Business
Businesses weigh reopening – or close again – as cases rise
Published
4 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSIt’s not the reopening businesses were hoping for.
After months of shutdown, restaurants, stores and even amusement parks announced their reopening with fanfare. But now that states like Texas and Arizona are seeing alarming surges in reported cases of COVID-19, businesses large and small must decide whether to keep their doors open.
In some cases, governments are pausing their reopening plans. On Friday, Texas and Arizona shut down bars except for takeout and scaled back restaurant dining capacity. Florida banned alcohol consumption at bars.
But many businesses had already taken those steps on their own, saying rising case numbers and shifting advice from state and local governments did not give them the confidence to stay open.
The Kolache Factory, which has 27 bakeries mostly in the Houston area, opened dining rooms for two weeks before shutting them down June 19 and returning to takeout and delivery. Chief Operating Officer Dawn Nielsen was getting mixed signals from Harris County — which required masks — and the state of Texas, which didn’t.
“It’s a scary time. At some point you just have to grab the reins of the horse and say, ‘I just have to make the decision myself and not wait for someone else to mandate what I have to do,’” Nielsen said.
Lei Low Rum and Tiki Bar in Houston reopened its 60-seat dining room at 50% capacity on June 10. But managing owner Russell Thoede said patrons didn’t always observe safety measures, like staying seated and wearing masks. On June 18, Thoede closed the bar again and restarted takeout cocktail kits. His employees were relieved, he said.
Apple, which started reopening its stores May 11, has closed at least 32 stores in hot spots like Florida and Texas. Best Buy, which opened most of its 1,000 stores last week, said it is reviewing local data and making tweaks in virus hot spots, like limiting the number of customers in the store.
In some cases, illnesses have prompted closures. Gila River Casinos closed its three locations in Phoenix on June 18 for two weeks, saying it needed to rethink operations after a security guard died a week earlier.
On June 20, McCray’s Backyard Bar-B-Q and Seafood in West Palm Beach, Florida, shut its doors for 10 days after learning one of its employees might have been exposed to COVID-19. The restaurant is hiring a cleaning company and requiring its 20 employees to get tested.
In East Lansing, Michigan, Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub reopened June 8 to an exuberant college crowd. Now it’s closed again, and health officials are urging people who visited the bar to self-quarantine. As of Friday, at least 85 patrons had tested positive for COVID-19.
In some places, employees are pushing for businesses to close again. In Washtenaw County, Michigan, about an hour outside of Detroit, 1,300 servers have signed a petition asking county officials to close restaurants until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat. They are scheduled to present the petition at a meeting on Wednesday.
“Bar culture promotes mingling, and in a tipping industry, are you going to have a fight with a customer about wearing a mask?” said one area bartender, who asked to remain anonymous because she fears her job could be impacted.
Many businesses are finding that the risks of reopening outweigh any reward from the meager foot traffic coming in the door, said Alden Parker, an attorney and co-chair of the hospitality group at the law firm Fisher Phillips, which specializes in labor and employment law. Already, more than 250 lawsuits have been filed against U.S. businesses nationwide over coronavirus, including from employees who say they were terminated after they tested positive.
The legal landscape is unclear. Some businesses have been requiring customers and employees to sign a waiver saying they won’t sue if they get sick. But whether they can be enforced varies by state and is open to debate. Employee issues will likely be covered by worker’s compensation insurance. But what if a venue puts up a sign encouraging masks, then doesn’t enforce it and a customer falls ill? It could be a year or two before courts sort that out, Parker said.
Advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes in the form of guidance, not requirements. The CDC suggests businesses should immediately remove sick employees or customers and clean the immediate area after 24 hours, but it says the 24-hour wait is only “if feasible,” and can be shorter.
Matt Hinton, a partner with Control Risks who specializes in crisis and resilience consulting, said companies should use government restrictions as a minimum baseline and develop their own criteria, since they may have a different risk tolerance than what governments recommend. But he said many clients have complained that it’s hard to know which public officials to believe.
Aaron Post, the owner of Valkyrie cocktail bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reopened June 5 after being closed for 13 weeks. With no government guidelines about what to do if there is a resurgence of the virus, Post came up with his own metrics. He plans to close if the rate of positive tests hits 10% in his area; it’s currently at 8%.
“Without sweeping regulation or guidance from the government, it’s punitive to businesses that are choosing to be more ethical and responsible,” Post said.
Some businesses are delaying reopening. Disneyland in Anaheim, California, had planned to reopen July 17 but said this week it will push that back indefinitely while it waits for new state regulations.
Adam Orman, who runs L’Oca d’Oro Italian restaurant in Austin, Texas, may delay a planned July 30 reopening for outdoor seating. Orman thinks the speed at which Texas reopened hurt businesses.
“Nobody has a chance to settle into any of the guidelines — employees, owners or guests — and get used to the one reality before moving onto the next,” Orman said. Guests figure they don’t have to follow the rules because they’ll be changing soon anyway, he said.
Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease expert at the University of Chicago, said businesses may have to get used to being flexible.
She understands the desire for more government guidance, but said the public health infrastructure is strained and rules that work well for one area might not work for another.
The most important thing for businesses to do, she said, is mitigate risks for employees by requiring masks, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing.
“If you’re not protecting your workers, you’re not protecting your business,” she said. “We can’t make it go away. All we can do is decrease the impact.”
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Business
4ACES GC Announce Chris Rosaasen As New General Manager
Published
3 weeks agoon
March 27, 2024By
FNN NEWSWest Palm Beach, FL (March 27, 2024) – 4Aces GC, one of 12 teams competing in the LIV Golf League, today announced Chris Rosaasen as their new General Manager. The former CEO of TravisMathew and founder of Extracurricular, brings a wealth of industry knowledge and stewardship to the 4Aces GC team.
With over 20 years of brand-building, marketing, and business leadership, Rosaasen’s record of innovation in the golf industry will strengthen and accelerate the growth of the 4Aces GC brand. Rosaasen enters into the GM role after being endorsed by long-time friend and current 4Aces team captain, Dustin Johnson.
“I have known Chris for many years, witnessing firsthand how he has built multiple successful brands,” said Dustin Johnson, Captain of 4Aces GC. “Chris’s vision for the team aligns perfectly with what we aim to achieve, and I have full confidence in his ability to propel 4Aces GC to greatness.”
With an all-encompassing goal to build 4Aces GC into a recognized franchise with monumental value, Rosaasen will work with the team to create a unique and compelling brand identity, captivating sponsors and building a global fan base. The onboarding of Rosaasen to the 4Aces GC reflects the team’s relentless pursuit of greatness and underscores their commitment to performing at the highest level of the game.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to create a globally recognized franchise in golf,” said Rosaasen. “Being at the forefront of innovation in the sports industry is an invaluable opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenge of doing something that has never been done before in golf.” For the last four years, Rosaasen has been serving as CEO of the Omniverse Group, a company dedicated to the goal of zero waste supply and fully circular, consumer supply chains. As CEO, Rosaasen shared in the Group’s vision to build sustainable, fully vertical, made-in-USA manufacturing.
In addition to the strategic vision of the team, Rosaasen will be responsible for management of the team operations including front-office staffing, revenue, marketing, commercialization, and player recruitment. Rosaasen has already transitioned into his new role.
For more information on 4Aces GC: www.4AcesGC.com
Business
FNN News names Janira Garcia its new Director of Corporate Partnerships, Sales and Marketing
Published
1 month agoon
March 8, 2024By
FNN NEWSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Florida National News announced today the appointment of Janira Garcia as its new Director of Corporate Partnerships, Advertising Sales and Marketing.
Most recently, Garcia served as an associate editor of FNN News en Español, a sister news outlet of Florida National News. Her experience in news coverage and business development in Spanish will be key factors as FNN continue to expand.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of FNN, an innovative news outlet for a global audience,” Garcia said. “I believe my experience and expertise will allow me to build on the success FNN has already achieved in the last 10 years and will give me the opportunity to strengthen and expand our partnerships.”
“Janira is a proven leader with a rich and diverse background in our industry, and her strategic operations mindset will be vital in shaping the future of our company’s growth and success,” said J. Willie David, III, FNN’s president and CEO of Florida National News and FNN News Network.
In this role, she oversees Ad Sales efforts across the company’s Portfolio of brands and platforms, which includes Florida National News, FNN News Network, FNN Sports Network, FNN News en Español, FNN Politics & Power, FNN News TV, FNN News Media, FNN News and FNN Brand Partnerships. Garcia will report to Jenny Rosario, vice president of Florida National News and FNN News Network.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate our company growth through strategic partnerships and we’re excited to have Janira join our leadership team,” said Jenny Rosario, vice president of Florida National News and FNN News Network.
To learn more about Florida National News, visit FloridaNationalNews.com.
Business
March 7 Luxury Auction® Set for Caribbean Waterfront Estate on Grand Cayman
Published
2 months agoon
February 27, 2024By
FNN NEWSWEST BAY, Grand Cayman–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Luxury real estate auction house Platinum Luxury Auctions has announced another offering on the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. On March 7, 2024, a waterfront residence once asking $12 million will now be sold to the highest bidder in a live, luxury auction® without reserve. In October 2022, Platinum auctioned an oceanfront home in Grand Cayman’s Savannah neighborhood for approx. $4.7 million. The firm is conducting the March 7th sale in partnership with Antonette Baptist of principal brokerage Provenance Properties Cayman Islands, the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in the Cayman Islands.
On March 7, 2024, a waterfront residence once asking $12 million will now be sold to the highest bidder in a live, luxury auction® without reserve.
“Platinum continues to strengthen its relationships with the Caribbean’s leading real estate agents and luxury brokerages, like Antonette and the team at Provenance Properties,” said Trayor Lesnock, Platinum’s founder and president. “We’ll look forward to adding this pristine, waterfront estate on Grand Cayman to our roster of successful luxury auction sales in the Caribbean to date.”
The tri-level property is located in the boutique, waterfront community of Stone Island Residences, a private and gated residential enclave developed by Dart Enterprises, one of the Caribbean’s largest developers and the leader of luxury, residential development on Grand Cayman.
The community is ideally located, occupying a small island on Governors Creek Harbor, just across from the Cayman Islands Yacht Club & Marina. It’s within a short walk of Camana Bay and the renowned Seven Mile Beach. George Town, the Caymans’ capital city and financial hub, is just 10-15 mins south.
The property’s current owner worked with the developer during construction to create a unique, custom residence within the community that offers approx. 9,500 sf throughout 3 living levels, with 5 bedrooms (plus a convertible 6th), 8 full and one half-bath. The balance of the residences in the development are approx. 4,500 sf.
Interestingly, the residence has not yet been occupied since its completion in 2020, though it’s been kept in exceptional condition. “It presents as ‘brand new’ – not a single crack, scuff or dent,” stated Lesnock. The owner also spent $750,000 to furnish the property, and those (unused) furnishings will be included in the sale.
Prominent property features include a waterfront pool with adjacent loggia and summer kitchen, multiple balconies, gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry, home theater, office, and a sleek elevator serving all levels.
Stone Island community amenities include a gated entry, 24-hr security, private boat slips, waterfront boardwalk, kids’ playground, infinity pool, waterside conservatory, and a luxe clubhouse.
Interested brokers and buyers may preview the property by daily appointment, between the hours of 11 am and 5pm (local time), now through March 6th. Appointments may be scheduled by contacting Platinum’s project manager, James Smith, at +1 800.997.4235. Property photos, video, and diligence documents are also hosted online at CaymanLuxuryAuction.com.