Reimagining the ways we work and meet
AS BUSINESS LEADERS RETHINK THEIR REAL ESTATE FOOTPRINT, THEY’RE EMBRACING “SMALLER, HIGH-QUALITY, AMENITY-RICH SPACES THAT ARE MORE FOCUSED ON HUMAN CONNECTION.” IN OTHER WORDS, CONVENE.
When Chief Operating Officer Stephen Tober joined software company Giant Machines in 2018, his first order of business was to move his fast-growing team out of their shared coworking space in midtown Manhattan. The malfunctioning equipment and unstocked restrooms were bad enough, but the bigger issue was the culture. Tober would encounter folks playing ping-pong, drinking beer in the common room, or napping on their desks midafternoon. “We were bringing in clients from big banks and financial firms, and the environment didn’t reflect [our] seriousness and professionalism,” he says.
That all changed four years ago, however, when Tober first set foot in Convene, a hospitality company that offers meeting, event, and workspaces in the U.S. and U.K. Tober found the experience to be much more aligned with his needs. “The aesthetic and amenities are above and beyond what we would have done [on] our own,” he says. “I also saw the value that a premium office space can provide not only to clients but also our employees, because it makes you feel good about where you go every day.”
Giant Machines isn’t the only company that is rethinking its real estate footprint. POST-COVID, many large organizations are downsizing, says James Frankis, vice president of product for Convene. “But what they’re actually doing is swapping out old, tired, mass-density offices for smaller, high-quality, amenity-rich spaces that are more focused on human connection.”
Frankis is a strategist and frequent speaker on the future of work, which greatly informs his role at Convene. Founded in 2009, Convene provides the essentials professionals require to optimize productivity in a warm and welcoming work environment. But where the brand truly distinguishes itself is by its premium amenities and experiences, including well-crafted food, health and wellness services, and outstanding hospitality. It’s the kind of space Frankis says business leaders are embracing as they confront downsized offices and hybrid work schedules: “This idea of flex— be it a flexible workplace, flexible project rooms, flexible meeting and event space— has to be part of a business’s core portfolio and workplace strategy.”
“WHERE YOU MEET MATTERS”
Each Convene location is bespoke, with designers and architects considering local cultural references, the surrounding landscape, and the history of a building. Yet all Convene locations are imbued with a blend of influences—imagine the hospitality genius of Danny Meyer and luxe aesthetic of hotelier Ian Schrager— paired with the latest technology. Instead of entering sterile, windowless rooms, members step into sustainably designed spaces featuring natural light and city views. Easily expandable spaces can accommodate small meetings or a 900-person conference.
Lindsay Straub, vice president of sales of North Star Travel Group, uses Convene in a variety of capacities, most notably for her company’s annual Innovate Conference that serves the travel, hospitality, and meetings industry. “I always tell my customers, ‘Where you meet matters,’” she says. “When you walk into a Convene, it’s sleek and sophisticated. The environment matches how I want to feel with my clients—and how I want our conference attendees to feel when they’re here.”
Straub recently met one of her clients— which included the company’s CEO, CMO, and CTO—AT a Convene facility in midtown. After walking through the space, she says, the trio were noticeably impressed. “That alone teed me up to have a really successful meeting,” she says. “And I didn’t even do anything yet.”