Hotelisation of offices:

This trend is not only limited to the physical design and amenities but also the “guest experience” personnel. Employees want to have the same experience when being served in their office cafeteria as they would in a hotel lobby restaurant. This has been a success factor for many flex operators who have realized the need for staff to be focused on improving the guest experience.

Hotels in Africa have always been an important workspace when travelling, and the inverse theme is shaping hotel design as much as it is shaping the office. Hotel lobbies are often the meeting venue of choice, even for people not staying at a particular hotel. We have also seen the rise of co-working within hotels globally, as this symbiotic use of space is a perfect annexe to the corporate guest experience, with the same trend very much evident in Africa with partnerships between Kasada and WOJO, “The Works” by Latitude Hotels or Workshop 17 in the VOCO Johannesburg in Rosebank. Often these partners can provide meeting space more efficiently to hotel guests than the traditional conferencing facilities for a hotel.

In hospitality, every interaction is considered to impact the guest experience. This involves determining the areas of the property to emphasize, typically areas with high foot traffic or special features like a tenant lounge, café, or conference and event centres. Landlords don’t need to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of providing these services, many can be catered for through partnerships with specialists in this space.

By infusing these areas with hospitality experts such as guest service representatives or community managers instead of security and parking, you can ensure a positive experience in these places of impact. Africa is likely to see these trends become particularly pronounced given the young, technologically advanced working population. For many, the cost of returning to the office is a lot higher than other parts of the world. Higher transport costs and commute time makes it more of an imperative for the office to entice rather than force employees into the office.

Space as a Service

Akin to the hotelisation of offices, is the growing tendency toward offering ‘space as a service’. This refers to a business model where companies or individuals can rent physical space on a short-term basis, rather than committing to a long-term lease. The space as a service model is often associated with co-working spaces, which provide shared office facilities and services such as Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and printing facilities. However, the concept can also apply to other types of spaces, such as retail stores, event spaces, and even residential properties (i.e. co-living). 

The key feature of space as a service is the flexibility it offers to its customers, and this is especially applicable in the African context, where the tertiary sector is still in its relative nascency. Rather than investing in a fixed physical location, businesses or individuals can access space on a temporary or needs basis, allowing them to scale their operations up or down as required.

The trend towards "space as a service" is driven by several factors, including changes in technology, the way people work, and the evolving needs of businesses. The concept has been popularized by the success of co-working spaces, which have shown that there is a significant market for flexible workspaces. As a result, many landlords and real estate developers are now incorporating “flex” into their portfolios to meet the needs of this growing market. Co-working has gained traction in the African market, appealing to established international corporates who opt not to have a conventional lease and to younger professionals and entrepreneurs who benefit from the climate of collaboration. 

Co-working and shared workspaces are becoming increasingly popular in Africa, especially in larger commercial centres. In Africa’s 36 largest cities (excluding South Africa) there are over 500 estimated co-working premises available, operated by well-known operators such as Regus, as well as many regional platforms that have emerged.
 

Number of Co-working Facilities

Source: Coworking Africa, 2023

These trends have also been found to influence the design and location of offices. For example, as cities become more congested there may be a greater emphasis on locating offices in areas that are easily accessible or closer to residential areas. Similarly, urbanisation is leading to a greater emphasis on sustainable and green buildings or building practices, effectively influencing the design and construction of commercial real estate.