If you thought remote work was popular during the pandemic, you haven’t seen anything yet. Despite early reports to the contrary, a recent survey from Zoom and Reworked finds 64% of global companies currently utilize a hybrid work model, which includes coworking spaces.
Coworking isn’t just reshaping the work world; it’s also making ripples in the hospitality industry.
As hotels and vacation rentals quickly update to meet the needs of a growing number of travelers turning anywhere into their office, it’s creating unique problems — and opportunities — for destinations. Hotels, resorts, and rental properties from major financial centers to tiny surf towns in Costa Rica are adapting as a result.
A Remote Work Wonderland
McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey (AOS) in 2022 found 58% of Americans can work remotely. 35% have access to full-time remote work and 23% work remotely part-time. Their recent update reports office attendance remains roughly 30% lower than before the pandemic.
Many leverage the freedoms of remote work to travel. The MBO Partners 2024 State of Independence study finds 17 million Americans identify as “digital nomads” who travel and work remotely from across the country and worldwide, with little holding them in one place.
Even as coworking spaces explode globally, remote workers often transform spaces like hotel rooms or short-term apartment rentals into their office space. Increasingly, hotels offer unique and innovative amenities to inspire remote workers to choose their spaces for their next remote office. Many properties offer new benefits like pet-friendly policies, kitchenettes, dedicated workstations, and even coworking spaces to entice travelers to book extended stays.
Cool Costa Rica
The remote work revolution’s ripple effects are more profound than just some added hotel amenities. In destinations like Costa Rica, where the government introduced a digital nomad visa that invites remote workers to stick around for up to a year, digital nomads transform communities by creating new remote work hot spots.
The Pacific Coast town of Nosara, long considered a beach destination in Costa Rica for surfers, is now a remote work haven. “The rise in remote work created a new demand for flexible coworking spaces in tranquil, inspiring locations,” says Sarah Kosterlitz, co-founder of Nosara members-only coworking space Outpost.
“Nosara’s appeal as a coworking destination can be attributed to its unique blend of work, play, and wellness,” she explains. “The town offers a serene environment with a strong focus on wellness and outdoor activities, which aligns well with the lifestyle many remote workers seek. The combination of a laid-back atmosphere, beautiful natural surroundings, and a community-oriented vibe make Nosara an attractive location for those looking to balance work with a healthy, active lifestyle.”
Kosterlitz and her co-founder, Stefanie Tannenbaum, launched Outpost in December 2021 as a workspace designed to foster community and entrepreneurial spirit. The space has become so popular that there’s a waitlist for memberships. However, Outpost was just the start, with the pair opening a boutique hotel to meet the growing needs of a community transformed.
Starting at Sendero
Following the success of Outpost, Sendero was born at the start of last year as the founders’ “love letter to Nosara.” Surrounded by lush foliage and just steps from the beach, this sustainable 25-key luxury boutique property sits along the lush coast of Nosara’s Playa Guiones. It has quickly become a go-to destination for wellness, surf, food, and community, making it particularly welcoming for remote workers.
Sendero isn’t a “co-living” hotel exclusive for digital nomads or even an extension of the Outpost workspace, but it still feels like a natural response to Nosara’s changing visitor population. Guests at Sendero have access to Outpost, an impressive lineup of yoga and fitness classes, and other wellness experiences. Surfboard rentals and lessons are available for those looking to make the most of their extended stay, and communal spaces like a pool and outdoor lounges make Sendero feel even more like a home away from home.
The popular property recently introduced seven new villas to its collection of accommodations, now bookable for stay online. These spaces serve visitors signing in to the office from afar, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts perfect for groups and families.
Villa amenities include spacious kitchens and living rooms, private pools, high-speed Internet, unrestricted access to Sendero hotel amenities, including Outpost, and a community center with a private coffee and cocktail bar for villa guests. Now that’s a dream “workcation” if I’ve ever heard of one.
Beyond the Beach
While coworking spaces spawning new hotels and villas in their wake may not be the norm, it’s a sign of the impact of the remote work revolution on the hospitality industry.
Even as many one-time remote workers returned to the office post-pandemic, remote work shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, especially in destinations like Nosara that now offer so much of what digital nomads are looking for. “It’s actually the opposite,” says Kosterlitz. “We have more members [at Outpost] than ever.”
