It’s a sad truth that so much pain within the hospitality industry could be mitigated if Tennesseans just demonstrated the Southern hospitality that we’re supposed to be famous for. If mask usage was universal, not only would more nervous diners feel inclined to actually get out and spend some dollars in local restaurants, but the workers at those establishments would feel safer going to a job where they really don’t have any choice except to interact with customers, maskless or not. Peoples’ livelihoods and safety are on the line every minute of every day that a restaurant makes the decision to open or close.
To support these ideas, the coalition of restaurant owners and workers and other food industry professionals who make up the Tennessee Action for Hospitality group have launched a new campaign aimed at educating patrons on the importance of practicing safe dining. Even as COVID-19 cases increase in the state, Nashville restaurants have been offered the difficult choice of whether to expand their dining capacity if possible under distancing guidelines. This could be a windfall for some spots, especially if masks were a more regular part of dining.
“In spite of local mandates, many of our members continue to struggle with guest compliance,” says Action for Hospitality President and Nicky’s Coal Fired co-owner Caroline Galzin in a statement. “As case numbers continue to rise, we have to do all that we can to protect the health of our staff, guests, and businesses as a whole. Science tells us that wearing a mask is the most effective tool we have to stop the spread of Covid-19. We hope the message of this campaign helps people understand that while wearing masks properly is a matter of health, it is also just good manners, and is not a partisan issue to be debated.”
Working with Fresh Branding and Moxie Print Market, Tennessee Action for Hospitality has designed signage that simply asks patrons to refrain from wearing:
- Masks around the chin
- Masks below the nose
- A loose-fitting mask
- A neck gaiter / bandana
- A properly fitting mask
And for guests to instead wear:
- Suggested mask types i.e. fabric, disposable surgical masks, etc.
- Masks over both the mouth and nose
- A properly fitting mask
If you see these signs hanging up in a restaurant that you patronize, please know that they’re trying to do this for the common good. Do them a solid and mask up!
