We’ve all been there. The daily debate over what’s for lunch. For office workers up and down the country, the age-old question of whether to eat in or out is being answered by a potentially surprising trend. Is it time your customers embraced the office dining experience?
The increasing shift towards hybrid and agile work models is propelling the demand for creating homely and comfortable workspaces. Businesses are now embracing the trends of ‘hotelification’ and ‘destination’ offices, seeking to establish more welcoming environments for their teams. The outdated image of the basic workplace kitchen area is no longer in demand and employers are learning fast that there’s room for more flexible and versatile forms of office dining.
Rising costs have had a profound effect on the idea of the ‘restaurant meetings’ popular prior to the pandemic. Businesses can now offer a comparable dining experience for workplace celebrations or crucial meetings by providing private or designated dining facilities. This not only saves costs but also reflects a corporate culture of social-economic understanding, adapting to the changing economic landscape.
The focus is on creating appealing dining areas and well-equipped kitchens that entice employees to stay on-site for their lunch breaks, fostering a sense of community and encouraging interactive team-building activities. Reports also show that the inclusion of spaces such as dining areas is encouraging people who work from home to visit the office more regularly.
Dealers play a crucial role in establishing spaces that promote staff engagement and socialisation. They can assist customers in delineating and distinctly identifying areas designated for work and leisure by utilising color-coded furniture, such as tables and chairs, for example using a blue theme for dining spaces and white for working spaces. Furthermore, dealers can support customers in fully outfitting office dining areas with energy-efficient appliances like coffee machines, sandwich toasters, and cooking equipment, contributing to a well-equipped and inviting environment.
A visually appealing office dining area not only enhances the experience for visitors but also provides a setting for immersive, experience-based interactions, such as combining lunch meetings with a unique food experience. Flexibility is key to accommodating various uses – expandable tables and foldable seating options cater to different event sizes and types, ranging from large group lunches to smaller, more intimate team meetings.
As more businesses embrace the ‘destination’ office ideology, dealers can find opportunity in ensuring that any additional maintenance requirements are met through the provision of appropriate cleaning products and equipment. In addition to this, businesses looking to foster staff retention by meeting wellbeing needs may consider adding healthy snacks and alternative drinks to their in-office dining space.
In conclusion, while not every workspace will have enough room or the facilities to create the equivalent of a fine dining restaurant, dealers have an opportunity to capitalise on the desire to move away from the idea of the traditional lunch break to create a more inviting dining experience.
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