Category: Food and Beverage

Resetting the Table: Concerns for Restaurant Operations in MA

Photo Source: (Lueckemeyer, 2020) By Dr. Suzanne Markham Bagnera, Dr. John Palabiyik, and Dr. Brendan Cronin State of the Massachusetts Restaurant Industry The restaurant industry in the state of Massachusetts represents, as of 2018, over 15,000 restaurants (Massachusetts Restaurant Association, n.d.).  The nearly $19 billion-dollar industry was nearly brought to a complete halt of operations […]

Kindness is not 86’d: The Spirit of Hospitality in a World of COVID-19

Source: Travel Media Group By Dr. Suzanne Markham Bagnera and Leah Tringale Beginning in March of 2020, individuals started the practice of the unfamiliar act of social distancing. Along with the uncertainty of the virus, many of us are left apprehensive about the future. Having consensual physical contact with other people and enjoying the company […]

Adaptation: Restaurants Maneuver in Response to COVID-19

Source: Canva By Leora Halpern Lanz, Sara Szymanski The last few months have been a true test for restaurants, as COVID-19 has severely disrupted the food and beverage industry – likely one of the hardest hit segments of the economy. Shelter-in-place and lockdown policies inevitably restricted people from gathering and going out to dinner, essentially damaging […]

New Massachusetts Business Interruption Insurance Bill Could Provide Lifeline to Hotels and Restaurants During the Coronavirus Pandemic

By Joshua M. Bowman On March 24, 2020, in response to the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Senator James B. Eldridge filed S.D. 2888, a bill entitled “An Act Concerning Business Interruption Insurance.” I am proud to say that I worked closely with […]

Tweets, Hospitality, and the Coronavirus

Picture sources: Atlanticcouncil.org ; Twitter By Dr. Sean Jung & Dr. Mark Legg A few weeks back on March 11, 2020, the U.S. federal government signed a proclamation on restricting immigrants and nonimmigrants from the European Schengen Area who pose a risk of transmitting the Coronavirus. The proclamation became effective two days later on March 13, […]

Restaurant Organizations and the Power of the New Economy: A Pandemic, Labor Value and Lessons From the Past

By Dr. Christopher Muller What happens to the restaurant industry when the Pandemic ends, which history tells us, it will? The New Reality In the worst-case scenario, tens of thousands of newly opened foodie comets, or aging and struggling veterans, or flashy places with aspirational rent that was just a bit too high, or those busy […]

Five Actions that Increase Organizational Performance: Insights from Three Hospitality Leaders

By Taylor Peyton and Shashan Bao Successful hospitality companies are masterful at caring for their guests, but do they sometimes fall short when it comes to caring for their own staff?  People-related challenges to effective performance abound, particularly regarding attracting and retaining top talent.  According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the leisure and hospitality […]

It’s 2020 and Restaurant Strategy Has Just Been Changed Forever: Convenience Seekers vs. Experience Seekers

By Christopher Muller The restaurant industry is undergoing a tectonic shift as 2020 begins. Traditional segmentation is evolving from the supply side of Full Service vs. Quick Service providers to the demand side of Experience Seeking vs. Convenience Seeking consumers. Restaurant executives and the companies they lead will need to pick one path or the […]

Fragments of The Past: The Art of Naming Dishes

By Peter Szende and Namrata Sridhar From the start, menus have been a customer’s first impression into the restaurant’s culinary experience. Menus that have been carefully designed have drawn the customer’s eye to specific dishes and provide guidance when selecting a meal. (e.g. McCall & Lynn, 2008) Restaurant menu experts have begun to find that […]

How Can Single-Unit Restaurants Strive for Powerful Online Presence?

By Leora Lanz and Jenna Berry With the age of technology in full swing and the use of social media at an all-time high, digital marketing is not only recommended, but also necessary. The following list of recommendations will ensure that an independent restaurant’s online marketing presence will survive and thrive in the competitive nature […]