Member Newsletter

As a result of the Michigan Supreme Court decision from a lawsuit generated in 2018, the minimum wage rate and the tip credit for restaurant employees will be altered beginning February 21, 2025.

We are working with the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Michigan Hospitality Alliance and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce to keep you up to date with detailed information we can provide to our hospitality community.  Please feel free to reach out to Julie Pingston if you have any questions.

The summary below is from the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association and the article link is a comprehensive explanation of the changes from Bridge Magazine.

(On July 31, 2024), the Michigan Supreme Court struck down 2018 PA 368 (Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act) and 2018 PA 369 (Paid Medical Leave Act), arguing that they are unconstitutional because they amended ballot initiatives that had been adopted into law within the same legislative session, an act that was not included in the three options provided to the Legislature under the initiative clause of the Michigan Constitution.

The effective date for the repeal of the two laws will be February 21, 2025.

On that date, the minimum wage is expected to increase to approximately $12.40 per hour (specific calculations still forthcoming based on a formula provided in the ruling) and the tipped minimum wage would be 48% of that wage. The tip credit would continue to be phased out by 2029 and wages would rise to somewhere near $13.50 per hour in 2028, though again precise calculations are not yet available. Thereafter, the minimum wage will increase by the rate of inflation and a separate wage for tipped employees will not exist.

Visit Bridge Michigan for an article with a timeline of the information.

Visit Save MI Restaurants for information on how the MI Restaurant Lodging Association is working with the Michigan legislature on this issue.

Choose Lansing^TM and Destination Ann Arbor are excited to announce their participation in the new Cities of the Big Ten passport initiative, a collaborative effort designed to encourage visitors to explore beyond athletic events and discover the unique attractions of the Big Ten cities. This joint effort, facilitated through a digital passport developed with Bandwango, aims to showcase unique attractions in each Big Ten destination and promote a richer travel experience.

“Being a part of the Big Ten conference strengthens the bond between our communities,” said Amy Karbo, Vice President of Marketing of Destination Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan and the 2023 College Football National Champions. “This initiative provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight and share the unique attractions of each of our destinations, encouraging visitors to explore all that we have to offer. Ann Arbor is known for its vibrant culture, lively arts scene and iconic landmarks. We are thrilled to be part of this initiative that not only brings sports fans to our city but also encourages them to explore everything else Ann Arbor has to offer.”

Tracy Padot, Chief Marketing Officer of Choose Lansing, agrees. “As home to the State Capitol and Michigan State University, there’s so much more to see beyond Spartan Stadium when visitors come for a football game. Whether it’s one of our attractions, museums, great dining, or outstanding accommodations, we are a welcoming destination for all.”

Membership invoices were emailed to you on June 3, 2024. Please update your invoice recipient via the member portal or send an email to  mnay@lansing.org to ensure we have the correct contact information for who will be receiving your invoice.

If you prefer a copy mailed to your business, please email Melissa Nay at  mnay@lansing.org

The Lansing Sports Commission is excited to welcome Kendall Boelman as our new Sports Coordinator! Kendall joined the LSC as a sports intern in 2024 and quickly jumped in, ready to learn and contribute to the team. 

Join us for a FREE seminar at our Choose Lansing office in downtown Lansing. This is a two-hour basic class for First Aid, CPR & AED. The class offers a quick and easy way to get the tools needed in case of an emergency. Our certified trainer will teach the quick basics to help you in an emergency until trained help arrives. This course is taught in a dynamic and hands-on way with a National Safety Council industry-leading curriculum and content from experts in occupational first aid training.

***You will not receive a full certification certificate for this class as this is a basic knowledge class.

When: Monday, September 9, 2024

Time: 9-11 a.m.

Where: The session will be held on-site at the Choose Lansing Office, 500 E. Michigan Ave., Ste. 180. Ample free parking is available onsite accessible from Cedar & Larch Streets.

Save the date for the fall CTA & Member Mixer!

When: Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: Zap Zone XL

Registration coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who attended the CTA and Member Mixer on July 22 at the Graduate Hotel. We had a tremendous turnout! It was great to see you all of you.

Athletes from across the globe are traveling to Paris to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Did you know that Lansing has a few athletes of our own making their way to the City of Lights? Along with current athletes, Lansing has seen a few competitors go to the Olympics over the years dating all the way back to 1928

Summer may be wrapping up, but there is still plenty of things to do! Continue to Love Lansing Like A Local!

This summer campaign invites residents and visitors to enjoy everything in their own backyards and by supporting the local tourism industry, we can keep Greater Lansing great! Help us spread the word as the campaign runs all summer.

Mayor Andy Schor announced that metered parking will be free for two hours in Lot 8, the large city-owned parking lot behind the businesses on the north side of the 2000 block of Michigan Avenue during the current phase of construction. The lot spans the block between N. Clemens Ave. and N. Fairview Ave. 

Parking maximum time of two hours between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., as well as handicap and safety violations, will continue to be monitored and ticketed. The free parking promotion is effective now and will end on September 30, 2024.

Questions may be directed to the Parking Services office at 517-483-4240 or parking@lansingmi.gov.

USA Today's readers voted Indian Trails #3 of the 10 Best bus companies in America! Of the nearly 150 privately owned bus companies in the state, Indian Trails was the only one to make the list. 

Congratulations, Indian Trails!

Hawk Island Park has completed its improvement project at the park's south end. Improvements include: the addition of three shade shelters and swan pedal boats that are available for rent, updates to the boat rental area and the installment of an accessible boat launch.

The park is also installing new floating walkways and fishing docks. 

Royal Scot Golf & Bowl installed a 5,600-square-foot digital screen at the end of their 60 bowling lanes, replacing the existing masking units. The addition makes Lansing the home of the largest LED screen in a Bowling Center worldwide, surpassing the record previously held by McHenry Bowl in Modesto, California since late 2022. This innovative screen offers complete customization, enhancing the overall customer experience. 

The screen's versatile nature facilitates the showcasing of dynamic animations, live TV broadcasts, corporate advertisements, concerts, personalized birthday greetings, and a variety of other content. Whether displaying a singular expansive image or multiple distinct visuals, they are enhancing the bowling experience for their clientele and the community.

Their initiative includes promoting products and services of local businesses, providing another platform for local nonprofits to engage with the community, and aiding in the promotion of various activities and events within the Greater Lansing area.

In order to raise awareness of the many rewarding careers in the hospitality and tourism industry,  Choose Lansing is partnering with community stakeholders and building connections with local education institutions to help connect job seekers with open hospitality positions in the region. 

Hotels, restaurants, attractions, event venues, and more can post their open job positions on the Choose Lansing Workforce Development website to connect with job seekers. 

Together we can continue to make Greater Lansing an incredible destination.

Sign up for free member portal training! In-person and zoom options are available.

Stay In the Know with the Member Portal:

• Access the convention calendar – see who’s in town. Great for outbound marketing
• Update your business website listing for both lansing.org and lansingsports.org
• Update your contact information
• Update your photos within your website listing
• Offer a discount or special offer coupon
• Connect with industry peers
• Respond to Hotel, Meeting Facility, or Sports Venue leads
• Pay Membership Dues Invoice
• Post a hospitality job opening on the website
• Post a public event to the website
• Order Visitor Guides

• Monday, November 16, 2026, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, February 18, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 10, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 20, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, May 17, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 pm.m.
• Wednesday, June 9, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All classes will be located at the Choose Lansing® offices, located at 500 E. Michigan Ave.  Ste 180. Free parking is available in the back of the building that can be accessed from both Cedar & Larch Streets. Light refreshments are provided at each class.

Register for a class.

Apply to the Kristina Kauffman Scholarship Fund. 

Contact Melissa Nay with any questions.at mnay@lansing.org or by phone at 517-377-1410.