NYC Freelancers Works from Hotel Bars to Save Money
New York: Many restaurants in the New York City are beginning to harness mobile technologies to become multi-use spaces to boost revenue in their off-hours.
The Hotel Chantelle in New York City is one of them. As a bustling bar and restaurant by night, the hotel has been transformed into a workspace for some of the city's freelancers and entrepreneurs during the day.
It is one of six establishments affiliated with Kett
leSpace, an app that links remote workers with bars and restaurants looking to boost revenue in their off-hours. The freelancers are provided a convenient place to work and the establishments receive a percentage of the membership fees that users pay for the service.
"It's meaningful revenue that requires very little operational effort for them and they see an uptick in food and beverage sales - either that flow directly from our members on site or that they order after hours when the space is turned back into a restaurant,” said Andrew Levy, the co-founder of KettleSpace.
Alex Portera, a writer and video producer, comes here often. He receives unlimited beverages and snacks.
He said it's far superior to setting up shop in a cafe where he said it's hard to get work done.
"I almost never get an outlet, the WiFi is spotty, there's usually music blaring that I don't necessarily like and I also like coffee, but I feel guilty all day long if I'm working there and not buying stuff. So, I end up spending like 15 dollars - like I'm over-caffeinated by the end of the day and I have to buy a sandwich that I don't necessarily want," said Portera.
Levy said membership with KettleSpace costs less than a fifth of what it does at the shared workspace giant, WeWork.
KettleSpace is just one of many new startups to appear on the New York scene that enables bars and restaurants to boost their revenue through alternative sources.
There's also Luluapp. It directs tourists to the nearest available bathroom in participating restaurants and bars. Users pay a fee that'll vary between 99 cents and five dollars. The bars and restaurants get 65 percent of the fee.
Bagbnb finds places for tourists to leave their luggage. It splits the six-dollar fee with its clients.
Hospitality expert Andrew Rigie said technology is helping many establishments stay afloat.
"New York City is an extremely competitive and an extremely expensive place to run a business. So, you really need to make sure that you're running efficiently and you're generating additional revenue," said Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance.
With rising costs for food, rent and labor, Rigie said he expects more restaurants and business to harness mobile technologies to become multi-use spaces.