The Hospitality Takeover of the Workplace

15th September 2025

When did offices start competing with The Ritz? And more importantly, should they?

From Cubicles to Concierge

Step into any new Grade A building in London and you’ll notice something: the lobby feels less like an office and more like a boutique hotel. Signature scents in the air, baristas behind marble counters and ofas designed to lounge, not perch.

Welcome to the “hotelification” of the workplace where receptions moonlight as members’ clubs and office floors borrow from the playbook of luxury hospitality.

But this isn’t just about throw pillows and mood lighting. The hotel industry has long mastered the art of creating environments that feel intuitive, comfortable, and memorable. The question for workplaces is simple: are we creating better offices, or just better Instagram content?

More Than Amenities

Real hotelification goes beyond surface-level perks. Different types of work require different environments, and the most successful offices are now designed as “neighbourhoods”, distinct zones with their own purpose and personality.

Hotels curate experiences: the buzz of the bar, the calm of the spa, the energy of the conference space. Offices can learn from this, giving people the ability to choose a setting that matches their work mode. We’re seeing clients increasingly invest in this adaptability, building spaces that flex between focused work, collaboration, and hospitality.

The Experience Imperative

For client-facing spaces, the stakes are even higher. The first impression determines future engagement from clientele and the tone of the remaining office spaces. But here’s where most organisations get it wrong: they focus on impressive rather than immersive.

The most effective spaces aren’t simply expensive; they’re intentional. We’ve discovered that subtle branded details, clever use of materials, and hospitality-style service design make a lasting impact that fully embraces company culture.

The Art of Sensory Hospitality

The psychology is clear: multi-sensory experiences create stronger memories. Hospitality knows this instinctively, and workplaces are beginning to follow suit.

Think beyond visual impact. How does the space sound? Feel? Smell? We’ve helped clients create adaptable entertainment floors where intimate nooks can morph into presentation areas, and collaborative workshops can seamlessly host evening receptions. The environment itself becomes part of the conversation.

Reality Check

Before you start budgeting for a lobby sommelier, let’s get real. The hotelification of office spaces represents a paradigm shift in workplace design, driven by the desire to create environments that prioritise employee comfort, collaboration, and well-being. But comfort without function is just expensive furniture.

The most successful hotelified workplaces maintain a balance. They borrow hospitality’s emotional intelligence while keeping workplace functionality. They create experiences that serve business objectives, not just social media metrics.

The Bottom Line

People desire to be part of a community and have the ability to curate their lives, and this includes time spent in the office. Hotelification isn’t about turning offices into actual hotels – it’s about understanding that the physical environment shapes human behaviour.

For organisations investing in client hospitality spaces, the message is clear: stop thinking like landlords and start thinking like hosts. Spaces should tell a story, build a community, and make people want to return.

After all, in a world where Zoom can handle the functional requirements of most meetings, the physical space needs to offer something digital can’t: genuine human connection wrapped in memorable experience.