What has been known as the Connecticut Restaurant Association officially announced Tuesday that has expanded and is now representing the combined restaurant and hospitality industry.

By Ronni Newton

Rebranding as the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association (CRHA) gives a stronger and unified voice to restaurants as well as bars, caterers, and lodging partners, as well as recognition that they are inter-related players in an industry of 10,000 businesses that annually contributes more than $1.5 billion in state taxes and produces nearly $21 billion of economic impact on the state of Connecticut.

Speaking at a news conference attended by more than 100 people at the Goodwin Hotel in Hartford on Tuesday morning, Scott Dolch, president and CEO of the CRHA, said combining under one banner is a strategic move that has been in the works for at least three years. He said when he took over the Connecticut Restaurant Association in 2018, it had fewer than 400 members out of the 9,000 restaurants in the state. It has now grown to 2,100 members now – growth earned through “some of the most difficult years our industry has ever faced, through the pandemic, through shutdowns, and uncertainty,” continuing to provide value despite ongoing steep hurdles.

Gov. Ned Lamont speaks at a press conference announcing the rebranding on Feb. 17, 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“When times are tough, our industry doesn’t retreat. We unite, we innovate, we advocate, and we grow stronger together,” said Dolch. Joining together with the hospitality industry is not a departure of the mission. “It is a natural evolution of who we have already become,” he said.

“Restaurants and lodging are not separate silos. We are a single, integrated economic ecosystem. Travelers fill hotel rooms and dine in our restaurants. Conferences book ballrooms and caterers. Tourism fuels local main streets,” said Dolch. “Success in one sector directly impacts the other.”

With the rebranding, Connecticut is now the 31st state to adopt the combined model. The state’s restaurants and chefs have already gained meaningful national attention, Dolch said. “Our goal now is to bring that same energy and spotlight to our hotel properties … positioning them as destinations in their own right.”

The move also strengthens the power base at the state capitol from a lobbying perspective. “We will speak with one voice, and that is a voice lawmakers cannot ignore,” Dolch said, a voice that represents businesses that employ more than 170,000 people in Connecticut.

Scott Miller, COO and partner with DORO Restaurant Group and chair of the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, speaks at a press conference announcing the rebranding on Feb. 17, 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Scott Miller, COO and partner of West Hartford-based DORO Restaurant Group is the CRHA chairman. He said he believes in strength in numbers, and combining the restaurant and lodging community is an important first step.

“We are constantly facing challenges, but we’re in it together,” and all deserve a unified voice with greater strength and confidence, Miller said. “We’re all here to create memorable experiences for all of our guests and our establishments.”

“As a lodging operator, I’ve seen firsthand how the success of our hotels depends on the vibrancy of our culinary scene,” Amanda Arling, President of Whaler’s Inn, Shipwright’s Daughter & Mystic Fish Camp and member of the CRHA Executive Committee said that the success of their hotels is dependent on the vibrancy of the culinary scene.

“When our hotels are busy, our restaurants are full, and vice versa,” she said, but they have often advocated separately. By joining forces they can better serve guests and employees, training, and havea. collective seat at the table. “The new Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association reflets what we’ve always known – that we are stronger together. Collaboration isn’t just a nice idea in hospitality. It’s how we survive, and ultimately how we thrive.”

Amanda Arling, President of Whaler’s Inn, Shipwright’s Daughter & Mystic Fish Camp and member of the CRHA Executive Committee speaks at a press conference announcing the rebranding on Feb. 17, 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“It’s like fusion dining,” Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. He said the combination makes so much sense, and lauded the work that has been done over the last five years to increase the state’s profile, including Dolch’s promotion of outdoor dining during COVID, as well as the work of his now-former Chief Marketing Officer, Anthony Anthony – whose new firm will be working in partnership with Intersect Public Solutions and Box 8 Creative on the rebranding of CRHA.

“This is going to be an enormous year, I think, for tourism in the state,” said Lamont of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. “I think it’s going to be a big year in terms of the people coming for some of the best meals you can get anywhere in the world. And hopefully they stay for a few days and enjoy what we’ve got there.” Connecticut has a great colonial past, and we need to keep telling our story, he said.

There’s a $250,000 grant for additional social media, and a marketing plan for the 250th anniversary, but in response to a reporter’s question and Dolch’s request for more resources, Lamont could not commit to an increased tourism budget. “I know this is the time of year when I have everybody saying we need more,” he said. “I try and get that balance right…. We’ll try to do a little bit more, but I have to do it within the confines of an honestly balanced budget.”

The CRHA has expanded its board from 25 to 35, with seven of those as lodging-specific members. According to an announcement, the rebrand also signals a deeper commitment to workforce development and professional training through the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF).

Scott Dolch, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, surrounded by board members, speaks at a press conference announcing the rebranding on Feb. 17, 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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