The Optimistic Future of Flex: 5 Key Takeaways from GWA’s Immersive 2024

A more informal, intimate gathering of flex workspace innovators designed to evoke ideas, insights, and inspiration about the future of flex? Sign us up! That’s just what our team experienced at Immersive 2024, the Global Workspace Association’s behind-the-scenes look at best-in-class hospitality and forward-looking innovations currently taking place in the flex space industry. 

Hosted in Nashville and showcasing the Music City’s diverse and vibrant range of coworking spaces, including the event host venue Ampersand Studios, Immersive featured exciting opportunities to hear from an array of thought leaders championing the future of flex. Over the course of the event, a packed lineup of panel discussions, keynotes, and networking events brought together a who’s who of key players in the flex industry.  

Read on for five of our most actionable takeaways from this collaborative collective of visionary flex industry professionals. 

1. Why Nashville now: Our host city of Nashville set the backdrop for precisely why the Music City is so attractive for real estate investors and new flex space operators. Aside from it being an appealing, aspirational city, landlords here inherently understand the coworking model and embrace it. Perhaps not surprisingly in a town where Southern charm still reigns supreme, hospitality is more of a draw than design and amenities for flex space clients here.
   
   
2. Adapting to evolving market conditions: Ampersand Studios Founder & Principal Matthew Giles led an enlightening session about creating and activating event venues within flex spaces to monetize and maximize them for outside tenants, as well as bring in new potential coworking clientele who understand the power of the party.
   
   
3. The new age of hospitality: Immersive attendees heard from iPostal, Room, and Yardi (which most recently made headlines for becoming the majority shareholder of WeWork). Warren Hersowitz, Senior Manager at Yardi Kube, discussed how his company’s move to sustain WeWork will help the flex space industry as a whole.
   
   During this instructive session, the panelists also discussed ways to make office spaces and services more accessible, emulating successful residential models. iPostal highlighted the company’s virtual mail services, while Room (one of Preferred’s vetted partners) showcased its soundproof phone booths that give coworking clients the luxury of dedicated spaces for concentration and conversation
   
   
4. Sales and marketing in motion: Flex space operators have a network of partners to lean on to help funnel leads, creating a profitable win-win situation for reaching new audiences who already appreciate the amenities and services offered onsite. 

 

5. The optimistic future of flex: Through the emergence and evolution of the flex industry, commercial real estate is getting the much-needed transformation it needs in terms of technology, speed, and agility of transactions. The tools are there — and getting more plentiful and powerful — and the most progressive companies and property owners will buy in and lead the charge. Post-pandemic, the retail real estate industry has largely recovered, and the office sector will, as well. Flex spaces can and will help drive it forward.

Creating the Future of the Flexible Office Industry

Preferred is proud to be a part of the Global Workspace Association community — a collection of organizations dedicated to elevating the flexible workspace industry and the client experience. That’s what flexible workplaces are all about — connecting with other professionals to uplift our individual experiences and organizational initiatives.

Enterprise clients who are considering their office real estate options should reach out to learn more about how Preferred Office Network’s portfolio of locations, suite of spaces, and streamlined process can help provide solutions for your organization’s workplace needs in an evolving landscape.