••• restaurant research
Other patrons are biggest COVID-19 concern for diners
A survey conducted by Columbus, Ohio-based PR firm Inspire PR Group, with marketing research firm Illuminology, found that respondents were more concerned about distancing themselves from other diners and possibly getting sick from them than they were about contracting COVID-19 from restaurant staff.
From April 17-20, 2020, the firm surveyed 1,300 U.S. consumers and 500 Ohio consumers about their eating habits and food purchasing trends from both before and during the coronavirus stay-at-home orders and how they expect them to change after those orders are lifted.
Thirty-seven percent said they would be extremely or very worried about getting sick from other customers if they ate a meal inside a restaurant, whereas only 29 percent said they would be extremely or very worried about getting sick from employees if they ate a meal inside a restaurant.
The survey predicts that restaurant traffic will decrease about 20 percent overall from before pre-COVID levels. Consumers were most concerned about distancing from other customers: 68 percent of those surveyed said they wanted at least six feet between tables; 59 percent said they wanted restaurants to limit the amount of people allowed inside; 52 percent said they would like every employee to wear a face mask.
••• entertainment research
For theatregoers, the show may not go on right away
Most theatregoers will not immediately return to theatres even when they reopen, according to findings reported by American Theatre from an online survey of 2,762 Washington, D.C.-area theatregoers conducted by Shugoll Research on April 8-9, 2020, about their willingness to return to theatres in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the regional specificity of the survey, the findings may be significant for the U.S. theatre field in general.
The survey found that around half (49 percent) of those questioned say they will likely wait a few months before returning. Only 25 percent think they would attend right away.
Health concerns are a bigger factor in the likelihood of respondents returning to the theatre than economic factors. Almost half (46 percent) of those surveyed are worried about how returning to the theatre might impact their health, and 42 percent of those surveyed are aware that a COVID-19 vaccine likely won’t yet be available when many theatres reopen.
The existence of a vaccine was the factor most likely to increase interest in returning to the theatre, with 67 percent saying that would be decisive. In addition, 56 percent said that theatres taking steps to clean and disinfect before each performance would also help get them to consider returning to the theatre sooner than later.