More people than ever are working from home right now. But you’ve heard that before - multiple times.
What you’re really interested in - and, indeed, the reason you’re reading this blog post - is how to capture that work from home audience.
Surely, you can tempt them away from their hastily-created home office or kitchen breakfast bar and into your hotel, restaurant or coffee shop?
Good news: you really can. So, grab your free WiFi logo and get ready to tap into a massive market which shows no signs of slowing.
Fascinating remote working stats for 2021
The size of the remote workforce is growing by the day. In the US alone, it accounts for 3.4% of the country’s entire workforce.
However, if we dig into the numbers a little more, we find some remote working stats which neatly illustrate the opportunity that’s available to hospitality businesses.
- 30% of people work for a company that’s fully remote (source)
- 44% of employees say that some of their team work remotely full-time (source)
- 42% of employees plan to work remotely more often over the next five years (source)
- If it were possible, 99% of people would choose to work remotely for the rest of their careers (source)
2020 has accelerated the trend, too. At the time of writing, commuting in the UK has dropped sharply, and it’s a trend which is likely to continue well into 2021 and beyond.
People have discovered that remote work is capable of making them more productive and happier. So, what’s stopping them from using your venue as their temporary office once in a while (or more regularly)?
Where do remote workers usually work from?
Remote workers are becoming increasingly resourceful when it comes to choosing where to undertake their daily tasks.
Broadly speaking, their ‘offices’ can be categorised as follows:
Home: not everyone is blessed with a dedicated office at home, so this often turns out to be the kitchen table or sofa. And that means they usually want an alternative, occasionally.
Coworking space: from coffee shops to dedicated facilities, co-working spaces have been rising in popularity over the last few years.
Hotel lobbies: smart hoteliers are cottoning onto the fact that their lobbies contain a hidden revenue-making opportunity from the remote workforce.
Coffee shops: a classic choice for remote workers and now more popular than ever.
Your hospitality business might slot neatly into one of the categories above (bar ‘home’, obviously). However, there are a few commonalities they all share which makes them attractive to remote workers.
3 things every remote worker wants
If you’ve been put off offering your venue as a remote working space because of the perceived requirements and hassle, we’ve got some good news: remote workers don’t want for much.
Here are three things remote workers are likely to attracted by.
1. The working environment
This will of course vary by venue, but the environment is key. It’s a personal thing, too, but the basics are pretty simple.
You’ll need plenty of tables and chairs which are comfortable and well-spaced. Natural light is also important, along with calm decor, a touch of greenery and the amenities remote workers need (namely, free WiFi and plenty of charging points).
2. Quietness
Granted, this isn’t something you have a huge amount of control over, and the quietness of your venue will depend on all sorts of factors, but it is something which remote workers value highly.
The good news is that many of them will be used to working with headphones that block out external sound, but anything you can do to assist in making a calm, quiet environment, the better. Finding nooks and crannies to exploit for remote workers is a great idea.
3. Great, simple WiFi
This is a no-brainer, but something venues still stumble on occasionally.
Remote workers need WiFi that’s free and super easy to access. That means no complicated login screens and certainly no timed access. Free, limitless and fast connectivity is what they want, and it really isn’t too much to ask these days.
Benefits of opening your business to remote workers
If you still need some convincing that remote working is a sizeable opportunity for your business, here are some benefits you may not have considered.
- it’ll increase footfall when you may otherwise be quiet;
- word of mouth will start to ramp up a gear;
- your regulars will benefit from your new focus on remote working spaces, too;
- it encourages businesses to make your venue a regular meeting location; and
- it’ll create a vibrant ambiance.
- The last point is perhaps the most important. The more remote workers you have at your venue, the busier it’ll be both from your perspective and to that of the outside world.
Why remote working makes people productive
If you need to sell your remote working space to the army of digital nomads, you need look no further than the reasons remote working makes people so productive.
These benefits represent a great marketing opportunity for your business, and the following reasons should fuel your messaging when targeting the remote working market.
1. It has fewer distractions
Working from home (and even working in a traditional office) is laden with distractions.
By comparison, your venue is a slice of heaven for people who want to get stuff done. They can enjoy great coffee and an ambiance which is lively enough to fuel productivity, but not full of family members or colleagues who are vying for their attention.
2. It’s stimulating (creatively speaking)
Working within a different environment is a great way to fuel creativity. That’s why remote workers switch their bases so regularly; it helps them produce their best work.
For many people, working from, say, a coffee shop is also something of a novelty. And that breeds significant amounts of creativity, too.
3. It sets intentions
When people head to a specific venue to get work done, they do so with intent. It’s quite unlike heading downstairs and setting up on the kitchen table. Likewise, if you consistently work from the same office, finding that intent to get stuff done isn’t always that easy.
However, travelling to a coffee shop or hotel lobby to undertake your work is an event. There’s no other reason you’re heading in that direction, and the ability it affords to get lots of work done is addictive (which is why remote workers will return time and again to your venue).
Don’t miss the marketing opportunity
Beyond the upturn in business and improved ambiance remote workers will offer, there’s something else on the table for you as the venue owner.
It all comes back to that free WiFi. If you pick the right provider, you’ll be able to supercharge your marketing to remote workers by ethically capturing their details during login. Read our guide below to find out more.
