After months of being stuck at home, many workers want to get out even if they can't make it to their offices.

With occupancy suffering at the InterContinental New York Barclay, General Manager, Sofia L. Vandaele, decided to provide that respite.

"We started to realize that many people need a change of scenery," Vandaele says. "It came out of our own experiences and then relating it to what we hear."

To meet that demand, The InterContinental New York Barclay is turning some of its hotel rooms into flexible space. "Some people in their job have to continue to forge ahead," Vandaele says. "We wanted to give them a very comfortable, customizable home feeling in a space where they could fully concentrate and keep moving things ahead."

When a prospective client contacts Vandaele, her team can take guests through a 360-degree tour of their space.

"We can do a digital kind of walkthrough and then can prepare any of the rooms," Vandaele says. "If they want to keep the bed in there because they want to stay overnight or if they want the furniture removed to set the room up as efficiently as possible in an office setting, we can do that. There can be a little coffee corner for the four or five of the rooms. Everything really can be customized to what the guests would want."

Right now, Vandaele says people are asking for stays from one day to into the Fall. "People may lease for one day to get a project finished or separate themselves from what's happening in their household," she says. "We don't put a maximum on how long we will allow people to say,

The InterContinental can bring in furniture, office equipment and even exercise machines from the outside if the guests request them.

"If they need to get ready for that big Zoom call with the CEO and you want to feel your best, we can get hair and makeup services," Vandaele says.

Vandaele prices the space on a per-foot basis. "If people don't need a lot of space, they pay less," she says. "If they need a lot more space and they will pay a little bit more, but it includes a fully stocked fridge and snacks."

Vandaele says she can put multiple rooms together for offices, break out areas and even meeting spaces if corporations would rather work in a hotel then go back to their offices (or if they can't go back to their offices).

"We could actually prioritize certain wings or even allocate a complete floor to one specific company," Vandaele says. "We are also very, very happy to welcome just the individual that needs to get out of the house a little bit. We have had inquiries from individuals, mostly people from within Manhattan, that need to get out."

Instant Insights /

InterContinental New York Barclay Taps Flexible Space Concept

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