Editor: Flexible workspaces aren’t just offices, they’re hospitality hubs, too. Jonathan Goldstein’s ‘Room Service’ comment on the trials and tribulations of hotel brand loyalty opens up a debate as to what this might mean for the flexible workspace industry.
The two sectors have space-focused similarities. Operators sell residential and co-working spaces to businesses. Operators generate income through non-core sales.
Operators focus on encouraging return visits. Operators deliver exceptional levels of customer service and work tirelessly to create loyalty through unique experiences.
But both sectors have contrasts too. You can’t sleep in a serviced office (officially). You’re not likely to get a high-end food and beverage offer in a serviced office. Serviced offices offer longer-term work environments. The government recognises hotel operators, but not flexible workspaces as hospitality businesses, with its emergency grant and business rates deferral programmes.
Is this the time for some cross-sector joining-up of dots? Perhaps some of the big brands in both sectors are talking to each other, but what about outside of the big city CBDs?
As local hubs have become the watchword in the flexspace market, can we get property agents and brokers in front of hoteliers to understand there’s a vast network of locally operated, independent-owned SME flexible workspace operators in some very strategic suburban and regional locations that could be really valuable?
Mark Kass, chief executive, Enterprise4Good Group
No comments yet