Metro Detroit Marriott Hotels Offer Workspace for Mobile Workers

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Forget scheduling off-site work meetings at the local coffee shop. Marriott has launched Workspace On Demand, an amenity that allows workers on-the-go, freelancers, and business professionals to book offsite meeting space at select hotels through LiquidSpace.com.

“It’s a great opportunity to welcome people who may not be staying in our hotel to see how great the experience and space is,” says Sora Chan, director of sales at The Baronette Renaissance hotel in Novi. “The lobby space isn’t always used during the day, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we use this? Why don’t we create more awareness?’”

The hotel offers complimentary “corner seating” — a couch, chairs, and a table in the main lobby — and space for eight in the hotel’s library. After having a successful run with the free space option, the Novi-based hotel recently began renting out a private boardroom for $400 per day, or $300 per half day.

Whether choosing the free or paid option, each space at the Baronette includes Wi-Fi; wired Internet connectivity; print, scan, and copy capabilities, TV monitors; coffee and tea service; and access to the on-site restaurant, The Toasted Oak.

Chan notes that the space can be reserved hourly or by the day. And since there are no contracts involved, there are no charges for cancellations. “This is huge in bigger cities like Boston and New York. It’s great to be able to offer something like this in (metro Detroit).”

And Chan expects that trend to grow, with 1.3 billion mobile workers worldwide by 2015, according to International Data Corp. Meanwhile, LiquidSpace estimates that more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies have alternative workplace or mobile workforce policies in place.

Other area hotels participating in the Workspace on Demand initiative include the Detroit Marriott Troy; Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center; Courtyard Detroit Downtown; Courtyard Detroit Warren; Courtyard Detroit Novi; and The Dearborn Inn.