Analyzing and mapping the vulnerability and resilience of the hospitality industry: Insights from real consumer visitation behavior
Abstract
Crisis recovery is an evolutionary process, not just a return to pre-crisis levels. Utilizing SafeGraph's large-scale mobility data on weekly visits to over 84,000 hospitality businesses across all 50 U.S. states, this study examines the changing vulnerability and resilience by analyzing how COVID-19 cases impacted weekly visits to U.S. hospitality businesses. A varying coefficient model was employed to capture this evolving relationship. Results showed the temporal evolution characterized by three stages: initial shock, reduction of vulnerability, and establishment of adaptive resilience. Full-service-restaurants showed the quickest vulnerability reduction and highest system stabilization. Limited-service-restaurants, despite the smallest initial impact, showed more fluctuations in reducing vulnerability and less stability in maintaining resilience. Non-casino hotels, after a prolonged vulnerability reduction phase, reached a ‘bounce forward’ phase. These insights emphasize the evolutionary nature of vulnerability and resilience, offering valuable guidance for decision-makers to implement precise, subsector-specific interventions and prioritize policy targets within the hospitality industry.
Publication Title
International Journal of Hospitality Management
Recommended Citation
Qi, R., Mou, X., Liu, H., Dogru, T., & So, K. (2026). Analyzing and mapping the vulnerability and resilience of the hospitality industry: Insights from real consumer visitation behavior. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 132 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104362
