Verification for Building Workcation Services with Welfare Benefits

COMPANY INFORMATION

Company Name RESORTWORX Inc.
Homepage https://resortworx.jp/
Headquaters JAPAN

ABOUT

Established in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, RESORTWORX offers welfare services that help stimulate workers’ creativity through workcations. Long-term workcations at low prices are made possible through the design of plans centered on weekdays, when the occupancy rate of membership facilities and hotels in resort areas is low. RESORTWORX aims to solve 3 stakeholder issues by using workcations as both corporate and individual welfare programs.

① Accommodation

The decline in weekday occupancy rates that has been caused by the disappearance of inbound tourists at accommodation facilities throughout Japan as a result of the COVID-19 has had a significant impact on resort management. RESORTWORX contributes to increasing the weekday occupancy rate by sending its users to resorts on weekdays.

② Corporate Adoption

As a result of telework becoming widespread across the country, companies must re-examine corporate internal systems and welfare programs in new ways. Workcations are a new form of welfare program that is provided instead of commuting or housing allowances. They are aimed at helping with the recruitment of excellent human resources and increase of retention rates.

③ Corporate Employees

Some people feel that the shift from office work to telework and the resulting loss of commuting time and casual chat has caused a decline in the “creativity.” RESORTWORX strives to create an environment in which people can live more creatively by obscuring the polarity between traditional work and vacations and providing workers with plenty of time.

PROJECT

Verification for Building Workcation Services with Welfare Benefits

Outline of Proof of Concept (PoC)

To help our customers understand workcation needs and issues when building services, we offer a plan that allows staying at one of the 16 Tokyu Vacations membership resort facilities for about 5 months at a special price.

Validation Items

The core of the service uses our experience in attracting customers and incorporates their feedback when booking repeat reservations.

  • Understanding the Optimal Plan
  • Facility issues
  • Survey of corporate welfare
Process of PoC
  1. Attracting customers: press releases, Twitter, Slack community
  2. Accommodation reservations: hearing workcation requests, arranging reservations
  3. Experience: providing stay information, office equipment rental
  4. Feedback: Surveys, interviews

RESULT

For 5 months, we have arranged 139 (127 for individuals and 12 for corporate) nights of accommodation for our customers. We collected questionnaire responses from 71 people, visualized a target group of Tokyo-based IT professionals in their 20s and 30s, and have achieved a weekday customer transfer rate of about 97%.

・Understanding the Optimal Plan

①Long-term Use Plan

This plan offers easy added value by offering workcations of 3 nights or more Staying only for 2 days and 1 night creates difficulty concentrating on work, whereas staying 3 nights or more makes it easier to balance work and vacation.

②Installation of Displays and Office Chairs

The presence of a working environment differentiates our stays from typical accommodation experiences.

③Slack-based Concierge Function

Providing helpful information regarding the surrounding area through concierge function, such as co-working spaces and food delivery services, can increase satisfaction. That helps the customers understand if the environment is worker-friendly.

・Facility Issues

①Ensuring a Work Environment before Check-in and after Check-out

Work efficiency must be guaranteed throughout the entire workcation period, including during travel time, as this often occurs during working hours.

②Meal Support (Providing Information on Restaurants in the Area that Offer Dining out or Delivery)

Many people concentrate on their work until nighttime; by then, restaurants are already closed, making it easy to miss their business hours. It is important to create an environment in which users can concentrate on their work through support such as meal guidance.

・Survey of Corporate Welfare

①Restricted Network Environments

It may be difficult for workers to work outside the company due to the restrictions on the use of free Wi-Fi or the need of getting internal permission to use the network in the workcation facility in advance.

②Development of Working Rules

There are no rules and regulations to deal with accidents and other problems that may occur during a workcation.

③Guaranteed Fairness

Depending on the personal circumstances, such as whether they are married or single, there may be inequities in how often they can use the vacation system as a welfare program.

Future Developments

①Narrowing Down Target Members

Given the high hurdles for corporate use, we will target those who can make decisions about implementation, such as the management of IT companies. We aim to acquire target groups by selecting corporate management influential on social media as our workcation ambassadors and having them attend workcations at carefully selected facilities.

②Constructing a Workcation System that Improves Coverage

To solve the transportation and communication environment issues, we will work with local businesses and local governments to build operations and services necessary for workcations. (Example: A service that allows users to rent pocket Wi-Fi upon arrival at Naha Airport and return it after their stay.)

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