How ‘Traveling Offices’ Could Help Reignite Corporate Travel

Traveling offices, or micro offices, could be the panacea for companies that face remote work challenges, but few corporate travel agencies seem to have caught up so far. The premise is simple. A company shifts the location of its headquarters to a new destination on a regular basis — blending the power of face-to-face interaction with tourism and the excitement of discovering new places to revitalize the workforce. "It’s challenging to keep team members excited, engaged and passionate about a company’s mission," said Martin Studencan, CEO of booking platform NextRetreat. "Gym memberships, office dogs, free beer and other perks can make a small difference, but there is a unique energy and motivation that develops when teams travel and work together in an inspiring environment."

Join Us at Skift Global Forum in NYC September 21-23

Rules need to be in place though, as software engineering firm Lazer Technologies is discovering. The Toronto-based company, which acts as a kind of SWAT team to help companies rapidly scale, has been pioneering the concept, with two countries under its belt already. How Did It Get Here? Like many companies, Lazer used to offer a week-long retreat each year before coronavirus struck, opting for large Airbnbs in different destinations. There was a strong office culture too, and it wanted to recreate that in the post-pandemic world. As a result, Lazer now spends one month every quarter in a new location, hiring office space and accommodation, including one week dedicated to vacation time. It's already been to Costa Rica and Uruguay. The traveling office isn't compulsory, but is designed to unite employees in certain hemispheres, for exampl