Hotels today are no longer defined by four walls and a check-in counter. The modern guest seeks purpose, community, and flexibility, prompting the hospitality industry to evolve. Sanjeev Nanda, a globally recognized hospitality entrepreneur, sees this evolution not as a trend but a strategic transformation. “Hospitality today is less about service at your doorstep and more about shaping the environment guests want to live and work in,” he shares.
Understanding Hybrid Hospitality
Hybrid hospitality combines various functional elements – accommodation, co-working spaces, cultural venues, and wellness hubs, under one roof. Lobbies now double as collaborative lounges, rooftops host yoga in the morning and events by night, and rooms are designed for both rest and productivity.
Nanda explains, “When you invite people to do more than just sleep in your space, when they can co-create, collaborate, and connect, that’s when you build loyalty.”
Why It Works
Post-pandemic, flexibility has become a standard expectation. With remote work, digital nomadism, and creative entrepreneurship on the rise, hotels must meet these changing needs. Sanjeev Nanda believes hybrid spaces offer emotional and functional relevance. “We are designing for a generation that values freedom, creativity, and experience over formality. If your hotel can offer that, you will stay relevant.”
His properties showcase this versatility, where boardrooms morph into art spaces and lounges into temporary co-working zones. “Every square foot has the potential to serve multiple moods and moments. Designing for versatility is designing for longevity.”
Examples in Practice
Across the globe, hybrid hotels are gaining popularity. Zoku in Amsterdam merges home, office, and hotel into one. In India, Social Offline seamlessly fuses workspaces and nightlife. The Fern in Mumbai caters to both business and leisure travellers with smart infrastructure like high-speed internet, ergonomic furniture, and rooftop wellness zones.
Some offer curated long-stay packages with flexible check-ins, event access, and dining credits. Others invite local artists, host community events, or transform underused areas into activation points for guest engagement.
“Hotels should no longer think of themselves as shelters, but as living organisms within the city. You are not just renting rooms; you are curating experiences,” says Nanda.
Looking Ahead
Hybrid hospitality isn’t a buzzword, it’s the blueprint for future-ready hotels. Nanda foresees a future where hospitality blurs the boundaries between guests and locals, business and leisure, culture and commerce.
“The future of hospitality lies in the intersections, between work and rest, between guests and community. That is where real value is created.”