Tap, order, and pay platform me&u and hospitality-inspired workspace and employee experience platform Third Place have come together to launch the first National Work From Hospo Week.
Running from 16 to 20 October, #WFHospoWeek aims to encourage workers across Australia to eat, drink and work flexibly in hospitality venues across the country so they move away from the isolation of working from home while enhancing mental health, well-being, and productivity.
At the same time, this will help increase mid-week foot traffic in hospitality venues, giving them a much-needed boost after going through a challenging period. As such, me&u and Third Place will engage hospitality communities to provide practical and revenue-driving solutions to mid-week quiet periods and to capitalise on significant consumer demand from workers seeking convenient and experiential hospitality spaces to work, eat, and collaborate.
Already, a number of hospitality venues have registered to be #WFHospo Hubs across metro and regional Australia. Some of them will also be putting on a selection of worker-friendly menu specials and experiences throughout the week, with more details to be announced.
me&u’s 2022 research previously revealed that Aussies want pubs to play a changing role in their lives, with 28 per cent looking for flexible ‘work from venue’ options and adaptable day-to-night or family facilities.
Moreover, 2023 research from Third Place, in collaboration with Swinburne University, found that workers typically utilise ‘third place’ hospitality venues two to three times per week for an average of one to three hours, spending more than $30 per person on these occasions, and often return with family and friends to spend more.
The said research also found that 86 per cent of workers find third-place hospitality spaces contribute positively to overall well-being and 98 per cent would continue to use and spend money at these spaces for work in the future.
“Following the pandemic, we have witnessed a shift in the way Australians perceive and interact with hospitality venues,” Katrina Barry, CEO of me&u, said. “The pub has become more than a place to blow off steam on a Friday night, with many new trends emerging, one of these being Australian consumers seeking to use third places as workspaces, embracing the new future of remote work in a post-pandemic world.
“We also recognise that driving mid-week revenue can be challenging for venues,” Barry added. “That’s where #WFHospoWeek comes in, presenting a stellar opportunity to integrate third places into the future work norm. This initiative allows venues to diversify their revenue streams and boost earnings during typically slow periods.
“We wholeheartedly invite businesses throughout Australia to embrace the #WFHospoWeek movement, open their doors and welcome Aussie workers into their venues during the week,” Barry continued. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Third Place to bring #WFHospoWeek to life and get Aussies into their locale to benefit both the venues in question as well as the mental wellbeing of workers.”
Paul Veltman, Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder of Third Place, that he was “thrilled” to expand the initiative into #WFHospo week with the “brilliant team” at me&u.
“In a recent study conducted in collaboration with Swinburne University, we found that working from a third place not only provides workers with a crucial mental reset but also bolsters their creativity and focus,” Veltman said. “An impressive 86 per cent of respondents noted that working from third places has a positive effect on their overall wellbeing.
“It’s incredibly exciting to anticipate thousands of professionals from all over Australia networking, collaborating, and supporting the amazing hospitality venues in each state,” Veltman added. “This marks a momentous step towards revolutionising our work environments. We wholeheartedly invite Aussie corporates and their teams to embrace the #WFHospoWeek movement and enjoy the laptop-friendly venues across the country.”
