Beijing among top 3 cities for hybrid work, while high cost of accommodation and coffee weighs on Hong Kong in 22nd spot, IWG says

Practices such as ‘workcations’ are expected to accelerate further, as more companies embrace ‘work from anywhere’ policies
Beijing performs exceptionally well in categories such as culture, accommodation and transport costs, while affordable transport and high-speed broadband were Hong Kong’s most significant advantages

Hong Kong reopens: life after quarantine

Mia Castagnone

Published: 7:00am, 16 Aug 2023

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Barcelona, Toronto and Beijing have been named the top three cities for hybrid work, while Hong Kong ranked 22nd, according to a study by workspace operator IWG.

The Switzerland-based company conducted a survey of about 1,000 hybrid offices in August last year, and compared 26 leading cities on nine criteria: climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food and drink, happiness, broadband speed and availability of flexible workspace.

“For an increasing number of workers, hybrid working offers the opportunity to work wherever we will be the most productive,” said Mark Dixon, IWG’s founder and CEO. “Thanks to cloud technology, that can be anywhere in the world, provided there’s a high-quality internet connection available.

“It’s no wonder that more and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel, whether it’s for a few days or a few months.”

Barcelona’s vibrant cultural scene, relatively low cost of living, architecture and almost year-round sunshine made it an eye-catching choice for visitors, IWG says. Photo: Shutterstock

The findings are significant because practices such as “workcations”, where travellers work from destinations abroad as a means of extending their holidays, have exploded in popularity since working online became the new norm during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This trend is expected to accelerate further, as more companies embrace “work from anywhere” policies to improve employees’ work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as an employer.

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IWG found that 88 per cent of remote staff worked from anywhere last year, while 57 per cent extended holidays by working from abroad.

The top three cities showed the strongest scores in transport and accommodation prices.

Barcelona’s vibrant cultural scene, relatively low cost of living, architecture and almost year-round sunshine made it an eye-catching choice for visitors. It has become a thriving hub for digital nomads seeking the perfect blend of work and leisure. Toronto ranked high in accommodation, happiness and a wealth of flexible workspaces, making it an ideal choice for travellers.

Toronto ranked high in accommodation, happiness and a wealth of flexible workspaces. Photo: AP

Beijing performed exceptionally well in categories such as culture, accommodation and transport costs. China’s capital offers visitors a stark contrast between historic neighbourhoods – the city’s iconic “hutong” alleyways – and its urban business district. Beijing’s art scene, with numerous galleries and cultural venues, also drew remote workers.

Hong Kong came in at 22nd, following other Asian cities such as Jakarta (ninth), Manila (13th), Mumbai (18th) and Singapore (21st). Its affordable transport and high-speed broadband were the city’s most significant advantages, while the cost of accommodation, the high cost of coffee and lack of galleries and museums brought its score down.

Hong Kong drew travellers mainly because of its liveliness and prime location, its world-class airport and mature international network, which allowed hybrid workers to travel back-and-forth to adjacent top-10 workcation cities, such as Beijing and Jakarta.

The study found that more than two-thirds of workers believed they could effectively perform their jobs from abroad, and a significant 71 per cent said they would only consider a job that offers the flexibility to work remotely.