These smart hotels in Southeast Asia are creative hotspots with co-working spaces and cool, intuitive features
The face of business travel has changed and that’s of the ‘digital nomad’. Unbound by location and nine-to-five hours, they work online and can work from anywhere with Wifi. The hospitality industry has been quick to jump on the bandwagon, with new hotels popping up with a spate of new features for the younger, creative crowd – think intuitive sleep features, co-working spaces and even cryptocurrency methods of payment. Ahead, we’ve listed some of the thriving hotels for digital nomads in the region.
Outpost Cambodia
Outpost Cambodia is a hotel for “digital nomads” personified. It’s more than just a hotel – it’s a coworking and coliving space for creative nomads. The luxe penthouse suites come with all the bits and bobs you need for a comfortable stay, including premium beds and Zen zones. It even comes with communal spaces for you to unwind, including a large, leafy library, as well as a meditation room. Rooms aside, Outpost is home to a co-working space, with multiple workspaces, balconies, skype booths, conference rooms as well as spacious desks. The only catch? It only pops up six months in a year at The Green Penthouse. Outpost Cambodia, Yellow Tower, 191 Tonle Sap Street, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tribe Theory
Tucked away in a shophouse in Ann Siang Road is Tribe Theory: an entrepreneur-only hotel that’s made up of capsule beds in a shared dorm room much like a hostel. Though small in size, its enormously tech. Case in point? You can pay for your amenities in cryptocurrency. When you’re not engaged in rapid fire discussions with other like-minded entrepreneurs, you’re free to work at the co-working spaces on the top floor or attend the networking events recommended by the hotel.
Tribe Theory, 39 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069716
Aloft Jakarta
Designed for the jetsetter, Aloft Jakarta is a next level smart hotel. Let’s talk about its loft-inspired rooms first. You don’t need a room card to enter your room; the hotel runs on the SPG keyless system to unlock your door in an instant. When you arrive, you’ll receive a text with your room number — cutting short your check-in line and taking you straight to your room. Like other hotels of the future, guests at Aloft are served by Botlr the resident robot whom you can engage with through you smartphone.
Aloft Jakarta, Jalan KH. Wahid Hasyim No.92, RT.14/RW.3, Kb. Sirih, Menteng, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
The Continent Hotel Bangkok
Located in swanky Sukhumvit is The Continental Hotel Bangkok: a 35-storey a five-star boutique hotel. It’s got all you need for a work-trip-slash-vacay: a rooftop bar for you to knock back tipples after a hard day’s work, a gym and pool, and comfy rooms kitted out with the finest amenities. But what really takes the cake are its two co-working spaces. Its inhouse bar, Axis & Spin, and restaurant SME, turns into comfy, luxurious areas for you to bash out your pitches and proposals with fast-speed WIFI and gorgeous views of the skyline.
The Continental Hotel Bangkok, 413 Sukhumvit Road, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, กรุงเทพมหานคร 10110, Thailand
Roam
Unsurprisingly, the Island of the Gods is a thriving haven for digital nomads. And while Ubud is best known for its untouched landscapes promising hours of yoga, reflection and learning mindfulness, it’s also a buzzy tech hub for globetrotters world over. Roam in Ubud caters to this crowd. You, and your laptop, are invited to spend your days with high-speed wifi in the rooftop co-working space while taking yoga breaks. The flat fee you pay for membership doesn’t just give you access to one locale, but all of its spaces around the world including Kyoto and Miami.
Roam, Jalan Raya Penestanan Kelod, Ubud, Sayan, Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Yotel Singapore
Inspired by first-class travel, Yotel is undeniably one of Singapore’s smartest hotels. At just a touch of a button, you’re able to adjust the compact cabin room’s Smartbeds (which by the way, comes with a top-of-the-line Serta mattress). Want to catch up on your fave Netflix TV show? Connect your device to stream your fave shows and movies. Need to catch up on work? The Club Lounge offers co-working spaces for casual business lunches and meetings. As for room service, you’ll be served by robots Yoshi and Yoland who are brilliantly engineered to move, speak and store amenities.
Yotel Singapore, 366 Orchard Road, Singapore 238904
Conrad Manila
Conrad Manila puts the “smart” in smart hotel. Designed to anticipate your arrival, the intuitive rooms are automated to go from energy saving mode into turning on your air conditioning, opening your curtains and setting the mood lighting. All your devices can even be connected via Bluetooth for your streaming needs.
Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard, Coral Way, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines
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