The lobby is no longer just for check-in or check-out. For many hotels, these mixed-use shared spaces foster a sense of community. It's where guests can work and mingle outside in small rooms, often without a desk. The hotel lobby or common area is a “third place» which is often overlooked. Personally, I want an environment where other people work; this produces a kind of social white noise.
Despite what you might think, hotel common areas are not just for overnight guests. Instead of turning away visitors, more and more hotels are increasingly opening their doors to the neighborhood.
“We're seeing today that people are traveling more alone, looking for places to comfortably work during the day without feeling alone,” says Mitchell Hochberg, president of Lightstone, the developer of several Moxy properties in New York, Miami and Los Angeles. .
It's ideal for visitors who want a local vibe and locals who have cabin fever.
THE Moxy in Brooklyn's trendy Williamsburg neighborhood sits one of several newer hotels that have created a quasi-community center. Think of the Moxy brand as a whole as a third place for millennials. Hochberg said the brand wants its properties to be seen as a “town square” and “social hubs.”
This Brooklyn branch, like so many others, has a lounge that provides the perfect place to unpack my laptop during the day. At night, I can walk a few meters away from the bar to meet a friend who lives around the corner.
Other hip brands like CitizenM, Hilton's Tempo and Hyatt's Thompson Hotels are blurring the lines between lobby, bar and coworking space.
As a travel writer and generally curious person, people-watching in the corner of a hotel lobby is my dream work scenario. If I'm in town on an assignment and need to work, I often look for cafes and lounges in hotels that can give me a feel for the local vibe. (The lively buzz and velvet sofas of Hoxton Amsterdam have been notable recently.)
Meanwhile, if I'm at home, I know hotels with wonderful common areas that tend to encourage ambient light and conversation, have fast Wi-Fi, and offer coffee and snacks for purchase. (Effortless chic Clean hotel in Santa Monica has been a staple recently.)
Of course, there are also some basic rules for working in hotels. Think of it like any outdoor cafe: you probably wouldn't sit down without buying something first. It's not the cheapest habit and it's not something I do every day. Some properties – usually high-end – also have separate rules regarding designated areas off-limits to non-guests.
Although the intended effect of the new wave of lobbying may be to actually socialize, I like them for their indirect interactions. That is, go buy a cup of coffee, sit down, and soak up the hotel travel experience, even if I'm just around the corner from home.
