https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7801-2111
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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the current study is to identify the response of restaurants to COVID-19. Findings were derived from a qualitative approach by conducting thirty-nine interviews at the managerial level of thirty-five independent restaurants in Cairo. During March and April 2020, open-ended interviews were performed, and then analyzed using NVivo 9.0 software. This study successfully documents the decisions and activities related to four aspects (leadership practices, managing stakeholders’ cooperation, operational procedures, and marketing the reputation) used in adapting restaurants in response to COVID-19. It also identifies the barriers to applying the mitigation measures. Though this paper concentrates on Cairo restaurants, the value of this paper lies in being the first managerial-level analytical study documenting the responses to COVID-19 in the restaurant industry. It strengthens the existing literature by highlighting COVID-19’s impact on the restaurant industry and introducing a holistic view of decisions and the actual pandemic’ adopted responses, faced difficulties, and recovery practices within the restaurant industry.