News

Restaurant industry vet joins PRLA team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2018
   
Contact: Stephanie Otterson
Director of Communications
(717) 963-8369
[email protected]
   
Restaurant industry vet takes on new challenge
   
Philadelphia (May 15, 2018)—The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) announced today the appointment of Philadelphia restaurant industry veteran Ben Fileccia to the newly created position of PRLA Director of Operations & Strategy-Philadelphia. His position covers Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. About 300 of PRLA’s nearly 3,000 members are in Philadelphia.
   
“The Philadelphia region is a phenomenal growth market for both restaurants and hotels. It’s not only a culinary destination—home to many of the best restaurants and chefs in the country—but also a tourist destination that saw 1 million Center City leisure segment hotel room nights 2016. This market certainly warrants an experienced professional like Ben to engage with and strengthen our footprint in this vibrant community,” said John Longstreet, PRLA president & CEO.
   
Since arriving in Philadelphia almost 20 years ago, Fileccia has established himself as a hospitality industry leader. Most recently, he worked as restaurant partnership manager for Reserve, a premier hospitality technology platform, eventually overseeing the entire Mid-Atlantic Region. He has also served as Director of Operations for Sbraga Dining, and worked with the critically acclaimed Vetri Family of Restaurants, opening and managing Amis Trattoria which was nominated for the James Beard Foundation award for Best New Restaurant in 2011.
   
Fileccia is currently serving his third term as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the PRLA. “I’m very excited about joining the dynamic PRLA team and am enthusiastic to head up PRLA’s first satellite operation in Philadelphia," said Fileccia.
   
“Throughout my career, I have strived to be an advocate and resource for my colleagues in this industry. I’m looking forward to more directly fulfilling this objective as part of my new role,” he continued.
   
About the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
Founded in 1937, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association strives to promote, protect, and improve the hospitality and tourism industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRLA conveys the unified voice of these industries to the Commonwealth’s citizenry and elected officials. PRLA supports over 25,000 restaurants, 1,500 hotels, and 100 travel and tourism partners.

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