What makes a perfect ‘work from hotel’ space?

Hotel workdesks were once the dominions of frequent road warriors – business travellers criss-crossing the globe with one hand on a briefcase and the other their boarding pass. That’s all changed.

Remote and hybrid work, as well as the rise of ‘bleisure’, now sees all manner of travellers working from hotels and shared offices. However, despite this growth, the number of hotels offering decided workspaces appears to be heading the other direction.

Makeovers, refreshes and new-build hotels, especially those slotting into a ‘lifestyle’ market, are replacing the conventional desk with a low coffee table or simply no table at all.

Shangri-La Singapore offers a novel solution, with select rooms able to be converted into workspaces.

Of course, this reflects changes in the broader world. Gone is that niche of businessmen and women carting around clunky inch-thick notebooks which couldn’t spend more than a few hours from an AC power socket. 

Today, slim lightweight laptops with all-day battery life and readily-available WiFi mean you can work from anywhere (rather than be tethered to your hotel room-office), while more casual travellers simply need a smartphone or tablet to stay connected on the go.

As the designers of hotel rooms edge away from traditional work-friendly spaces, executive or club lounges only increase in their importance – again, something to which any Executive Traveller can attest.

All of which made us wonder: what do you look for in a work-friendly hotel? And have you found anywhere that ticks all those boxes? 

One of the hotels Executive Traveller recently stayed at, which is delivering something outside the box for business travellers, is Fraser Residence River Promenade Singapore.

The Living Room lobby at Fraser Residence River Promenade Singapore.

Rather than just a sprinkling of chairs like many hotel lobbies, its is tailor-made for both work and socialising, with multiple work benches, collaborative table setups and complimentary all-day drinks and snacks making for an enjoyable base on the road. 

We’ve put our work ‘work from hotel’ wishlist together in the past, but we’re keen to know what you look for: share your take with other Executive Traveller readers in the comments area below.