MultiBriefs - Your source for industry specific News Briefs

What lies ahead for remodelers?

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

As remodelers prepare to say goodbye to the century's second decade, they may be feeling a bit ambivalent about their future prospects. All in all, the last half of the present decade has been pretty good for remodelers, with annual growth figures hovering around 5 to 7% or better. Recent indicators suggest that trend is winding down. The good news is demand for remodeling services should remain solid, but revenue growth in the next couple of years will likely be more modest.

Struggling Atlantic City Airport is subject of future ownership study

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

Steps to throw New Jersey's struggling Atlantic City Airport a lifeline have taken a step forward with the appointment of a consultancy firm to further study whether the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) should take over the facility. Situated inland of the Atlantic coast gambling resort and its famous Boardwalk, Atlantic City Airport was founded as a Naval Air Station in 1942 and at present is served by only one carrier — Spirit Airlines, which flies to leisure destinations in Florida on a few daily flights.

2020’s recommended countries to visit include sustainability-loving…

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

During the last two decades, the travel industry has grown both globally and regionally. That growth, however, has seen some downsides, most important of which is the negative environmental impact caused by travelers. From the slopes of Mt. Everest to the beaches of Hawaii, we are now witnessing terrible acts of pollution and damage to nature and property. The travel and tourism industry is closely following ongoing climate talks so that stakeholders can implement eco-friendly steps. The countries on this list are closer to achieving desired sustainability goals than others.

Master planning: A trellis to grow a city on

Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building Materials

We have all likely come across master plans, the "placemaker's" new tool of choice. They mostly take the form of differently colored polygons within a site outline to delineate what uses will be allowed where and how an area of new development might take shape. But until recently, master plans have been quite unfashionable. In an age of speculative anything-goes urbanism, development has resisted attempts to grow itself along a "trellis" drawn up by the planners. Here we look at what master planning means as a process and what challenges it faces for the future.

Luxury homebuyers are shifting locales

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

The market for luxury homes regained its footing in the third quarter — the first positive quarter of growth this year. Sales of second and vacation homes also are rising. Unexpectedly, activity was greatest in so-called secondary markets, notably areas that are experiencing migrations of more affluent homeowners and real estate investors. These trends should help to widen the sphere of opportunities for interior designers seeking to acquire more high-end clients.

Achieving the promise of reduce, reuse, recycle with chemical recycling

Kate Gaertner Waste Management & Environmental

There’s no consensus yet on whether chemical recycling is the silver bullet for the growing plastic pollution problem. What is clear, however, is that a solution needs to be found — and fast. Plastic and the use of plastic are not going away anytime soon. For the foreseeable future, companies will remain bound to plastics in their production cycles. This article will look at how industry can reduce the environmental impact of plastic, reuse material already circulating in the economic value stream, and create a circular recycling mechanism is at the heart and promise of chemical recycling.

One more time: Why we hate performance evaluations

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

They are the subject of jokes, disliked by employees and employers alike, deemed "untrustworthy," and yet they continue to be a staple for how people are managed. As I work with employers and employees across North America, I hear horror story after horror story about how much people dislike the annual ritual of performance evaluations. Here are my unofficial top 10 reasons why people loathe performance appraisals and what must be fixed to make them effective.

Will climate relief meet prison closures in California’s budget?

Michelle R. Matisons Civil & Government

As the upcoming holiday season promises a new year and new budget proposals, Northern California’s PG&E remains in limbo, with wildfire victims remaining largely uncompensated. The saga involves mismanagement distributing an essential commodity, power, to 16 million people. As climate disasters mount, the world's fifth-largest economy may adopt a publicly owned utility. PG&E remains court-ordered to pay past wildfire victims — customers and insurance companies — back, but company and state officials share the view that customers should pay for (at least some) future damages.

Bahrain’s new airport ambitions outshine current expansion

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

Look at a satellite view of the tiny Kingdom of Bahrain and, zooming closer, you’ll spot a number of airports and airfields in a relatively small land mass. Bahrain International Airport, the main passenger gateway in the northeastern corner of the island, serves this nation of 1.5 million people and its important oil industries. It is currently undergoing a $1.1 billion expansion project, but incredibly, the chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce has just announced this to be a temporary measure ahead of a brand-new airport being built.

What is the future of leadership?

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

If everything rises and falls on leadership, are we in good hands, or should we be concerned? While technology is moving at the speed of light and leveling everything in its path, leaders often seem hesitant to change their rather archaic traditions and beliefs. This is causing some uneasiness among employees and other stakeholders. So, what is the future of leadership, and how can leaders be effective and successful in this brave new world?

Industries