Working from hotels

As 2020 draws to a close, working from home continues to dominate our professional lives but cabin fever is starting to set in for some. Research by Accor has found that 41 per cent of people in the UK feel that their work-life balance has worsened, while 22 per cent feel less productive owing to distractions.

So how about a change of scenery? Hotels have lots of empty rooms and are marketing them as clean and safe workspaces that can be rented by the day, week or month. Embracing the “work from anywhere” trend, they are hoping that vacant rooms will be filled, while workers will get the peace and quiet they need alongside access to hotel facilities. Here are some flexible “work from hotel” programmes operating in the UK and further afield.

HOTEL GROUPS Accor

Programme: Hotel Office

What’s included? Private rooms with in-room amenities and access to on-site bars, restaurants and wellbeing rooms, subject to availability in participating hotels

Location: 220 hotels currently in operation in the UK, 70 across Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and South America; more to follow in Europe and Russia Timings: Daily (9am-6pm) or a five-day package Extras: Breakfast, a snack or lunch on the go

Price: From US$45 per day; members of ALL – Accor Live – get a 5 per cent discount all.accor.com

The Ascott Limited

Programme: Work in Residence What’s included? Studios and apartments with high-speed wifi, coffee and tea, printing facilities in reception, and parking, subject to availability at participating properties Location: Over 90 properties across more than 20 countries Timings: Daily (8am-7pm), weekly or monthly packages Extras: Widescreen monitors, webcams for videoconferencing, Bluetooth speakers, food delivery, grocery shopping, printing, concierge services and a chef for in-room dining

Price: From US$89 the-ascott.com

Day Break Hotels

What’s included? The website allows guests to book rooms, suites and apartments at partners including Radisson Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels and Resorts and NH Hotels Location: International Timings: Hourly or daily (hours vary per hotel)

Price: Varies per hotel daybreakhotels.com

Hilton

Programme: WorkSpaces by Hilton

What’s included? Rooms with a desk, tea and coffee and enhanced wifi. Access to gyms, pools, dining areas and business centres where available. Individual properties are also offering extras including free parking and bike hire

Location: Expected at most Hilton hotels across the UK, plus locations in the US and Canada

Timings: Daily (hours vary per hotel) Extras: Breakfast, a snack or lunch Price: Varies per hotel. From £75 (US$97) at Conrad London St James workspacesbyhilton.com

Mandarin Oriental

Programme: Working from M O What’s included? Private rooms with high-speed wifi, printing, dining credit and gym access Location: Most city hotels globally Timings: Daily (8am-6pm) Price: Varies. From £342 (US$442) at the group’s London property mandarinoriental.com

25 Hours Hotel

Programme: Home Office What’s included? Pet-friendly private rooms with high-speed wifi, Nespresso machines, tea, Schindelhauer bikes and Bluetooth speakers

Location: Select hotels in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Vienna and Zurich

Timings: Daily or five days Price: €50 (US$58) per day; €200 (US$234) for five days 25hours-hotels.com

LONDON HOTELS

The Dorchester Programme: Working Away What’s included? A private suite for up to six guests with an on-call IT concierge, tea and coffee and a £100 (US$129) spa and dining credit

Timings: Daily (7am-7pm) Price: From £1,275 (US$1,648) Validity: Until November 30, 2020* dorchestercollection.com

K West Hotel and Spa

Programme: Work from Home Alternative What’s included? Executive rooms with desks, wifi, tea, coffee

and parking. A week pass includes five full days and a four-night stay with daily breakfast and a room-service dinner on two nights

Timings: Daily (8am-6pm) or a week pass

Price: £79 (US$102) daily; from £550 (US$711) weekly

Validity: Until December 30, 2020* k-west.co.uk

Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard

Programme: Meeting in the Sky What’s included? A room holding six guests for meetings, with flipcharts, high-speed wifi, printing and Nespresso machines

Timings: Daily (7.30am-5pm) Extras: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea

Price: £390 (US$504)

Validity: Until December 31, 2020* shangri-la.com

The Stafford

What’s included? A Mews suite with a desk and a two-course lunch in-room or in the restaurant Timings: Daily (8am-6pm) Extras: Timings can be extended Price: From £395 (US$510) Validity: Until December 31, 2020* thestaffordlondon.com

US HOTELS Hamilton Hotel, Washington DC

Programme: Work from Hamilton What’s included? A room or suite with a Starbucks breakfast Timings: Daily (6am-7pm) Price: From US$90 hamiltonhoteldc.com

Hotel Figueroa, Los Angeles

Programme: The Fig Works Perks

What’s included? Suites with a living area, desk, two LG Smart TVs, high-speed wifi, unlimited black-and-white printing, coffee and bottled water, parking for one person, and access to the pool and fitness centre

Timings: Daily (9am-5pm) Price: From US$140 hotelfigueroa.com

Nomo Soho, New York

Programme: Workaway

What’s included? Dog-friendly one-bedroom suites with a separate living room, desk, high-speed wifi, coffee, and access to the fitness centre and outdoor spaces

Timings: Daily (7am-4pm) or four-hour package Extras: Contactless room service, concierge and printing services Price: US$119-$179 nomosoho.com

Proper Hotels and Residences

Programme: WFH by Industrious

What’s included? Pet-friendly studios for one to two people or lofts with individual workstations, printing, high-speed wifi, smart TV, snacks and extra monitors. Access to pools and fitness centres where available. Valet parking at Santa Monica and San Francisco properties. Locations: Austin, San Francisco, Santa Monica

Timings: Daily (8am-6pm), weekly or monthly

Price: From US$134 properhotel.com; wfhbyindustrious.com

The London West Hollywood, Los Angeles

Programme: Offices at The London What’s included? Suites with a bar, desk, TV, high-speed wifi and private balconies Timings: Minimum of 30-day rental Extras: Grab-and-go or in-room food service, plus valet parking Price: From US$5,000 thelondonwesthollywood.com

Wythe Hotel, New York

Programme: WFH by Industrious

What’s included? Pet-friendly studios for two to four people with workstations, private outdoor space, dining area, high-speed wifi, smart TV, beverages and free digital access to The New York Times Timings: Daily (8am-6pm)

Price: From US$160 wythehotel.co; wfhbyindustrious.com BT