This Week In Coworking

Hector Kolonas
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Quick recaps and deep-dives from the popular ThisWeekInCoworking.com email newsletters

  1. Doors, data and dollars with Lee Odess

    1 DAY AGO

    Doors, data and dollars with Lee Odess

    Access Control M&A, Cloud Risk, and AI: What Coworking Operators Need to Know (with Leo Odess) Host Hector Kolonas interviews Leo Odess, an access industry expert and CEO of the Access Collective, about how changes in physical security affect coworking operators. Odess explains the Access Collective’s content, community, and consulting work and why security is becoming a utility tied to experience and hospitality. Full show notes at https://TWIC.co/access They discuss concerns about cloud-dependent access systems failing, then unpack why mergers and acquisitions are accelerating, driven by capital markets, SaaS models, and shifting expectations beyond “keeping bad people out.” Using the Brivo and Eagle Eye Networks combination as an example, Odess describes the convergence of access and video around data and enterprise software. They cover legacy vs modern data architectures, retrofit opportunities, wireless locks, standards, sensors and biometrics, and AI’s risks and benefits, including easier configuration and more personalized, seamless building access. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:41 What Access Collective Does 02:00 Who It Helps and Why 02:55 Security as Hospitality 04:07 Cloud Risks and M&A Surge 04:55 Why M&A Is Happening 07:49 Brivo and Eagle Eye Merge 09:24 Access Control Data Landscape 12:08 What’s Next for Coworking 17:28 Stack Choices Platform vs Modular 20:09 Sensors and Biometrics Trends 23:42 AI Risks and Safeguards 25:38 AI-Powered Access Experiences 29:09 Wrap Up and Thanks

    30 min
  2. Coworking News Week 13 (2026): Convene’s $230M, Community as a Differentiator, and Ad Spend Risks

    4 DAYS AGO

    Coworking News Week 13 (2026): Convene’s $230M, Community as a Differentiator, and Ad Spend Risks

    Coworking News Week 13 (2026): Convene’s $230M Raise, Community as a Differentiator, and AI Search Ad Spend RisksHost Hector Kolonas is joined by Warren Hersowitz of Yardi to discuss Week 13 of the 2026 This Week in Coworking newsletter. Follow along at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-13-2026/ Warren shares his background and explains Yardi Kube Start, a simplified, affordable flat-fee version of Yardi Kube built for single-site operators with an upgrade path as they grow. They unpack Convene Hospitality Group’s $230M raise as a sign that private equity is returning to coworking/flex and that standardized industry terminology and clearer unit economics are improving financing prospects. They discuss Cat Johnson’s “coworking is contagious,” emphasizing community and staff experience as key differentiators as design becomes commoditized, plus the need to support community teams. They warn about wasted ad spend from searches like “cowork” due to Anthropic’s Claude Cowork, and explore AI-driven search/AEO, Google Maps discovery, reviews/Reddit visibility, and emerging self-service and agentic booking risks. Warren also previews attending GCUC NYC and The GWA Immersive in Toronto.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:36 Warren’s Background and Day-to-Day02:03 What Is Yardi Kube Start06:34 Convene Raises $230M09:23 Coworking as an Umbrella Term11:37 Coworking Is Contagious15:14 Community as the Differentiator18:43 Ad Spend and Claude Cowork19:49 Search Is Changing AEO and Maps22:07 Self-Service and Trust in AI Bookings26:27 Where to Find Warren Next

    28 min
  3. Week 12: Coworking Growth, Gen Z Gym Workspaces & the Risk of “Ensh*ttification” (w/ Flexspace AI CMO David Song)

    20 MAR

    Week 12: Coworking Growth, Gen Z Gym Workspaces & the Risk of “Ensh*ttification” (w/ Flexspace AI CMO David Song)

    Coworking Growth, Gen Z Gym Workspaces & the Risk of “Ensh*ttification” (w/ Flexspace AI CMO David Song)Host Hector Kolonas is joined by David Song, CMO of Flexspace AI, to discuss week 12 of 2026 coworking headlines and trends. David introduces Flexspace AI as an AI-first revenue management platform focused on dynamic pricing and remarketing/automation to help operators optimize revenue and marketing. They review Yardi Kube data showing the US coworking market grew 15% year over year, added 609 new operators, reached about 22.5 million square feet, and now represents 2.2% of the office market, with notable growth in suburban and secondary markets; they also cite franchisor results from Vast. They explore reports of Gen Z founders working from a Flatiron gym and what that implies about amenities, behavior, and seamless access across a “web” of workspaces. Finally, they discuss the Norwegian Consumer Council’s “ensh*ttification” concept and how operators can avoid nickel-and-diming by using better revenue management, branding, and technology.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:57 What Flexspace AI Does01:43 AI Marketing for Operators03:17 This Week Topics Overview03:50 US Coworking Growth Data05:02 Why Flex Is Accelerating08:49 Gen Z Working From Gyms10:31 Amenities and New Work Behaviors15:39 Ecosystem of Workspaces17:13 Enshittification in Coworking18:50 Revenue Management as the Fix24:16 Wrap Up and Where to Connect

    27 min
  4. Week 11, 2026 in Coworking: Websites, Revenue, Emails, Hotels and... Walking?

    13 MAR

    Week 11, 2026 in Coworking: Websites, Revenue, Emails, Hotels and... Walking?

    Turning Coworking Websites into Revenue Engines (Week 11, 2026) with Rado EnchevHost Hector Kolonas welcomes OfficeRnD’s Rado Enchev back as co-host for Week 11, 2026, covering a packed set of coworking topics. They preview OfficeRnD’s March 26 (11:00 AM ET) webinar on turning a website into a top revenue channel, focused on converting design, measuring marketing ROI, and maximizing revenue from existing inventory with e-commerce tools. The conversation then explores email as both a marketing and re-engagement channel, including abandoned checkout recovery and ways to increase value without defaulting to discounts. They discuss walking as a productivity and wellness benefit, highlighted by Alkaloid Networks’ location on Atlanta’s BeltLine and the appeal of walkability and free parking. Finally, they examine whether coworking is truly like hotels, emphasizing community-led value and the greater product complexity of coworking versus hotel rooms.00:00 Welcome Back and Agenda01:12 Webinar Turning Websites Into Revenue03:18 Webinar Takeaways and Details05:19 Events and Email Reengagement08:47 Abandoned Checkout Email Tactics11:52 Walking as a Productivity Perk14:16 Promoting Walkability and Wellness16:45 Are Coworking Spaces Like Hotels17:35 Community vs Transactional Hospitality22:37 Wrap Up and Webinar Reminder

    23 min
  5. Behind the news: Vast, PE, and what's next, with Jason Anderson

    9 MAR

    Behind the news: Vast, PE, and what's next, with Jason Anderson

    Vast Coworking’s Private Equity Carve-Out: What It Means for Growth, Consolidation & Coworking 4.0 Host Hector Kolonas interviews Jason Anderson about major news at Vast Coworking Group: after years of planning, Vast is being carved out from United Franchise Group and backed by New State Capital Partners, with Anderson’s team staying in place and UFG continuing to provide some transition services. More links, context, and show notes at https://TWIC.co/vastpe Anderson explains the rationale for private equity—its need for resources to compete with players like Regus, Industrious (CBRE-backed), and WeWork (Yardi-backed)—and frames market timing through his “Coworking 1.0–4.0” view, culminating in enterprise “flex-first” adoption after the pandemic. They discuss Vast’s growth to about 215 locations, how new resources will strengthen branding, marketing, and staffing rather than fund a single immediate spend, and why further consolidation is likely, including acquisitions and conversions of independent operators into Vast brands while keeping Vast focused on franchising rather than corporate-owned locations. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:44 Vast Origin Story 02:00 Why Private Equity Now 04:41 Coworking 4.0 Explained 10:08 Big Money Signals 15:54 Deal Terms and Use 20:03 Consolidation Plans 22:56 Landlord Solutions 25:44 Franchise or Corporate 26:05 Conversions and Resales 30:24 Wrap Up and Thanks

    31 min
  6. Week 10 in Coworking: Virtual Office Revenue, Systems & Tech Debt, and Industry Deals

    6 MAR

    Week 10 in Coworking: Virtual Office Revenue, Systems & Tech Debt, and Industry Deals

    Virtual Office Revenue, Systems & Tech Debt, and Coworking Industry Deal Flow | This Week in Coworking (Week 10)Hector Kolonas and co-host Juan Hilario recap a busy Week 10 in coworking, including takeaways from GWA Immersive in Dallas and why operators say virtual offices are critical to profitability. Juan explains how Alliance Virtual Offices drives partner revenue (targeting $2,000–$3,000/month by month 12, varying by market), handles sales, compliance, support, and adds meeting room/day pass bookings via an app with real-time calendar integrations through Syncaroo (Yardi, Nexudus, OfficeRnD). They discuss operational guidance from Andrew Runnette on reducing overreliance on always-on staff through documentation and escalation rules, plus Juan’s leadership tip to have teams propose solutions. Jana Greer’s tech lessons cover adoption time, avoiding over-customization, scaling with a plan, and building MVPs to reduce technical debt. Industry news includes private equity moves around Vast/United Franchise Group and essensys, franchise expansion by the Priddys in Dallas/Plano, an Austria merger (your office and Vision Decision), Blackstone’s investment in a London members club, 25N’s Dallas expansion, and APAC updates from YoCo, JustCo, and WOTSO.00:00 Welcome From Dallas00:49 Week 10 Agenda01:38 Alliance Virtual Offices Sponsor02:14 Virtual Office Revenue Math05:36 App Booking And Integrations07:58 GWA Immersive Takeaways09:12 Breaking People Dependence14:54 Tech Pitfalls And MVPs20:11 Vast Deal And Private Equity24:52 Expansions And Global Moves25:58 Events And Wrap Up

    27 min
  7. CSI's 23-year coworking journey with Tonya Surman

    4 MAR

    CSI's 23-year coworking journey with Tonya Surman

    Host Hector Kolonas interviews Tonya Surman about founding the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) in Toronto in 2004 as a shared space for small nonprofits before the term “coworking” existed, initially offering shared resources and “virtual tenancy.” Surman recounts CSI’s growth from 14 organizations to hundreds across multiple locations, including buying a 36,000-square-foot building in 2010 using a city loan guarantee and community bonds. More links and details in the show notes at https://twic.co/23yearsShe discusses tensions around credit for coworking’s origins, emphasizing CSI’s mission of social impact and relationship-building over branding. Surman details CSI’s financial challenges—rapid expansion, never fully breaking even, COVID member losses, rising interest rates, and selling a building to the City of Toronto for an Indigenous homeless shelter—leading to consolidation, community-financed debt, and finally reaching profitability. She argues coworking’s enduring value is belonging and relationships, warning that scaling can undermine humanity.Chapters00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:45 CSI Origins in 200404:28 From Shared Space to Growth06:53 Who Gets Credit for Coworking10:40 What Changed and What Stayed True13:53 Niches and Transactional Spaces16:44 CSI Financial Rollercoaster24:12 Finding the Sweet Spot27:34 Future of Coworking29:53 Closing Thanks

    30 min
  8. Week 9 In Coworking ft Kyle Chang: Tech stacks, Fractional Execs & Community

    26 FEB

    Week 9 In Coworking ft Kyle Chang: Tech stacks, Fractional Execs & Community

    In week nine of 2026, host Hector Kolonas is joined by guest co-host Kyle Chang of Yardi⁩ to discuss why coworking operators may benefit from consolidating fragmented tech stacks into an all-in-one platform like Yardi Kube, including Yardi’s client-driven approach, modular configuration, open APIs, and integrations such as HubSpot and Zapier, plus licensing and implementation pricing without e-commerce commissions. They address concerns about doing “too many things,” citing efforts to be best-in-class and examples such as Tishman Speyer and Bond Collective. The episode also covers industry news and ideas from the newsletter: Andrew Runnette’s argument for fixing bottlenecks with operating architecture and fractional executives, growth data notes, Sophia Stolberg’s reflections on intentional community-building, and debate over hot desking’s continuing role. They close with updates on SpaceFlow and GathrOS, and invite listeners to GCUC New York and a TWIC meetup.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:52 Meet Kyle at Yardi01:34 Why All-in-One Tech04:56 Integrations and APIs06:50 Pricing and Licensing08:04 Doing Many Things Well10:56 Fractional Execs Debate15:45 Community and Vibe18:12 Hot Desking Still Matters22:02 Tech Updates and Wrap Up

    24 min
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About

Quick recaps and deep-dives from the popular ThisWeekInCoworking.com email newsletters

Information

  • Creator
    Hector Kolonas
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hector Kolonas
  • Show Website
    This Week In Coworking

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