City Work @ Tokyo Vol.2 Work & lifestyle and next-generation space seen in the corona disaster
2021/02/18- share
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- text and edit by
- Yuki Takahashi
Looking ahead to the post-corona future, we will not stop changing work and lifestyles
the next-generation space that allows diversityAn interview plan to explore
Due to the promotion of telework due to the corona wreck, more and more office workers are leaving the office and adopting new work styles and lifestyles, "working when and where they want." Attention is increasing not only to address hoppers and freelancers, but also to companies that propose a "new life" that fits people with new values.
As the state of emergency is protracted, the flat-rate co-living platform "HafH", which cooperated with us for coverage, is rapidly increasing the number of accommodation facilities in urban areas. Continuing from workation in Wakayama (regional workation edition), this time I would like to focus on the potential of workation in the “city”.
In the first part, we introduce "HOTEL GRAPHY Nezu", the first "HafH" affiliated store of "Global Agents".
In the second part, we will focus on two facilities, "The Millennials Shibuya" and "THE LIVELY Azabujuban," which have recently opened.
"The Millennials Shibuya"
A “workplace in the heart of the city” due to the corona crisis
Photo: Front Image Courtesy: Global Agents
Near the Shibuya/Jinnan area, there is a futuristic design "The Millennials Shibuya".
It opened in 2018 targeting millennials and introduced an IoT system. The provision of a new lodging experience in next-generation capsules called “smart pods” has become a hot topic.
Before COVID-19, it attracted attention for its interesting lodging style called "pod", and it was almost fully occupied, and it had the highest occupancy rate among all facilities. The hotel staff is also a collection of unique and international members, and inbound guests accounted for 80% of the guests. Unexpectedly, there were many business trip male customers in suits, but the situation changed completely with the declaration of a state of emergency. I'm going to receive a little bit of the impact of the emergency declaration.
As soon as possible, we launched measures to use the workplace, and first of all, we sold a new day plan that can be used as a "telework pod" by removing the bed from the 5 "smart pod" rooms.
* “Telework Pod” Workplace / home + α “Office as a third place”
A normal “smart pod” has a private space with a bed, but the “telework pod” has only a desk and a chair. Although it is a semi-private room, you can concentrate on your work in a quiet environment.
From February, the "Work & Sleep Plan" that can be used by occupying two of the "smart pod" and "telework pod" will also appear.
Photo: “Smart Pod” (left), “Telework Pod” (right) Image courtesy of Global Agents
* Coworking service “.andwork” Open the lounge as a workplace
".andwork" provided by the company since its opening is a membership-based co-working service that allows non-guests to use hotel lounges and other facilities. This service, which was provided only in Shibuya and Kyoto, has been expanded to seven facilities nationwide due to the corona crisis.
Photo: Coworking floor Image courtesy of Global Agents
As a result, the number of workers using telework increased, and the operating rate recovered. Even without closing the facility, the speed of the initial response is amazing, as it provided a new way to use the space lightly!
When the collaboration with “HafH” started in September 2020, address hoppers in their 20s and 30s began to visit, becoming an important customer base that supports operations. As an effect of the corona sickness, the millennial generation, which is the original target demographic, has also increased.
* From large-scale venue rental events to development of small-scale events
Disseminate ideas for “nature and life” that can be enjoyed even during the corona crisis
In the past, the lounge was rented out as an event space with high media transmission power, and due to its good location, it was also used as a place for large-scale corporate seminars and networking events, but the corona disaster temporarily stopped.
Instead, we will hold a wine event using Instagram live and a workshop to make kadomatsu, etc. Increased SNS transmission that enriches life-sized life That's what I'm talking about. Instead of renting a place for large-scale events like before, Small-scale events and workshops that demonstrate the individuality of each facility With more opportunities to host , detailed user communication is demonstrated.
Photo: Kadomatsu event Image courtesy: Global Agents
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【Equipment outline】
The Millennials Shibuya
Location: 1-20-13 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://www.themillennials.jp/shibuya
"THE LIVELY Azabu Juban"
New measures for corona misfortune “Hotels that do not stay” and “Local meat”
Photo: Front Image Courtesy: Global Agents
Azabu Juban is a town famous for its historical shopping streets. “THE LIVELY Azabu Juban”, which just opened in November 2019, is located in a corner of a street lined with various shops ranging from long-established shops to trendy shops. The stylish design is eye-catching, and it has a particularly urban impression among the company's facilities.
*The center of communication Free and open public lounge space
"THE LIVELY" “Urban lifestyle hotel” brand expanded as.
We have set up a large lounge right next to the front desk so that visitors can enjoy natural communication with other guests, rather than just staying overnight. In the coworking service ".andwork", you can use this open lounge space, An oasis for not only teleworkers but also office workers coming and going from nearby offices such as being used as “Third place” where the hotel lounge is casual like a cafe I got the impression that It is the heart of the facility, which is filled with the company's commitment to fostering natural and open communication, such as billiards and seating arrangements.
Photo: Lounge space Image courtesy: Global Agents
*Actually, there are many local regulars The bar lounge on the top floor "THE LIVERY BAR"
On the 9th floor, the top floor, there is "THE LIVELY BAR" that can be used by non-guests (closed during the state of emergency declaration).
Even in Azabu Juban, where there are many stylish shops, the sophisticated space and ease of use have been well received, and many local residents have been using it since before the pandemic, creating a natural exchange between locals and guests..
Photo: Top floor bar
* Approaching potential customers in Minato Ward who were interested but had never stayed
Like other facilities, inbound tourists accounted for 70% before the coronavirus, but the policy changed after the declaration of a state of emergency. We immediately sold 6 rooms as telework rooms without beds.
Day use from 9:00 to 22:00, with a maximum of two people per room, can be used not only for work rooms and meetings, but also for girls' gatherings, mothers' parties, special dinners for couples, etc. It is now used as a place private room. The safe and secure private room space of the corona wreck has become popular for use other than telework, and it seems that it was almost 100% operational during the period.
Photo: Private room for telework plan
In the past, it was full of only inbound tourists and tourists, and there were many residents of Minato Ward nearby who were curious about it but didn't have the opportunity to enter. The day-use plan, which is easy to try, creates touchpoints with new users in Japan, especially in the neighborhood and in Tokyo.
* Contribute to the region by teaming up with a famous store in Azabu Juban
The collaboration with the historic Azabu-Juban shopping street was something I had envisioned since the opening. It seems that the timing of the corona disaster and the idea of the long-established store matched, and the mutual cooperation measures progressed speedily. When we sold a plan that allowed guests to use famous restaurants in Azabu Juban for dinner and room service, the unique experience captured the hearts of Tokyo residents and quickly became a popular plan.
Personally, I am very much looking forward to working with local restaurants, bakeries, patisseries, etc.
Even in a stylish urban hotel, the connection with the local community is valued, and that is the unique personality of this place.
The staff realized the company's corporate philosophy, and I felt the warm interaction and hospitality that nurtured empathy.
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【Equipment outline】
The LIVELY Azabujuban
Location: 1-5-23 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://www.the-lively.com/azabu
What is the charm of the space that makes you want to try the city work?
So far, we have introduced the three facilities of "Global Agents" together with the first part.
The highlights of each facility are summarized below.
“HOTEL GRAPHY Nezu”: Highly variable space that flexibly changes hotel/residence functions
"The Millennials Shibuya": Lowering the barriers to use as a casual workplace, making it a familiar presence in daily life
“THE LIVELY Azabujuban”: Realizing a “hotel where you don’t stay” as a third place that can be used in various ways
What is the new value of space created by the facilities of "Global Agents"?
The lodging industry is one of the industries that has suffered the most damage from the pandemic, and I feel that facilities that are particularly popular with inbound tourists have been greatly affected immediately after the pandemic. I was very impressed with the attitude of the "Global Agents" who cooperated with us in this interview, and their stance of boldly taking on challenges, even in the face of adversity, in order to quickly acquire domestic users and people living in the local area as new users. was.
At its root, “Collaboration with local resources x communication” I think there is a strategy to expand the target and frontage by coming up with measures to further enhance the attractiveness of the facility based on the company's unique axis.
In addition, with the meticulous hospitality and communication skills of the operating staff, we create unique and rich experiences for each facility, even though they are facilities of the same company. Transcending the fixed concept of “hotel = lodging”, creating a new “place to belong” that is different from an office or home I felt like I was practicing
“Telework = home” is not always the case!
While telework is being recommended by companies to prevent infection, there are still many companies that "work from home" is the principle.
Even though I was forced to work from home, the telework environment was not perfect.
Some people may feel that there is a limit to creating added value while desperately confined to their homes.
You can work from home!
When you leave your home, there is a great possibility that you will connect with new communities you will meet there, and new ideas will spread. Now that a drastic shift in values is required, it may be necessary for companies to promote free work styles.
Although it is difficult for individuals to immediately change the values of a company, why not try experiencing the possibilities of new work styles and lifestyles without thinking too much about it?
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