As the traditional office undergoes a radical transformation, UK businesses are increasingly taking cues from the hospitality sector to reimagine their workplaces. From curated lounge areas and on-site wellness centres to concierge-style services and artisanal cafés, a new wave of design thinking—coined ‘workplace hospitality’—is reshaping the employee experience.
No longer simply a place to clock in and out, the office is becoming a destination in its own right. In a post-pandemic world marked by hybrid work and heightened expectations around wellbeing, employers are investing in hotel-inspired features to entice staff back into the physical workspace.
A New Standard in Employee Experience
Workplace hospitality is about more than aesthetics; it’s a strategy rooted in creating comfort, convenience, and community. According to Gensler’s latest UK Workplace Survey, employees who work in offices with hospitality-driven features report higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and brand connection.
Firms such as Deloitte, PwC, and Spotify have already introduced hospitality-grade amenities in their London headquarters. These include barista-run coffee bars, meditation rooms, and concierge desks that handle everything from dry cleaning to dinner reservations. It’s a shift that recognises people’s changing relationship with work—and places emphasis on holistic experiences rather than rigid routines.
Designing with Purpose
Architectural and design studios are also playing a pivotal role in shaping this trend. Practices like BDG architecture + design, TP Bennett and BDP are leading the charge by designing offices that blur the lines between work, leisure, and lifestyle. Soft lighting, plush furnishings, and open-plan social zones now sit alongside traditional desks and meeting rooms.
One standout example is Unilever’s London headquarters, which incorporates a central ‘living room’ space complete with informal seating, calming greenery, and ambient lighting—designed to feel more like a boutique hotel than a corporate HQ.
“The idea is to create spaces where people want to be,” says one senior designer at a leading UK firm. “If we can make the workplace as comfortable and desirable as a co-working club or a high-end hotel, we can improve not just productivity, but also talent retention and wellbeing.”
Wellbeing and Work-Life Integration
Another key driver of this trend is the growing emphasis on health and wellbeing. Many workplaces are now integrating spa-style features such as aromatherapy rooms, fitness studios, nap pods, and even in-house nutritionists. Companies are increasingly aware that supporting mental and physical wellbeing is not just a perk, but a performance driver.
Moreover, concierge services—once reserved for hotel lobbies—are gaining popularity in offices across the UK. These offerings, which might include package delivery management, event booking, or travel arrangements, aim to reduce life admin and free up mental space for employees.
The Future of Work, Reimagined
Workplace hospitality is part of a broader shift towards experience-centric design—an approach that aligns with evolving employee expectations and employer branding strategies. With talent attraction and retention continuing to be a top priority, particularly in competitive sectors like tech, finance and creative industries, the office must now work harder than ever to deliver value.
As hybrid working becomes the norm, the office will no longer be compulsory—but it can still be compelling. And by borrowing from the best of hospitality, UK employers are setting a new benchmark for what that compelling experience should look like.