This is a publication from Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Research and Analysis office. The second article includes “Wages outpace inflation again.” https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/trends-magazine/2025/August/dairy-farming-a-niche-industry
Join us for Taste the Talent presented by Alaska Restaurant Supply, an unforgettable evening celebrating mentorship, creativity, and the future of Alaska’s culinary arts! Hosted by the Anchorage Hospitality Foundation, this event showcases the next generation of chefs as they bring their skills to the spotlight.
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: 49th State Brewing Company, Anchorage
– A unique culinary experience highlighting Anchorage’s rising student chefs.
– Delicious bites crafted with creativity and heart.
– A chance to support the future workforce of Alaska’s hospitality industry.
– Live auction, community connection, and plenty of flavor!
Funds raised will provide scholarships for students from King Tech’s Culinary Arts program, helping them continue their education at University of Alaska campuses. By joining us, you’re investing directly in the future of Alaska’s hospitality leaders.
Let’s come together to support the talent, passion, and future of Alaska’s culinary scene.
Members –
You may take this online renewal test to renew your current (or expired within the last 30 days) Alaska Responsible Serving card.
If you have never completed the initial live webinar class and don’t currently have a certification card, you are NOT eligible to register for this online renewal exam and you will need to take the Alaska Responsible Serving live classroom webinar.
Process for Renewing your Responsible Serving Card:
In order to complete this course, you must provide a picture of both:
Alaska Responsible Serving® of Alcohol Renewal Test $40.00
https://rserving.com/web/index.php?siteid=251&pageid=8500 – this link takes you directly to the information
Dear Member – An IT benefit. Take advantage of 15% discount for all AKHR members.
From:
Ivan Ramos
President
Solstice Technology LLC
As a restaurant owner myself, I understand how demanding it is to run a smooth operation. From managing food and liquor costs to keeping labor under control — the last thing you need is unreliable internet, a down phone system, or a point-of-sale network crash during dinner rush.
That’s why I started Solstice Technology — to help restaurants and bars like yours stay connected, secure, and running without interruption.
We specialize in building and supporting reliable technology systems that help you stay focused on what matters most — your customers and your bottom line.
Our services include:
At Solstice Technology, we treat your business like it’s our own. Whether you’re opening a new location or upgrading what you already have, we’ll make sure your systems are scalable, secure, and always on.
Let’s talk about how we can help make your tech the easiest part of your operation and save 15% on all new IT services for AKHR Members.
Bartenders, waiters, and other frontline workers could earn up to $2,200 more per year under Alaska’s new $13 minimum wage.
According to hospitality job platform OysterLink, Alaska’s new $13.00 minimum wage could affect the pay of over 10,000 hospitality workers, especially those working in lower-wage roles such as bartenders, waiters, fast-food crew, porters, and hosts.
Here’s a copy of the Q2 AKHR Newsletter for download (PDF).
Members-
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has allowed Senate Bill 15, permitting teens to serve alcohol at restaurants, breweries and distilleries, to become law without his signature, according to the Senate Clerk. Legislation attached – Please read.
* Sec. 10. AS 04.16.049(d) is amended to read: (d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section and AS 04.16.050(a), a person 18, 19, or 20 years of age may be employed within the licensed premises of a brewery manufacturer, winery manufacturer, distillery manufacturer, hotel or motel, large resort, golf course, general wholesaler, limited brewed beverage and wine wholesaler, common carrier dispensary, outdoor recreation lodge, brewery retailer, winery retailer, distillery retailer, or restaurant, may enter and remain within those premises for the purpose of employment, and, other than for a business that offers adult entertainment, [BUT] may [NOT], in the course of employment, sell, serve, deliver, or dispense alcoholic beverages.
(image: Pexels, bohlemedia)
Here’s a copy of the Q1 AKHR Newsletter for download (PDF).
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You can read the full newsletter here.
We’re focused on:
It’s going to take strong partnerships and creative solutions to get there. But the reality is that to address community concerns, people need a place to go.
Our winter strategy includes:
We’re also laser-focused on making sure there are more housing options and fewer people sleeping outside this spring.
Homelessness impacts many aspects of our community, including public safety. We understand the concerns residents, business owners, and workers have shared about feeling unsafe on our streets and trails. Law enforcement activity related to homelessness exists on a spectrum, from contact, conversation, and connection, along with abatement, trespass, and right of way enforcement. Our approach focuses on safety — people sleeping outside need a safe alternative — and enforcement of the laws that keep everyone in our community safe.
We’re going to make progress, but it won’t necessarily look different overnight. We define success as measurable, visible reduction in homelessness over the next two and a half years. That means making hard choices and knowing things may look worse before they get better, especially as we prioritize public safety, public health, and housing and break up long-standing camps. Homelessness is a complex issue, and big, positive change takes time. The good news is: It’s going to get better, as long as we are committed to doing the work. And we are!
You can read the full newsletter here.
We are calling this a tremendous victory and collaborative win
Assembly Approves Brunch Hour Alcohol Sales Beginning at 8AM
Tuesday June 11 Regular Assembly Meeting, the Anchorage Assembly approved (10-1) AO 2024-62, As Amended, to extend hours for alcohol sales for restaurants from 10AM to 8AM, allowing the “Brunch Hour” at licensed locations effective immediately. The ordinance was amended to allow package stores to open earlier on Sundays, now at 10AM daily.
Alaska Hospitality Retailers Board of Directors and its members are thankful to Assembly Chair Christopher Constant for listening to industry perspectives and for his leadership and support on this ordinance.
This passing would not have happened without the great leadership of Assembly Chair Constant. We also appreciate assembly members for helping to pass this hospitality friendly ordinance. Members Myers, Martinez, Littlefield, Rivera, Johnson, Zaletel, Bronga, Volland and Sulte.
Alaska Hospitality Retailers represents the entire hospitality industry under ‘one voice’ and has worked with Assembly Chair Constant in the past but, especially over the past year on AO 2024-62. This ordinance allows Anchorage Restaurants to open earlier hours than current Code allowed for service and consumption on licensed premises that also serve food by changing the required operating hours so they may serve alcohol beginning at 8:00 a.m. each day.
Christopher Constant, Assembly Chair stated, “I’m grateful for the assistance of Alaska Hospitality Retailers and the restaurant owners who have long advocated for Brunch Hour service. With the advent of the alcohol tax in 2021 providing upward of $15,000,000 of annual revenue to support important causes like supporting our social service providers and finding upstream prevention programs to ensure healthy families; it’s a small measure of gratitude to allow restaurants to serve 2 hours earlier”.
In our testimony at the assembly meeting on June 11 we asked for clarification of current license operation hours. We clarified on record in this ordinance under “retail sales” only applies to licenses like package stores and does not affect current operating hours for all other types of licenses like bars.
Under current Code package stores were currently permitted to open at Noon on Sundays. During our testimony we asked assembly members for their consideration for package stores to be allowed to open on Sundays at 10am. Assembly Chair Constant brought forth his amendment to the ordinance allowing package stores to open at 10am on Sunday which passed. This allows package stores to service their customers 7-days per week at 10am. Another amazing win for our industry.
Ana Fisk, Liquor Stores USA North Inc. (Brown Jug) stated, “thanks Alaska Hospitality Retailers for your advocacy in amending store hours of operation; we look forward to responsibly serving our customers in Anchorage at 10 am all days of the week.”
Thank you to all restaurant and business owners for testifying and supporting this amazing win!
News Article:
