Author: Daniel snow

[ad_1] Once synonymous with indulgent late-night snacks, hotel minibars were a hallmark of convenience for travelers in the 1990s and the early aughts. But that is not longer the case.The hotel minibar concept went global in 1974, when a Hilton in Hong Kong stocked its in-room fridges with tiny liquor bottles inspired by airline bar carts. Drink sales reportedly soared 500% that year, boosting Hilton’s overall revenue by 5%. Soon, minibars became a global standard, complete with sodas, candy and consistent brand-name selections.But the convenient novelty for guests was a logistical nightmare for hotels and staff. Restocking, food spoilage, operational…

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[ad_1] Microsoft’s Majorana 1 quantum computing chipMicrosoftIt doesn’t quite have the buzz of artificial intelligence, but quantum computing is having a moment of its own.Some of the most powerful institutions in the world, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and the U.S. government, are spending many millions of dollars in a race to develop and build the first practical quantum computer.Startups focused on quantum technology attracted about $2 billion last year, according to a McKinsey & Co. report, as investors pile into an industry that could have nearly $100 billion in revenue within a decade.There isn’t much business today, though. In…

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[ad_1] BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 18: President of the EU Council Antonio Luis Santos da Costa talks to media (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)Thierry Monasse | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesNATO’s agreement to more than double allies’ defense spending targets will rebalance Europe’s trade relations with the U.S. and see the region buy more American weaponry, European Union Council President Antonio Costa told CNBC on Friday.Earlier this week, NATO allies agreed to more than double their defense spending target from 2% of gross domestic product to 5% by 2035.The move has solved the main trade-related issue between Europe and…

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[ad_1] Albany Times Union/hearst Newspapers | Hearst Newspapers | Getty ImagesOn the surface of the U.S. economy, prices are higher. The latest inflation data out on Friday from the government showed a bigger uptick than forecast. On Thursday, Nike said it took a $1 billion hit due to tariffs and the fact that price increases have yet to hit. Inside the U.S. economy, within distribution networks that manage inventory, there are fewer items overall due to the trade war, but more goods on which sticker prices are going up.”We are now seeing multiple customers increasing pricing,” said Ryan Martin, president…

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[ad_1] With the White House’s self-imposed deadlines to reach trade deals with dozens of countries just a little over a week away, states are bracing themselves for the potential impact of higher tariffs.That impact is likely to vary widely from state to state, according to Dan Anthony, president of Trade Partnership Worldwide, a Washington, D.C.-based economic research firm.”Something affecting one country or one product might really hurt the companies in one state and the state next door would be unaffected,” he said.The larger and more diverse a state economy is, the more likely it faces exposure in a trade war.…

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