Hybrid Hospitality

The emerging ‘hybrid hospitality’ concept presents a much welcome boost for the UK’s hotel and leisure sector as the lines between hospitality and the workplace blur.

The world of work has evolved drastically due to coronavirus and savvy hotels could harness this trend by repurposing under utilised space into multi-functional work hubs , thus generating additional revenue. 

Flexible working patterns and smart technology have carved the way for a rise in remote working that is likely to continue beyond the pandemic. Real Estate firm, Colliers International suggest that hotels offering flexible workspace could increase turnover by up to 20%.

What should hybrid hospitality look like?

To capitalise on the trend, hotels need to be equipped to deliver a practical and appealing workspace that goes beyond the hotel lobby. Hybrid hospitality should provide a multi-functional destination to work, eat, stay, collaborate and more.

• Zones - If space allows, creating different zones or neighbourhoods is a great way to facilitate activity based working. From formal desks, to lounge areas, to pods – zoning is a great way to create an agile environment that caters for different needs.
• Premium coffee experience - Introducing a premium coffee experience will keep guests coming back for more and bring the wow factor to the space. Good quality coffee on tap is expected and should not be overlooked as part of the overall experience.

• Technology - Super-fast WiFi is essential as there’s nothing more frustrating than not being connected. Access to power sockets and other technology is also key to providing a functional space.
• 24/7 Access - Where offices traditionally operate Monday to Friday, hotels have an opportunity to offer more flexibility as hotel space can be utilised 7 days a week. Hotels are able to open outside of normal working hours, opening up possibilities with the increasing number of remote workers that may work outside the traditional 9-5. 
• Community - One of the best things about flexible workspaces is the chance to work alongside likeminded people. Whether it’s for networking, meeting new business partners, or simply for finding new friends with similar interests, creating a strong sense of community in your space is important.

Regional work hubs

Whilst the office destination will still remain paramount, a legacy of remote working will likely continue beyond the pandemic. Businesses are likely to seek regional locations outside of the traditional office space that could offer employees a welcome respite from working at home. 

Employees have the opportunity to combat distractions and instead enables structure for productivity. Hybrid hospitality could be the perfect answer to provide all the comfort, flexibility and convenience employees and freelancers have come to expect from the modern office.

Royal Berkshire ‘Homespace’ meets growing demand for alternative workspace

A number of hotel brands have already had great success offering flexible work hubs. Royal Berkshire Hotel, part of the Exclusive Collection, worked with Trevillion Interiors to design ‘Homespace’, a purpose-built meeting space within the hotel.

Designed to meet the growing demand for alternative workspaces, Homespace provides a welcome respite from home working, and the Royal Berkshire team chose TopBrewer to deliver a premium and touchless barista-quality coffee experience for guests.