Feature
Tired of the old, dusty office? Think those generic corporate spaces surrounded by strip malls, freeways and endless parking lots are what’s keeping people from coming in? Well, corporate real estate holders have a solution.
Picture this: offices transformed into “work resorts,” outfitted with luxury aesthetics and amenities that make you feel like you’ve just stepped into a five-star hotel. Imagine off-white Roman clay walls, marble coffee tables and artisanal snacks — all designed to create an oasis of comfort and style.
Sounds pretty good, right? Companies sure hope so. Some are betting this is the next big thing to get you to abandon your home office and make your way back to a desk.
Hotel-ifying the Office
The New York Times covered the story of the Springline complex in Menlo Park, California, and the effort to transform the boring old office into something more luxurious:
Transforming traditional offices into workspaces with hotel-like amenities is referred to as “hotelification.” In this new iteration, there is the additional layer of the “hospitality experience,” which Amy Campbell, an architect and senior associate at Gensler in San Francisco, describes as “anticipating the needs of others and then creating accommodations for that.”
And who doesn’t want that? If given a choice between that or a poorly lit basement office, sign me up for the white leather couches and boutique grocery store.
What I can’t get over is the transparency of the effort. The idea that nice amenities will make up for a soul-crushing commute or the loss of flexibility that so many workers have come to value is almost insulting. A signature scent? Marble coffee tables? Instagrammable moments at work? Who is asking for this and why would it improve work?
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Surface-Level Solutions to Deep Challenges
This is a classic case of style over substance. It’s all about appearances. Employers think that by making an office look like a luxury resort, they’re enhancing the work environment.
In reality, it’s akin to adding a ping-pong table or a snack bar — it’s a superficial change that doesn’t address the real challenges of modern work.
Data from the Pew Research Center shows that roughly a third of U.S. employees are still working entirely remotely with about 40% working in a hybrid environment (with hybrid workers favoring more time at home). Clearly, the majority of workers aren’t clamoring to get back into an office, no matter how nice it looks.
There’s a growing disconnect between what employers think employees want and what they actually need to be productive and happy at work. Employers are betting that luxury office spaces will lure people back, but employees are telling a different story. They want flexibility, autonomy and meaningful work — not just a pretty place to sit.
Landlords and the C-suite Would Really Like You Back at the Office
So, why are companies doubling down on these lavish office spaces? The answer lies not in employee desires but in the pressures facing commercial real estate and leadership’s attempt to justify expensive leases.
The pandemic turned the commercial real estate market upside down. With weekly occupancy rates stuck at around 50% of pre-pandemic levels, landlords and real estate investors are desperate. They’re pulling out all the stops to make these spaces appealing again, hoping that a scent of white water lily will somehow offset the empty chairs and cubicles.
Company leadership wants people back in their offices, too. Here’s the kicker: Many of the leaders pushing for a return to the office aren’t exactly eager to show up themselves. They envision a vibrant, collaborative environment filled with team members who thrive on face-to-face interaction. Yet, these same leaders often opt for remote work themselves, leaving their employees to endure the commute and the confines of these “resorts.”
It’s clear that what’s really at play is a desire to regain control and visibility, not to mention justifying those hefty real estate investments.
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More Focus on Work, Less on Scented Candles
So, if luxury aesthetics and Instagrammable offices aren't the answer, what should companies focus on to truly improve the work experience?
Instead of sinking money into marble coffee tables and boutique grocery stores, companies should invest in tools and policies that promote collaboration and flexibility. This means better technology for virtual meetings, seamless platforms for team communication, and other tools that make working in the office just as good, if not better, than working from home.
Investing heavily in creating environments that foster easy communication and collaboration, regardless of where employees are working, means even being in a half-full office will be productive. The goal is to empower teams to connect and collaborate in person when possible, not just to dress up an office to look good.
Another way organizations can support people returning to the office — or keep them engaged while working remotely — is to invest in their well-being. This means offering support for mental health, providing ergonomic and comfortable setups, and fostering a culture that values work-life balance.
There are plenty of other ideas to make it easier to work in an office too, whether it’s subsidized child care or having real offices instead of the nightmare of loud, open floor plans. Companies should focus on creating an environment that genuinely enhances the overall work experience, rather than just superficially upgrading the decor.
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Back to the Drawing Board
The bottom line? Turning your office into a “work resort” might make it look fancy, but it doesn’t address the reasons people aren’t coming back. Employees want flexibility, autonomy and a workplace that respects their time and well-being.
If companies are serious about improving the work experience, they need to stop focusing on aesthetics and start investing in what truly matters.
In the end, no amount of luxury amenities and services can replace the value of genuine flexibility and meaningful work. It’s time to recognize that the future of work is about more than just looking good — it’s about creating a space, whether physical or virtual, where people want to be because they feel supported, productive and valued.
