Accor has unveiled what it says is “an audacious plan” to introduce 1,200 Wojo co-working spaces across Europe in the next three years.

The Wojo brand (until recently known as Nextdoor) is a joint venture between Accor and real estate developers Bouygues Immobilier, and will now be rolled out within Accor hotels worldwide, across economy, midscale and luxury segments.

The offering will be split into three Wojo categories:

Wojo Spots

Effectively a secure wifi connection, over 150 Wojo Spots are set to be rolled out across Paris and Lyon by this summer, with over 1,000 set to launch across Europe by 2022. Accor says that “these spaces make it possible for nomadic workers to work without a fee with the guarantee of a personalized service, a friendly atmosphere and a secure and reliable wifi connection in design spaces”.

Coworkers will be able to work at the bar, in the restaurant or in the lobby – even if they are not staying at the hotel, and there will be a monthly subscription offer, entitling users to discounts on dining and access to events.

Wojo Corners

These are dedicated co-working spaces located across “a broad range of Accor hotels as a first step and then across train stations, airports and shopping malls”. According to Accor the Wojo Corner experience “is designed for local and coworkers customers, with recurring weekly needs, seeking an informal and comfortable work environment”.

The first Wojo Corner opened at the Mercure Paris Montmatre Sacre-Coeur last year, with 100 more set to open across Europe by 2022.

Wojo Sites

More akin to the traditional co-working concept, Wojo Sites will be standalone co-working spaces “over several thousand square meters in dedicated buildings, combining communal zones (bars, lounges, kitchens) with shared spaces, meeting rooms and dedicated offices”.

Wojo Sites are being developed in partnership with Bouygues Immobilier, and “will be integrated from the outset in certain real estate projects”. There are currently ten sites open in Ile-de-France and Lyon, with a target of over 50 locations by 2022.

Accor says that it is the first global hotel group to collaborate with a recognized player in the co-working field.

Commenting on the news Franck Gervais, CEO Accor Europe, said:

“We have the assets (brands, spaces, teams), we have the services (restaurants, bars, meeting spaces) and we are open 24/7.  By participating in Wojo’s ambitious development, we are optimizing the use of these assets and are creating value for our owners by being open to a new type of customer, i.e. coworkers.”

Accor has gradually been looking to expand its customer base beyond hotel guests, with trials including Accorlocal, where the concierge service of the hotel is opened up beyond hotel guests to “neighbours in the district”.

accor.com