Latest news with #coworking
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Miho Koshiba: ‘Wouldn't it be nice if people looked forward to Mondays?'
Miho Koshiba, 43, is the president of Mirai Institute, a think tank focused on the future of work through its flagship coworking space Founded in 2012 and now with seven locations in Tokyo, Koshiba hopes to encourage more people to pave their own professional path. 1. How did you choose the name Midori (green) was my first impression of our first location in Nakameguro, which is covered in ivy. The 'so' comes from Tokiwa-sō, an apartment building that housed aspiring manga artists like Osamu Tezuka. They supported each other's work and eventually made a name for themselves. We want to create a similarly supportive environment. 2. What distinguishes from other coworking spaces? Real estate companies often open coworking spaces to fill empty buildings. As a think tank running a coworking community, our focus is on the future of work and making work feel more enjoyable. Instead of the Sunday scaries, wouldn't it be nice if more people looked forward to Mondays? If people tackled work they (felt invested in), rather than what they felt obliged to do? 3. What's your approach to community-building? Our goal isn't to create a community. We focus on nurturing the conditions: An environment where things are cropping up and everyone is naturally curious about what others are doing. We call this 'fertile chaos.' It's like building neighborhood ties. When small interactions accumulate over time and people gather without a specific purpose, it organically starts to feel like a community. 4. What was your professional background before you founded Mirai Institute? I worked at Citigroup, the securities company. The 2008 financial crisis happened when I was a few years into that job. People were being cut left and right, but work needed to continue, so younger staff got bigger projects. Suddenly, I found myself responsible for some regional banks and traveling to places like Nara to greet executives. 5. How does that experience connect with what you do now? Dealing with stock markets is about the future, predicting how the world will change. Now I focus on the future of work. I worked in stocks across all sectors, so I'm familiar with the business models for most industries, which is helpful for understanding the work that members do. 6. What kinds of people frequent It varies depending on the location. The Nakameguro branch has a lot of creative people who make logos and websites. The Nagatacho branch has some political organizations. It's also very international, not just Japanese people. 7. Have you noticed any cultural differences from this mix of people? In Japan, 'business' and 'design' are seen as totally separate worlds. We categorize things as right-brain versus left-brain, people as humanities versus science types. In the West, there's more overlap. People tend to be more sensitive toward their environment and have an aversion toward utilitarian offices. 8. How do you set up an environment that welcomes both Japanese and non-Japanese members? Our bilingual community organizers know who everyone is, what they like and what they're working on, so they become connectors. We also try not to have many rules, because we don't want it to feel like a school. After participating in a program called Schooling Pad, Miho Koshiba was inspired to create a space that could respond to and cultivate a new way of working in Japan. | Carina Fushimi 9. Did you have a lot of rules in school? At boarding school in Japan, we woke up at 6 a.m., cleaned together, ate breakfast, then went to class. In the U.K., classes started at 8:30 a.m. and everyone got up five minutes before and ran to class. It felt so new to me. 10. How did that school experience shape you? Adults also need a space that feels like a high school common room. In a typical company, everyone has their hands full and sits at their own desk, so there aren't many moments for spontaneous chats. I always liked bunkasai (school festivals) where everyone is working hard towards one event, then celebrating together. 11. What inspired you to think about work differently? I joined a program called Schooling Pad, run by Teruo Kurosaki, who founded the interiors company Idee. Its vision was to nurture interesting people. We listened to talks by people who led unconventional lives, like a creative director-copywriter who loved space and created Cup Noodle's commercials set in space. Hearing their stories expanded my mind. 12. How did get started? After the Schooling Pad program ended, Kurosaki-san and I continued discussing what would improve society and we landed on the idea of a think tank. Then the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit. Kurosaki-san called and said, 'Don't you think it's time?' I had been wanting to quit my job, so the timing felt right. An acquaintance found the Nakameguro property, but it was too spacious to rent just for ourselves. We figured work styles are bound to change, so why not turn it into a coworking space? 13. How has freelancing shifted in the past 10 years? A lot has changed. Organizations like the Freelance Association exist now. Having a side hustle is common. Lifetime employment has largely disappeared. People need others — not just transactional relationships, but real ties. I hope people can find that at 14. You are based in Kyoto now. How is that going? It's a completely different environment, so it's been refreshing. The Kamo River is beautiful. People still have the mindset that Kyoto is the center of Japan — that the emperor is visiting Tokyo temporarily. I was initially concerned about managing the company remotely, but the team members have really grown and I come to Tokyo every week. 15. What does your typical day look like? I wake up around 6 a.m., pack lunch for my middle schooler, then drop off my youngest at day care. I start work around 7:30 a.m. I usually join weekly meetings for each location and plan our new projects. 16. Were you creative as a child? Not at all. But I loved books and I still read a lot. I recently enjoyed 'Herushinki Seikatsu no Renshū' ('The Practice of Life in Helsinki') by sociologist Sara Park. Qualities like extroversion and meticulousness are seen as personality traits in Japan, whereas in Finland they're treated as skills to develop. 17. What TV shows do you watch? I love FBI and CIA-type shows. With work and parenting, things rarely wrap up neatly so it's satisfying to watch a mystery get resolved within a 45-minute episode. 18. What's your personal motto? Identify the essence of things without getting swayed by the surface. 19. Do you have plans to open a branch overseas? I want to. We attract a lot of people from abroad, so it would also be nice to create a place overseas where Tokyo-based members can visit. 20. Where do you see going? Our core goal to make work more enjoyable hasn't changed. Beyond that, I'd love to see more independent people paving their own path. It doesn't have to become mainstream. I just think society is more interesting when people pursue what moves them.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Workinton Qatar rebrands to Nestwork: A strategic evolution aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030
Doha, Qatar – Workinton Qatar, a leading provider of coworking spaces since 2018, is officially rebranding as Nestwork, embracing a fully independent, local-based identity that pays tribute to Qatar's rich heritage and dynamic culture. With four prime locations across Qatar—Alfardan Centre, Souq Waqif; Burj Al Gassar, Westbay; Burj Alfardan, Lusail; and M7, Msheireb—Nestwork offers customized office solutions, private suites, meeting spaces, event venues, and a full multimedia studio. More than just a rebrand, Nestwork represents a strategic evolution. Developed under Alfardan Group and managed by Alfardan Properties, this transformation reflects a renewed commitment to supporting local entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and building long-term partnerships. Since its launch, Workinton Qatar has grown into a hub for business creativity and connection, serving a thriving community of over 500 members and hosting partnerships with key industry leaders. As Nestwork, this foundation expands with enhanced autonomy, deeper market alignment, and an elevated mission to shape a future where innovation, collaboration, and local ambition thrive. 'This rebrand marks a pivotal step in our long-term strategy to align more closely with Qatar's National Vision 2030,' said Mohamed Sleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Alfardan Properties and Alfardan Hospitality. 'By transitioning to Nestwork, we are deepening our roots within the local ecosystem and reinforcing our commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy driven by local talent. Nestwork is designed to fuel startups and build agile, innovation-driven communities that support Qatar's ambitions for economic diversification and sustainable development.' 'Nestwork is here to support, elevate and grow alongside Qatar' said Zohour Omar Alfardan, General Manager of Wellness and Lifestyle at Alfardan Hospitality. 'We are here to empower entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and serve as a launchpad for the next generation of local and regional ventures.' As Qatar's unique coworking concept offering both Enterprise-level and Suite solutions, Nestwork is uniquely positioned to address the evolving needs of the country's dynamic business ecosystem. At its core, Nestwork is about productivity, community, and impact. It now steps into a new chapter, building on its legacy to meet the evolving needs of Qatar's dynamic business ecosystem. Nestwork is designed to foster collaboration, empower innovation, and position itself as a future forward hub for entrepreneurs and professionals alike, all rooted in a 'Make it happen' philosophy that turns ambition into action. About Nestwork Nestwork is a Qatar-based coworking brand fully managed by Alfardan Properties. Originally launched as Workinton Qatar in 2018, it has grown into an independent brand offering tailor-made workspace solutions for startups, SMEs, corporates, and global enterprises. With four locations across Doha- Alfardan Centre, Burj Al Gassar, Burj Alfardan, and M7 - Nestwork provides flexible offices, serviced suites, meeting rooms, event spaces, and creative studios. With collaboration and innovation at its core, Nestwork brings together professionals and businesses to foster growth, build strong local networks, and support Qatar's National Vision 2030. About Alfardan Properties Alfardan Properties, a subsidiary of Alfardan Group, is a leading luxury real estate developer in Qatar, holding a diverse portfolio of visionary, mixed-use, commercial, and residential developments with flagship projects across Qatar, Oman, KSA and Türkiye. Since its foundation in 1993, Alfardan Properties has provided an enriched lifestyle with a variety of services to its commercial and residential tenants, offering modern residences, executive offices, state-of-the-art facilities, recreational activities, and unique privileges. Today, Alfardan Properties has established itself as a market leader and a pioneer in contemporary real estate development, pursuing a strategic and ambitious expansion drive. The company's numerous high-end ventures further Alfardan Group's legacy, enriching various sectors in the country from hospitality and real estate to infrastructure development and contributing significantly to the economy under the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Root Coworking Set to Open New Location in Downtown Omaha on June 23rd
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 13, 2025-- The Root, an Oklahoma-based coworking and hospitality brand, is set to open the doors to The Root - Builders, its first location in Omaha's newest downtown neighborhood, the Builders District. The company has transformed over 25,000 square feet of the 1501 Mike Fahey building, bringing downtown Omaha its unique and elevated style of flexible coworking, offices, meeting rooms, and event space. This marks The Root's fourth location and its second outside of Oklahoma, where the brand originated from. The expansion into Omaha aligns with the company's mission to foster vibrant, community-focused workspaces in emerging neighborhoods. 'We've been eyeing Omaha for a while, and when we were introduced to this opportunity in the Builders District, we knew it was the perfect fit,' said Ben Von Drehle, Founder & CEO of The Root Coworking. 'The neighborhood is growing fast, it's walkable, it's packed with energy — everything we look for when choosing a new home for our brand, and our members.' The new location, referred to as 'The Root - Builders,' is being developed in partnership with Omaha-based Noddle Companies. It will feature private offices, team suites, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, a private event space, a podcast studio, and an in-house espresso bar, along with a range of other premium amenities. Designed with a focus on hospitality and community building, the Omaha location will carry forward The Root's signature style — blending modern work amenities with curated, local touches. 'Whether you're a freelancer, remote worker, a startup team, or enterprise company looking to land your new HQ, our goal is to make coming to work something you and your team actually look forward to,' added Von Drehle. Located just blocks from Charles Schwab Field and Creighton University, and surrounded by a growing mix of residential, retail, and office developments, The Root - Builders is poised to be a key player in the ongoing revitalization of the Builders District. The Root will be opening their doors on Monday, June 23rd to the public, and will be offering a free week of coworking, and daily community events to anyone interested in trying out the space. They are currently offering exclusive founding member discounts and perks to those who sign up for a membership before the official launch date. For more information, visit About The Root Coworking Founded in 2019, The Root Coworking is a hospitality-forward coworking brand focused on building inclusive, energizing spaces for professionals and teams of all sizes. With locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and now expanding to Nebraska, The Root is redefining what it means to love where you work. View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: Ben Von Drehle Founder & CEO, The Root Coworking [email protected] Instagram:@therootcoworking KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEBRASKA ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY HUMAN RESOURCES PUBLIC RELATIONS/INVESTOR RELATIONS COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESS START-UP OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOURCE: The Root Coworking Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/13/2025 03:24 PM/DISC: 06/13/2025 03:22 PM
Hospitality Net
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Hospitality Meets Real Estate: The Future of Working
In 2005, as part of the founding team of citizenM, I watched the concept of social lobbies come alive. Communal spaces where people felt connected, serviced, and productive. It was the first time I saw hospitality's transformative power to embed itself into the fabric of the local neighbourhood. Fifteen years later, I co-founded Denizen with a team of hotel operators and technologists to build the hotel lobby without the rooms. Ground-floor spaces that served daily productivity and happiness to building residents and local neighbors. We learned that the essence of hospitality: warmth, flexibility, and intentional design, could bring to life under-utilized spaces. Now, in partnership with Aroundtown SA, one of Europe's largest real-estate companies, the Denizen team has launched ATworld: a platform that empowers members to tap into a network of hotels, coworking spaces, and gastronomy venues through one seamless membership, harnessing true network effects much like Urban Sports Club or ClassPass. One login; dozens of unique spaces, services, and experiences; the right environment for any task. Rethinking Office Real Estate Despite the rise of flex-space operators, office real estate remains a siloed, lease-defined product. However the core lesson from hospitality is that every square metre of a building can be sold as a 'consumable product'. Priced dynamically, distributed through direct and indirect channels, and consumed in hours or even minutes. The perishable-inventory ethos that drives a hotel revenue manager's strategy, adjusting pricing based on occupancy, segment, length of stay, and booking channel can be applied equally to workstations, focus rooms, and collaboration spaces. Hotel brands such as citizenM, Motel One, Penta and The Social Hub have already proven the concept at micro-scale by activating their ground floors as social lobbies. These 'social living rooms' blend café service, casual seating and ad-hoc workstations—monetizing their ground floors through day-pass usage and community events. But each brand has done this in isolation, behind its own app or loyalty program, leaving users to juggle multiple memberships and experiences. A network-driven model therefore multiplies value: as more venues join, the platform's value multiplies rapidly, facilitating connectivity and just in time productivity throughout a wide range of urban locations. Looking ahead to the next decade, I believe three forms of operator are primed to shape this new, hospitality-infused office ecosystem: Landlords as Platform-Builders Traditional office landlords will evolve from passive space-renters to active platform-builders. Rather than leaving lobbies idle after 9 a.m., they'll retrofit reception areas, corridors and meeting rooms with IoT sensors, modular furniture, and open APIs. Each seat, booth, or table becomes a live 'node' in the network, broadcasting real-time data on occupancy and environmental conditions (light, sound, climate), as well as service readiness. Imagine walking into a lobby and seeing 'Quiet Focus Booth—Available' or 'Collaboration Lounge: Two Seats Open' on your corporate booking portal, complete with filtered lighting levels and coffee-machine status. This shift requires CapEx for sensor rollouts and furniture pilots, but it unlocks new revenue streams—charging premium rates for high-value slots and offering off-peak discounts to drive consistent utilization throughout the building. Brandlords Operating End-to-End Some real-estate owners will take the next step to become brandlords, running their own hospitality-grade office venues. A good example is Derwent White Collar Factory on Old Street in London, which issues 'Factory Pass' credits earned via event attendance or meeting-room reservations. Members redeem credits for hot-desks, private booths, or wellness pods, each backed by an in-house concierge who manages coffee orders, tech support, and networking events. A dedicated data-analytics team tracks footfall, satisfaction scores, and ancillary spend, feeding insights back into pricing algorithms and future amenity planning. Brandlords own the guest relationship, capturing every touchpoint from initial booking to post-visit feedback, and use that loyalty data to fine-tune service bundles and forecast off-peak demand. Hospitality Operators Running Entire Office Buildings Hotel groups are uniquely positioned to operate whole office buildings with the same service ethos they apply to hotels. Imagine Accor managing an office tower under its MGallery brand, complete with branded reception, housekeeping-level cleaning, on-demand F&B, and loyalty-driven workspace credits. Or Marriott transforming a downtown high-rise into a JW Offices property, where Bonvoy members redeem points for private meeting rooms and team workspaces. These operators already have the playbook for staffing, brand standards, and guest engagement; extending it to full-scale office operations lets landlords tap proven distribution channels, loyalty programs, and perishable-inventory expertise, while delivering a consistent, hospitality-grade experience throughout the building. The real transformation will happen when landlords, brandlords and hospitality operators plug their spaces and services into a single, cloud-based 'office network OS,' seamlessly coordinating availability, personalization and on-site fulfillment across the entire ecosystem. This model relies on three key technology pillars: Holistic Connectivity: IoT sensors, smart locks, environmental monitors, and API endpoints turn every desk, booth, and suite into a live data stream. Static floor plans give way to dynamic 'service canvases,' where availability is updated in real time and users can filter by noise level, natural light, or proximity to amenities. Intent-Driven Matching: When a user logs in, they declare their activity intent: 'deep focus,' 'team brainstorm,' or 'client pitch.' The platform merges this with loyalty profiles (e.g., Bonvoy tier, citizenM+ membership), corporate entitlements, and environmental data to instantly recommend the ideal venue and service bundle. Behind the scenes, AI-driven algorithms predict demand surges (such as a product launch in Berlin or a trade show in Paris) and preemptively adjust pricing, seating layouts, and staffing rosters. Federated Orchestration: A rules engine balances corporate budgets, loyalty tiers, dynamic pricing rules, SLAs, and personal preferences to orchestrate bookings across landlords, brandlords, and operators. By adhering to open federation standards for availability, booking confirmation, personalization parameters, and service fulfillment, each host can plug into the network with minimal proprietary integration. This interoperability unleashes the network effect: as more venues join, the value to each member grows, fueling continuous discovery and usage. Early signs of this federated future are already emerging. CitizenM, Motel One, Penta Hotels, and The Social Hub have all opened their social lobbies for day-use, proving the core concept. ATworld has built on that foundation, first activating Aroundtown's own hotels and offices across Europe, then bringing in external hotel, coworking and gastronomy partners. Now members can browse hundreds of distinct venues, each with its own style and service, through a single app. In Berlin, for example, you might start your morning in a Moxy lobby, switch to a nearby café workspace for the afternoon, and end the day at an event in a Mindspace, all on the same membership. ATworld Mindspace Shoreditch, London — Photo by ATworld Data-Driven Self-Optimization At the heart of this network is a centralized data lake capturing every IoT ping, booking event, and Net Promoter Score. Machine-learning models trained on this dataset will: Forecast Demand : Anticipate surges around regional events or product launches, prompting pre-emptive capacity shifts per location or via pop-ups. Anticipate surges around regional events or product launches, prompting pre-emptive capacity shifts per location or via pop-ups. Detect Service Anomalies : Spot patterns like Wi-Fi slowdowns or AV glitches, triggering automated retraining sessions or equipment audits. Spot patterns like Wi-Fi slowdowns or AV glitches, triggering automated retraining sessions or equipment audits. Optimize Pricing & Staffing: Dynamically adjust rates, headcounts and space configurations in real time, just like hotel and airline revenue-management systems. Coexistence & Competition The future landscape will feature landlord-led platforms, brandlord ecosystems and hospitality-operated venues coexisting, similar to hotels, serviced apartments and coworking today. The ultimate winners will: Embrace open architectures and federation standards Master intent-driven matching and AI-powered predictions Deliver hospitality-grade consistency at scale Because, at its core, work isn't about signing multi-year leases or locking into 9-to-5 schedules; it's about delivering the right space, service, and experience at the right time (sounds familiar?). Hospitality professionals already know how to greet warmly, guide intuitively, and delight unexpectedly. Now is the moment to codify those instincts into micro-services, APIs, and machine-learning models, scaling the essence of hospitality into every office building. The learning phase: citizenM's social lobbies, Denizen's Houses, Derwent's Factory Pass, and ATworld's initial network, is nearly over. The next chapter is scaling: weaving every lobby, foyer, studio, and boardroom into one seamless, service-driven office ecosystem. Whoever masters that platform will redefine not the future of work, but the future of working.
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Largest Cloud Spaces workspace opens at Dubai Mall Fountain Views
A hospitality led premium workspaces provider provides private offices, coworking lounges, podcast studio, fully-equipped meeting rooms and an event auditorium Cloud Spaces Dubai Mall Fountain Views marks Cloud Spaces' sixth location across the GCC, and second in Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Cloud Spaces, the UAE's leading provider of flexible fully furnished workspace opens its biggest location at Dubai Mall Fountain Views. This marks the sixth Cloud Spaces location in the GCC, and the second in Dubai, as the brand expands its footprint in response to the region's rising demand for dynamic, hospitality and design-led work environments. Cloud Spaces Dubai Mall Fountain Views is strategically situated in the bustling heart of Downtown Dubai, offering breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa and direct access to world-renowned retail, dining, and business destinations. More than just a workspace, Cloud Spaces Dubai Mall Fountain Views has been envisioned as a sanctuary for ambition and a place where creativity, collaboration, and growth emerge. From fully serviced private offices and semi-private offices to podcast studios, meeting rooms and collaborative coworking lounges, the space has been designed to enhance productivity and elevate the work life balance. Driven by a hospitality-first approach, members enjoy concierge-level service, premium amenities, and a collaborative community. A fully equipped auditorium offers an ideal setting for corporate gatherings, product launches, and networking events, with a dedicated events team ensuring every occasion is seamlessly executed. A range of meeting spaces is also available, including high-end majlis lounges, private meeting rooms, and boardrooms, perfectly designed to accommodate various group sizes and formats. These spaces are equipped with advanced technology, comfortable seating, and ergonomic elements to foster productivity and creativity. Enhancing the premium workspace experience, flexible membership options, Ejari registration, and business setup services provide exceptional convenience for both entrepreneurs and established companies. 'The launch of our Dubai Mall Fountain Views represents a defining moment for Cloud Spaces as we continue to reshape the future of work in the region,' says Malak Smejkalova, Senior Director at Cloud Spaces. 'This marks our fifth location in the UAE, with four more in the pipeline, and follows the successful opening of our first international hub at Kingdom Centre in Riyadh in March. Our expansion reflects the growing demand for flexible, design-forward work environments that combine hospitality, convenience, and community, and we're proud to meet that need at the heart of Downtown Dubai.' One of the standout features that is exclusive to the Dubai Mall Fountain Views is its fully equipped, soundproof podcast studio. Purpose-built for high-quality podcast recording, this state-of-the-art space is designed to meet the needs of today's content creators and forward-thinking businesses. Fully stocked with industry-leading technology and available on a flexible booking model, the studio provides a stylish environment for impactful content production, making it a key attraction for those looking to record professional-grade podcasts with ease. Cloud Spaces further cements its reputation through a clear focus on transparency, trust, and client experience. Each location is uniquely designed to balance functionality with an environment that supports both productivity and community, and is committed to meeting the dynamic working needs of today's professionals. For more information or to book a tour, visit or contact 04-4900900. About Cloud Spaces Cloud Spaces is a premier provider of flexible and contemporary workspace solutions, offering a seamless blend of high-end design, business support, and hospitality-driven experiences. Designed for modern entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational corporations, Cloud Spaces provides a diverse range of workspace solutions, including fully serviced private offices, collaborative lounges, co-working day passes, and immersive event spaces. With cutting-edge facilities, an inspiring community, and industry-leading services, members and businesses are empowered to connect, grow, and thrive at Cloud Spaces. Operating across the UAE and now in Saudi Arabia, Cloud Spaces is redefining the way professionals experience work. Cloud Spaces has locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, with plans to open in Ras Al Khaimah later in the year, and have now expanded into Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Website: | Instagram:
