Rhode Island
Is RI’s hospitality industry in trouble? These trends are raising concerns
Take a peek inside the RI Hospitality Association’s Economic Outlook Breakfast
Industry leaders discussed consumer economic anxiety and workforce concerns at the annual event, which was held Wednesday.
PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s hospitality industry continues to recover from the shutdowns it faced in 2020, although the pace has slowed considerably as new economic factors put pressure on the state’s employees and consumers.
The Rhode Island Hospitality Association hosted a Economic Outlook breakfast Wednesday, detailing to its membership the current statistics on the food service, lodging and recreation industry locally and nationally. Representatives from the National Restaurant Association and Pinnacle Advisory Group, a hotel asset management firm, gave in-depth reports on the hospitality industry’s post-pandemic recovery and predictions for the industry’s near future.
Employee retention and recruitment remain a top concern
The major theme of the morning was the impact current economic pressures are having on the hospitality industry, especially its workforce. In his presentation on the current state of the restaurant industry, National Restaurant Association Vice President of Research and Knowledge Chad Moutray said that while some sectors have regained the number of employees lost during the pandemic, others have been slower to recover, especially the full-service restaurant industry. Additionally, the number of job openings in the restaurant industry remains greater than the number of unemployed workers able to fill those positions, as it has been since 2021
RI Hospitality Association Chief Operating Officer Heather Singleton, whose presentation specifically highlighted workforce issues faced by the industry, explored these problems in more depth using numbers from a report on Rhode Island Employment Trends and Workforce Issues in 2022-2023, which was published this April. Through this, Singleton noted that while the minimum wage and median wage in Rhode Island are both higher than it is nationally, the accommodation and food services sector had one of the lowest average annual wages of any sector in the state, which Singleton attributed largely to the fact that the sector employs more people under the age of 25 than any other sector. However, the report also showed that the industry is aging, as 15.9% of the sector was identified as being 55 years old or older in 2023 compared to 7% in 2003. In fact, 66% of those employed in accommodation and food service jobs were 25 years old or older in 2023, compared to 57% in 2003.
Singleton also pointed to the lack of employee well-being and engagement as an issue, both for the hospitality industry but also for the nation as a whole. Singleton showcased a recent Gallup report on the State of the Global Workplace, which claimed that 77% of employees globally are either not engaged or actively disengaged with their work, costing the global economy about $8.9 trillion. To combat this, Singleton pointed to training programs the association provides to boost engagement, which the Gallup report suggests could reduce absenteeism and turnover while increasing employee well-being and productivity.
Restaurants and hotels notice increased customer price sensitivity
Both reports coming out of the restaurant and hotel industry that morning indicated a growing split in consumer habits as consumer anxiety over the state of the economy increases. Kate Mashburn of Pinnacle Advisory Group revealed that, on a national level, luxury and upscale hotels and accommodations have experienced continued growth while budget and middle-cost travel is decreasing as consumers are becoming more price-conscious compared to just after the pandemic. Additionally, a survey the National Restaurant Association conducted among restaurant operators indicated increasing concerns about the economy as well as increasingly pessimistic outlooks on general business conditions.
Statewide, the hotel industry is steady, with year-to-date occupancy rates hitting just one percentage point under the national average of 63% for July 2024, with Warwick’s occupancy rate projected to reach up to 69% by the end of 2024. Mashburn attributes this partially to increased activity coming out of T.F. Green Airport.
Meanwhile, on Aquidneck Island, occupancy rates have decreased since 2023 owing to increases in supply, namely the opening of the Gardiner House in September 2023, the Wayfinder hotel’s phased reopening and Newport Harbor Island Resort’s reopening in April 2024.
Overall outlook still positive for 2030
Despite these concerns, the hospitality industry’s job market is continuing to see positive growth. Moutray’s presentation showed that, by July 2024, employment in restaurants finally surpassed what it had been before February 2020. Similarly, Singleton’s presentation showed that the accommodations and food service sector had the largest change in annual employment of any industry sector in the state between 2021 and 2022.
The report and Singleton’s presentation also projected the sector would increase employment by 35.3% between 2020 and 2030. Within the hospitality sector, employment in Food Preparation and Serving Related jobs is expected to increase the most of any other sector in the state, with cooking, serving, bartending and quick service counter positions among the top in employment increases.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 9, 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing
15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from May 9 drawing
Midday: 0-8-9-5
Evening: 0-9-4-7
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from May 9 drawing
08-13-24-27-34, Extra: 32
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing
08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Rhode Island
Proposed tax hike would hurt small businesses and our communities | Opinion
RI House speaker answers why RI won’t ‘pause’ millionaires tax push
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi fielded a question on whether lawmakers might pause efforts to pass a millionaires tax.
Rhode Island is built on the strength of small, family-owned businesses. They are the backbone of our economy, the employers of our neighbors, and the reason our communities have character and opportunity. I know this not just as a legislator, but as someone who works every day in a family business alongside the people I care about most. That’s why I am concerned about the impact of the proposed “millionaires tax” on businesses and our communities.
While it may sound like a measure aimed at a narrow group of high earners, the reality is far different. Many family-owned businesses – especially those structured as pass-through entities – report their business income on personal tax returns. That means this tax doesn’t just target “millionaires” in the traditional sense; it directly impacts small and mid-sized businesses that reinvest their earnings into payroll, equipment, expansion and employee benefits.
In my case, our family business is a private ambulance service. Every day, we are responsible for delivering critical care to Rhode Islanders, particularly seniors and our most medically fragile neighbors. That responsibility comes with significant costs. Ambulances, lifesaving medical equipment, and the technology needed to support our crews are expensive, and they must be maintained and updated regularly to meet the highest standards of care.
Tax increases like this directly impact our ability to make those investments. These are not abstract tradeoffs – they have real consequences for the level of care we can provide. For businesses like mine, margins matter. Every dollar that goes out the door in taxes is a dollar that can’t be used to hire another worker, increase wages, buy new equipment or sponsor the local Little League team. These are real decisions that affect real people.
Supporters of this proposal often frame it as a fairness issue. But fairness should also mean recognizing the role that employers play in creating opportunity. When government makes it more expensive to operate a business in Rhode Island, we risk pushing investment – and jobs – elsewhere. Policies like this don’t exist in a vacuum; they shape decisions about where businesses grow and where families choose to put down roots.
We don’t have to guess what would happen if we raised taxes here – we can just look to Massachusetts. They passed a millionaires tax and the latest data shows a steady stream of high earners leaving for lower-tax states like New Hampshire and, you guessed it, Rhode Island. We could take advantage of Massachusetts’ mistake and build on the momentum we have built in recent years. We’ve seen the benefits of thoughtful policy decisions that encourage investment and support job creation and tax revenues are up. But progress is fragile. Policies like the millionaires tax risk undoing that work by sending the message that success will be penalized rather than encouraged.
As both a business owner and a legislator, I believe strongly that we can – and must – strike a better balance.
We can support public services, invest in our communities, and maintain fiscal responsibility without resorting to policies that put our local businesses at a disadvantage. We can grow our economy by creating an environment where businesses want to stay, expand and hire.
Let’s focus on solutions that strengthen our economy, support our workforce, and ensure that family-owned businesses like mine and so many others across our state continue to thrive.
Rhode Island’s future depends on it.
Jacquelyn Baginski is a state representative from Cranston.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Mega Millions, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 8, 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 9-8-9-7
Evening: 7-9-8-9
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from May 8 drawing
10-13-15-16-30, Extra: 09
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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