New Yorkers Now Can Return to the Office. Most Are Staying Away.

New York City will allow companies to reopen their offices on Monday after a three-month lockdown from the pandemic. Few employees seem ready or willing to go back. Most companies are taking a cautious approach. Some are keeping offices closed, while others are opening them at reduced occupancy and allowing employees to decide if they prefer to keep working from home. Mary Ann Tighe, chief executive for the tri-state region at real-estate services firm CBRE Group Inc., said many New York City cl…

SL Green Co-CIO Isaac Zion to Leave New York Landlord in July

SL Green Realty Corp. Co-Chief Investment Officer Isaac Zion is leaving the New York landlord to pursue other opportunities. “For more than a decade, Isaac has done an exemplary job co-leading the investments team,” Andrew Mathias, president of SL Green said in an emailed statement Monday. “We thank him for all of his accomplishments here and his tireless efforts at adding value across the entirety of our platform.”

Apple’s WWDC Goes Virtual, and Tech Industry Is Taking Note

At Apple Inc.’s AAPL 2.69% software conference two years ago, Ken Case peppered peers over breakfasts with questions about their businesses. He said the conversations helped his company avoid mistakes that could have cost thousands of customers and millions of dollars….

Hotels Turn To Robot Butlers, Digital Menus To Avoid Covid-19

Set in the kelly-green hills of Ireland’s County Clare, Dromoland Castle is the type of getaway that never sits empty. Why would it, with a pampering spa tucked behind 16th century walls, a par-72 championship golf course, and more stars on travel review sites than in all of Hollywood? And yet, in the wake of Covid-19, the fairytale 450-acre estate—like many hotels around the world—closed its doors for safety in March. “We’ve stayed at Dromoland Castle twice and have been dreaming about going ba…

Convene CEO Ryan Simonetti On Pricing, Reopening And Redesign

New York-based Convene was the first coworking and flex office provider to close its locations in March as the coronavirus pandemic spread. Competitor WeWork remained open. Without revenue coming in, the company made a swift decision to lay off and furlough more than 400 employees and cut costs. It also immediately worked to renegotiate its leases and applied for and received a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program. Simonetti said the company will gradually bring its staff back as it continu…

Real estate firms lead cautious return to NYC offices

C&W, Matterport Partnership Yields Life-Like Showings With 3D ‘Digital Twin’ Technology

Showing they’re adapting to COVID-19′s new model of business, a leading multinational real estate services firm has announced a technology partnership to launch robust virtual showings for commercial property listings.

Kochi’s smart city command centre goes live with video wall

The city in Kerala is among the first 20 cities selected under the Government’s smart cities mission and the centre will deliver insights for improved planning and policy-making.

What Will Happen to Communal Office Amenities?

Before the pandemic, onsite office amenities and communal spaces were surging in demand. After the pandemic, those same amenities are now a big question mark. As office begin to reopen, office owners are starting to consider how to address these spaces, which include fitness centers, cafes and work-enabled lobbies and meeting areas.

Restaurants Scramble To Make Outdoor Dining Safer

Al fresco dining was once mostly a pleasant afterthought for American restaurants, but with sales losses estimated at $120B during the first three months of the coronavirus pandemic, outdoor seating is now a key component of keeping some eateries alive.