Meet the New Flex: Meeting and Event Room Spaces

COVID-19 may have changed many of the norms in your office space. But if you take a look at the whole real estate market, one thing that the pandemic has really changed is the demand for flexible workspaces.

Moving beyond just co-working spaces, short-term workspaces, and membership models, on-demand workspaces in the form of meeting and event rooms are beginning to play a pivotal role during this period. They’re a reminder that flexible space demand will continue to increase—as much as 30% in the next ten years. Flexible spaces always demand new solutions. If you take a look at the way enterprises and large companies have operated recently, for example, you’ll see that many have found flexibility increasingly attractive. Siemens’ recent announcement that it has decided to let its employees work from home for two or three days a week shows the ever shifting landscape of big office spaces. Now that they’re operating anywhere from 25-75% capacity, large enterprises will have to decide what to do with their office space. On top of that, enterprises will increasingly expect landlords to offer flex as an amenity as their business changes. Larger enterprises and companies need new solutions. On the other hand, young professionals and businesses need a solution, too. Young professionals seek spaces for engagement and discussion—and oftentimes, they can’t afford a whole office to themselves. Being tied down to a long lease is cumbersome; freelancers and young businesses know that. They often need a quick, flexible solution. So what about meeting and event room spaces during COVID-19? You may know the benefits already of renting one out for your design sprint or team event. You also know how creative these spaces can be for your teams. During COVID-19, they can not only continue to serve a creative function, but also provide the perfect flex option that is both hygienic and non-committal. Here are a few ways how: 1. They’re hygienic, and follow social distancing regulations. Space providers have gone the extra mile to make sure meeting and event rooms spaces have undergone the right digital transformation to accommodate COVID-19 era social distancing regulations. They undergo the right cleaning and disinfection procedures, are socially distanced in terms of space, and also have the right digital tools to help your team out. 2. They won’t break the bank, and they’re easy to book. Many space providers rent out meeting rooms by the hour, or give you a reasonable daily rate for the whole day, meaning , unlike renting a hotel conference room for the whole day, they won’t break the bank. Depending on the space provider, they’re also relatively easy to book, with a few companies offering a plug-and-play option online. You don’t even need to call them up; you’re ready to go after a few clicks. 3. They’re available all over the city. Because they’re only one room in a larger building, many space providers have spaces all over the place—which means that you’re bound to find one really close to your office. 4. They continue to be a focus for creativity. Think of the meeting and event room space as a little vacation—it’s a way to allow your mind to not be bothered by the regular things. Not being in the office allows you to ascertain a different mindspace. Productivity, collaboration and inspiring ideas are what it’s all about. Whether that means a marketing event, a design sprint for your team, or a presentation, meeting and event room spaces still hold creative value, especially during COVID-19.