Updated on 24/09
Coworking has been making inroads into the hotel world for some time now. Mama Shelter with Mama Works, Ruby Hotels with its WorkSpaces, Hoxton with Working From Hoxton: these groups havenew-generation workspaces for mobile executives and freelance professionals. For its part, the Accor group is developing Wojo Corners and Wojo Spots in its hotels in France and Europe, in partnership with its subsidiary, Accor. Wojowhich the French group co-owns with Bouygues Immobilier. At the same time, Accor is also rolling out co-working spaces in ibis hotels in India, under the Work@ibis label.
Read also : "Hotels in coworking mode
Driven as much by the spread of telecommuting from confinement as by the need to find additional income, others are getting in on the act. In mid-September, the Scandinavian group Scandic Hotels launched the largest network of coworking spaces in the Nordic countries with daily, weekly or monthly passes to work in the lobbies of its hotels in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland. " With 270 hotels in six markets, we can offer flexible, inspiring and cost-effective workspace services wherever you are based. "said Jens Mathiesen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Scandic Hotels.
Accessible 24/7, these alternative workspaces are located in the quiet areas of the lobbies, or even in the rooms on request for more private use, all with coffee and refreshments and a printing and copying service. Meeting rooms can also be booked by the hour. In addition guaranteeing compliance with health measures as part of the Stay Safe at Scandic programme
Just like Scandic, the French network of the Best Western group has just unveiled its range of products and services. myWO, for "My Working Space", currently available in 14 pilot hotels, with the aim of rolling out around fifty hotels over time. The service has been designed in conjunction with Zalibari, a consultancy specialising in space optimisation, and is available in three packages: myWO Lib' with a workspace located in the lobby, accessible free of charge, where mobile professionals can settle in to work for a few hours; myWO Lounge with packages by the hour (€5), half-day (€15), day (€25), or even longer-term subscriptions, to enjoy quiet spaces in addition to catering services - lunch, gourmet break or à la carte; and finally, myWO Meeting with dedicated lounges for organising seminars and study days. " It's important to move our offering into new markets and move it beyond a traditional hosting solution. The launch of myWO embodies our ambition to open up our offering and explore new sectors. "said Olivier Cohn, General Manager of Best Western France.
Coworking rooms
Alongside coworking spaces in lobbies, another trend is gaining ground in the hotel world: offer rooms as officesThe idea is not a new one, as the dayuse.fr website has been making a living out of it since 2010. The idea itself is not new, with the dayuse.fr website making it its core business since 2010. But with the onset of isolation, hotels have emerged as a practical alternative, with their rooms equipped with work tables where you can think in peace and quiet, away from the noise of children or neighbours. According to a survey carried out in July for Accor by OnePoll in the UK, a quarter (23 %) of those questioned said they were less productive because of distractions.
The idea of the hotel office as a way of offering professionals an uninterrupted, high-quality remote working experience was revived in Germany at the height of the pandemic, and has since found favour in Paris, London and Los Angeles. Several brands have gone so far as to build ad hoc packages such as Home Office@25Hours, Finally Silence at Pentahotels, and even the luxury Mandarin Oriental group with its 'Working with M.O.' offer. For its part, the prestigious Raffles in Singapore is also opening its suites during the day as part of its new 'Work from Home' offer, so that guests can work in elegant spaces with, what's more, a butler service.
The hotel is not the only one in the Accor galaxy to have embarked on this adventure. Launched at the beginning of August, the Hotel Office" concept is available in 250 hotels of the French group in the United Kingdom and in 70 other establishments in Northern Europe, in particular in Ireland, the Netherlands, Brussels and Luxembourg. " With millions of people adapting to new ways of working, we decided to support this trend by combining the need for dedicated, quiet workspaces with all the amenities and facilities of a hotel. "said James Wheatcroft, VP Marketing, Accor Northern Europe.
The list of hotels converting to the idea is set to grow, most likely in France, while at the same time Wojo, the coworking subsidiary of Accor and Bouygues Immobilier, is also marketing rooms converted into offices, currently at the Novotel Marne La Vallée and the ibis Rodez. Similarly, in Bangkok, a dozen Accor hotels - including the Pullman King Power, the Grand Mercure Asoke Residence and the MGallery Vie Hotel - are making life easier for local professionals by offering "coworking" facilities. day passesIn Brazil, hotel rooms are being transformed into private offices for up to two people.
Ascotta specialist in long-stay hotelsis following a similar path with the launch of its 'Work in Residence' initiative, making studios and flats available to customers and companies in over 80 residences in more than 30 cities around the world. These include most of the Parisian residences Citadines and The Crest CollectionThe Citadines City Centre Grenoble, City Centre Lille, Part-Dieu Lyon, Presqu'île Lyon, Kléber Strasbourg and Wilson Toulouse all offer professionals daily, weekly or monthly packages to suit their needs.
Long-stay accommodation differs from traditional hotels in terms of the size of the rooms and the number of guests. a fully equipped kitchenThis "Work in Residence" service is therefore perfectly suited to working from home as well as from a distance, and is available in studios equipped with a dedicated workstation and flats with a separate living and dining room, in addition to single rooms, for group projects.
Other hoteliers are giving the idea a bluer shade. After the Barrière group, which launched its "teleworking escapades in Deauville, Dinard and La Baule, the Hyatt Regency Chantilly has been offering the 'Workation' package since the start of the summer for those who want to get a head start on their weekend by teleworking at the hotel from Friday morning. Early check-in, access to the spa and fitness room. This offer has since been extended to other Hyatt establishments in France, including those in Paris, the Hôtel Martinez in Cannes and the Hyatt Regency Nice, Palais de la Méditerranée. The art of filling in the gaps for hoteliers, and the pleasure of combining the useful with the pleasurable for their customers.
