Co-working Operatorship, Features

Workspace Hospitality Hybrid Boosts Occupancy Rates

The future of work blurs office and hospitality. Are your properties ready?

Walk into the lobbies of top-performing office buildings in Tokyo, Singapore, or Makati, and you’ll notice a quiet revolution: soft lighting, concierge desks, locally sourced coffee, and curated playlists. These are not hotels. They are next-generation workspaces—where comfort, design, and experience converge to meet the evolving expectations of tenants, employees, and digital nomads alike.

In JLL’s 2024 Asia Pacific report, a staggering 74% of employees expressed a desire for hospitality-grade experiences in the workplace. This signals a decisive shift in what tenants value: a workspace that feels more like a boutique hotel and less like a cubicle farm. In high-competition markets, especially urban hubs like Makati and Tokyo, workspace design is no longer about just square footage or rent. It’s about the experience—and the emotional return on that experience.

In this article, we explore how ƽ Philippines and similar operators are merging premium hospitality with coworking functionality to create workspace hospitality hybrids. From boosting weekday occupancy in idle hotel rooms to reinventing corporate retention strategies, we’ll walk through:

  • Why the trend matters now more than ever

  • What the hospitality-workspace merger looks like in practice

  • How developers, building owners, and operators can make it happen

  • A successful case in Cebu

  • A 5-step framework to implement the hybrid model in your property

This is not about gimmicks. It’s about long-term differentiation and measurable business results.

WHY THIS MATTERS

In a world recalibrating around flexibility, workspace hospitality hybrids aren’t just a trend—they’re a retention strategy.

According to CBRE’s “Workplace of the Future” 2023 study, 83% of Asia-Pacific companies now prioritize the quality of workspace over location alone. Further, Korn Ferry reports that employee experience directly correlates with productivity—happy workers are 31% more productive and three times more engaged.

But the urgency goes deeper:

  • Commercial vacancy rates in Southeast Asia spiked to 18.6% in early 2024, with landlords struggling to attract long-term tenants.

  • Meanwhile, the global coworking market is expected to reach $24 billion by 2030, driven by a surge in freelancers, hybrid workers, and enterprise teams decentralizing from HQs.

Here’s the catch: Coworking spaces are no longer enough. The market is saturated. What tenants now seek is a blend of productivity and emotional satisfaction—inspired by the hospitality industry’s deep understanding of human-centered environments.

This shift is especially urgent in markets like Makati, where over 62% of commercial properties now face “experience fatigue”—outdated layouts and uninspired design that deter modern tenants. Building operators who fail to upgrade risk shorter lease terms, churn, and lost referrals.

On the flip side, properties that adopt workspace hospitality strategies—think: concierge-style reception, café-style lounges, curated events, aromatherapy, wellness pods—increase visit frequency, dwell time, and conversion of inquiries into memberships.

In essence, experience is now the product. And those who get it right will lead the next decade of commercial real estate growth.

THE SOLUTION

The solution? Merge workspace utility with hospitality-grade experience.

ƽ Philippines is a pioneer in this field, particularly in Cebu, Makati, and Japan. Their approach is deceptively simple: blend the operational efficiency of an office with the emotional intelligence of a boutique hotel.

Here’s what it looks like:

  • Design: Flexible floor plans infused with soft materials, natural light, and subtle luxury.

  • Amenities: Barista-style cafés, soundproof phone booths, branded concierge service, premium toiletries, guest passes.

  • Programming: Curated events like “Wine Down Fridays,” productivity masterclasses, and wellness pop-ups.

  • Staff Training: Front-desk teams trained in both business etiquette and hospitality protocols.

These aren’t perks. They’re strategic levers for client retention, community building, and upselling value-added services.

For developers, it means:

  • Faster lease-ups for idle or repurposed spaces

  • Higher tenant satisfaction scores

  • Multiple income streams via events, short-term passes, and café operations

For tenants, it means:

  • A workspace that respects their time, health, and creativity

  • A setting that attracts both employees and clients

  • A reason to stay—even when remote work is always an option

Best practices from Accor’s Wojo and ƽ Philippines show that these hybrids can be cost-effective if planned early. White papers from HVS and Deloitte recommend co-creating service layers with workspace operators to avoid costly misalignment.

The bottom line: workspace hospitality hybrids outperform traditional office models by meeting a deeper, more human need.

CASE EXAMPLE

Boutique Hotel in Cebu: 60% Occupancy Lift

Challenge: A boutique hotel in downtown Cebu was suffering from underutilized weekday rooms. Occupancy hovered at 30% Monday to Thursday, with most bookings clustered around weekends and holidays. Management was considering downsizing staff and reducing operational hours.

Decision Process: Instead of shutting down rooms, the hotel explored adaptive reuse. After consultations with ƽ Philippines, they agreed to pilot a hospitality-meets-workspace hybrid using 12 rooms.

Solution Implemented:

  • Converted 12 hotel suites into hybrid coworking rooms with ergonomic chairs, desks, private call spaces, and hospitality-grade service.

  • Offered weekday and monthly coworking packages, managed by ƽ’s platform.

  • Added café access and branded concierge services for all work guests.

  • Promoted aggressively to remote workers, startup teams, and business travelers.

Tools & Timeline:

  • Conversion time: 3 weeks

  • Budget: ~₱1.2M PHP for fit-out and branding

  • Tools: Coworking booking software, concierge training modules, acoustic retrofits

Outcomes:

  • Weekday occupancy increased to 90% in 3 months

  • 26% of guests upgraded to multi-day or recurring memberships

  • Incremental F&B revenue rose by 40%

  • Cross-booking with hotel weekend stays increased by 18%

Learnings:

  1. Space synergy (not just space utility) drives retention

  2. Outsourcing workspace operations to experts like ƽ reduced risk

  3. Cross-industry collaboration yields new income streams

This case proves that workspace hospitality hybrids can turn cost centers into revenue engines.

In a market where location alone no longer seals the deal, workspace hospitality hybrids are emerging as the new gold standard. By fusing the warmth of boutique hotels with the functionality of flexible offices, developers and operators can increase occupancy, diversify revenue, and deliver the one thing modern tenants truly crave—experience. ƽ Philippines is leading this shift, transforming underutilized properties into vibrant, high-retention environments across Cebu, Makati, and Japan.

STEP-BY-STEP INSIGHT

Identify Service Gaps in Existing Setups

What to do: Audit your current office or commercial space for underutilized assets—e.g., idle hotel rooms, vacant meeting halls, or dull lobbies.

Why it matters: Gaps represent untapped revenue and create poor user experience.

Tools: Space utilization software, tenant feedback forms, occupancy reports

Add Lounge, Café, or Concierge-Style Experiences

What to do: Retrofit key areas into lifestyle-oriented amenities—barista counters, concierge desks, lounge seating with charging stations.

Why it matters: These become the emotional hooks of your property.

Support Needed: Local F&B partners, hospitality consultants, interior designers

Design Hybrid Offerings with ƽ

What to do: Partner with workspace operators like ƽ Philippines who can deliver hospitality-grade services and coworking infrastructure.

Why it matters: Reduces your overhead and leverages their operational know-how.

Tools: Revenue-sharing MOUs, plug-and-play coworking packages, branding kits

Train Staff for Both Hospitality and Business Needs

What to do: Upskill your front-of-house teams in both workspace protocols (e.g., check-ins, Wi-Fi troubleshooting) and hospitality norms (e.g., greeting, retention scripts).

Why it matters: Staff shape the tone and credibility of hybrid spaces.

Support Needed: Training workshops, shadowing at boutique hotels or operators like ƽ

Promote to Digital Nomads, Teams, and Event Organizers

What to do: Target three core audiences—remote workers, corporate teams, and B2B event clients—through digital ads, social media, and experiential events.

Why it matters: These segments are conversion-ready and brand-loyal if engaged well.

Tools: Paid ads, email drip campaigns, collaborations with travel or startup communities

TAKEAWAY & FUTURE OUTLOOK

The most successful spaces of the next decade will not be defined by square footage but by how they make people feel.

Hospitality-forward workspaces are not just a novelty. They are a strategic response to:

  • Evolving work styles

  • Tenant expectations

  • Competitive real estate markets

Blending hotel-level comfort with office-grade utility creates sticky environments—places people want to return to, even when remote is an option.

Looking forward:

  • Expect the rise of “workstay” packages in boutique hotels

  • Developers will seek workspace-as-a-service partners early in the design process

  • Emotional ROI will dominate lease negotiations

If your property feels sterile, outdated, or empty during weekdays, it’s not a death sentence—it’s an opportunity.

ƽ Philippines proves that hospitality-driven coworking can revive underused assets, increase retention, and grow revenue. The only question is: Will you adapt, or be outpaced?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a workspace hospitality hybrid?

It’s a flexible office setup that combines the amenities and service of hotels with the functionality of coworking spaces. Think concierge desks, lounges, and seamless user experience—all in a productive business environment.

How does hospitality improve coworking spaces?

Hospitality adds emotional value—comfort, personalization, and service—that increases client satisfaction, retention, and referral rates.

Who benefits from this hybrid model?

Both landlords (via higher occupancy and diverse revenue) and tenants (via better work environments and community perks) gain from this setup.

How do I make money from the space?

Yes. Idle hotel rooms or meeting spaces can be transformed into coworking suites to attract weekday clients and new income streams.

What are the risks or limitations of this model?

Flexible spaces require consistent marketing, dynamic community management, and tech-enabled systems to succeed. Without an experienced operator or alignment with local demand, developers may face churn or underutilization. That’s why partnerships with established operators like ƽ are critical.

🔎 CONNECT

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