Las Vegas Executive Suites and Virtual Offices

With over 600 virtual office locations to choose from right across the world, Alliance Virtual Offices provides a business address for every occasion to help companies gain the recognition they deserve. Be it a virtual office in New York, on the Champs Elysees in Paris or a virtual office in Amsterdam – the Venice of the North – you can keep your finger firmly on the global commercial pulse by putting your business right where it matters.

And when it comes to recognition, what better way to attract attention than having a record-breaking address on your business card?

Taipei 101 – a soaring skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei – previously held the title of the world’s tallest building until the topping out of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2009. Despite being pushed into second position, Taipei 101 remains one of the most recognised names and landmarks. This is partly due to its world records, one of which includes being the first building to break the half-kilometre height mark. It is also considered the world’s tallest sustainable building having achieved LEED status – ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ – along with the highest LEED certification of ‘Platinum’.

Records aside, this distinctive building has many other strings to its bow – all of which can help boost business growth. Clients can utilise the impeccably maintained and top-notch facilities which include day offices, conference rooms, boardroom, seminar rooms and Wi-Fi. Professional live reception services are available with helpful time-saving support options such as message taking and call screening, and other key services are also on offer such as mail handling and forwarding.

So if you’re looking for a base to help grow your business activities in the Far East, you could do much worse than selecting a virtual office in Taipei – one of the most famous landmarks in the world – as your starting point.

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We wrote about 02’s flexible working initiative in February—an initiative that saw 2,500 workers work remotely for a day. Now, the results of the experiment are finally in—and the results bode well for virtual office users, mobile workers, telecommuters, distributed workforces and the like.

According to an employee survey, 88 percent of staff said that they were at least as productive as on a normal day at the office. Another 36 percent claim to have been more productive. Sixteen percent slept a bit longer than usual and 14 percent spent additional time with their families. 

“Line managers are used to managing people they can see. Managing them remotely is a completely different thing.  Our Pilot on 8th February didn’t solve all of those problems, but it is a good start,” says Ben Dowd, business director for O2. “We can do a lot more to support line managers in charge of remote teams, but we know it’s not going to happen overnight. We’re educating people about the whole future of work here and there’s still work to be done, but we’re pleased to say this is a fantastic start”.

Let’s drill into some additional statistics O2 made available with this study. Of the 2,000 hours of commuting time employees saved during the flexible workplace study: 52 percent spent that time working and 6 percent spent that time commuting elsewhere. One poor soul actually didn’t know about the program and showed up for work as normal.

O2’s saved about 12.2 tons of carbon dioxide. Electricity consumption decreased by 12 percent and water usage dropped 53 percent. Employees saved nearly £9,000 on the day primarily through reduced commuting costs. 

Instant messaging usage was up 40.8 percent over a normal working day. 146,876 Instant Messages were sent during the flexible working experiment, peaking  at 17,843 IMs an hour at 3 p.m. Lync Meetings hosted increased by 29 percent, with 406 meetings organized compared to  313 on a normal day. Lync Meeting attendance increased by 25 percent, with 1,356 Lync meeting participants compared to  1,077 on a normal day.

“The success of O2’s experiment extends much further than just allowing some of the workforce to stay at home and work. It proves that with the right thinking and planning, even the largest organizations can protect themselves from the most severe disruptions to their business,” Dowd says.

“It shows that given the right preparation and communication, conservative presenteeism-based attitudes to work can be changed, with great benefits for both managers and staff. It shows that businesses really can make significant and lasting reductions to their environmental impact, in a multitude of areas. Above all though, it demonstrates that the principles underlying flexible working really are the principles that will build the future of work, and determine the way that people, technology and buildings interact in the decades and centuries ahead. O2 is using these principles now, to build tomorrow’s businesses today.”

O2 hopes the pilot will also showcase the wider economic business case for flexible working in helping to drive efficiency, productivity and innovation. Flexible working has become an increasingly important aspect of British business culture, with a more organizations and employees adopting a flexible approach to working life as new technologies make it increasingly easy to conduct business from beyond the confines of the office. 

“Four weeks of intense preparation across the business—everywhere from HR and internal comms to IT and property services—laid the ground for an almost completely empty building and a widely distributed workforce,” Dowd says. “And thanks to this rigorous planning, the experiment was an astonishing success—not just in terms of the productivity of the workforce, but as a demonstration of the power of flexible working to forge lasting operational, cultural and environmental change within modern organizations.”

Regus may be doing its business center competitors a big favor—or it may become a bigger threat. It all depends on your perspective.

The executive offices suites giant just published a new book that aims to answer the key business question of the decade: How do you grow a business in today’s ultra-competitive landscape?

Dubbed Growth in a Difficult Decade, the book offers advice from successful entrepreneurs, along with practical insights for managers and business owners in every industry.

Regus pulled out all the stops to offer a resource to its would-be tenants, including advice from more than 60 entrepreneurs and corporations. Donald Trump and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz join teenage Internet millionaires, winning serial entrepreneurs, and founders of billion-dollar family businesses that are now being transitioned to the next generation in offering the secrets of success.

“At Regus we work closely with successful entrepreneurs all over the world, so we wanted to help share their insights into how to achieve sustainable business growth, even in times of recession or economic uncertainty,� says Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus.

Growth in a Difficult Decade, the Regus book offers guidance on every facet of running and growing a business, from how to monetize and execute a business idea to the importance of validating and iterating ideas to how to build a business sustainably, tips on raising finance, how to expand a business into new countries or continents, and what to look for when hiring key staff or finding business mentors.

“This book shows there’s no single formula for success and growth—there’s a fascinating diversity of ideas and approaches,� Dixon says. “But it also shows there are common themes for success—from the power of marketing, to the importance of mentors and colleagues whose talents complement your own, to perseverance, to the importance of exploring new markets. The insights and practical tips in this book will help businesses of all sizes and at all stages of growth.�

Regus’ strategy is simple and effective: Become a resource for entrepreneurs, small business owners and large corporations alike. People value books, and they especially value books with practical advice for doing business in today’s economy.  What’s more, Regus has demonstrated that it can grow in a difficult decade, which gives it the credibility it needs to author such a book.

Regus’ book is now part of its marketing arsenal. It will become a calling card, of sorts, a resource for would-be tenants that shows Regus gets it. Professionals in all industries have been authoring books to build their personal brand for years. Regus has taken a similar approach with Growth in a Difficult Decade. Ultimately, the book alone won’t help Regus win customers. But it becomes part of a larger branding and marketing effort that helps turn heads.

What can your business center to do position your brand as an expert resource in the field?

There’s been plenty of headlines about the poor judgment of some U.S. Secret Service members in recent weeks, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that more federal agencies are making mobile IT investments that set the stage for remote work. Is your business center ready for the storm—and the potential food?

The Telework Exchange just announced the results of The 2012-2013 Telework/Mobile IT Almanac. The Almanac provides a snapshot of where federal agencies stand on enabling remote workers and delivers a forecast for mobile IT investments.

“Mobile device use among federal workers is clearly on the rise,� says Bob Kerr, vice president of SwishData Corporation. “Federal agencies are successfully implementing telework polices and the technology infrastructure needed to support remote workers—but there are some areas where agencies can improve.�

The report reveals that 65 percent of federal agencies cite above average IT programs for enabling telework and mobility. What’s more, federal IT executives expect mobile device use to increase by 20 percent by 2013. What does this mean for your business center.

If you’ve been paying attention, you may have already noticed a federal worker walking through your business center doors. The study shows about 21 percent of federal employees are already teleworking. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed expect more regular teleworkers and 45 percent expect more part-time mobile workers in the next two years.

“More than half of Federal agencies are making the grade in terms of enabling the growing mobile workforce,� says Cindy Auten, general manager, Telework Exchange. “They serve as a model for others looking to strengthen their telework programs in the most efficient way possible,� said Cindy Auten, general manager, Telework Exchange. “As the number of teleworkers and mobile workers increases over the next couple of years, it is imperative agencies invest in technology that supports the changing workforce.�

And it’s also imperative that business centers invest. Federal workers must be assured that they can do business from your serviced office space securely. With the rising population of remote federal workers who need a place to land while traveling or need a meeting room in which to conduct business, savvy business centers are taking measured steps to bolster the security of their technology infrastructures now. It may be time to consult with a security specialist who can help you prepare for opportunities on the federal worker front.

What’s better for your business center? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or pay-per-click ads? Where will you get the bigger bang for your buck?

Based on a new survey from Social Media Examiner, you may be better off with SEO. In case you aren’t familiar with SEO, it’s the process if improving the visibility of a website in search engines via natural (also called organic or unpaid) means. By contrast, pay-per-click, or PPC, ads are just as you would expect: paid.

Although SEO isn’t always free—you can pay firms pretty pennies (and nickels, and dimes and even thousands of dollars)—you can accomplish a certain level of SEO yourself if you are willing to invest some time in keyword research and updating your website appropriately. And that might be all it takes.

Of course, you might also opt for e-mail marketing. Or you could invest in social media efforts galore. But what is more effective? Social Media Examiner’s fourth annual survey listed SEO right behind e-mail marketing. Paid search, or PPC, was sixth on the list. I think for business centers, SEO may be the most effective online marketing strategy of all.

It seems many social media marketers agree on the value of SEO. In total, 65 percent of social media marketers said they used SEO compared to only 38 percent who use paid search. That should tell you something, business center marketer. It appears that the experts believe you get a higher return on investment for SEO than paid search.

According to the survey, 68 percent of respondents plan to increase their SEO efforts. And another telling stat indicates that only nine percent say they have no plans to use SEO. So now the question is: Are you using SEO? Have you search engine optimized your business center Web site? Are your competitors using SEO? If they are and you aren’t, you are likely missing out on tons of free Internet leads.

SEO is ideal for location-based operations like business centers because you can target based on your city. For example, if your business center is in New York, you’d want to use words like “New York executive office suites� in your meta tags and content. If you are in an area with heavy competition for business centers, SEO could mean the difference between winning and losing the opportunity to sign up new tenants.

If you have any questions about who can provide your business center with knowledgeable SEO or PPC services, please contact an ABCN representative at 800.869.9595.

Zach Douglas – joint MD of successful serviced office company Orega – hasn’t always been in the commercial property industry. Prior to setting up the business centre establishment with fellow MD Paul Finch, Zach worked for his father’s boat-building firm. Now, having survived the dot com crash and emerged from the worst global recession since WWII, Orega is a successful multi-million pound company with 10 locations and counting. Officing Today talks shop with Zach to find out what makes Orega ship-shape.

Although its consistent growth might have you believe otherwise, Orega hasn’t always been a thriving enterprise. Zach and Paul narrowly missed bankruptcy when they started the company back in 2000. But 12 years later, having expanded their popular Manchester and Birmingham centres and added a new location in Hammersmith, it’s a different story. So what’s their secret?

“Positive service delivery and a clear understanding of what larger corporates need,” says Zach, explaining that it’s all about good relationships, support, and reducing the hassle and down-time associated with the move-in process. “It has enabled Orega to differentiate its offer from its competitors,” he says.

This rock-solid approach has helped steer the company through economic instability and place it in a strong position for the future. And despite the UK’s return to recession, Zach is reassuringly positive about Orega’s standpoint as well as the business centre industry as a whole.

“Because of our unique partnership operating model, Orega is more likely to accelerate its current expansion plans as more property stakeholders find themselves needing to react to a softening conventional property market with new and creative marketing strategies,” he says.

And when asked if the serviced industry is holding its own in this difficult economy? “Most definitely. We have become an increasingly relevant and important part of the property market. Our credibility as an industry has increased and our offering is becoming a part of all forward-thinking organisations’ property strategies.”

Zach explains that this is also down to the supportive and short-term nature of the business centre model. “There is no doubt that tough economic times support the requirement for our industry to provide short to medium-term space to occupiers,” he says, “especially those who are operating against an uncertain background and are themselves working under flexible contracts to their customers.”

As part of their drive to support their clients and stay flexible, in August last year, Orega offered businesses in Staines a new part-time office scheme. While this may complement the mobile technology boom and new, more ‘nomadic’ working behaviours, Zach says that they are actually seeing demand for more stability, with longer initial terms and regular break options.

Furthermore, they have remained relatively untouched by the developments in mobile technology. “Interestingly enough, people are still using their landlines,” says Zach. “But we are seeing an increasing requirement to support cloud-based technologies and the integration of mobile technology into our IT and telephony packages.”

Next Week: Part Two of Officing Today’s interview with Zach Douglas discusses what’s next for Orega, and how business is heating up with the arrival of the Olympic Games.

Every business center should work to be a good corporate citizen. 

Avanta is showing the serviced office space industry how its done with strong corporate support for a children’s medical center charity.

Indeed, Avanta has reconfirmed its support for Sparks, announcing it will donate

£1 for every meeting room reservation for 10 delegates or more at any of its 18 United Kingdom business centers in 2012.

“We take our commitment to the environment and our corporate social responsibility very seriously,” says Geraint Evans, Avanta’s sales & marketing director. “In recent years, we have held events to raise both funds and awareness of Sparks, but this year we have decided to do something a little different.”

Avanta has supported Sparks for the past six years, to be exact. But through this new initiative the business center hopes to raise more than £6,500 by the end of 2012. So far, Avanta seems to be on track to reach that target.

“Our meeting rooms are proving extremely popular with bookings increasing 20 percent year on year,” Evans says. “So, by donating this amount to Sparks we are hopefully spreading the word about the great work they do, and the benefits they provide, to a much wider audience.”

Sparks is a leading children’s medical research charity dedicated to funding and championing pioneering research into a range of conditions affecting babies, children and pregnant mothers. Sparks aims to improve the quality of life for children and families affected by serious illness or disability now, while seeking ways to better diagnose, treat and prevent these conditions in the future.

“Avanta has been a loyal and valuable supporter of our work for a number of years,” says Faye Matthews, head of Corporate Partnerships at Sparks. “Sadly, in the UK, 1 in 30 babies are born with a medical condition which may affect them for life. Our goal is for every child to be born healthy and stay healthy and the wonderful funds raised by Avanta will help us to continue our pioneering medical research and enable us to touch the lives of those children who need our help.”

Avanta is modeling the way. Has your business center selected a charity you can get behind—and get involved with? It’s not always necessary to donate money. Volunteering for service projects in your community can also be helpful to charitable organizations.

Despite having its critics, the US government’s new JOBS Act or ‘startup bill’, which has been pushed through and recently signed by President Barack Obama, is expected to spur small business growth and generate a wave of new startups across the US. The White House say that “helping startups and small businesses succeed and create jobs is fundamental to having an economy built to last,� and some economists have projected an increase in startups of 10% over the next five years.

A rise in small businesses is great news for the economy – and who knows, some of these new businesses could go on to be the next Microsoft or General Motors. But before they get their hands on that walnut desk, the penthouse apartment or their first supercar, these businesses have to start somewhere – and what better place than a virtual office?

With a fledgling business, funds are often tight and investors don’t want to see you splashing the cash in a fancy office or paying over the odds on unnecessary overheads. So as the first step to setting up the right image for your business, a virtual office can be just the ticket to help get your plans off the ground. The live receptionist services offered by Alliance Virtual Offices provides a professional front for your business and also saves precious time by screening calls and taking messages on your behalf.

In addition, virtual offices come with many other services such as on-demand offices and meeting rooms, mail handling and a professional business address from dozens of buildings all over the world. This address can be used on your business cards and as a location to receive mail – giving your business the edge and reassuring your customers that they’re dealing with a professional organisation. At the same time you’ll save significant amounts of money on the costs of a full-time office which, for those first few months of a new business, is a welcome relief.

So wherever you choose to work – whether it’s from home, a shared office or a local café – your business can still look every bit the strong and reputable brand you are building, without costing the earth.

They defy the traditional office, can work (almost) anywhere and have an enviable ability to take their work with them wherever they go. ‘Digital nomads’ are resourceful professionals who take full advantage of wireless and mobile technology to satisfy their thirst for movement and travel, earning money and progressing their career while they do it.

Digital nomads don’t need an office; instead they take their cell phones, tablets and laptops to a café, hotel lobby, bar or Wi-Fi hotspot and get on with their work in a different location every day. It’s an attractive lifestyle that’s only becoming easier thanks to the advance of mobile technology, encouraging growing numbers of professionals to hit the road and embark on a remote working arrangement.

It’s no surprise then that the digital nomad lifestyle goes hand in hand with a virtual office. Let’s face it, if you’re of no fixed abode and your only contact is by cell or email, new clients will probably run a mile. There are times when you need to receive a parcel, divert calls, or just work in a quiet office for the day. And while working out of a café might seem like fun, sometimes you need a more conventional place to meet a client that doesn’t involve competing against the clatter of coffee cups.

So how do you make it work? As ever, the solution is a simple one. Alliance Virtual Offices provides the answer by offering a real business address complete with offices and meeting rooms, but without tying you to a location. It gives you an address on your email footer, a friendly receptionist to receive calls, mail handling, meeting rooms – even a temporary day office if you fancy it.

In short, virtual offices are designed to complement the working style of mobile professionals and to provide the right support, technology or location when it’s needed. There are no lengthy contracts and you just take what you need. Choose the right level of support for your business – from telephone answering and call forwarding to a full virtual office location – and suddenly your business looks a lot more professional.