CoWorkation Alps

Julia Scharting: The world of work is undergoing fundamental change due to digitalization and changes in the framework conditions (keywords: flexibility and location independence). The Coworkation Alps association has set itself the goal of actively supporting this change. Since 2018, the association has been working to combine work and vacation. The idea behind it is simple: we try to combine concepts of New Work, such as collaborative working and remote working, with the recreational value of the Alps. In this way, we are also revitalizing rural regions in the Alps and highlighting new opportunities. In 2018, on the initiative of the SMG Miesbach and the Standortagentur Tirol, players in the Alpine region joined forces to raise awareness of the topic of coworking, to network and to create new offers.

Julia Scharting: The association offers very different services for destinations and hosts:

• On the one hand, members can network, exchange ideas and learn from each other in our association. We already have very experienced hosts who pass on their knowledge to newcomers in the coworking sector.
• On the other hand, we also highlight new trends and topics that help with the further development of coworking. During the pandemic, we have tried to raise awareness primarily through online events and also to develop new formats together. This includes, for example, a post-corona workshop series in which we discussed together how corona will affect our offering in the longer term and how we can respond to this as an association and as hosts.
• However, specific advice on coworking concepts can also be requested for specific issues. We have already developed several concepts in the Alpine region for both municipalities and private providers and supported them on the way to implementation.

Julia Scharting: (Co)Workation has the advantage that much of what it needs is already available in Tyrol. I.e. accommodation, leisure facilities and also workplaces, e.g. in coworking spaces. The (co)workation concept is all about combining these offerings into new packages and offering them together. The advantage of this is that guests stay longer in the region, as they can also do some of their work in Tirol. The length of stay can be extended accordingly. In addition, the low season can also be used by coworkationists, i.e. months that may not otherwise be in such high demand. The new "coworkation" offer can also reach other target groups. Coworkationists and companies from metropolitan areas are potential customers that we want to reach.

Julia Scharting: Definitely! You can tell that the pandemic has brought the topic to the attention of the general public. Demand from a wide range of stakeholders has therefore increased significantly. On the one hand, of course, from users who are looking for alternatives to working "at the kitchen table". But municipalities have also increasingly discovered the topic for themselves and are trying to install coworking spaces in the municipalities for the population and guests. And many guests also want to extend their vacation and are therefore increasingly making use of coworking workspaces while on vacation, as our coworking space operators from our network tell us.

Julia Scharting: We are currently developing a seal of approval for coworking locations so that we can offer a uniform standard for coworking spaces. The companies and partner companies can be certified and will then be highlighted in marketing. We are also in the process of conducting a study on coworkationists and their wishes - across the entire Alpine region. This study should show us exactly what coworkationists particularly value and how the offer in the Alpine region can be improved. We will also advise other Tyrolean and Alpine-wide locations and help with the conception of further coworkation locations.

The CoWorkation team: