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A pretest is an integral aspect of a quantitative study as it highlights the improvisation needed to create effective survey questionnaires. It is important to administer a pretest to ensure the actual data collection can be properly conducted. This paper is part of ongoing research which describes the process of conducting a pretest through the distribution of survey questionnaires on an online platform. The pretest was conducted on hospitality and tourism students from two private colleges in Klang Valley. Steps on the expert review to evaluate the validity of the instrument are discussed in detail. The challenges faced in selecting participants and establishing contact with the targeted population are described. This included overcoming communication issues which needed to be done online because of the pandemic restrictions which limits the possibility of physical meeting with the representative of the selected colleges to seek permission for the study to be conducted. This paper discusses the execution as well as findings from the pretest and the improvement done in developing an effective survey questionnaire.

Objective - This paper provides an overview of the COVID-19 crisis and the impact of restriction orders on the hospitality industry in Malaysia. The authors review existing studies related to COVID-19 and the hospitality industry while focusing on challenges faced by the hospitality industry in Malaysia. Then, the authors summarize the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry. Methodology/Technique - This paper examines previous COVID-19 related research published in top-tier hospitality journals during the pandemic period of December 2019 to September 2021. Research studies were categorized by topic area, hospitality industry segment, and research methods used. Additionally, the authors explored the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 on hospitality industry using content analysis. Findings - Most articles focused on administration/strategy, marketing, and human resources. The findings showed some potential shifts in the methods used by researchers who published during the pandemic. The findings revealed that the pandemic has negatively impacted the socioeconomic situation in many countries. Employment, public safety, finance, and physical and mental health are among the pressing issues highlighted by most researchers. Based on the findings, the authors provide insights and recommendations for further research. Novelty - This paper represents a pioneering attempt to identify a potentially unexplored area of research related to COVID-19, particularly in Malaysia. The novelty of this paper is that the authors provide substantial discussion on the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 on various countries' hospitality and tourism industries.