Westin has announced a new workspace concept to meet the changing needs of today’s business traveler. After conducting in-depth guest research and monitoring business traveler trends, Westin is transforming business centers and dedicated spaces at its hotels around the world into highly functional, fully equipped workspaces. Modeled to support today’s mobile traveler, the interconnected workspace dubbed Project Hive features media:scape by Steelcase technology, video conferencing, seamless connectivity and collaboration areas.
The Workspace is suitable for impromptu meetings and can be booked by the hour, at a moment’s notice. The new workspace is currently available at The Westin Boston Waterfront and The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel and soon at the Westin Grand Munich with plans to roll-out globally through 2013.
Westin’s Vice President of Design Erin Hoover worked with her team to create a space that also embraced the trend of “co-working.” Within a small footprint of 260 square feet or less, the workspace consists of communal, interactive and individual work zones.
Other workspace features include Samsung televisions, printers, sound systems, Xbox 360 for games or DVDs, floor-to-ceiling white boards, and fully stocked office supplies. There is privacy for groups of up to four to conduct small group meetings or hold calls and teleconferences. Individuals can sit in the lounge area and utilize wired or wireless technology regardless of location in the room.
“The one-size-fit-all small meeting spaces and traditional business centers no longer support the way today’s mobile traveler works,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels in an announcement. “More than 70 percent of business travelers told us that an environment that better supports their work objectives would significantly improve their business travel experience and 48 percent said having facilities available whenever they wanted to use them would positively impact the quality of their hotel stay. While a hotel room or lobby is a place where you can do work, this workspace was specifically designed as a smart room that promotes productivity and reflects today’s social and work trends.”