MRM Research Roundup: Holiday Edition

This edition of MRM Research Roundup features the Restaurant Resilience Index, the impact of reviews, shifitng consumer preferences and the importance of rewards.Pandemic and Restaurant DemandThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a number of businesses, but few harder than the restaurant industry.

“They’ve had to basically adapt and change their entire business model,” says Yang Yang, an associate professor in the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) at Temple University. “Even the restaurants that have succeeded and done reasonably well with pivoting to a takeout operation have still suffered considerable losses. There’s just not the same amount of volume in takeout as there is in in-person dining.”

A new journal article from Yang details how specifically the restaurant industry was affected in the early parts of the pandemic. It also could provide a future outlook for the industry, especially if more states implement stay-at-home orders in response to…