>>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY, FOR 110 YEARS, NJBIA HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY.

FPZ NJ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME-CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

AND LOCAL IBEW 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY, VISIT IBEW102.ORG.

>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," EXTENDING THE PAUSE.

IT PUTS STUDENT BORROWERS ANOTHER BREAK.

WILL THIS LEAD TO DEBT CANCELLATION.

>>> PLUS FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY TEAMS WITH ROHAN UNIVERSITY TO FIX NEW JERSEY'S BUDGETING PROCESS.

>>> AND WITH SPRING ON THE WAY AND SUM AROUND THE CORN, WE PUT TOURISM IN FOCUS HIGHLIGHT THE NEW TOURISM INITIATIVES AND UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS THAT EVEN SOME NEW JERSEYANS HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT".

>>> THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> HELLO, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

MILLIONS OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE BREATHING A COLLECTIVE SIGHT OF RELIEF.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK EXTENDED THE MORATORIUM ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT REPAYMENTS THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.

REPAYMENTS WERE SUPPOSED TO RESUME ON MAY 1st AFTER BEING HALTED SINCE EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

THIS DECISION AFFECTS 43 MILLION AMERICANS WHO OWE A TOTAL OF $1.6 TRILLION.

BUT MANY ARE SAYING IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, CONSUMER ADVOCATES AND OTHERS TO FORGIVE A PORTION OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

I SPOKE WITH NEW JERSEY'S CITIZEN ACTIONS BEVERLY BROWN.

>> IT'S CRITICAL FOR MILLIONS OF BORROWERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHETHER IT'S AT THE GAS PUMP OR THE GROCERY STORE, THIS KIND OF PAUSE WILL HELP THEM MAKE IT THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE EASE.

UNFORTUNATE LIRKS THE BROKEN SYSTEM MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE FALLING DEEPER INTO INSTABILITY.

SO WE THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S A TIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE SO FAR TO HELP STUDENT BORROWERS MANAGE THEIR DEBT, BUT ALSO WE HOPE IT'S A TIME THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DO BROAD CANCELLATION.

>> AS STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO CONSIDER HOW THE STATE SHOULD SPEND BILLIONS IN EXTRA REVENUE, BUSINESS GROUPS HAVE BEEN ARGUING THAT MORE MONEY IS NEEDED TO HELP BUSINESSES AND A NEW ANALYSIS FINDS NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS LCLIMATE IS WORSE THAN ITS NEIGHBORING STATES.

THE THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION'S REPORT FINDS NEW JERSEY'S OVERALL BUSINESS CLIMATE WAS THE WEAKEST FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR SCORING BEHIND NEW YORK, DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND, CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS.

THE ANALYSIS POINTS TO NEW JERSEY'S TOP CORPORATE TAX RATE OF 11.5% AS ONE REASON WHY THE LCLIMATE FALLS SHORT.

THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUE D ITS BUDGET HEARINGS THIS WEEK AND ONE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION C CENTERED ON HOW TO SPEND SOME FEDERAL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE STATE.

NEW JERSEY RECEIVED MORE THAN $6 BILLION IN PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY.

SOME OF THAT IS BEING USED TO PROVIDE AID TO HOSPITALS AND TO FUND A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RENTAL AND UTILITY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO FELL BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS.

BUT OF THAT AMOUNT, SOME $3 BILLION REMAINS UNALLOCATED AND AVAILABLE.

LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT RATHER THAN LET THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION DECIDE ON ITS OWN.

A FORMER TOP DOG IN TRENTON HAS A FEW THOUGHTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S BUDGET PROCESS.

FORMER STATE SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWOEENEY CHAIRS THE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE SWEENEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT ROWAN UNIVERSITY.

HE'S PUT TOGETHER A NONPARTISAN GROUP OF 25 ECONOMISTS AND FINANCE EXPERTS TO DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR BUDGET REPORT FOR THE STATE.

>> IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND IT'S REALLY TO WORK TOWARDS NOT ONE YEAR YOU'RE GREAT, THE NEXT YOU HAVE A CLIFF YOU HAVE FALLEN OFF OF AND HAVE TO CUT PROGRAMS.

A LOT OF STATES DO THIS AND BETTER OFF BECAUSE THEY DO IT.

YOU CAN ANTICIPATE WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD BETTER THAN YEAR TO YEAR.

SO THE STATE STEPPING UP AND DOING A BETTER JOB.

IT'S IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

IT'S SOMETHING I ADVOCATED FOR YEARS.

>> A FINANCIAL WIND FALLS FOR ONE ORGANIZATION COULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN NEW JERSEY.

THE Y WELCOMES CA RECEIVE GRANT TO LAUNCH PROGRAMS FOR WORKING LIVES WERE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I CSPOKE WITH THEIR CEO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON BATE TO TALK ABOUT "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" TO TALK ABOUT THIS FEDERAL FUNDING.

HOW WILL YOU BE USING THE MONEY?

>> WE'LL GIVING THIS MONEY DIRECTLY TO WOMEN.

A GOOD PORTION WILL ACTUALLY BE PROVIDED AS GRANTS TO WOMEN TO HELP THEM PAY FOR CHILD CARE, HELP PAY FOR JOB TRAINING, PAY FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT WILL GO RIGHT INTO THEIR HANDS.

THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO HELPING EXPAND AND SUPPORT OUR SERVICES TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AROUND WOMEN DURING THEIR JOB SEEKING PROCESS AND DURING THEIR PROCESS OF BUILDING THEIR BUSINESSES.

FOR COACHING, MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER TYPES OF RESOURCES LIKE THAT.

>> WE KNOW A LOT OF OF WOMEN ARE CHALLENGED IN TERMS OF REENTRY AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WE KNOW WOMEN WERE IMPACTED THE MOST IN THE JOB MARKET POST PANDEMIC FOR SURE.

ETSPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN AND WOMN OF COLOR A AT THE HIGHEST RATES.

WOMEN NEED TO BE SUPPORTED IN BEING ABLE TO BE JOB TRAINED, UPSKILLED, RESKILLED SO THEY CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN THIS JOB MARKET.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH CHILD CARE.

THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES, THOSE THAT DO HAVE FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTING AND CARE GIVING ROLES, WHETHER IT'S OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS OR WHETHER IT'S CHILDREN.

THERE'S SO MANY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO MANY OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES REALLY FALL ON WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY IMPACTED IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET, THEY ALSO HAVE THESE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE TO MANAGE AND JUGGLE SIMULTANEOUS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE LANDSCAPE HAS REALLY CHANGE D. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> THE REALITY OF IT IS, WE KNOW THAT THE LANDSCAPE FOR WOMEN PRE-PANDEMIC WAS NOT IDEAL AND NOT SUPPORTED.

WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO MANY EMPLOYERS HAVE MOVED TO HYBRID OR PERMANENTLY VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES NOW FOR EMPLOYMENT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE SEEN TECHNOLOGY REALLY SHIFT AND CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE JOB MARKET AND HOW IT'S BEING UTILIZED.

SO AS A RESULT, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, WOMEN HAVE REALLY SUFFERED DURING THIS TIME, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND THANKS TO THE FUNDING, WE ARE ABLE TO BR ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY WITH THAT CREATE A WHOLE NEW LANDSCAPE FOR WOMEN AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN THE JOB MARKET.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH ALL THAT.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH HE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>> YOU ALWAYS HEAR NEW JERSEY IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE.

NOW, IMAGINE CRAMMING IN ANOTHER 116 MILLION PEOPLE THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE VISITED NEW JERSEY IN 2019 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC CRIMPED TRAVEL PLANS.

2019 WAS A RECORD BREAKING YEAR FOR TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY.

FEWER VISITORS CAME TO THE STATE IN THE 2020 PANDEMIC YEAR, BUT IN 2021, OVERALL TOURISM REVENUE WAS UP NEARLY 75%.

A SOLID RECOVERY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF COVID-19.

WITH THE SUMMER SEASON QUICKLY APPROACHING, WE'RE PUTTING THE STATE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY IN FOCUS THIS WEEK.

LOTS OF VISITORS SNAGGED HOTEL ROOMS IN 2021 TRACKED BY BED TAX REVENUES, WHICH ROSE 71%.

AND NOT EVERYONE WAS DOWN THE SHORE.

HUDSON COUNTY SAW BED TAX REVENUE GROWTH OF 150%.

THE NUMBER OF ROOMS BOOKED O OVERALL INCREASED BY MORE THAN 44%.

LET'S ZERO IN ON ONE POPULAR SHORE DESTINATION AND THAT'S THE WILDWOODS.

TOURISM REVENUE LASTS YEAR WAS $6.5 MILLION, UP 36% FROM PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

VISITOR SPENDING UP WAS UP 16%, WHICH WAS A RECORD.

THE WILDWOODS JUST LAUNCHED A NEW 2022 TOURISM CAMPAIGN WITH THE SLOGAN, LOVE THOSE WILDWOOD DAYS.

I SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER WILDWOODS TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ABOUT WHY HE THINKS THIS SEASON COULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN LAST.

JOHN, YOU AND I ARE TALKING AND IT'S ONLY 50 DEGREES OR SO.

BUT I KNOW WARMER WEATHER IS COMING AND YOU GUYS IN THE WILD WOODS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE TOURISM SEASON.

LET'S START WITH YOUR NEW LOGO FOR THIS SUMMER.

THE CATCH PHRASE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAR.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH IT?

>> ACTUALLY, IT IS A REBIRTH OF AN OLD SLOGAN THAT WE USED TO USE.

WE HAVEN'T USED IT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

BUT THE SONG, LOVE THOSE WILDWOOD DAYS, THE THEME AND THE IDEA OF IT ALL, WE JUST WANTED TO REKINDLE THAT AND BRING IT BACK FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

>> YOU ACTUALLY DID PRETTY WELL IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE MONEY MADE IN THE TOURISM SEASON LAST YEAR.

IF YOU COULD RECAP THAT FOR ME AND TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEASON.

>> YEAH, 2021 WAS AN AMAZING YEAR FOR US.

WE WERE 39% ABOVE OUR 5-YEAR AVERAGE FROM OUR TOURISM TAX COLLECTIONS.

AND THOSE COLLECTIONS ARE ON PREPARED FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND HOTEL/MOTEL STAYS.

IT'S REALLY ONE SEGMENT OF OUR INDUSTRY, BUT WE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD YEAR IN 2021.

WHAT I'M HEARING COMING UP FOR 2022, RESERVATIONS ARE COMING IN AND THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING UP FOR THE COMING SEASON.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE POTENTIALLY HELPED OR HURT BY RISING GAS PRICES, MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T TRAVEL AS FAR AWAY AND STAY CLOSE TO HOME AND VACATION MORE IN NEW JERSEY.

DO YOU SEE ANY IMPACT FROM THAT?

>> HISTORICALLY, WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS CORRECT.

HISTORICALLY, IF GAS PRICES WERE A LITTLE ON THE HIGH SIDE, PEOPLE TEND TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME.

A DRIVING DESTINATION IS ALWAYS SURVIVED AND DONE WELL DURING THOSE TIMES.

NOT SURE IF I CAN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THEY WERE OVER $4 A GALLON, BUT AGAIN, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER VACATION OR SUMMER GET AWAYS, WE'RE WITHIN A TANK OF GAS AWAY FROM TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION ALMOST OF THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

SO WE FEEL WE'RE GOING TO FAREWELL THIS SUMMER.

>> THIS TERMS OF CHANGING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY, DO YOU DO THAT AT ALL?

DO YOU FOCUS ON HERE IN NEW JERSEY OR DO YOU EXTEND BEYOND OUR STATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE MARKETING?

>> OUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN GOES SOUTH TO WASHINGTON, D.C., WEST TO THE PITTSBURGH AREA, NORTH TO UPWARDS OF CONNECTICUT LIKE SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT.

THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR LITTLE TRIANGLE MARKETING DEMOGRAPHIC.

WE DON'T REALLY GO MUCH ABOVE THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, BUT WE DO BECOME TO KCANADA.

WE ALWAYS DID VERY WELL WITH CANADIAN VISITORS DOWN HERE IN THE JERSEY SHORE.

>> HOW ABOUT SUMMER HIRE ING?

I TAULD TO ONE RESTAURANT OWNER WHO IS STRUGGLING TO STAFF GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LABOR MARKET.

ANY PAIN POINTS FOR THE HOTELS OR OTHER AMUSE THE AREAS?

>> JUST THE VISAS GIVEN OUT TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK THROUGH OUR SEASON.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE DRASTICALLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE REALLY NEED.

BUT I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT ALL OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WE KNOW, THEY ARE JUST KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE SOME KIND OF A CHANGE AND THE ABILITY TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO COME BACK, THESE VISITORS TO COME BACK AND WORK THROUGH THE SUMMER.

>> JOHN, GOOD LUCK WITH THE SEASON.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SUMMER HERE IN THE WILD WOODS AND JERSEY SHORE.

>> JOHN MENTIONED SOME OF THE SUMMER HIRING CHALLENGES FOR RESTAURANTS.

STAFFING SHORTAGES AND HIGHER PRICES FOR FOOD ARE TWO BIG HURDLES HEADING INTO THE SEASON.

I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER AND OPERATEOR OF McCLUN'S RESTAURANS ABOUT HOW HE'S MANAGING THROUGH THAT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE EAGERLY AWAITING THE SPRING AND SUMMER TOURIST SEASON.

HIMES SURE YOU HAVE SOME CHALLENGES AS WELL.

LET'S FOCUS FIRST ON THE POSITIVES.

ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE A REAL PICKUP IN BUSINESS THIS YEAR?

>> THERE WAS A SURGE LAST YEAR THAT WAS UNDENIAL.

ONCE INDOOR WAS FULLY OPENED, AND WE HAD REASONABLE WEATHER, WE'RE NOT TOTALLY SEASONAL IN OUR ORGANIZATION.

BUT WE CERTAINLY DO SEE AB UPTICK IN THE SUMER THAT'S PRETTY MAJOR.

BUT THE SURGE AND THE DEMAND IS ALREADY THERE.

IT'S REALLY INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO BE READY AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB FOR WHAT THE CUSTOMERS ARE CLEARLY LETTING US KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMING.

>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE.

IS IT STILL DIFFICULT IN TERMS OF STAFFING YOUR RESTAURANTS?

ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PEOPLE?

DO YOU HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE MORE?

>> WE HAVE 11 PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK WE LOSE SOMEBODY AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK WE PICK UP SOMEBODY.

AND THERE'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT -- IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING, I THINK WE ALL IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS LEARNED SOMETHING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS THAT THE BASIC FORMAT FOR HOW WE ALL DO OUR BUSINESS WAS BUILT UPON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT MAKING A LIVING WAGE.

IT WAS JUST PART OF HOW RESTAURANT BUSINESS WAS RUN.

AND YOU'D HAVE PEOPLE WASHING DISHES FOR $7 AN HOUR.

AND DOING OTHER PREP COOKS AND PEOPLE CLEAN ING THE BUILDINGS AND ALL THAT NOT MAKING A LIVING WAGE.

THAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND IT WAS LIKE WE ALL ACCEPTED IT.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS BEING EVIL ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS JUST A FACT.

AND YOU COULDN'T HOLD ON TO PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOOK FOR THAT EXTRA DOLLAR AN HOUR OR WHO TREATED THEM.

THE BEST.

WE HAVE ALL LEARNED SOMETHING HERE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE LOWEST EARNERS IN OUR INDUSTRY HAVE THE LEVERAGE.

GOOD FOR THEM.

WE HAVE CERTAIN LY HAD TO REACT.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST RESTAURANTS TO GO ALL THE WAY TO $15 AN HOUR BECAUSE I COULD SEE IT WAS COMING ANY WAY.

AND WE WERE TRYING TO STAY IN FRONT OF IT.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP ONE OTHER POINT THAT I'M SURE IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU IN TERMS OF PROFITABILITY.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH INFLATION AND RISING FOOD PRICES.

SO ARE YOU RAISING PRICES ON YOUR MENU?

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THAT ASPECT AS WELL?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO EASE THINGS ON THE MENU.

A DOLLAR HERE, A DOLLAR THERE, THINGS THAT PEOPLE WON'T NECESSARILY NOTICE.

I CAME TO A MENU MEETING NOW.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DO WE NOT SERVE CERTAIN PRODUCT THAT WE KNOW WE REALLY -- YOU CAN'T CHARGE WHAT YOU'D HAVE TO CHARGE FOR IT.

IF YOU WANT TO PUT A 2-POUND LOBSTER ON A PLATE, ARE WE GOING TO SAY $80 WHEN IT COSTS US $30 TO PLATE.

SO IT PUTS EVERYBODY THIS A BIND.

>> SO WE HAVE RISING WAGE COSTS.

RISING FOOD COST.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

YOU MENTIONED PROFITABILITY.

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOUR GROUP OF RESTAURANTS WILL BE ABLE TO EARN WHAT IT HAS IN THE PAST GIVEN WHAT YOU HAVE SAID?

>> THE HONEST ANSWER, I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT SURE.

IS THIS JUST A BLIP WE'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW?

ARE THINGS GOING TO SETTLE BACK.

SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT REALLY SPIKED, SOME OF IT WAS SEASONAL.

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FRESH SEA IN JANUARY OR FRESH PRODUCE FOR THAT MATTER IN JANUARY, WE'RE USED TO PRICES SPIKING A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE.

SO IS THE MOST RECENT SURGE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE OR WILL IT BACK OFF?

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT.

>> I WEREN'T YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

AND AISLE I'LL SEE YOU AT ONE OF YOUR REPORT RESTAURANTS I HOPE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY, A LOT OF US THINK ABOUT THE SHORE.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE FOR VISITORS TO DO.

MY NEXT GUEST HOPES TO ADVANCING A RO TOURISM IN THE STATE.

DEVIN PERRY WAS NAMED THE EXEC TIFF DIRECTOR OF THE GARDEN STATE WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

SHE'S HOPING TO USE HER BR BACKGROUND IN TOURISM TO PROMOTE VISITS TO THE 50 PLUS WINERIES IN OUR STATE.

YOU'RE PRETTY NEW TO THE ASSOCIATION.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE PLANS AHEAD?

>> SO I FORMALLY WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TOURISM BUREAU FOR SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, WHICH COVERED THE OUTER COASTAL PLAINS AREA.

SO A LARGE NUMBER OF THE STATE'S WINERIES EXIST IN THE OUTER COASTAL PLAIN.

AND PRIOR THAT, I RAN AN ONLINE DATABASE WITH A FOCUS ON WINE RATINGS.

AND AT THE TIME WE SOLD, WE HAD OVER 53,000 RESTAURANTS IN THAT DATABASE.

AND A PRETTY GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH WINE AND BYOBs IN THE NEW JERSEY AND GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA.

SO BEING A PART OF THE GARDEN STATE WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION NOW GIVEN THAT PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, I CAN SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WITHIN THE DRIVABLE MARKET WHERE ONE TANK OF GAS AWAY FROM 43 MILLION PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN OPEN YOUR EYES IN THE MIDDLE OF WINE COUNTRY IN NEW JERSEY AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN SOME OF THE OLDEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL WINERIES IN THE WORLD.

>> AND WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN HELP BRING ABOUT THE IDEA THAT TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY IS BEYOND THE SHORE.

THAT THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE STATE THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT.

>> WE'RE REALLY EASY TO GET AROUND IN.

SO YOU CAN VISIT A FEW WINERIES IN A DAY OR MAKE A WEEKEND OF A WINE EXPERIENCE AND STILL HEAD OUT TO THE BEACH AND HEAD TO SOME OF OUR BEAUTIFUL AMUSEMENT ATTRACTIONS AS WELL.

SO TO YOUR POINT, I THINK TOURISM BACKGROUND HOPEFULLY WILL HELP BRIDGE TOGETHER THE CONNECTED ELEMENTS BETWEEN WINERIES AS WELL AS CELEBRATE THE WINERIES THEMSELVES.

>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF GOOD WINE, THEY OFTEN THINK ABOUT CALIFORNIA, FRANCE, ITALY, NEW ZEALAND, I COULD GO ON.

HOW DO YOU GET NEW JERSEY WINES ELEVATED TO A LEVEL WHERE THEY ARE ON PAR WITH CALIFORNIA?

>> SO, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ACTUALLY IN OUR STATE CALLED THE JUDGMENT OF PRINCETON, WHERE WE HAD DOUBLE BLIND TASTINGS OF WINES FROM THE GARDEN STATE AND WINES FROM CALIFORNIA.

AND WE PERFORMED QUITE WELL.

OUR WINES ALSO ARE COMPETING AND WINNING IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS UP AGAINST CALIFORNIA ON THE WEST COAST AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATED WINE REGIONS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN 2022 AND BRIDGING INTO 2023 IS LAUNCHING A CAMPAIGN CALLED FINELY GROWN.

WE'RE CELEBRATING THE FINE WINES OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

TRUTHFULLY, PUTTING THE GARDEN BACK IN THE GARDEN STATE BY LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THIS IS AN A MEGA POWER HOUSE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AS A VISITOR EXPERIENCE.

SO WE SHOULD BE BUYING LOCAL WHEN IT COMES TO WINE, AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS LET PEOPLE KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE WINE REGIONS IN AUSTRALIA, CALIFORNIA, THE FINGER LAKES OF VIRGINIA, IF YOU LIKE X BOTTLE OF WINE FROM THOSE REGIONS, TRY THIS BOTTLE OF WINE FROM OUR REGION.

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT TALKING TO YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT YOU DO FOR THE WINERIES IN OUR STATE.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> ANOTHER TOURISM OPPORTUNITY IN NEW JERSEY LIES IN OUR STATE'S RICH HISTORY.

EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS COME TO TRENTON FOR PATRIOTS WEEK, A SERIES OF EVENTS RELATED TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION IN TRENTON CALLED THE CROSS ROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHICH SEES ECONOMIC VALUE IN HERITAGE TOURISM AND RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN AUDIO TOUR OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR'S TEN CRUCIAL DAYS.

IT IS A MUST FOR HISTORY BUFFS, WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR STATE'S REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS.

AMONG THEM IS THE MAMMOTH UNIVERSITY POLLSTER WHO RECOUNTED THE BATTLES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S TROOPS HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND EXPLAINED THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OF PROMOTING NEW JERSEY'S HISTORY.

>> AT A TIME WHEN WE THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO BE OVER, AND THE TEN DAYS THAT FOLLOWED THE CHRISTMAS DAY CROSSING OF THE DELAWARE RIVER WITH THE BATTLES IN TRENTON AND PRINCETON WHERE THEY SCORED THOSE UPSETS.

WHEN YOU DRIVE THOSE ROADS, YOU'RE DRIVING ROADS WHERE NEW JERSEY MADE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION AND CHANGED THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DEMOCRACY.

ANYWHERE YOU GO IN NEW JERSEY, THERE'S SOME MEMORY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN THE GROUND.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE BUILT UP THE COMMUNITIES.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME BATTLEFIELDS AND SOME HOUSES PRESERVED, BUT WE DON'T REMEMBER THAT THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE IN NEW JERSEY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN YEARS.

AND IMPACTED PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN TAKING THESE TOURS IS SEE THE VALUE.

THERE'S ECONOMIC VALUE TO INVESTING IN SIGHTS AND CREATING A TOURISM ECONOMY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

AND THESE TOURS ARE JUST ONE PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE.

>> THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

WE'RE OFF NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE HOLIDAY, SO WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON ADVANCEMENT AND SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

on the EMPLOYEES REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES, WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

NJ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME-CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER AND IBEW LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY, VISIT IBEW102.ORG.