Travelling for business often means living out of a suitcase and not having an office to work out of. With limitations on hotel WiFi, small desk spaces and the distraction of television, working from your hotel room can be difficult, so why not consider hiring a desk for a day?
Coworking spaces are a growing trend for entrepreneurs, creatives, corporate travellers and startups. For business travellers, coworking spaces can provide the feel and atmosphere that your office normally would, saving you from having to rely on hotel or cafe wifi to get important work done between meetings. If you’re heading to Brisbane for a work trip soon and are hoping to maximise productivity in your down time, Brisbane has a collection of great coworking spaces for individual work as well as boardrooms for any meetings you need to host while you’re away.
1. Gravity
140 Creek Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000
If you find yourself in the heart of the Brisbane CBD for your business travel, consider visiting Gravity. Gravity has a number of features suitable for business purposes – the high speed internet connection and video conferencing boardrooms allow you to host client meetings, as well as check in with colleagues back home. There are also private booths for individual working as well as an on-site restaurant, bar and cafe.
Gravity offers different memberships depending on your business needs. A casual membership allows you to drop in at anytime and only pay for the day that you use the space, suitable for travellers visiting Brisbane for business on one-off occasions. If you travel to Brisbane for business often, a part-time membership might be more ideal. A part-time membership allows you to use the space for up to three days per week. Gravity also have coworking spaces in Sydney and Melbourne (details on their website).
2. The Thought Fort
Suite 4, Level 1, 72A Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
The Thought Fort has a more relaxed atmosphere if you prefer a home office feel. The friendly, open-plan layout and balcony chill-out area make this a social space so may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who are more private workers. However, it features a number of great facilities including printing services, wireless broadband and a kitchen. It also has a private room for client meetings.
The cost of hiring The Thought For for a day is $50 and is open from 9am to 6pm. If you are visiting Brisbane for up to a week, weekly access will cost you $150. You can also choose to rent for a month for $395. However, note that all tenants are able to use the meeting room to take phone calls, but only monthly tenants are able to utilise it for meetings.
3. Space&Co
Level 15, 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Space&Co on Eagle Street has all the facilities of a great office including high speed WiFi, meeting rooms, a kitchen, bathroom, printers and lockers. It also has an edge of luxury with an internal cafe, showers, hair dryers, and GHD straighteners – so if you exercise in the morning, you can freshen up at Space&Co before starting your work day. Its central location in Brisbane also means you have access to cafes, bars, and shops within walking distance.
A day pass gives you access to open plan desks, the eight private offices and a 30 member team area. For just $45 per day, it’s one of the best deals for coworking spaces in Brisbane. If you need the space for more than a day, flexible or fixed passes are also available at different rates depending on your needs.
4. River City Labs
Level 2, 282 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4000
The benefit of a membership with this space is that you have access to mentoring and networking events as well access to the space itself. River City Labs offer a range of different membership passes to suit your needs. A daily drop in pass for $30 gives you access to the desks and meeting rooms, internet connection and for $50 per hour you can hire a boardroom. If you need the space for longer, a causal membership gives you the same benefits as a day pass for only $100 per month.
5. Lightspace
30 Light Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD 4006
If you believe in a healthy work-life balance, Lightspace is perfect for you. The funky warehouse has a garden entrance, eight metre high ceilings and shipping containers converted into meeting rooms. The roof terrace boasts picturesque city views and there are resident puppies for you to play with on your breaks. A permanent desk space here costs $525 per month so is ideal for business travellers that visit Brisbane regularly.
5. Prospect Studios
52 Prospect St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Located within a beautifully converted warehouse, Prospect Studios is the perfect place to meet, work and create. A desk will set you back $45 for the day, and includes access to fibre optic internet, meeting areas, and a meeting room with a smart tv and whiteboard. The space welcoming, dog-friendly and filled with cosy nooks and corners to zone-out, as well as a designer kitchen for open use. Permanent desks – which include have ergonomic chairs, lockable office caddies and swipe card access – are available for $385 per month , whilst unlimited hot desk hire can also be billed on a monthly basis at $145 per month.
6. Salt House
Level 1, 888 Brunswick Street, New Farm, Queensland 4005
Salt House is located in a beautifully preserved heritage building in New Farm, with high ceilings, open-plan workspaces and a social alfresco area. Hiring a hot desk is $30 per day, or $100 for five visits over a twelve month period, so if you’re in Brisbane frequently, this kind of deal is will suit you. A hot desk pass grants you a desk and chair in the open-plan studio, high speed internet access as well as a kitchen and bathroom. You can also hire monitors for $5 per day so you don’t have to be hunched over a laptop all day.
Find a coworking space for you
With so many coworking spaces dotted across Brisbane, you’ll never be short of options if you need a desk for a day or two. Depending on where your accommodation is, what your working preferences are, your budget, and if you need access to boardrooms for client meetings, you’ll be able to find the right space at the right cost.