There is a new breadth to thinking on how businesses and community work in partnership. Goodbye 2019 thinking: Hello 2023

Last week, in a meeting, a developer talked of a new way of thinking which is bringing together not just people for work but combining this with a stronger cultural presence with more music, art, and entertainment involved. Something has changed and today people do combine work, culture and leisure all in one.

It does all serve to create a far more interactive, exciting environment which arguably does serve to improve productivity. It is also asking new questions of operators.

• In food service, we are seeing new spaces be developed in which art and crafts are featured but also music is brought into play. The argument is that music does inspire thought and productivity. It is not too far removed to expect food service operators to soon be asked to think bigger and more broadly about their operations and how it does serve to bring in other aspects.
• In new resorts being developed, there does appear to be a growing theme for the genuine authentic which brings together resort and the local community in all kinds of new ways from bring a platform for local artists to local produce to ensuring trade with local business to local theatre.
• New developments are naturally now bringing together the office space, the residential and entertainment in a much closer way.

In a conversation last week, it was noted that EP had been writing about these themes for five years. Maybe so but, if one looks back, the expectations of 2019 pale in comparison to what is happening today. There is something far more exciting and significant taking place which shows that many have listened to what has gone wrong in the past decade and that many want far more positive environments.

In 2019, EP would host many forums about the problems and the need for change as all the research illustrated very clearly that people were disengaged with the work environments of that time. That change has now taken place and fast forwarded. Today we are seeing a new level of collaboration and understanding between developers, property management, and the role of food service, culture and the arts, fitness and more. In one building, which boasts of a high level of return, there are newly designed restaurants, pilates classes, music evenings, and great local art on the walls. The argument is people feel that the company is creating a new environment to encourage and inspire people plus work far closer in tandem with the community.

This is not an isolated example. Everywhere one looks, a new mentality can be seen emerging from the recent period; one which could well lead to a far more exciting era. It will be interesting to see if productivity is viewed to be on the rise again as new research emerges.

Such is the breadth of thinking that one can legitimately ask – what is off limits as companies seek to ensure far more supportive environments for their teams?

There is something positive in seeing business, hotels and communities come together with a broader thinking than arguably existed before. It was interesting last week to sit in another meeting when a senior hotelier was talking of the importance of working with the community. Such language was so rare in 2019.

Change is taking place in almost every aspect of business; stronger collaborations with suppliers, with local business, with local farmers, in showing real care about people/employees once again. It could open the doors to a grand new era.

Written by Chris Sheppardson, Founder of EP Business in Hospitality