Digital Nomads

06 | ESSENTIALLY KEMPINSKI

A laptop. A mobile. A broadband connection. That's all it takes to be a digital nomad. And you’ll join many other people who have decided to change the way they work, encouraged by the increasingly connected network that links us to each other across the globe. At Kempinski, we are crafting new ways to stay with us, complete with a secure, protected working environment every day.

Stay, work and play – hotels are embracing a new way of life

BY ANTOINE GAUVIN

Leaving the office and home behind to broaden the mind, activate creativity and spark new ideas is such a simple idea – it’s a wonder it didn't emerge earlier. Co-working, co-living and now the ‘workcation’ are new words for the different ways of working that are springing up throughout the world. Hotels are rivalling each other to come up with fresh ideas to embrace this quiet revolution. The biggest advantage, the one that should persuade you to pack your bags, is the possibility of working while taking care of yourself. Concentrate on your business plan and then clear your mind while swimming lengths in the pool. Join a Zoom meeting then go snorkelling or relax in the spa. No need to wait for a holiday: take one whenever and wherever you like. Neither work nor leisure but both at once - it's a way to organise your life without boundaries, schedules or routines.

The growth of the internet in the 1990s launched these new behaviours, but it wasn’t the only catalyst. The pioneers of this radical change were hyper-connected young millennials - a new type of couch worker who showed us how to be more creative, open-minded and productive by abandoning classic office hours and routines. They invented the ‘third place’ – a space that rolled home, office, café, meeting room, and hotel into one. The first of these ventures, now called co-working spaces, appeared in Berlin in the 90s. It was the now famous ‘c-base’ hackerspace - a home from home for Berlin's digital developers.

Today, there are thought to be 40 million digital nomads around the world. These are people in professions who can operate anywhere, any time, as long as they have internet access. Companies have found it's not only possible, but also advantageous to release their talented executives into the wild. In fact, studies have shown that being away from the office environment can improve relations up and down the hierarchy (source: Harvard Business Review August 2020). So, a win-win revolution was already under way before being unexpectedly tested full-scale by the recent intermittent lockdowns and restrictions. Zoom mania was born and improvised home offices are the new normal. It's more than a trend: it's a paradigm shift.

The current situation has highlighted places that are well-suited for working in a safe, secure and particularly efficient environment: hotels of course. Gone is the traditional division between leisure stays and business seminars. Gone is the traditional business traveller. Now is the era of the ‘daycation’ and the ‘workcation’. The daycation allows you to get away without going away. It’s a 24-hour break from home and office during which you’ll be able to work in peace and luxury. Often the daycation includes an upgrade to a superior room with a large desk, special amenities, and a discount on meals and refreshments.

That said, the growing trend is to stay away from home a little longer. With innovative packages that include significant reductions, workcations extend the traditional hotel stay and are a new way of fusing office and home. As well as the change of scene to stimulate your grey cells, they offer special services to help you work to the best of your ability, including a multitude of small, thoughtful touches prepared by the hotel team. In short – it’s the ideal solution! Even better, some countries are already offering new types of visa which allow professionals to work there without a permit. Recalling Berlin’s innovative role in finding new ways of working in the 90s, Germany was the first European country to create this type of permit, known as the ‘freiberufler’ visa. Thailand’s new ‘smart visa’, specifically designed for digital nomads, is also aimed at attracting new kinds of travellers. In January this year Croatia, too, introduced a special visa which allows you to stay and work there for up to 12 months without paying taxes. It’s a clever response from a small country to the acceleration of global transformation.

Without doubt, we are witnessing a complete change in the way we live and work. Welcome to the digital world and Hospitality 2.0!

Feeling inspired?

1. GET A COMPLETE CHANGE OF SCENERY

CABRITS RESORT & SPA KEMPINSKI DOMINICA Work and stay

Switch your home office to Dominica and work remotely with superb sea views. Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski, on the heavenly island of Dominica, offers a 30-day package that allows you to work at your desk beside the Caribbean shore. Included in this half-board ‘work and stay’ package is a spacious executive junior suite with separate working area, high-speed Wi-Fi, and of course all the benefits of a fabulous resort with a luxury spa.

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW DIGITAL NOMAD VISAS

SINDHORN KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK Join us for 30 nights or settle in for up to 12 months

Home comforts meet five-star Kempinski service when you choose a long-term stay. Whether you want a larger or separate living space with a fully equipped kitchenette and some or all of your meals prepared, we’ll cater for your needs. You'll get 15% off food and beverages, laundry, and spa treatments.

SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK Stay longer, discover more

Mix work and leisure and discover so much more about Bangkok when you stay with us for 14 days or more. You’ll save 15% on your booking which includes a premium Wi-Fi connection, as well as breakfast and a complimentary minibar. For your ultimate comfort, there's a further 25% off food and beverages and 20% off laundry.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL ADRIATIC ISTRIA, CROATIA Mix work and leisure on the shore of the Adriatic Sea

In the north-western part of the country, the combination of sea air and golf at this spa resort will perfectly complement your working day. Surrounded by picturesque olive groves and vineyards, this secluded paradise offers the ultimate in comfort and privacy to help you focus and find inspiration. And when you want to relax, head to the golf course or spa.

3. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE AND LUXURY

GRAND HOTEL DES BAINS KEMPINSKI ST MORITZ Be inspired by the Swiss Alps

Imagine working in a beautiful natural setting, enjoying delicious Alpine cuisine, unwinding on a hike in the breathtaking mountains or relaxing in a luxurious spa. Achieve all this and be at your most productive while recharging your batteries in St Moritz.

MARSA MALAZ KEMPINSKI THE PEARL, DOHA Indulge in a luxury staycation

Step beyond your door and enjoy a luxury staycation at the magnificent Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl, Doha. You'll have a super-spacious room in which to work, together with all the amenities of a luxurious resort for your leisure time, including private beach, outdoor pools, a tennis court, and a fitness centre equipped with the very latest machines.

For further information and to book your stay, visit kempinski.com