Linchi Kwok, Ph.D.

When the pandemic hit the global economy in March, business travel was estimated to lose $820 billion in revenue. Under the best scenario, businesses were expected to reopen in late spring or early summer . As we entered into the summer, indicators showed travel and hospitality businesses were picking up, but we all knew travel recovery would not occur until people are taking business trips again. “ Travel, as we knew it, is over ,” concluded by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Now in October, we still have not contained the coronavirus. To make it worse, new COVID-19 cases now surge again across the US and Europe. More companies let employees work from home permanently Many states and countries have already lifted the stay-at-home orders in May. Schools and companies are taking a different stand, however. For example, Twitter was the first U.S. major company that announced its permanent work-from-home plan in May. Pinterest canceled a lease in an unbuilt project in San Francisco with a...

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented scenario for many American industries, and the restaurant industry is no different. With restaurants being forced to close their in-person dining across the country, many restaurants saw a downturn in business. Now, six months after the pandemic first hit America, restaurants across multiple states are only allowed to serve customers outside. This has raised the question, will outdoor dining become the norm in places where it can be utilized? COVID-19 Impact on the Restaurant Industry When the COVID-19 pandemic first started back in March 2020, many restaurants were forced to close their in-person dining. OpenTable reported a 42% drop in reservations by mid-March and grocery delivery apps saw a 215% increase by mid-March, showing the drastic shift from eating out to cooking at home. Restaurants then saw a 54% decline in revenue, creating a huge hit to many small, independent restaurants. By mid-May, most states had released guidelines for partial o...

Amazon recently introduced a  new biometric payment device , Amazon One, in two of its Go stores in Seattle. Shoppers can now enter and pay at cashier-free  Amazon Go  stores by scanning their palms. The company opened its first Amazon Go store in Seattle to the public in  January 2018 . Currently, Amazon operates  21 Go stores  in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, with five temporarily closed. Unlike a typical grocery store, Amazon Go offers grab-and-go, ready-to-eat snacks, breakfast, and lunch options for shoppers. Shopping at Amazon Go can be as easy as walking in and out of the store. After consumers download the Amazon Go app and link the account with a form of payment, they can: Walk into the store by scanning the Amazon Go app. Grab the items wanted. Walk out of the store. Be charged through the Amazon Go app. How Amazon One works Amazon One  works similarly to the Amazon Go app. To  sign up , shoppers will need a credit card...