Do you remember the hotel’s business center? That musty room behind the reception, crammed with a few PCs, a printer and a fax machine?
I still see a thing or two on my travels – setbacks in a dial-up world. But these days they feel like relics – something more likely to be seen in a Wes Anderson movie than in a forward-looking hotel.
While business centers may be out of date, the concept of the work-from-hotel is more relevant than ever. Before the pandemic, when technology made it possible for us to work anywhere we could open a laptop or phone, hotel lobbies were already being transformed from functional check-in centers into lifestyle spaces that were both suitable for work and play have been designed.
Newcomers to Dublin like The Marlin and Moxy boasted lounge communal areas where diners were so comfortable while sipping cocktails like coffee, having lunch, or editing PowerPoints.
Covid paused check-ins, but it accelerated our desire for flexibility and hybrid work arrangements. Now that hotels are struggling with staff shortages and low international visitor numbers, updated Hotel-as-Office solutions offer a lifeline.
Brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton have converted some rooms into offices that can be rented on a daily basis. Zanzibar Locke, a new aparthotel on the quays of Dublin, offers space for hot desking. The Cork’s River Lee Hotel has upgraded its business facilities to The Hub, a brightly designed suite of meeting rooms, breakout rooms and lounges suitable for everyone from the solo traveler to local event organizers. Nearby, the Imperial has several remote work packages, including a € 60 add-on that you can buy during the week for private office space, a desk and chair, and lunch.
In London, Hoxton hotels have meanwhile introduced new “commuter rates” (from £ 119 / € 140 Sunday to Thursday) in response to a boom in short midweek stays as office life returns.
Some hotels work with co-working providers – Industrious and Proper Hotels allow workers to book suites in Austin and California by the day, week or month at prices of up to 25 units. Accor promotes a coworking brand called WoJo, and other subscription services like WorkLounge in Asia or Krow in Portugal give members access to premium areas like Executive Lounges – one tier above WeWork or generic offices.
TUI, the world’s largest package tour company, is also diving into the “workation” waters. It is testing packages that allow customers to work in places like the Canary Islands or Greece without taking annual vacation by using hotels from the TUI Blue and Platinum collections for adults only. And it presented the idea to the companies and demonstrated the potential for service packages.
This is a time of great upheaval and it remains to be seen what trends will persist in the return of travel. But hotels that offer intelligent technology – from wireless printers to in-room ring lights – and that create excitement and new revenue opportunities in lobbies and other spaces are on the way.
Nowadays the hotel IS the business center.
