Podcast appearances and mentions of sam toia

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association joins Lisa Dent ahead of Chicago Restaurant Week to encourage locals to try something new from one of Chicago’s finest restaurants. He also addresses the question of the service charge that has popped up on your bill in the last few years and how the restaurant industry […]

Sam Toia, CEO and president of Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Lisa to talk about Chicago Gourmet, a showcase of the top quality food offered in Chicago, September 21-29.

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Bob Sirott to talk about a bill in Springfield that is looking to eliminate tip credit in Illinois restaurants and what could happen if that bill passes. He also discusses the multiple purposes of service charges and his opinion of outdoor dining on Clark Street.

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier, filling in for Bob Sirott, to talk about this year's restaurant closures, openings, and trends for 2024.

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier, filling in for Bob Sirott, to talk about this year's restaurant closures, openings, and trends for 2024.

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Lisa Dent to explain why he’s urging the Chicago City Council to reject a proposal to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the difference between a surcharge and a tip and explains why restaurants are charging more for food through third-party apps. He also discusses who will be participating in this year’s Chicago Gourmet.

Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Lisa Dent on the show to talk all things Chicago Gourmet. Listen in while Sam shares his excitement for the lineup of events and stars coming up for possibly the best Chicago Gourmet ever, happening in 2023. For more information on times, talent, themes […]

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the City Council’s proposal of fair wages for restaurant workers and what we can do to help out family-owned restaurants.

Chicago's hourly minimum wage is set to rise to $15.80 starting July 1, while tipped workers will get paid $9.80 an hour. Reset learns more about the so-called “subminimum wage” for tipped workers and the latest on discussions around phasing it out. We check in with Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa of the 35th Ward; Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association; and Terri Evans, owner of Windy City Ribs & Whiskey.

Some key Chicago alderpersons, labor leaders and others are joining in a push to do away with the so-called "sub-minimum" wage paid to those who also earn tips. WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore talks with Saru Jayaraman and Sam Toia to discuss both perspectives on sub-minimum wage.  Saru Jayaraman is the President of One Fair Wage.  Sam Toia is the President of the Illinois Restaurant Association.

Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Jon Hansen (filling-in for Lisa Dent) to talk about the Chicago City Council’s approval of the expanded outdoor dining program that was brought on during the pandemic. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

President of the Illinois Restaurant Association Sam Toia joins Lisa Dent to discuss the appointment of Richard Guidice as Chief of Staff to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson. In addition to sharing his thoughts on what he’s excited to see during Johnson’s term, he also addresses the mob of teenagers in Chicago’s downtown this past weekend. Follow […]

Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Lisa Dent to respond to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times which reported that 39 of the 362 restaurants participating in the 16th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week were adding a surcharge ranging from 3% to 20%. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow […]

Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association, joins Lisa Dent to talk about Uber’s agreement to pay a $10 million settlement with the City of Chicago for adding restaurants to its service without the businesses' consent and what it means for local restaurants that were impacted by the practice. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on […]

President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, Sam Toia joins Dane Neal on WGN Radio. Hear as Sam shares excitement for the lineup of events and stars coming up for possibly the best Chicago Gourmet ever, happening in 2022. For more information on times, talent, themes and tickets, be sure to check out https://www.chicagogourmet.org/ https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4010387/4010387_2022-09-22-194027.64kmono.mp3

President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, Sam Toia joins Dane Neal on WGN Radio. Hear as Sam shares excitement for the lineup of events and stars coming up for possibly the best Chicago Gourmet ever, happening in 2022. For more information on times, talent, themes and tickets, be sure to check out https://www.chicagogourmet.org/ https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4010387/4010387_2022-09-22-194027.64kmono.mp3

Hosts Bridget Albert and Julie Milroy welcome Sam Toia - President & CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association

Bishop On Air talks with Sam Toia of the Illinois Restaurant Association about Chicago's COVID-19 mandates and more.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced that Chicago will remove mask and vaccine requirements in certain public spaces on February 28th. Sam Toia, the President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joined Steve King and Johnnie Putman on Chicago’s Afternoon News to discuss the impact on Illinois restaurants and what diners can expect when they go […]

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced that Chicago will remove mask and vaccine requirements in certain public spaces on February 28th. Sam Toia, the President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joined Steve King and Johnnie Putman on Chicago’s Afternoon News to discuss the impact on Illinois restaurants and what diners can expect when they go […]

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joined Lisa Dent on Chicago’s Afternoon News to provide an update on how restaurants are reacting to the mask mandate in Illinois being lifted on Monday, February 28th. Follow Your Favorite Chicago’s Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

Steve Dale speaks with Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, about how restaurants are handling the newly implemented vaccine mandate. Sam explains why he supports the mandate, emphasizes the importance of customers getting vaccinated and boosted so that businesses are able to stay open, and more.

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joined Bob Sirott to provide an update on how restaurants are adapting to the new vaccine requirement in Chicago and Cook County.

Illinois Restaurant Association president & CEO Sam Toia joins Steve Bertrand on Chicago’s Afternoon News to explain why President Biden’s plea for restaurants to raise wages to attract workers post-pandemic is not an easy task. Follow Your Favorite Chicago’s Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:Follow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

Sam Toia is an extremely visible presence around city government, whether he's standing alongside the mayor at press conferences, lobbying aldermen behind the scenes or promoting public education and tourism initiatives. As president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, Toia's job is to advocate for eateries across the state — to make sure the restaurant industry is “at the table, not on the menu” for public policymakers, as he puts it. That job got much harder after restaurants were decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Toia has had a front-row seat to the panoply of federal, state and local programs that have been put in place to try to keep restaurateurs afloat. He spoke with The Daily Line's Alex Nitkin about the deep toll the pandemic took on Chicago's restaurant scene, and what it's going to take for the industry to bounce back, including a new round of funding from the federal government and a purge of red tape by the city.

Over 15 months have passed since the start of the global pandemic, and although vaccinations are on the rise, the impact on the economy continues. In Cook County alone more than 1.5 million people filed for unemployment benefits- roughly half the population of Chicago. According to the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, more than 50 Chicago hotels closed during the pandemic, putting more than 20,00 people out of work. Tune in for a 2-part conversation with host Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, about what the re-opening of the U.S. economy means for the hospitality industry and the millions of people it used to employ. Karin is joined by Kimberly Bares, CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association, Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, and Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. 

Over 15 months have passed since the start of the global pandemic, and although vaccinations are on the rise, the impact on the economy continues. In Cook County alone more than 1.5 million people filed for unemployment benefits- roughly half the population of Chicago. According to the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, more than 50 Chicago hotels closed during the pandemic, putting more than 20,00 people out of work. Tune in for a 2-part conversation with host Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, about what the re-opening of the U.S. economy means for the hospitality industry and the millions of people it used to employ. Karin is joined by Kimberly Bares, CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association, Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, and Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. 

Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, joined Bob Sirott to talk about how restaurants performed after reopening, the reaction behind no capacity limits, and much more.

Illinois Restaurant Association president & CEO Sam Toia joins Anna to talk about how restaurants have been impacted by the new CDC mask guidance. Sam also talks about the labor shortage that has been hitting the hospitality industry very hard.

The CDC recently eased up on their masking guidelines for public spaces. This makes indoor and outdoor dining mask wearing confusing for establishments. Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia joins John Howell to celebrate the good news but explain why they are still being cautious.

The Restaurant & Food Industry has felt the brunt of COVID-19 more than any other space in the country. We'll talk about the past, present, and future of the restaurant and food business with Mandy Tahvonen, the Director of Relish Works, the foodservice innovation hub; Sam Toia, the CEO & President of the Illinois Restaurant Association; and Phil Walters, the highly acclaimed restaurateur, who owns and runs, the Bristol, Swift & Sons, Formento's, among several others. This is a great conversation you don't want to miss.bhospitalityco.comillinoisrestaurants.orgrelishworks.com

The Restaurant & Food Industry has felt the brunt of COVID-19 more than any other space in the country. We'll talk about the past, present, and future of the restaurant and food business with Mandy Tahvonen, the Director of Relish Works, the foodservice innovation hub; Sam Toia, the CEO & President of the Illinois Restaurant Association; and Phil Walters, the highly acclaimed restaurateur, who owns and runs, the Bristol, Swift & Sons, Formento's, among several others. This is a great conversation you don't want to miss.bhospitalityco.comillinoisrestaurants.orgrelishworks.com

Previendo un devastador efecto en la industria restaurantera local, la ciudad de Chicago busca aliviar la situación de los restaurantes, manteniendo el apoyo a la calidad, creatividad e innovación de la gastronomía con el programa Winter Design Challenge.  “Estamos pidiendo a los miembros de nuestra comunidad que se reúnan y piensen de manera creativa sobre cómo podemos hacer que las comidas al aire libre sean factibles en el invierno” dijo la alcaldesa Lori E. Lightfoot, al anunciar la iniciativa que cuenta con el apoyo de IDEO, BMO Harris Bank y la Asociación de restaurantes de Illinois. Se trata de una competencia única en su tipo que buscará aprovechar la creatividad para reconstruir la experiencia de cenar al aire libre en el invierno de Chicago en medio de las restricciones que impone la pandemia. Las propuestas de los ganadores se anunciarán en septiembre. “Si bien hemos tenido que implementar restricciones y tomar medidas duras para combatir un reciente aumento en la actividad de COVID-19, continuaremos asegurándonos de que nuestros restaurantes, bares y negocios tengan el apoyo que necesitan para sobrevivir durante estos tiempos sin precedentes”, añadió la alcaldesa. El Winter Design Challenge busca que se propongan ideas basadas en el diseño centrado en el ser humano que se adapten a las necesidades de los residentes de Chicago, incluyendo a todas las partes involucradas, desde los comensales hasta los trabajadores de restaurantes y de la construcción. La participación de IDEO, una empresa de diseño líder a nivel mundial, como socio del gobierno de Chicago en esta iniciativa, busca garantizar que las propuestas seleccionadas sean innovadoras, viables, equitativas y factibles.   GANADORES Cada uno de los ganadores recibirá 5.000 dólares y la posibilidad de poner a prueba su proyecto en bares y restaurantes de la ciudad. Un panel conformado por representantes de los restaurantes y miembros destacados de la comunidad seleccionará los ganadores en tres categorías. La primera corresponderá a propuestas de estructuras independientes al aire libre, la segunda a espacios interiores adyacentes y la tercera a cambios en los patrones culturales para permitir que las comidas de invierno sean más atractivas. Eric Smith, vicepresidente del BMO Harris Bank, dijo que el apoyo de esta entidad a la iniciativa muestra que “estamos comprometidos a invertir en nuestras comunidades locales, y estamos aquí para ayudar a apoyar a los restaurantes de Chicago durante este momento difícil"- La iniciativa del Winter Design Challenge hace parte de los esfuerzos de la alcaldesa Lightfoot para apoyar a los restaurantes y bares durante las diferentes fases de la reapertura de la ciudad. En mayo, la alcaldesa había anunciado el Programa Ampliado de Comidas al Aire Libre, mediante el cual se permitió que más de 300 restaurantes y bares pudieran operar temporalmente en las calles o zonas privadas adyacentes, incluyendo las aceras. Pero con la llegada de las bajas temperaturas el desafío será mayor. “Nuestros restaurantes y bares son el corazón y el alma de la ciudad, y debemos hacer todo lo posible para mantenerlos operativos durante los duros meses de invierno”, dijo Sam Toia, presidente y director ejecutivo de la Asociación de Restaurantes de Illinois.  Edith de la Cruz La dueña de Antigua Construction recibió una llamada que recordará para toda su vida: “Usted ha sido premiada con una subvención de $500,000 dólares”. La empresaria nacida en Guatemala nos cuenta en una entrevista los retos que enfrenta en una ‘industria de concreto' para una mujer latina. 

Sun-Times City Hall Reporter Fran Spielman is joined by the President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association Sam Toia and the President and CEO of the Illinois Home and Lodging Association Michael Jacobson.