Why Luxury Hotel Lobbies Make Perfect Digital Nomad Offices
If you are only limiting yourself to working in coffee shops and co-working spaces, you might be missing out on one of the best spots for digital nomads to get stuff done.
Coffee shops are handy, but the WiFi isn’t always great and you end up spending a fortune on expensive lattes to justify sitting there for hours. Co-working spaces can do the trick too, but they can have some pricey fees or long commitments and the social aspect can distract you from getting work done.
Have you ever tried working on your laptop in a hotel lobby? It is becoming more and more of a common practice for digital nomads. In fact, some hotels are even starting to turn their lobbies into co-working spaces in order to capitalise on this sought-after working environment.
Here are some of the reasons you might want to give it a try:
It’s Not Very Busy
Usually a hotel lobby is quiet and deserted, especially in the middle of the week. It is much quieter than a coffee shop or an office. You can even tuck yourself away in a corner and have an uninterrupted Skype call. There are usually many lovely places to sit, including couches, tables and chairs.
Of course, since you cannot book ahead there is no guarantee that the couches and desks in the lobby will be open when you need them. All you can do is show up and hope or you can give the hotel a call ahead of time and ask how busy it is. Luxury Hotel lobbies will usually get busier in the evening as guests head to the bar or meet up to head out for dinner or drinks, so bring your noise cancelling headphones if you like to work late.
The Atmosphere is Nice
Luxury Hotel lobbies are designed to be sophisticated, elegant and relaxing. The aim of the decor is to make the visitor immediately feel a sense of welcoming luxury when they arrive. This also makes for a great working environment.
Soft jazz may be playing in the background, people are likely walking around in suits and the furnishings will be high end. In a coffee shop there is usually a lot of chatter and the loud growl of coffee machines and beans grinding. Hotel lobbies are usually much more subdued. Plus, the bathrooms are usually much cleaner and more luxurious.
This quiet, pleasant and luxurious atmosphere really sets the tone for an effective workday.
The Staff Will Assume You Are a Guest
Just because you aren’t a guest at the hotel, it doesn’t mean the lobby is off limits. If you feel guilty about sitting there for a long time, you might want to buy a drink at the lobby bar. But it’s not really necessary. Just walk in and sit down like you belong there — confidence is everything.
The staff will probably assume that you are just a guest in the hotel who wants to get caught up on some work. The only trick is to rotate hotels often, as the concierge will start to get suspicious when they see you come in and work all day, every day.
If you do order food and drink, it might be more expensive than a coffee shop but the quality will usually be superior.
The Internet is Usually Pretty Decent
It’s a hotel, so there needs to be at least somewhat fast internet otherwise the guests would tear apart the hotel on Tripadvisor and go elsewhere. A lot of hotels are now offering free WiFi in their lobbies — no questions asked.
Sometimes you might have to join a rewards program or ask the front desk for a password to access the internet, but usually it is not too difficult. If you need to fax or print something off, there is usually a business center that you can use.
There Are Opportunities for Networking
Another advantage to working in a hotel lobby is that you will be much more likely to strike up a conversation with others, as people are generally more social and open to chatting with strangers when they travel.
They might be in town for business or for an event and, depending on what your business is, you may benefit from talking to them and giving them your business card.
So, if you are wandering around with your laptop looking for a place to settle in and get work done, why not try working in a hotel lobby?
I hope you enjoyed this article. I’ll make sure to write another one with some of my tips and tricks to lead the optimal digital nomad lifestyle and the perfect way to get started.
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Keep Nomading,
Tim
I’m a co-founder at Candy Banners, a digital advertising studio and Stinson Design, the leading presentation consultants in North America. Previously founder of social game Predico and on the board of ad tech company Viewor.
Follow my adventures on Instagram @timgrassin
