Here’s a look at last week’s hospitality news headlines:
Several states announced relaxed regulations on indoor dining capacity in restaurants last week. Texas and Maryland have increased capacity for indoor dining up to 75% of normal. Indiana and Florida removed all capacity restrictions, though Florida alone nullified all mask-ordinances in the state. Florida governor Ron DeSantis based his executive order on the state’s need for economic recovery. Florida also made the news for being one of the top 5 states with the highest rate of unemployment in the hospitality industry.
In the hotel industry, a consumer survey reveals widespread willingness and desire to use an app for actions like check in/out and room service. Plus, an IHG hotel in Houston will be the first to use newly developed filtration system that can kill airborne contaminants.
Read on for more hospitality news.
Our Customers and Partners:
- Lightspeed Announces Initial Public Offering in the United States [PRNewswire]
Lightspeed, one of Avero’s POS partners, announced their initial public offering in the US. The Canada-based company has applied to list its subordinate voting shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LSPD.
News:
- Florida Governor Lifts All Restaurant Restrictions, Bans Mask Fines as Covid-19 Spreads [PBS]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses and nullified local mask ordinances in an effort to reopen the state’s economy. It’s now unlawful for any city to restrict restaurant capacity below 50%. - Indiana Restaurants and Bars Get Green Light to Open at Full Capacity [Eater]
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that Indiana will allow restaurants and bars to open at full capacity beginning Sept 26. Face masks will still be required but there will no longer be size limitations on gatherings up to 500 people. - Maryland Restaurants Can Expand Indoor Dining Capacity to 75% Starting Monday
[Baltimore Business Journal]
Maryland restaurants got the green light to operate at 75% indoor capacity last week. Counties and cities in the state retain the power to restrict indoor dining however. Baltimore city has opted to restrict indoor dining to 50% of capacity citing rising coronavirus cases. - Texas Bars and Distilleries Rip Gov. Greg Abbott for Leaving Them Out of “Unacceptable” Reopening Plan [Texas Tribune]
Restaurants and retail stores in Texas can now operate at 75% of capacity though bars remain closed. Governor Abbott closed bars back in Late June and maintains that they are “nationally recognized as Covid-spreading locations.”
Technology:
- Research: 80% of Hotel Guests Would Download an App to Check In and Out
[Hotel Technology News]
According to a survey by Criton, 80% of hotel guest respondents would download and use a hotel app to bypass the front desk at check in/out. Only 8% said they would prefer to check in/out at a kiosk. 47% of respondents said they would be more likely to order room service if they could do so via app. - IHG Partners with Owner of the InterContinental Houston Medical Center to Install IVP Air Technology to Combat Covid-19 [Hospitality Technology]
IHG hotel InterContinental Houston-Medical Center, located in the Texas Medical Center is becoming the first hotel to used the Integrated Viral Protection Bio Defense Indoor Air Protection Filtration System. The IVP Air is a mobile plug-and-purify device designed to eliminate airborne contaminants through a heated filter.
Trends:
- Fourteen States Lost Restaurant Jobs in August [National Restaurant Association]
Restaurant staffing gains peaked in July and have already begun tapering off. Fourteen states saw their F&B industry employment levels decline in August. California, Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alaska have lost the most jobs in August.
Click here for last week’s hospitality news headlines.
