The 3 Ps of Workspitality: People, Place & Programming

From Hospitality to Workspitality: The New Office Playbook. The TwoFifty team on how the workspace experience is transforming through deeper, hospitality focused spaces.

To start, let's set the tone a bit

For decades the hospitality sector has excelled at creating places where people feel welcome, comfortable and connected. And we saw a spike in curated experiences with the advancement of Airbnb hospitality practices. That same attention to guest experience is now migrating into workplace design. The term workspitality captures this shift: the fusion of work and hospitality values bringing warmth, service and community into environments built for productivity.

In classic hospitality the three Ps are people, process and physical evidence. Within workspitality the triad evolves into People, Place and Programming, reflecting the human, spatial and experiential drivers of a successful modern workspace.

From our analysis of data from our sister company Coworkies, we find that hybrid work models and the growth of independent careers mean people increasingly choose where they work. Offices must earn the commute by supporting focus and wellbeing, fostering community, and offering programming that delivers learning, culture, and connection. Operators that adopt a workspitality mindset unlock new revenue streams and member loyalty while contributing to the social and economic life of their neighbourhoods.

A quick search for workspace hospitality on Google brings up a few interesting examples. Let's explore some boutique places around the world that illustrate the workspitality trend. Instead of repeating the same handful of hotel chains services, a growing number of hybrid studios and social clubs are experimenting with novel mixes of work, hospitality and retail. Goodmoods’ curated lists include spaces like Buckle Street Studios in London, which offers coworking zones, meeting rooms and a boutique in the ground floor of the hotel, Bad Company Workspace in New Zealand, where art pieces and natural surroundings bring warmth to the work environment and Mountain Club in Queenstown, which lets the breathtaking landscape drive the entire workspace design. Pop‑Up City documents hybrid brand experiences such as &C’s Amsterdam office, a former bicycle factory where a concept store and café sit in front of the company’s workspace, inviting customers to shop, drink coffee and answer emails in the same pastel‑coloured environment. Further afield, a Thai studio turned Inteltion’s corporate office into a jungle gym with monkey bars, punching bags, yoga balls and exercise bars so staff can socialise and stay healthy while waiting for projects. These are not cookie‑cutter chains but carefully curated platforms that emphasize local culture and individual needs.

The following sections unpack each of the three Ps - People, Place and Programming, with extended analysis and concrete examples from niche studios, social clubs and design experiments.

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People - Community managers, concierge‑style service & empathetic culture

Workspitality starts with people. A successful space hinges on the attitudes, training and empathy of staff and the community of members and guests. Community managers and concierges map member goals, make introductions, moderate events and identify ways to add value.

Examples:

• The Writers Room (New York): a quiet, secure shared writing workspace with strict house rules and staff who know members by name. Membership includes 24‑hour access, storage and a kitchen lounge. The environment has supported the creation of 1,300+ books and hundreds of plays and screenplays. See more at: https://writersroom.org
• Maketory (San Diego): an industrial makerspace offering woodshop, metal shop, welding, blacksmithing and prototyping equipment with one‑on‑one classes and mentoring. Staff function as instructors and community builders. See more at: https://maketory.com
• 1880 Bardo (Singapore): a social club blending warm interior styling with hosts who act as connectors, curating gatherings and fostering serendipitous networking. See more at: https://1880.com.sg

Hospitality‑inspired memberships and concierge service (e.g., The Hoxton’s WorkingFrom_ and Hoxton Poblenou facilities), both running coworking spaces inside their hotels, demonstrate how staff operating as concierges support telecommuters and network building within the premises of curated hospitality settings tightly connected to a brand specific hospitality SOPs for the full operation.

Human centric operations to implement in hospitality team training:

• Service playbooks mapping onboarding, introductions and issue resolution.
• EQ and accessibility training for staff.
• Community rituals (welcome huddles, introductions, feedback loops).
• Metrics: NPS, referral rates, time‑to‑first‑value.

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Place - Designing for focus, collaboration and wellbeing

Place in Workspitality covers architecture, interior design, ergonomics, technology and sustainability. Modern workspaces balance zones for deep focus, collaboration, social interaction and quiet libraries (silent zones), project tables, lounges, phone booths and wellness rooms with appropriate lighting and acoustics.

Examples:

• Vitra’s Club Office: modular zones (public, semi‑public, private) with modular sofas, movable partitions and ergonomic chairs that let spaces flex to user needs. See more at: https://www.vitra.com/en-un/professionals/projects/concepts/cluboffice
• &C (Amsterdam): a former bicycle factory where a pastel concept store and café sit in front of offices behind a glass wall, blending retail, hospitality and work. See more at: https://popupcity.net/insights/cs-colourful-amsterdam-office-combines-concept-store-cafe-and-workspace/
• &C (Amsterdam), Bad Company (New Zealand) and the Inteltion office gym (Bangkok), each uses local context, biophilic design or play elements to drive space identity.

Place — Tactical priorities

Practical actions to shape and operate the physical environment:

• Space zoning & flexibility: define and allocate areas for focus, collaboration, socialising and wellbeing, design for easy reconfiguration with modular furniture and movable partitions.
• Occupancy & utilisation tracking: deploy booking systems and simple sensors to monitor real‑time use, peak demand and dwell time.
• Technology backbone: ensure resilient Wi‑Fi, unified booking and access systems, digital wayfinding and environmental controls (HVAC, lighting, sensors).
• Acoustics & lighting: optimise daylight, task and circadian lighting, use acoustic treatments, privacy booths and soft surfaces to manage noise.
• Ergonomics & amenity layers: provide varied seating, sit‑stand surfaces, wellness rooms, phone booths, secure storage and hygiene facilities.
• Biophilic and material strategy: favor natural light, plants, low‑VOC finishes and tactile materials to support wellbeing and place identity.
• Sustainability & circularity: track energy, water and waste, prioritise low‑impact materials, reused furnishings and visible sustainability metrics.
• Hospitality moments & circulation: design clear arrivals, intuitive wayfinding and small concierge touchpoints to create welcoming transitions.
• Operations & service playbooks: document turnover, cleaning, setup, trade/vendor flows and rapid room‑reset procedures to maintain consistency.
• Measurable targets: set KPIs such as space utilization, booking lead times, no‑show rates, occupant satisfaction and energy per occupant, use these to iterate design and operations.

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Programming - Curating experiences that add value

Programming is the deliberate curation of events, services and experiences addressing members’ professional, social and personal development: workshops, networking, cultural events, wellness sessions and accelerators. Programming is the strategic and intentional shift from providing a passive space to creating an active, engaging environment.

The Core Philosophy: From Amenities to Experiences

The fundamental evolution is from static amenities to dynamic experiences.

Amenity (Passive): A free coffee machine in the breakroom. It's a perk that employees/members can use. It is functional and expected.

Programming (Active): A bi-weekly "Coffee Culture Hour" featuring a local roaster, a tutorial on brewing methods from an in-house barista, or a tasting session. This curated event uses the coffee amenity as a platform to foster connection, learning, and community.

Programming takes the physical and digital assets of a workplace and infuses them with purpose and human interaction.

Where traditional facility management asks, "Is the space functional?", hospitality programming asks, "Is the space enriching?" Here's a deeper dive into its components, goals, and execution.

The Strategic Goals of Workplace Programming

Companies invest in programming not just to be "nice," but because it drives tangible business outcomes. The primary goals are:

1. Fostering Community & Belonging: In an era of hybrid work and digital isolation, programming creates deliberate touchpoints for employees/members to connect as human beings, not just as colleagues. This is crucial for building trust and psychological safety.

2. Strengthening Company Culture & Values: Events can be designed to embody and reinforce what the company stands for. A volunteer day reinforces a value of community service, a "demo day" for internal projects reinforces a value of innovation.

3. Boosting Engagement & Retention: Employees/members who feel connected to their colleagues and believe their company invests in their holistic well-being are more likely to be engaged, productive, and loyal. Programming is a highly visible way to demonstrate that investment.

4. Facilitating Cross-Departmental Collaboration: A well-designed event, like a company-wide hackathon or a themed lunch, can break down organizational silos. An engineer might connect with a marketer, leading to unforeseen collaboration and innovation.

5. Enhancing Employee Well-being: By addressing mental, physical, and financial health, programming helps prevent burnout, reduces stress, and shows that the company cares for the whole person, not just the professional output.

Programming — Tactical playbook

• Pillar framework: Define 3-5 strategic pillars (e.g., professional growth, wellbeing, culture/community, business enablement) and map every event or service to at least one pillar.
• Cadence & formats: Establish a repeatable rhythm (e.g., monthly flagship, biweekly workshops, weekly rituals) and mix formats: teachable, social, drop‑in, and ticketed.
• Partnership ecosystem: Build relationships with local businesses, universities, artisans and sponsors, define collaboration models (revenue share, barter, co‑branding).
• Monetisation & access: Use tiered memberships, ticketed events, sponsorships, corporate blocks and pay‑per‑use, bundle offerings to increase perceived value.
• Measurement & iteration: Track attendance, repeat participation, guest→member conversion, sponsor ROI and NPS, run short experiments and iterate based on results.
• Operational playbooks: Create templates: event brief, run sheet, staffing plan, tech checklist, risk/safety protocol and post‑event wrap-up.
• Activation & comms: Coordinate pre-event promotion, onboarding flows for new attendees, post-event follow-ups and content reuse to drive retention and referrals.
• Scalability & quality control: Standardise core experiences so they can scale while preserving local curation and service quality.
• Access & inclusivity: Design pricing, timing and formats to be accessible and inclusive, measure diversity of attendees and remove barriers to participation.
• KPI targets: Set concrete targets (attendance %, repeat rate, conversion %, sponsor satisfaction) and a review cadence to inform programming decisions.

The Three Pillars of Programming in Detail

The success of any workplace programming strategy rests on three interconnected pillars: Professional Development, Social Connection, and Personal Development & Well-being. Each plays a distinct role in shaping an environment where employees/members can learn, connect, and thrive both inside and outside of work. Let’s take a closer look at each pillar in detail, with concrete examples of how they come to life.

Let's break down the categories with more concrete examples.

1. Professional Development

This pillar focuses on enhancing skills and career growth. The goal is to provide learning opportunities that are accessible, engaging, and relevant.

• Workshops & Skill-Based Learning:
  • Technical: "Intro to Python for Non-Coders," "Advanced Excel Masterclass," "AI Tools for Productivity."
  • Soft Skills: "Public Speaking for Introverts," "Effective Feedback," "Strategic Negotiation."
• "Lunch & Learns": Informal sessions where an internal expert or external guest speaker shares knowledge on a specific topic over lunch. This is a low-barrier way to encourage continuous learning.
• Guest Speaker Series: Bringing in industry leaders, authors, or academics to inspire and provide outside perspectives.
• Mentorship Programs: Structured programs that pair junior and senior employees/members to facilitate knowledge transfer and career guidance.
• Accelerators & Hackathons: Internal innovation challenges that encourage creative problem-solving and teamwork on real business problems.

2. Social Connection

This pillar is about building the social fabric of the organization. It's about creating shared memories and strengthening interpersonal bonds.

• Networking Events:
  • Structured: "Speed Networking" to help new hires meet people across the company.
  • Informal: Themed happy hours, department mixers, rooftop socials.
• Hobby & Interest Groups: Company-supported clubs for activities like running, board games, book reading, or photography. This allows people to connect based on shared passions, not just job titles.
• Cultural & Team-Building Events:
  • Celebrating company milestones and holidays.
  • Team off-sites (e.g., escape rooms, cooking classes).
  • Community volunteering days.
• Food & Beverage Experiences: Going beyond basic catering to create events like food truck Fridays, wine/cheese tastings, or a chili cook-off.

3. Personal Development & Well-being

This pillar recognizes that employees/members have lives and needs outside of their job descriptions. Supporting their personal growth leads to a more resilient and focused workforce.

• Wellness Sessions (Mental & Physical):
  • On-site or virtual yoga, meditation, and mindfulness classes.
  • Workshops on "Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout" or "Digital Detox Strategies."
  • Group fitness challenges and fun runs.
• Financial Wellness: Seminars on topics like retirement planning ($401(k)$ or local equivalent), investing basics, or student loan management.
• Life Skills & Creative Outlets:
  • Art therapy sessions, painting classes, or pottery workshops.
  • Language learning groups.
  • Parenting support circles.

Examples:

• Fosbury & Sons in Belgium designs its coworking spaces with the sensibility of boutique hotels. Members are welcomed at a concierge-style front desk instead of a typical reception and the layout features a restaurant and café open to the public, curated interiors with sofas and art, and zones dedicated to both quiet focus and social gatherings. The hospitality-led atmosphere transforms the workplace into something closer to a stylish hotel lobby than a corporate office, capturing the essence of workspitality. Read our interview with co-founder Stijn Geeraets on Coworkies.

• Oru El Saltador in Spain illustrates how the three pillars converge in a modern context. The retreat operates as a living lab for sustainable entrepreneurship where professional learning merges with a thriving community network and daily wellness rituals. By weaving together skill building, social belonging, and restorative practices in a single environment it shows how organizations can design experiences that nurture both individual growth and collective culture.

• Fora in London brings the boutique hotel aesthetic directly into the workplace. Each location is designed with high-end interiors, concierge services, and wellness amenities such as yoga studios, libraries, and in-house cafés. Staff are trained in hospitality rather than office management, reinforcing the sense that members are guests in a hotel rather than tenants in an office.

• Lawson Flats positions itself as a members’ club that fuses work, wellness, and culture. Its offering includes yoga studios, gallery openings, quiet libraries, and evening music alongside curated spaces such as listening rooms and karaoke lounges that foster casual and low-pressure social connection.

• Vitra’s Club Office demonstrates how architectural flexibility can support a new model of work. Spaces shift fluidly between focus, collaboration, and social gathering, much like hospitality venues that adapt throughout the day to different guest needs. This approach makes the workplace feel communal and human-centered, showing how design can encourage both productivity and belonging.

• The Starbucks Reserve Roastery reimagines the coffeehouse as an immersive hospitality environment where theatrical design and artisanal craft elevate the daily ritual of coffee into a cultural experience. For many years Starbucks has served as an unofficial workspace for remote workers and digital nomads and by creating a space that is visually striking as well as functionally versatile the brand reinforces its role as both café and inspirational workspace. Dramatic lighting, open roasting displays, and multi-sensory touchpoints transform the Roastery from a place to grab a drink into a destination for working, meeting, and social connection, securing Starbucks a central place in the evolving landscape of third places.

  

• COMS Summit redefines the future of workspitality by equipping community managers with the tools to turn shared spaces into experiences that feel as welcoming and service oriented as boutique hotels. Through case studies and programming built around learning, community, and experience, the summit goes beyond theory to show how operations can scale while keeping the human touch intact. COMS functions less as a traditional conference and more as a catalyst for rethinking how people connect, work, and thrive together.

Principles for Effective Programming in the Workplace

1. Be Data-Informed: Use surveys and feedback channels to understand what employees/members actually want. Don't program in a vacuum.
2. Ensure Inclusivity: Offer a variety of events that appeal to different interests, personality types (introverts and extroverts), life stages, and schedules.
3. Adapt for Hybrid Work: Programming is even more critical in a hybrid model. This means designing events that work for in-person, remote, and hybrid attendees simultaneously (e.g., streaming a guest speaker, creating virtual breakout rooms, sending activity kits to remote employees).
4. Consistency Over Spectacle: A regular cadence of smaller, meaningful events is often more impactful than one or two massive, expensive events per year.
5. Empower Champions: Identify enthusiastic employees/members to help organize and promote events. A grassroots, employee-led program often has more authenticity and buy-in.
6. Measure Impact: Track attendance, gather feedback (e.g., Net Promoter Score for events), and look for correlations with broader metrics like employee engagement scores and retention rates to demonstrate the program's value.

In conclusion, programming transforms the workplace from a mere utility into a destination. It is the art and science of curating a calendar of experiences that makes employees/members feel valued, connected, and supported, ultimately creating a more vibrant and resilient organizational culture.

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Why Workspitality Matters

Workspitality responds to structural shifts in how we live and work. Hybrid and remote workers choose where to spend time, offices must compete by offering experience and community. Workspitality spaces encourage serendipitous encounters and diversified revenue (memberships, events, dining, retail, hospitality). They also contribute to placemaking by renovating heritage buildings, partnering with local suppliers and hosting cultural events.

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Future Outlook

Trends to watch:

• Micro‑hospitality nodes: small distributed concierge‑style spaces near where people live.
• Hotel-workspace hybrids: hotels offering subscription work memberships, meeting suites and wellness facilities.
• AI‑enabled concierge services: chatbots and recommendation engines complementing human hosts.
• Impact‑first spaces: explicit diversity, environmental and social metrics.
• Third‑place elevation: cafés, galleries and retail integrating coworking zones.

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Closing & How We Can Help

Workspitality reframes the workplace from a cost centre to a culture and community engine. When People, Place and Programming are integrated, spaces attract members, drive productivity and open diversified revenue streams.

At TwoFifty, we partner with operators to bring this vision to life, offering strategies to infuse hospitality and uniqueness into every aspect of your space.

Ready to transform your workspace? Discover our consulting services and let TwoFifty help you craft a hospitality-driven workspace and community.