Creating the Ideal Workspace for Slow Travelers
On April 28, 2022, Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, sent an email to his remote employees around the world. For the first half of the email, Chesky congratulates his team for the most productive two-year period in the company’s history despite a global pandemic and working from “our bedrooms, basements, and home offices.” Much of this success, he admits, is a result of millions of people working from Airbnbs—in Q2 of 2021, 20% of nights booked were for stays of longer than a month and 50% were for stays of longer than a week.
As the email continues, Chesky makes a prediction that such changes are here to stay, that the futures of work and travel will become further intertwined.
“Two decades ago, Silicon Valley startups popularized the idea of open floor plans and onsite perks, which were soon adopted by companies all around the world. Similarly, today’s startups have embraced remote work and flexibility, and I think this will become the predominant way that we all work 10 years from now.”
A Trend, or the Future of Work and Travel?
You may be thinking, “Well, of course, the CEO of Airbnb is all for remote work and slow travel, he benefits directly from it.” However, Chesky is not alone. Skift, one of the leading travel news outlets and a leading news source for travel executives published an article on May 15, 2023, titled, “Why Every Hotel Company Wants an Extended Stay Brand Now.” The article outlines how major hotel brands are banking on a slow travel future, for example:
Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt all previewed new extended-stay hotel brands in Q1 2023
By 2027, US extended-stay hotel rooms are projected to increase by 20% (economy), 42% (mid-price), and 38% (Upscale)—an overall increase of 100%
Demand for extended-stay rooms outpaces supply by almost 3:1 in most US markets
Quality extended-stay hotels with strong brand standards and efficient staffing are generally the most profitable according to analysts at Truist
It’s clear that slow travel is here to stay. And with slow travel comes remote work and the need for designing, setting up, and promoting dedicated workspaces that are reliable, familiar, and comfortable for guests.
How to Create the Ideal Workspace for Slow Travelers
Fast, reliable wifi is obviously the most fundamental amenity when it comes to creating the ideal workspace for slow travelers—that’s why we’ve written an entire article on The Importance of Reliable Wifi for Slow Travelers. However, the difference between a decent workspace and an ideal one is in the details.
Lighting — Natural light, and the ability to control it, makes for a cozier, less sterile workspace. Good curtains will satisfy guests who want to work in the dark or block the sun on a hot day. Also, consider the lighting quality of a desk lamp. No one wants to strain their eyes or feel like they’re in a fluorescent supermarket—around 500 lumens is typically recommended.
Ergonomics — A form-fitting, adjustable, comfortable office chair can make a big difference in someone’s workday. Adjustable lumbar, head, and neck support, adjustable armrests, and adjustable height ensure comfort for various body types. Also consider laptop stands, standing desks, and even an ergonomic Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
Stationary — Nothing makes a desk feel like a workspace like notepads and post-it notes. Give your guests fresh pens, paper clips, a stapler, a waste bin, and even highlighters. Not every guest will use these, but those who do will be glad they didn’t have to run to the store.
Tech — Today, many of us work with multiple external monitors. They are extremely convenient, but it’s difficult to travel with them. Giving guests this option would be a huge advantage over most accommodations with which slow travelers are familiar. Also consider smart speakers, phone chargers, a printer, and even a paper shredder.
Noise — Nothing cuts through concentration like a noisy neighbor. Some guests may have neighbors in nearly all directions. You can’t always control a noisy guest and you may not have the advantage of thick walls, but you could offer slow travelers noise-canceling headphones or soundproofing by using soft furnishings, such as carpets, curtains, and upholstered furniture, to absorb sound within the rooms.
Video Conferencing — Slow travelers will typically need to take video calls for work and they likely don’t want a band background and bad lighting. Consider adding plants, art, or wallpaper to the background of a workspace. You could even provide a ring light.
Caffeine — Most hotels offer some kind of free in-room tea or coffee option, but you could go the extra mile by offering various brewing options like an automatic coffee maker or French press, and multiple types of coffee and tea.
Alternative Spaces — Guests may be traveling with spouses, friends, coworkers, or family. It may not be feasible to include two equal workspaces in one accommodation, but having a space in another room, or part of the room, that can be converted into a makeshift workspace makes things more convenient for multiple working guests.
It’s unlikely that you’ll include all of these amenities. They can become expensive and you must work with the accommodations you provide and the slow traveler demographics you serve, but don’t think of creating the ideal workspace for slow travelers as an expense. It’s an investment. And the better you market your workspace, the more it will pay off.
How to Promote the Ideal Workspace to Slow Travelers
The best way to promote the investment you’ve made into these workspaces is to make it easy for potential guests to imagine themselves using them day in and day out. Don’t just list the amenities you have, describe their benefits. If you offer ring lights and other amenities geared toward video, tell your guests that this is the perfect set-up for anyone taking conference calls or creating video content. Upload a video to show the quality they can expect. Take clear photos of the workspace in good lighting and from different perspectives.
You can promote the ideal workspace you’ve created the same way you promote the rooms you offer, but make sure to emphasize them. Consider what problems, large and small, you’re solving for your guests. Instead of just listing that you have noise-canceling headphones and soundproofed furnishings, you can explain that “We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure a serene workspace free of distractions, even our furniture has good manners (it’s soundproofed), and if that’s not enough, ask for our high-quality noise canceling headphones.”
In summary, designing an ideal workspace in hotels for slow travelers is an investment in guest satisfaction and loyalty. By considering ergonomic design, suitable lighting, noise control, and technology integration, property managers can attract more slow travelers and secure a competitive edge in the hospitality industry.