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

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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

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Beijing’s central business district. The city offers visitors a stark contrast between historic neighbourhoods and its urban business district, IWG says. Photo: AP

Mia Castagnone

Published: 7:00am, 16 Aug 2023

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.