Against a backdrop of global change and economic uncertainty, 2020 has so far been a positive year for flexspace – and for IWG in particular. The brand has opened 144 new centres at the time of going to press, with other deals currently in the pipeline and due to be signed before the end of the year.
This includes:
- 76 Regus centres
- 55 Spaces centres
- Five Signature centres
- Three HQ centres
- Two Signature centres
- One Open Office centre
- One The Office Operators centre
Of these openings, 28 have been made possible by deals signed with franchise partners.
Regionally, there have been:
- 71 centres opened in Europe
- 16 in North America
- 14 in the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Pacific Islands
- 12 in the UK
- Three in Latin America
At a country level, Japan has led the way, with 16 new centre openings, followed by 13 in the US, 12 in the UK, 10 in Germany and seven in Switzerland.
Below are some of the highlights from the last 12 months.
The USA
In October, IWG added 79,000sq ft to its US portfolio by taking over an existing workplace site in Williamsburg and opening under the Spaces brand. Spaces Williamsburg marks IWG’s first entry into Brooklyn and taps into the trend for suburban working – something that IWG has seen a notable increase in demand for, both globally and within the US.
Other US openings in 2020 include Spaces Magnum Street in North Carolina in September and Regus The Colonnade in Texas, which opened in October.
The Middle East
In November, HQ Awtad Commercial Center in Jeddah became the first HQ centre in the Middle East. Located in one of the main business districts, the centre is within easy reach of the area’s major port, with the King Abdulaziz International Airport just 15km away.
The UK and Europe
In London, May saw the opening of Signature 100 Bishopgate Tower. The largest Signature location ever, with 80,000sq feet, the centre is housed in a new, mixed-use 40-storey tower in the City of London, the capital’s financial hub.
In June, Germany welcomed Regus Hammfelddamm 4A to Neuss. Another great example of suburban flexspace, the centre is just across the Rhine from Dusseldorf. This puts customers only 10 minutes away from the city centre by train, providing all the benefits of a close connection with Dusseldorf in a quieter location. A patio provides desirable outdoor space.
A month later, in July, Spaces Deansgate in Manchester became the biggest Spaces centre in the UK. It offers 12 storeys of flexible workspace within the heart of the city centre. The building itself is architecturally striking – an icon in its own right on Manchester’s skyline. On-site parking, bicycle storage and shower and locker facilities make commuting easy, while Piccadilly Station Metrolink is just six minutes’ walk away.
Asia
Regus Leadvisor Building in Vietnam, which opened in March, is inside a luxury high-rise building in Hanoi’s business district. Designed in a Japanese style, the premium skyscraper offers Zen gardens and Japanese fine dining.
Meanwhile, August saw the opening of Spaces Autoway Tower in Seoul, South Korea. It’s located in Gangnam, which is fast becoming a key location for all industries. Based on the ground floor (the first in Korea to be situated thus), the office spaces and meeting rooms benefit from natural light thanks to a large entrance and atrium.
August also saw the opening of Signature Hysan Place in Hong Kong. This is the first Signature location in the territory and is already at 82% occupancy.
Franchise deals
This year also saw the growth of IWG’s franchise programme, with signings in several new countries.
One of the many highlights is Regus Salaam Tower in Djibouti, which opened in July and marks the first IWG centre in the Horn of Africa. Located on the fifth floor of the biggest landmark in Djibouti, it’s just 10 minutes’ drive from Ambouli International Airport and a five-minute walk from the Central Business District. The tower overlooks the Gulf of Aden, offering exquisite views.
In Central America, Regus Torre Nova II is the first IWG centre to open in Honduras. It was opened in October with franchise partner, Grupo Premier and is located in the centre of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, in an exclusive mixed-use development that also houses high-end stores, restaurants and a cinema. Other tenants in the building include major multinationals, including Microsoft, Banrural, Bayer and Startek.
In November, the Cayman Islands saw its first IWG centre opening: Regus The Whitehouse. Occupying a central George Town location, it offers 24/7 access to three floors containing 350 workstations – with 18 office suites across the ground floor alone.
Whatever your business needs and wherever you are, support your business growth in 2020 with IWG’s expanding portfolio of flexible office solutions. We also help thousands of agents across the world find the right office space for their clients
