The Restaurant & Hospitality Industry: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Industry 

If you filled the news at all over the past 9 months, then you definitely know that COVID-19 has wrecked many industries. Some industries managed to stay afloat – even retailers managed to bounce back thanks to online sales – however, many are seemingly getting worse and worse. 

Even if you’re trying to avoid the news, you still know that the restaurant and hospitality industries are in a complete state of disarray. How bad have things become since the pandemic started? In today’s post, we’re going to find out just that.

Are people returning to restaurants? Well, only a quarter of people dined in a restaurant since the lockdowns started at the top of the year. More than half aren’t willing to return to restaurants in the following months, while another quarter will only feel comfortable when COVID-19 testing becomes more reliable and the numbers become significantly improved. 

And what about vacations? Have people traveled in 2020? Only a third of Americans have traveled for vacation since March. More than half of people in the United States aren’t willing to risk traveling or staying at a hotel any time soon. Most people feel like this sentiment will bleed over into 2021 and possibly 2022, depending on when the vaccine will be discovered. 

Is the situation better among the owners? Not quire. A recent survey of more than 330 restaurant owners revealed that 9 out of 10 owners are still keeping their establishments closed. For two-thirds of owners, three months to a year is a realistic timeframe for going back to work. 

We’ve only scratched the surface of the restaurant and hospitality industry. If you want to know more about it, make sure to check out the infographic below, courtesy of kitchenall.com.