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Villa stays spike as solution for safe, sumptuous vacation choices
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAs travel circles and sputters amid plans made, plans changed and plans canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, one travel formula is seeing great success as a fun and safe alternative to staying in crowded hotels. Thoughts have turned to private villas and chalets in scenic, if not breathtaking, destinations for vacations long and short and with all the pampering one can handle.
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Homeowners doing more improvements with less
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesHome renovation and improvement activity has surged in recent months as owners confined to home have responded to the urge to undertake needed repairs or make their living environment more pleasant. Due to concerns about health, finances or the unavailability of renovation specialists, many of these homeowners have chosen to do the work themselves. In some sectors, though, remodelers also are experiencing increased demand.
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Tips for safer property management during COVID-19
Sam Radbil Facilities & GroundsMany people are leery of changes, moves or disruptions to their routines during COVID-19 and with good reason. Information may be difficult to distill from regular news sources, so here are seven tips to help you manage a property during this crisis.
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US payrolls add 1.8 million jobs; jobless rate drops to 10.2%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployers added 1.8 million nonfarm new hires in July, down from 4.8 million jobs created in June, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. July’s rate of unemployment dropped to 10.2% from June’s 11.1%. July’s numbers indicate the reopening of commerce closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Most major worker groups saw their unemployment rates fall.
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Practical ways to reduce gender inequality in the workplace
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementStudies still show that working women are paid about 80 cents for every dollar men are paid. These studies suggest that women are at a disadvantage when it comes to holding higher-paying jobs and that men are generally on more accelerated career paths. This article offers some practical suggestions for actions that human resources professionals can take in their companies to address and hopefully improve this gender inequality.
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Shifting conditions present challenges for designers
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAt the beginning of the third quarter, as many states began to relax restrictions, business appeared to be picking up for interior designers in some sectors and regions of the country. With the recent resurgence in outbreaks of the coronavirus nationwide, however, activity has pulled back somewhat in recent weeks. In addition, delays in manufacturing and purchasing, along with a shortage of skilled tradespeople, have added to designers' challenges.
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LaGuardia shakes its reputation with new development
Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementLaGuardia Airport has continued work on its large-scale redevelopment despite the ongoing disruption to travel, with a summer of works culminating in the opening of Terminal B's new concourse. It follows the opening of this terminal's redeveloped Arrivals and Departures hall at the terminal in June. The major redevelopment of the airport started in 2016 with plans to replace the cramped terminals and low ceilings.
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Getting grounded: Implications for business
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe may all be ready to be done with the coronavirus, but the virus isn’t ready to be done with us. As a result, some of the short-term changes to how and where we work may turn out to be more longer-term than we ever expected. Not only do we need to maintain social distance and wear masks when out and about near others, but we also have to face the fact that for the most part, we’ve all been grounded. What do you need to do to be as effective as possible given these constraints?
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Delayed buying season pushes home sales to record levels
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsPent-up demand from months of home confinement combined with record-low mortgage interest rates created a surge in home buying in June. Sales of new and existing homes reached some of their highest levels ever and were up in every region of the country. Industry experts differ, though, on whether this is a sign of the market’s recovery or just a temporary boost before activity tapers off again.
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Down on the farm: 6 of the US’ best agricultural museums
Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementIf you've ever tended a backyard garden or tried to raise a few chickens, you know that farming is hard, dirty work. Keeping America's kitchens supplied during the coronavirus pandemic has made things even harder for farmers — earning these most essential of essential workers the respect and appreciation of an entire nation. For those interested in learning more about American farms and ranches, there are a number of farming and agricultural museums around the country. Here are six of them.
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