How office hoteling apps enhance work-life balance

Hoteling office spaces represent the pinnacle of flexible workplace setups, prioritizing the employee experience. This model empowers individuals with control over their office time and provides space planners and facilities managers with valuable insights to design and optimize people-centered workplaces using hoteling software.

With 80% of Generation Z and millennials preferring flexible working arrangements for better work-life balance, embracing this approach is crucial for retaining the future workforce. Let’s explore what hoteling office spaces entail and the advantages they can offer your company.

What is a hoteling office space?

Much like booking a hotel room, hoteling office spaces require employees to reserve a desk in advance and check in upon arrival. If a hotel room is a home away from home, then a hoteling workspace is its office counterpart—a desk employees can use when working away from home.

In this setup, employees do not have permanent desks. Instead, they book hoteling desks for the times they visit the office. This reduces the number of desks needed and ensures a seamless workplace experience through a reservation and check-in system.

Bookings are managed using desk hoteling software like Kadence. Hoteling differs from hot desking, where desks are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Hot desking is often unpopular because employees don’t know where they’ll sit or who they’ll sit with. Hoteling workspaces remove this uncertainty.

As a business, your greatest asset is your people. Let’s examine the key benefits of office hoteling from an employee perspective.

Flexibility in Work Locations

Employees now have the freedom to work remotely when they choose, and when office presence is needed, they can book a desk in advance, ensuring a workspace in their desired location. Office hoteling software like Kadence allows individuals to reserve the optimal area in the office for their work style, whether amidst the team or in a quiet corner for focus.

Enhance Space Accessibility

A common concern in transitioning from permanent desks to a flexible setup is the uncertainty of desk availability. Office hoteling addresses this by providing a desk booking system that offers visibility into available spaces, allowing reservations in advance. Additionally, if a reserved desk is not used, it can be released back into the pool, improving overall workspace accessibility.

Boost Employee Engagement

An engaged workforce is happier and more productive, with fewer sick days and longer employment. Steelcase research links employee engagement to workplace satisfaction, particularly when employees control their environment. Office hoteling and touchless technology empower control, reduce physical interaction, and support contact tracing. This creates a dynamic, agile workplace tailored to employee needs, with flexible office neighborhoods offering layout improvements and essential equipment access.

Boost Employee Morale

Office hoteling offers a flexible alternative to the traditional 9-to-5 job by promoting a hybrid work culture. It allows employees to work remotely, reducing commute times and costs while providing comfort. When office presence is needed, technology streamlines desk reservations and colleague locations. Health and safety are prioritized with sanitized desks and social distancing measures.

Enhance Team Collaboration

Office spaces can be redesigned to promote collaboration through huddle areas, additional meeting rooms, or activity-based neighborhoods, enhancing team communication. Regular collaboration is feasible with desk and space reservations for planned sessions. Interdisciplinary projects benefit from office hoteling, allowing teams to reserve workspaces and work together efficiently.

Foster Office Networking

The flexibility to book a desk anywhere in the office encourages employees to interact with colleagues they might not meet in a traditional setup. With fewer desks, there’s the opportunity to create spaces conducive to networking. Booking software provides usage data that identifies underutilized areas, allowing them to be repurposed for activities like breakout sessions or relaxation.