17 Feb Laptops and Leisure: Working From Home Redefined
Working from home is becoming more common as people take their jobs on the road and on vacation, including to Glenwood Springs!
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated work-from-home trends by demonstrating the productivity, convenience, and efficiency of such arrangements to once-reluctant corporations and opening new opportunities to workers. The movement is expected to endure through 2021 and beyond—Upwork’s Future of Workforce Pulse Report says more than one-fourth of workers will do their jobs remotely this year, and by 2025, more than 36 percent of Americans will work that way—an increase of 87 percent from before the pandemic last year.
A New Work-Life Balance
“As we move into a new decade, with so many powerful tools and technologies at our disposal, many companies are looking at ways to continue the changes wrought by 2020 and turn them into a more positive way of working with or without restrictions,” Charles Towers-Clark wrote in Forbes, predicting that technology, wellbeing, and human skills will combine to elevate the trend.
Of course, work from “home” means work from anywhere giving rise to a practice of extended vacation stays facilitated by taking care of business—“workcations,” “flexcations,” “bleisure.” The trend took off during the pandemic when schoolchildren were also doing their work from home, enabling “schoolcations” where the whole family could enjoy a getaway together.
Digital Nomad Trend Goes Mainstream
For the hard-hit travel industry, workcations open a promising new market—and providers are rushing to capitalize. Airbnb updated its website to reach those nomads after it noticed a Harris poll that said nearly three-fourths of Americans working remotely would like such an opportunity, and nearly half had used the service to find a destination.
“The volume of reviews by US guests mentioning ‘remote working’ or ‘work remotely’ since the start of the pandemic has nearly tripled from the same period last year,” Airbnb said in a report, adding that the number who want to bring their pets also has soared. One-fifth of those said they would prefer California, followed by New York, Florida, Texas, and Hawaii.
Good Connections are Essential
Large hotel chains are also fighting for a share of the market. Marriott International, for example, conducted a survey of business professionals and discovered that many want a change of scene, a dedicated workspace, and powerful wi-fi away from home. The chain created a “Work Anywhere With Marriott Bonvoy program with special rates, benefits, and opportunities.
“Hotels have responded to the pent-up demand to travel and work elsewhere by introducing packages designed for anyone who’s looking to change up their quarantine routine,” Rachel King wrote in Fortune. “Most properties with a ‘work from hotel’ package are offering special rates and discounts for longer stays, as well as additional benefits, such as dedicated workspaces, free breakfast, no resort fees, and more. Before booking a longer stay, customers should be sure to research and compare different properties to find the best one that suits their needs.” One thing to check: make sure reliable wi-fi is available in the room as well as the common areas and dedicated business space.
For digital nomads in Glenwood Springs, the town boasts a huge number of guest rooms, with plenty of activities to do during work downtime. When it’s time to power down, relax with a geothermal soak at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Learn more and make reservations today!
Gene Stowe
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