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7 of America’s best beer gardens

Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

The beer garden (or biergarten to be linguistically accurate) is a traditional German outdoor pub that serves beer and eats at communal tables. American breweries and restaurants have added their own twist to this traditional and culturally significant gathering place. Most U.S. beer gardens are of Bavarian heritage or influence, but beer-loving Bohemians from the Czech Republic and Slovakia have maintained a beer garden tradition of their own. Here are seven of the best beer gardens America has to offer.

Report: Was there enough oversight for federal virus aid?

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

A new report on recipients of federal pandemic aid from the CARES Act asks if there was adequate congressional oversight before tax dollars went out the door as the economy closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in March. "The revelation that tens of thousands of CARES Act recipients have records of misconduct — including some cases of a criminal nature — raises the question of whether the eligibility criteria for the grant and loan programs were strict enough," according to Philip Mattera, research director at Good Jobs First, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group.

You’ve closed the deal. Now what?

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Negotiating is a valuable skill in any industry or role. However, one thing that separates good negotiators from great negotiators is that the latter understand that closing the deal isn't the end of the process. As the world becomes more interconnected, it’s increasingly more important to comprehend the various nuances involved in international negotiations. According to Eliane Karsaklian, author of "The After Deal: What Happens After You Close a Deal?" the success of a negotiation depends on understanding that the negotiation process is not over when a deal is signed.

Will COVID-19 be a catalyst for more hotel mergers and acquisitions?

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

COVID-19 has put many restaurants and hotels out of business. A recent example is the permanent closure of the iconic Hilton Times Square Hotel. Several restaurant chains recently rolled out new store designs to embrace contactless self-service and delivery capabilities demanded by customers. With more schools and businesses reopening, the restaurant industry has shown signs of recovery. The outlook for hotels, however, is not as optimistic.

US payrolls add 1.4 million jobs; unemployment rate drops to 8.4%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Employers added 1.4 million nonfarm new hires in August, down from the creation of 1.8 million jobs in July, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. August’s rate of unemployment fell to 8.4% from July’s 10.2%. Driving such improvements were economic reopening and Census 2020 hiring. The number of unemployed workers on temporary layoff dropped to 6.2 million in August compared with July’s 9.2 million, according to the BLS.

The most important RV list: The departure checklist

Cindy Belt Recreation & Leisure

There are plenty of lists online on what to take when RVing. I find a list for leaving a campsite even more important. If you are new to RVing, this is a critical step. Even for the experienced RVer, it is helpful for those mornings when you leave when you are still groggy, under pressure to clear the site quickly, interrupted in your routine by something, or if it has been awhile since you left a campsite after a long stay. Everyone’s list is different. Here are some suggestions.

10 people you’ll meet during your next job search

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

It is 2:12 p.m. on a Tuesday when your cellphone rings. Looking at caller ID, you see that it is the name of a company you applied to a few weeks back. Arrangements are made to speak in about a week, and now your mind turns to what lies ahead. You need to become an expert on this company… and on the 10 people you will meet during and preparing for your upcoming appointment.

The touchless future of our airports

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us is a step up in technology, particularly in areas that affect our travel and interaction with the world. Now it seems the technology to allow the process of transiting an airport from door to gate could become as close to "touchless" as possible thanks to innovations in technology being fast-tracked by different companies.

Float through the end of summer on these terrific tubing rivers

Dave G. Houser Recreation & Leisure

We can't think of a better summer pastime than floating down a scenic river in a big rubber donut — with a frosty brew in hand. And with America the Beautiful blessed with so many idyllic rivers, we've taken on the task of searching out eight of the country's best rivers for tubing. We’ll start out West. But first, here’s a bit of information about tubes.

Contactless self-services will remain after COVID-19

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

New COVID-19 cases are finally showing signs of decline across the U.S., but we should still take cautionary measures to avoid another wave of infections. Because the virus is primarily transmitted through direct or indirect close contact with infected people via mouth or nose secretions, social distancing and frequent sanitation are highly recommended. It is not surprising to see consumers demand services with minimal human contact, leading to more contactless self-services.

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