Before there were coworking spaces, hotels served as a hub for remote workers and digital nomads who traveled while conducting business. Now, hotels have started integrating actual coworking spaces within their buildings in order to accommodate the growing number of digital nomads.
However, the hotel industry has seen a drop in guests staying overnight, so some firms have started offering their rooms as daytime offices. This allows users to rent out a hotel room for an entire day, while providing them access to the hotels other amenities.
Operators like Accor hope that this offering can accommodate remote workers who need a break outside of their home offices, while feeling safe in a clean work environment.
“It opens up new possibilities for the hospitality sector, offering a range of services, from breakfasts to coffee, lunch or even dinner,” said Jessica Jahns, Head of Hotels & Hospitality Research, EMEA. “Some hotels are throwing in other freebies such as access to leisure facilities although of course that depends on local COVID-19 restrictions.”
While being able to escape your tiresome home office seems appealing in the short-term, could this arrangement be a sustainable option? As companies begin to bring their workers back into the office, it is likely that day usage for hotel offices could dwindle. Still, for those who live in small apartments in large cities, working from a fully-equipped, spacious hotel room could be an ideal solution.