When it comes to how law firms are managing their return to traditional office spaces, the phrase ‘to hotel or not to hotel’ comes to mind. The process known as hoteling involves converting a certain proportion of an office into flexible, communal space available for use by any employee when they choose to come to the office. The issue has become a point of contention as many firms grapple with the reality of a post-Covid world where remote or hybrid work models are expected to persist.
Anthony Davies, Chief Revenue Officer of Forrest Solutions, argues in favor of hoteling as a pragmatic response to a potential real estate crisis. “Firms we talk to say, ‘We’re not paying for a half-empty office. We have to move to some kind of desk-sharing because we have real estate we’re not going to use. We’re sitting on a time bomb with a lot of this real estate,’” he says. In his vision, law firms would dedicate at least 20% of their office space for hoteling purposes, transforming it into an attractive space stocked with amenities and free food.
On the other side, there are those who view hoteling as a loss in the efforts to reestablish pre-pandemic office dynamics. Tom Fulcher, vice chair and head of the legal tenant practice group at Savills, echoes these sentiments. He describes it as a major cultural shift, signaling a surrender in the battle to bring lawyers back to the physical office.
The long-term impacts of a shift towards hoteling remain to be seen, and it is clear that there are differing opinions on the matter. For some, it’s seen as a savvy use of otherwise wasted real estate in an era increasing remote working. For others, it’s a sign of surrendering office culture and norm. What is clear, however, is that this conversation signals wider recognition of the ongoing change in how law firms view and utilize office space in response to enduring pandemic-induced work trends.