New Hampshire's hospitality industry sends $340 million to state coffers every year -- and most legislators still don't give it enough credit. Mike Somers has spent 17 years making sure that changes.

In this episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol, Carol Erickson sits down with Mike Somers, President & CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA) -- the 106-year-old organization that fights for every restaurant, hotel, bar, and hospitality business in the state.

Mike started as a busboy in Central Florida, worked his way up through every job in a restaurant except owning one, spent years as General Manager at the iconic CR Sparks in Bedford, and walked into the NHLRA CEO role in November 2008 -- right into the Great Recession. He's been fighting for the industry ever since.

In this conversation, Carol and Mike cover:

• The cocktails-to-go bill that just passed -- and what it actually means for NH restaurants

• The quiet battle that saved NH restaurant owners millions of dollars (most don't even know it happened)

• Why restaurant margins are only 3-5% -- and what the public still doesn't get

• ProStart: high school students cooking three-course menus on two butane burners -- and NH's team at nationals right now

• The workforce shortage, AI, automation, and what NH hospitality looks like in 10 years

NEW HAMPSHIRE LODGING & RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

16 Centre Street, Concord, NH | nhlra.com | (603) 228-9585

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This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.

4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.

redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner

ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL

Carol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.

Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH

Follow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24

8. TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 - Intro

• 0:46 - Welcome Mike Somers

• 1:52 - From busboy in Florida to NH restaurant GM

• 3:10 - CR Sparks Bedford -- and the Craig Anderson connection 😂

• 3:53 - Joining NHLRA in 2008 -- straight into the Great Recession

• 4:18 - For-profit to nonprofit: selling a concept vs. a meal

• 5:06 - NHLRA founded 1919: "A little older than the Red Arrow"

• 5:47 - What the NHLRA actually does day to day

• 7:31 - 1,000+ members, staff of four -- how do you hold that together?

• 8:21 - Mid-show guest plug: find them at nhlra.com

• 9:04 - Cocktails to go: what just passed and what it means

• 12:00 - COVID and the NH hospitality industry survival story

• 14:31 - Carol: "We had to close our third shift"

• 15:00 - The Rally for NH Restaurants campaign

• 16:20 - What drives Mike after 17+ years

• 18:58 - Red Arrow Diner sponsorship

• 19:02 - Is there real camaraderie among NH competitors?

• 19:45 - Stars of the Industry -- Carol's favorite NHLRA event

• 21:02 - "There's no money in it" -- the 3-5% margin reality

• 22:09 - ProStart: building the next generation of NH hospitality

• 24:06 - Pinkerton Academy at nationals in Baltimore right now

• 25:32 - The workforce trajectory: housing, culture, messaging

• 27:11 - What surprised Mike most: working with 27 board members and legislators

• 29:06 - AI, automation, and the future of NH hospitality

• 29:53 - The best restaurant/hotel in NH right now (Crown Tavern shoutout)

• 30:36 - Carol weave-in: 39 years, 4 locations, NHLRA membership value

• 31:04 - "I'm available 24/7" -- Mike's cell is open to every NH operator

• 32:39 - Before the lightning round: anything else people should know?

• 33:52 - ⚡ Lightning Round

• 39:12 - Outro + where to find the NHLRA