Down to business - Ashley Niedringhaus
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Down to
Business
No longer just soulless spaces targeting men
in suits, today’s business hotels are redefining
the genre. These addresses are adapting to the
informal digital nomad lifestyle as traditional
business hotels and serviced apartments find
new perks to woo the working guest.
By Ashley Niedringhaus
i l l u s t r at i o n b y c h o t i k a s o p i ta r c h a s a k
tr av el andleisure asia .com / march 2018 65
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Co-Working Hotels
Outpost
Who will love it: Writers and coding geeks wanting a tropical setting.
Where: Their hub is in the heart of Ubud, Bali, with a Canggu space coming soon.
A penthouse pop-up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is open until July.
With designer digs and creative spaces, a new crop of hotels is making it easier What you get: Private rooms and bathrooms ooze jungle charm with four-poster beds,
than ever to ditch the nine-to-five and embrace the digital nomad lifestyle. wooden accents, working desks and décor sourced from local artisans. Most rooms have
private balconies and views overlooking the pool or nearby mountains.
Get to work: A strong community vibe is at the core of Outpost’s mission, so expect
KoHub happy hours, guest speakers and meet-and-greets with local entrepreneurs and NGOs. In
Mojo Nomad Thailand
Who will love it: Hot-desking Bali, a robust selection of air-conditioned meeting rooms, standing desks, large tables for
Who will love it: group work, Skype rooms, and a jungle terrace are available. Order lunch from the
urban millennials.
The no shoes, no shirt, personal chef or a massage from the on-site masseuse.
Where: Hong Kong’s
no problem traveler. + outpost-asia.com; rooms in Bali from $989 per month.
up-and-coming Aberdeen
Where: Koh Lanta, Thailand, a
clock wise from top: courtesy of mojo nomad; courtesy of kohub thail and; courtesy of the millennials
neighborhood.
lush island between Krabi and
What you get: Hong ON
Kong-based Ovolo Hotels
Phuket in the Andaman Sea.
IN G SO
Group manages Mojo Nomad,
What you get: One-, two- and C OM
so expect private rooms to
four-bedroom apartments are lyf by Ascott
simple yet clean with a
feel more like a modest hotel
kitchenette, and standard
Counting
room than a hostel (or millennials as a
amenities like air-conditioning
“homstel” as the brand calls quarter of their
and hot-water showers. The
themselves) and 24/7 customers, Ascott
apartments are a 15-minute
“coaches” play the roles of
walk from KoHub, and the
Oneday Hotels last year
concierges. Shared rooms
helpful staff can assist with
Bangkok
Who will love it: Instagram
launched a pilot
with three to eight beds
scooter rentals. program at
dominate the offerings, addicts and coffee lovers.
Get to work: KoHub boasts Singapore
though there’s a 14-bed Where: In Bangkok’s
robust Internet speed tests Management
team-centric group room. upmarket Phrom Phong
and backup generators to deal
Female-only dorms—dubbed neighborhood and a short walk University to test
with the island’s semi-regular
“Wonderwomen”—are to the BTS, the city’s primary features—like
power cuts. Basic office needs
available, too. Glean form of public transportation. social spaces that
are included, like printing and
inspiration from nature and What you get: Bedding down can convert into
scanning, and HD monitors are
book a harbor-view room. in the Oneday Pause hostel is a hackathon or
available to rent, which is a
Get to work: High-speed Wi-Fi chic affair thanks to bespoke
benefit to graphic designers workshop zones—
and an on-site café will fuel wood furnishings made by
and start-ups writing code for of Lyf (pronounced
work sessions at a hot desk, or local craftsmen. The
their new apps. There are life), their new co-
book the “Cone of Silence” experience of sharing an
air-conditioned rooms, if the living line of hotels.
booth to hash out business eight-bed dorm is elevated
tropical heat is too much; All Lyf properties
details on a private video call. with considered details like
otherwise, the “office” is an
+ www.mojonomad.com; beds individual reading lights, power will be run by
open-air bungalow steps from
from $26. outlets, curtains and bedside millennials who
the beach.
storage. Upgrade to a private are dubbed
+ kohub.org; apartments from
room for added perks like a TV “community
$663 per month (includes two
and a safety deposit box. managers”—a mix
f r o m t o p : c o u r t e s y o f o u t p o s t; c o u r t e s y o f o n e d ay b a n g k o k
The Millennials meals per day).
Get to work: Adjoining Casa
Who will love it: Design mavens of tour guide,
Lapin is hipster heaven with
looking for a hotel-like experience. AeroPress coffee and
concierge and
Where: Steps from the Kamo River in single-origin beans, and the bartender. China
central Kyoto with easy access to the light-filled co-working space, will get the first
city’s extensive train system. Forward, is stylishly designed look: a 112-unit Lyf
What you get: Traditional hostel with exposed brick walls and Wu Tong Island
bunkbeds are replaced with state-of- banana leaf plants. There’s Shenzhen will
the-art smart pod capsules where speedy Internet, a 24/7 open this year
single beds convert into couches via co-working space and
an iPod Touch, and partitions include
followed by a 120-
high-tech meeting rooms, and unit lyf DDA Dalian
an 80-inch projection screen to membership packages are a
stream movies. Rain-head showers, at the end of 2018.
boon to long-term visitors.
slippers, pajamas and feather pillows complete the experience. + onedaybkk.com; Lyf Farrer Park
Get to work: The trendy co-working space features tufted leather sofas, Edison light beds from $19. Singapore is slated
fixtures, phone booths, meeting rooms and traditional desks. Complimentary coffee fuels for 2021.
the work day and free beer for an hour each evening kicks off the night. lyfbyascott.com.
+ the-millennials-kyoto-jp.book.direct; pods from $50.
66 march 2018 / tr av el andleisure asia .com *Prices throughout are listed in U.S. dollars for ease of comparison. tr av el andleisure asia .com / march 2018 67
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Business Hotels
Roam
Who will love it: Eat, Pray, Love wannabes who can’t live without Wi-Fi.
Where: A flat fee gives access to Roam’s global communal living properties. Bali and Tokyo are their
Asian locations, but the membership includes spaces in Miami and London, and, soon, San Francisco. Mix business with pleasure (and fast Wi-Fi) at these innovative hotels
What you get: Each co-living space is stylishly crafted by award-winning artists and architects,
which means you’ll stay in a contemporary boutique hotel in Ubud, or a minimalist yet spacious room
that prove the life of a road warrior is more than all work and no play.
with a balcony in central Tokyo. There are hotel-style niceties, too, like laundry services and yoga.
Get to work: Battle-tested Internet is the big draw here, especially in Bali, where Wi-Fi is often spotty.
+ roam.co; doubles from $500 per week.
Livit Spaces
Who will love it:
Start-up groups
looking for Series A
funding.
Where: Currently
in Bali’s Gianyar
neighborhood,
with a new hub in
central Sanur set
to open in spring
this year. Other
locations in Denmark
and Switzerland.
What you get: Livit is ideal
for team retreats and working
holidays, and they offer villa
accommodations with access to a pool,
common areas and co-working spaces. To optimize productivity,
three daily meals and housekeeping are included.
Get to work: Start-ups rave about the modern working amenities W Shanghai The Bund
and the fledgling business community that calls this incubator In 2017, luxury hotels opened in Shanghai
home. Mentor programs and networking events are part of the at a breakneck pace and chief among the
package, making it ideal for those looking for seed funding or anticipated openings was the Shanghai’s
investor pitching advice. The new, multifunctional Sanur space first W Hotel, which was part of a citywide
will host a range of events, workshops and getaways, and have redevelopment of the North Bund that
a full-service café on-site. includes a spacious urban park and
+ liv.it/spaces; rooms from $50. lifestyle complex. Business travelers will
be wooed by the hotel’s uninterrupted
views of downtown Shanghai, dining
options suitable for a working breakfast, The W hotel on new technology
and curated recommendations from the For hotel conglomerate Marriott, the W Hotel group is the “luxe rebel” of the family, says
Stylish co-working spaces
f r o m l e f t: C h r i s W i s e ; c o u r t e s y o f l i v i t s pa c e s
W Insider—the brand’s version of the Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels. That means they’re often a petri dish for
When a coffee shop doesn’t cut it, these co-working spaces help to amp up the experimenting with a new technology. As for their customers, well, these millennials are
concierge—on where to impress a client
productivity and give off major #designgoals. happy to be the guinea pigs. At the W in Austin, Texas, in-room Amazon Alexa devices were
at, for instance, a local dumpling shop. installed so guests could ask for city recommendations from the W Insiders for top live
Get to work: The W Hotel boasts 6,000 music spots, the best barbecue joints or local rooftop bars. While Alexa devices might not
Ministry of New, Mumbai Learning Center, Bangkok WeWork Weihai Lu, Shanghai The Great Room, Singapore square meters of meeting space—the make it further than Texas, the idea, Ingham says, is about doing test runs of cutting-edge
Decompress from the cacophony In the 75-year-old Bank of Converted from a 1930s opium Decorated with leather sofas and largest in tech-centric Shanghai—and ideas in the hospitality sphere. Once new ideas get the seal of approval from the W, it’s a
of India’s largest city and focus Thailand, this new library, co- factory, the Weihai Lu branch of marble-topped tables, one could trickle-down model to more conservative brands in the portfolio, like St. Regis Hotels. Case
hosts can create custom mood music and in point: The W was one of the first Starwood Preferred Group brands to rollout keyless
on the task at hand at this co- working space and museum joins this au courant co-working chain imagine enjoying a Scotch in this
working hub in a renovated the list of creative hubs along the is now a Midcentury Modern über-chic space; The Great Room a signature scent to diffuse during group entry for guest rooms, and now that technology is being adopted across the Marriott
publishing house in Mumbai’s Chao Phraya River. With design dream, complete with Fritz feels like a sleek hotel lobby for meetings. When it is time for a break, let organization. But keyless entry isn’t a hard sell for most customers; for the real innovation,
Fort district. Working rooms are help from the team behind the Hansen- and Eames-inspired the design-conscious worker. the hotel’s Insider craft a “Recess” for Ingham is looking forward. “We’re designing hotels now that will open in three to four years
finished with rich jewel tones, new Thailand Creative & Design seating, brass lamps and spiral This year will see more Singapore your crew with yoga, express spa services, that we will be able to reconfigure the arrival space completely,” he says. “We’re fast
r alf tooten
patterned textiles and Center, the public space offers staircase. There are 59 WeWorks locations, as well as outposts in approaching a time where we don’t need traditional check-in spaces or welcome areas.”
functional-yet-stylish desks. rentable meeting rooms and worldwide, including Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta. icebreakers or signature cocktails at the This year, expect to see W Dubai and W Brisbane, among others, while the brand’s first
ministryofnew.in; from access to multimedia resources. Seoul and Toyko. wework.com; thegreatroomoffices.com; splashy Woo Bar. hotel in Japan will open in Osaka in 2021. whotels.com.
$15 per hour. bot.or.th; free entry. from $220 per month. from $70 per day. + whotels.com; doubles from $295.
68 march 2018 / tr av el andleisure asia .com
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ON
Hyatt Place IN G SO Radisson Blu Dubai
C OM
Bangkok KHOS by Waterfront
Sukhumvit Rosewood Looking out to waterfront views, this
Targeting self-reliant brand-new Dubai hotel is located
professionals who blur the lines
The Rosewood within Dubai Water Canal, the latest
between business travelers and Hotel Group is business district linking Business Bay
digital nomads, Hyatt Place, known for to the Arabian Gulf. The 432-room
which launched in 2005, has more luxurious hotels hotel offers more than 1,000 square
than 300 locations globally. The around the world, meters of conference space, and has a
brand-new Bangkok property is including standout smaller, also new, sister property,
close to Queen Sirikit National properties in Dubai Canal View, nearby. With more
Convention Centre. The stylish rooftop Phuket and than 260 locations worldwide,
bar is great for drinks with clients or Beijing, and later including two more corporate-focused
networking, and online check-in and hotels in Dubai’s media district slated
this year they’re
express checkout make getting right to work or for 2019, Radisson Blu gives working
catching a jet-lag busting nap a little easier.
hoping to travelers all the basics and then
Get to work: Returning customers come for 24/7 business centers with meeting rooms, capitalize on the some. Radisson Blu’s Bangkok hotel,
spacious suites with separate working areas and concierge services to craft unique growing demand for example, is conveniently located
meetings. Complimentary breakfast and grab-and-go options help shrink expenses. for business hotels between two BTS stations and
+ bangkoksukhumvit.place.hyatt.com; doubles from $101. that prioritize features Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, city
modern amenities views and a lush, rooftop craft-beer
without sacrificing bar when you need to unwind.
style. So far, Get to work: Use the hotel’s free One
they’re tight-lipped Touch meetings app to manage
events, set agendas and coordinate
about where
with speakers and attendees. Bonus:
they’ll debut their
The Palace Hotel, Tokyo The hotel will offset the carbon
If you didn’t master the art of meishi koukan, the Japanese
new line of hotels, footprint of your meeting for free.
practice for presenting and receiving business cards, before dubbed KHOS, but + radissonblu.com; doubles in Dubai
landing in Tokyo, book a two- or four-hour session with the all signs point to from $231 and Bangkok from $126.
hotel’s private etiquette guide. Learn the craft of Japanese gift Asia. The name
giving; proper eating techniques, like never to dip your nigiri sushi KHOS is a
rice into soy sauce; and when and how to remove your shoes derivative of the The Kerry Hong Kong
before entering a home. Two-hour lessons start from $171. Mongolian word The five-star hotel brand from Shangri-La opened up their
Get to work: The hotel’s Cultivating Tokyo package includes for pair, and waterfront Hong Kong outpost last year, and the 16-story hotel
business etiquette lessons with a guide; private check-in and representatives for designed by local architect André Fu has already become known
checkout; dedicated concierge service; daily breakfast;
f r o m t o p : c o u r t e s y o f h yat t p l a c e b a n g k o k s u k h u m v i t; c o u r t e s y o f t h e pa l a c e h o t e l
the hotel chain say as an urban resort for working travelers. Book business events
afternoon tea, cocktails and canapés; plus the use of the club’s
they hope to “blend and conferences in meeting space that boasts extensive harbor
f r o m t o p : c o u r t e s y o f s h a n g r i - l a ; c o u r t e s y o f r a d i s s o n b l u d u b a i wat e r f r o n t
private meeting room for two hours each day.
work and play, views and can seat more than 1,000 guests. There are also Kerry
+ palacehoteltokyo.com; two nights in a double room from $1,515. hotels in Shanghai and Beijing.
people and ideas,
Get to work: Guest rooms feature a comfortable desk, ample
East with West and
lighting and plenty of power outlets, and the hotel is connected
business with to a MTR station for quick access to the rest of the city.
lifestyle.” The first + shangri-la.com/kerry; doubles from $267.
KHOS property is
set to open later
this year, while
Rosewood hotels
in Phnom Penh,
Hotel tech Handy Portier Technologies Porter & Sail
Hong Kong and
With thousands of hotels around Rather than offering a stand-
Luang Prabang gets a reboot the globe offering Handy, it’s
Targeting five-star hotels and
resorts, this technology start-up alone smartphone, Porter & Sail
are coming in the free-to-use easy to see why this early is making waves in Thailand with is hedging their bets that
next few months, smartphones are taking adapter of the guest-facing their proprietary operating travelers have space on their
technology took off quickly. system and Samsung phones. phone for another app. Guests
too. rosewood over hotel rooms in a
The phones work like any other With free international calling, staying at a partner hotel,
hotels.com. trend that both boosts smartphone and allow for including The Warehouse in
unlimited 4G data and Wi-Fi
hotels’ positive reviews, international calling, web- hotspot capabilities, guests can Singapore or COMO Shambhala
and has guests raving surfing and checking e-mail on connect anytime, anywhere. Estate in Bali, will receive access
about ditching expensive the go. The brand’s city guide Open the chat function from a to the brand’s curated list of
recommendations cast a wide Bangkok tuk-tuk and quickly get lifestyle recommendations along
roaming plans. Here are net to appeal to budget and with where to eat, shop, drink
directions, lunch ideas and more
some to look out for luxury travelers. from your hotel’s concierge or and hang out in the city. Available
when you next check in. handy.travel. butler. goportier.com. on iTunes and Google Play.
70 march 2018 / tr av el andleisure asia .com tr av el andleisure asia .com / march 2018 71
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SERVICED APARTMENTS
Sedona Hotels & Suites
As well as a five-star hotel in Rangoon, Sedona
offers deluxe serviced suites in Saigon for
f r o m t o p : c o u r t e s y o f s e d o n a h o t e l s a n d s u i t e s ; c o u r t e s y o f t h e a s c o t t; c o u r t e s y o f pa n pa c i f i c
working travelers looking for a more high-end
Looking for a home away from home? Serviced apartments draw stay. At the Saigon property, conveniently
sway with business travelers. Here, some reliable stand-outs. located in upmarket District 1, a new 195-room
Grand Tower offers studios, one-, two-, and
three-bedroom suites. All rooms have reliable
Wi-Fi and a back-up power supply, if needed.
137 Pillars Where in Asia: Sedona’s hotel in Rangoon
Suites and overlooks Inya Lake; the Saigon serviced suites
Residences are a short walk from Pasteur Street.
Last year saw the first + sedonahotels.com.sg; doubles in Rangoon
expansion of the esteemed from $113; apartments in Saigon from $140.
137 Pillars House in Chiang
Mai to the bustling Thai
capital. Once you check in,
be warned: it will be hard
to leave the luxe thread
count sheets, deep soak
tubs, private balconies,
Pan Pacific The Ascott
in-room kitchens and
Serviced Suites The Ascott’s spacious
washers and dryers.
Twenty hotels, resorts and serviced suites kitchenettes and floorplans
Larger residences include
dot Asia—with a few North American postal put some Hong Kong
a dining space for up to five
c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p l e f t: c o u r t e s y o f 1 3 7 p i l l a r s b a n g k o k ; c o u r t e s y o f f r a s e r s h o s p i ta l i t y; c o u r t e s y o f fa r e a s t r e s i d e n c e
codes in the mix—and guests of the serviced apartments to shame.
people. Zip up to the hotel’s
suites will enjoy extras like residents’ The brand doesn’t shy
panoramic rooftop pool or
lounges, gourmet breakfasts, rooftop infinity away from luxury hotel
order a cocktail at the posh Frasers pools and top-of-the-line fitness centers. perks, and most
Jack Bain’s Bar. Don’t be Hospitality Where in Asia: From Melbourne to Hanoi, the properties include
surprised if you find Seven distinct hotel brands sit brand is well-represented in the region, with top-notch health clubs
yourself wondering if this under the Frasers Hospitality flagship property Pan Pacific Serviced Suites with personal trainers,
is vacation or work. umbrella, including three Orchard on Beach Road in the heart of pools and a kids’ club.
Where in Asia: The award-winning serviced Singapore. The 180 suites at this Singaporean Where in Asia: The
Bangkok residence is near apartments: Fraser Suites, standout include contemporary décor and Ascott is in 14 countries
Thonglor, in the heart of Fraser Place and Fraser access to 24-hour personal assistants who across the continent, but
the city’s fashionable Residence. The design- can book dinner reservations, assist with they’re making a big push in
and commercial focused residence Capri by networking or make an appointment to China—with 20,000 rooms, it is their
Sukhumvit district. Fraser is aimed at the young meet with a top tailor. biggest market—and Chinese expansion plans for 2018 include
+ 137pillarsbangkok.com; guns, and their millennial- + panpacific.com; doubles in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Outside of the People’s Republic, there
studios from $167. minded facilities include iPad Singapore from $190. are properties in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, and new
check-ins, e-concierge
apartments will open this year in Vietnam and Cambodia.
services and a modern décor
+ the-ascott.com; doubles in Kuala Lumpur from $100.
scheme that mixes in pops of
color. Fraser Residence woos
Far East a more traditional (read:
Residence mid-40s) client base that
Road warriors on extended values human contact over Work while traveling the world
assignments will welcome the fast check-ins and high-tech
From a month to a full year, here are two programs
creature comforts of the rooms. Modena by Fraser
that offer digital nomads a professional work
brand’s one-, two- and lands in the middle, and
abroad experience that shines on a resume.
three-bedroom apartments. focuses on balancing work
Defined living rooms, fully and play—the laundries even
equipped kitchens and have their own Nintendo Wii. We Roam Remote Year
comfortable bedrooms are Where in Asia: There are Looking for a catalyst for Seventy-five professionals with a
creativity but can’t put a career sense of wanderlust follow
standard and benefits include properties in Malaysia,
on hold? We Roam provides co- Remote Year’s planned itineraries
continental breakfast, speedy Australia, Singapore, India, living spaces in Europe, South that bounce across several
Wi-Fi, gyms, pools and Indonesia, Japan, South America and Asia, along with continents, from the Far East to
concierge services. Some Korea, Philippines, Thailand, immersive experiences like Latin America, working from
locations have in-room laundries, wine chillers or private cellars. Many include outdoor Vietnam and China. language classes and speaker co-working hubs along the way.
series, for participants to enjoy The team coordinates housing,
play areas for children, and Staycation Guides offer things to do on your time off. + frasershospitality,com; on a month-long stop in each travel plans and community
Where in Asia: More than 20 properties in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. doubles in Kuala Lumpur location. we-roam.com; rooms events. remoteyear.com; $5,000
+ stayfareast.com; apartments in Singapore from $190. from $104. from $500 per week. deposit then $2,000 per month.
72 march 2018 / tr av el andleisure asia .com tr av el andleisure asia .com / march 2018 73
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