. In 2006, four winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, where they will be awarded five thousand dollars for their community outreach efforts.
Along with representing, promoting and educating its members, the NRA offers useful discount programs. The TakeCharge Credit Card Processing Program is designed for restaurants to improve the operating efficiency of the credit- and debit-card processing. The NRA helps with the job search, as it has HCareers, the leading online êîíåöôîðìûíà÷àëîôîðìûrestaurant job board and allows its members to use HCareers services at fifty percent discount. It also offers property, casualty and health insurance for its members.