Hotel Lobbies as Workspaces for the Modern Worker

Dola Oluteye, Peter McLennan and Ben Croxford

University College London (UCL)

Author Note

A Project funded by Innovate UK and KSBC

Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering

Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources

ucftolu@ucl.ac.uk

Multiple Case Study Research

M O T I V A T I O N A N D R E S E A R C H B A C K G R O U N D

Introduction 2

Review Sustainability Measures

Net Zero Emissions

2050 Improve and Prolong Building Lifecycle

UK’s Building Stock

80% Exemplar Sectors

Access-Based Consumption Models

3

Motivation

Background Work Typology

Nature of work types are shifting into more

creative use of knowledge that often creates and innovates

Work Practices

Modern workforce choice and patterns

of work are becoming more mobile and

flexible

Work Geography

Spatial fixity no longer characterises the

modern workplace, so work can be done

regardless of geography

Workplace Building Strategies

Need to leverage buildings as a key

resource by employing ABC models to improve

their utility. Ubiquitous

Technology

1

2 3

4

Hotel Lobbies

Co-working

2 Ada

pted

from

: Yin

, 201

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Select Case Sites

Design Data Collection Protocol

Prepare, Collect and Analyse

Analyse and Findings

Design and Strategy

Define and Design

Develop Policy Implications

Modify Theory

Conclude

Conduct ‘n’ Case Studies

Write individual case study reports

Draw cross-case study conclusions

Consolidate case studies report

Write cross-case report

Conduct Pilot Case Study

Develop Proposed Theory

Main Components of Research Project Methodology1

Multiple Case Study Procedure2

T H E G O A L O F R E S E A R C H I S T H E U S E O F M E T H O D S A N D T E C H N I Q U E S T O E N H A N C E O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G O F A R E S E A R C H P H E N O M E N O N ( D E V A U S , 2 0 1 4 )

Methods 3

Theoretical Framework

Research Strategy

Multi-Case Studies Approach

(Direct and Theoretical

Replications)

Research Strategy

Pilot Case Study

A

B

Research Objectives Research Design

Conceptual Framework

Epistemology & Ontology

Alternative use of non-traditional built spaces as a

work phenomenon

Methodological Approach

Hotel Lobbies as alternative workspaces

Philosophy Develop and

Propose Theory

Strategy Tactics Modified Theory

4

Gathering Evidence

•  Document Reviews

•  Archival records

•  Direct participation

•  Observation

Semi-structured Interviews

Working in hotel lobbies cited as workspaces and

observing their users

Direct Enquiry from lobby users

and staff

Newspaper articles, user blogs and reviews,

photographs, hotel websites

User Attributes

Work Attributes

Spatial Attributes

To confirm publicness of lobbies and

ascertain their use as workspaces

To confirm users are mainly non-

resident and understand how

space meets their needs

To guide fieldwork, corroborate other

evidences and contextualise study

3Adapted from: Yin, Robert K.. Case Study Research and Applications (p. 121). SAGE Publications. Kindle Edition.

Sources of evidence and Data Collection Protocol3

A C A S E S T U D Y I S A N E M P I R I C A L M E T H O D T H A T I N V E S T I G A T E S A C O N T E M P O R A R Y P H E N O M E N O N ( T H E “ C A S E ” ) I N D E P T H A N D W I T H I N I T S R E A L - W O R L D C O N T E X T ( Y I N , 2 0 1 7 )

Methods

Research Objectives

Explore the applicability of access-based consumption (ABC) models within the hotel industry by investigating:

•  How ubiquitous technology is influencing workplace choices of modern workers

•  Why hotel lobbies are transforming into work environments suited to the modern-day workforce

Results 5

H O T E L _ D

Classification: Boutique hotel Opened: 2013

Affiliation: American hotel chain London Sub-region: East

H O T E L _ A H O T E L _ B

H O T E L _ C

** “Our hotels are not open to the public in the sense that is being used. We are not a boutique hotel but a lifestyle hotel and set out to cater for the needs of our customers, who are mobile citizens. The clue is in the name of our hotel” (Hotel_D Manager)

Classification: Boutique hotel Opened: 2014 Affiliation: American hotel chain London Sub-region: Central

Classification: Boutique hotel Opened: 2006

Affiliation: American hotel chain. London Sub-region: East

Classification: Literature – Boutique hotel Interview – Lifestyle hotel Opened: 2017 Affiliation: Dutch hotel chain London Sub-region: East Excluded from the case studies

* “The lobby is open to the public as long as they can find a space to sit … Some people book the lobby ahead, but the left side is open to the public. You can see so many laptops everywhere, people use our Wi-Fi freely” (Hotel_B Manager)

O V E R V I E W O F C A S E S A N D L O C A T I O N I N L O N D O N

A,B,DC

W E B L I S T I N G S O F H O T E L S R E P O R T E D A S P L A C E S T O W O R K A R E C H A R A C T E R I S E D A S B O U T I Q U E H O T E L S

8 8

38 46

0 20 40 60 80 100

Student Director

Employee Self-Employed

Case 1

30% 30YRS 70%

Q1. Reasons for using hotel lobby?

8 8

42 42

0 20 40 60 80 100

Student Self-Employed

Employee Director

Case 2

58% 32YRS 42%

5 23 27

45

0 20 40 60 80 100

Student Employee

Director Self-Employed

Case 3

46% 34.5YRS 54%

6

76%

Creative Professionals

92%

Creative Professionals

100%

Creative Professionals

36 Users

12 Users

26 Users

U S E R A T T R I B U T E S

Results

Number of users and their employment status

" T H E C O R P O R A T E W O R L D W A S T H E O P P O S I T E W A Y O F W O R K I N G , E S P E C I A L L Y A S C R E A T I V E S W H E R E Y O U ’ R E I N A C U B I C L E , I T ’ S S W E A T Y , I T ’ S N O T … I T ’ S N O T M E A N T F O R C R E A T I V E T H I N K I N G A N D S T I M U L A T I N G ” H L U _ 4 2

Q2/Q3. Tools used for supporting activities and why? •  Free Wi-Fi - Internet Access •  Electricity - Charging Devices •  Personal Laptops - Work •  Software Apps - Work & Social Media •  Mobile Devices - Making Calls •  Headphones - Silence Noise/Music •  Notepad - Work •  Pen - Writing

100%

Work

0%

Lodging Guests

Summary of Responses of Lobby Users

0 0

8 92

0 20 40 60 80 100

Other Student

Super-creative Creative

Case 2

0 0 0

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

Other Student

Super-creative Creative

Case 3

7

12 Users

26 Users

W O R K A T T R I B U T E S

Results

Classification of Work – Florida, 2002, 2012, 2014

3 6

30 46

0 20 40 60 80 100

Student Other

Creative Super-creative

Case 1 36 Users

20 Frequently used words by respondents of their work and tool used

“ I A M A : U S E R I N T E R F A C E D E S I G N E R ( H L U 1 ) ; S O F T W A R E D E V E L O P E R ( H L U 2 , 2 1 , 4 3 ) ; C R E A T I V E D E S I G N E R ( H L U 6 8 , 1 3 , 3 , 7 , ) ; A R T D I R E C T O R ( H L U 4 , 4 2 ) ; F I L M M A K E R ( H L U 3 4 , 1 2 ) ; F I N A N C I A L P R O F E S S I O N A L

( H L U 1 9 , 2 6 , 6 3 , 6 9 , ) ; C O N S U L T A N T ( H L U 7 5 . 7 4 , 6 4 , 6 1 , 4 4 , 3 9 , 3 1 )

8

S P A T I A L A T T R I B U T E S

Results

EFI

AJE

K

L

C

Q4. Lobby space characteristics directly or indirectly supporting respondents activities?

“ … A N I C E S P A C E T O M E E T P E O P L E ” ( H L U 4 8 ) ; “ … O T H E R P E O P L E A R E B E I N G P R O D U C T I V E A R O U N D Y O U ” ( H L U 4 6 ) ; “ T H I S H O T E L S P E C I F I C A L L Y E N C O U R A G E S P E O P L E T O C O M E H E R E A N D W O R K ” ( H L U 4 1 )

Library Table

Creative Space Beverages

High Ceilings

Aesthetics

Music

Lighting levels

Furniture Networking

Vibe

Q5. Missing space characteristics? Quiet areas Ergonomic chairs More furniture Variety of recipes Charging points Extended hours More plants Water dispenser

9

Incremental innovations in hotel lobby space models and designs

Re-conceptualising existing normative workplace designs

Re-imagining and repurposing redundant, underutilized and obsolete buildings as functional spaces

Supporting economic activities and UK’s sustainability Agenda

01

02

03

Conclusions

Drawing from cross-case studies data analysis, demonstrable empiricism is reflected in the mediating role technology plays in modern

workplace choices. Specific cases examined showed that hotel lobbies are transforming into workspaces as an alternative to traditional

workplace offerings. They are attracting a predominantly young modern workforce demography, whose work patterns are characterised by

independence, mobility and agility. Self-governance, self-regulation and self-organising typifies their employment category, characterised by

creative and knowledge-based work typology. These findings satisfy the research objective’s investigation.

The role played by the hotel management can be framed within five of the six dimensions of ABC models outlined by (Bardhi and Eckhardt,

2012): (1) temporality, (2) anonymity, (3) market mediation, (4) consumer involvement (5) type of accessed object. Reciprocity on the part of

the users provides tangible (e.g. purchase of food and beverages)and intangible (e.g. free advertisement via positive reviews on social media)

benefits that increases the perceived value of these hotels.

Knowledge gained during this study has a three-fold implication within the larger context of the built environment:

R E I M A G I N I N G B U I L D I N G S T O A C H I E V E S U S T A I N A B L E E C O N O M I C G R O W T H