January 29, 2020 TnH Global 0

After Cafés and restaurants, Private Clubs are gaining popularity as virtual working spaces

By Rajesh Shetty

Over the past few years, there has been a shift in the way people work. From work-from-home, virtual work stations and the fast strengthening Gig economy, ‘work’ has moved out of the conventional ‘office’ space and moved to a variety of other more conducive ‘venues’. Cafe, restaurants and even waiting areas are now fortified with WiFi to allow professionals and freelancers to work at the place and time of their choice. Another big contributor to this trend is the urban lifestyle which is very fast thereby cuing a sense of lack of time, long commute to work which causes fatigue and thus hampers one’ emotional and physical well-being and also hampers work-life balance. This has led to many organisations allowing their employees to “work from home” (essentially away from office) as per a set frequency. This shift in traditional workspaces has helped improve employee satisfaction, make people more stress-free, effective and productive.

One of the key upcoming, differentiated ‘workspaces’ are private clubs that offer a balance between work, family time, and socializing. They provide the choicest benefits for unwinding and relaxing with friends and family, and are also adapting to the demands of the gig economy and have been serving its patrons with the best of both worlds.

Some reasons why private clubs are gaining popularity as virtual workspaces:

The comfort of the familiar: As a member, the club offers a familiar comfort and is a more relaxed place to work. Having known staff, access to amenities and friendly surroundings helps members focus on their work rather than having to spend time acclimatizing themselves to a new and often uncomfortable environment/surroundings of a public café or workstation
Enjoy exclusivity: Given that it’s mostly a member’s only space, there is an enhanced feeling of exclusivity and security too, especially when accessing a WiFi network etc., unlike in public cafes, which offers free but often unsecured WiFi connections, putting the data and devices at risk. Additionally, the choice of food and beverages also is a tried and tested one, as the members are known by their club staffs who are aware of their choices and preferences. This further boosts their wellbeing and productivity.
Achieve a Work-Life Balance: Owning a club membership offers a plethora of opportunities to enjoy leisure activities with family and friends. Members can come with their families to the club and as they work, their loved ones can engage in a variety of leisure activities. Intermittently they can join their loved ones for lunch/ dinners etc., effortlessly moving between completing professional commitments and honouring and cherishing personal commitments.
Modern set up: Modern clubs offer the best of amenities, including comfortable, clean, and peaceful environment, fast WiFi and hygienic and tasty food and beverages. Apart from working, private clubs also offer an excellent set up for business meetings. Being a known setup, they are able to take some liberties with the same as well – ask for any technical help if required, comfortable seating with preferred food being served etc

While there has been a rise in co-working spaces and with restaurants and cafes offering dedicated workspaces, private clubs are silently welcoming their millennial patrons with a holistic ambience to work, stay fit, play, eat and celebrate with friends and family, all under one roof which none of the other outlets is able to offer in totality. In entirety, it helps in maintaining work-life balance and being more productive than sitting at an office or any other kind of “virtual workspaces”.

Rajesh Shetty is the General Manager of The Acres Lifestyle Club and The Fern Residency