Over 70% of London workers who also work remotely (either occasionally or full time) struggle to concentrate in the office for half an hour or more each day, according to a new study conducted by Guestline.

Businesses are therefore losing an average of 116 hours of work per year (at least), which equates to almost 17 working days, due to a dip in productivity within their working environment.

The study conducted by Guestline surveyed 2,000 people in the UK to understand what it’s like to work remotely and use co-working spaces. The statistics unveil the challenges people face when co-working and the growing shift in what remote workers desire.

It seems that the answer to these problems could be a space that we might not immediately associate with work, but which actually provides an ideal environment for modern-day employees – hotels.

With 64% of employee’s in London claiming that their company/industry is supportive of them working outside the office in a co-working environment, the number is only set to rise. With more software similar to what can be found at FilecenterDMS.com becoming increasingly available it is easier than ever for employees to work externally. Enabling this work culture shift.

Where are people already using hotels as workspaces?

In taking a closer look at the specific roles and industries these people work in, the survey revealed that those involved in information research analysis, business and management, hospitality and events, and engineering found hotels the most beneficial for co-working.

Alongside these industries, over 30% of people working in London find co-working spaces are great places to network and over a quarter believe that co-working is more comfortable than being in the office

The figures suggest those same people might be happier in hotels. With the nation’s hotels offering comfortable, quiet, and well-connected environments, there’s a clear opportunity for them to begin marketing themselves as co-working spaces.

What do people value in a workspace?

When people were asked what their most important factors were to choose a co-working space, the data revealed that it’s all about providing an environment that runs smoothly:

When asked what annoyed them the most in co-working spaces, respondents said that ‘people talking loudly’ was the most irritating factor, followed closely by a lack of privacy and uncomfortable seating.

Kate Fuller, Marketing Manager at Guestline, said:

“It’s exciting to discover hotels could be a new solution for people who work remotely within the UK. Traditionally, coffee shops have been one of the typical, go-to destinations, but we are seeing a huge shift in co-working behaviour, with people desiring spaces that are quieter and still have all the facilities they need to work efficiently and conduct meetings.

“The research shows that hotels offer the three most important factors to people who co-work, which means it’s time for hoteliers to get ahead of the game and create a designated co-working offering to maximise revenue and revolutionize the way people utilise their facilities.”