MyTown, the co-living brand owned by Philippines Urban Living Solutions (PULS) with SM Investments Corporation as majority shareholder, reported that it has boosted its corporate clientele by 70 percent during the pandemic.
In a statement, the firm said this comes as it continued to expand its product offering over the last 18 months since the pandemic started, as corporations increasingly see co-living spaces as essential and safe accommodation.
Hard lockdowns and frequent changes in quarantine levels present both challenges in forecasting business operations as well as constraints in mobility for many employees who commute to their places of work.
Other companies face issues due to the lack of residential connectivity infrastructure that prevent productive work-from-home set-ups.
“The global pandemic has seen corporations embracing worker accommodation as a cornerstone of business continuity plans, employee engagement, and staff health and wellness,” said PULS Co-founder and Group Director Jelmer Ikink.
He added that, “Having an affordable living solution where living, working and playing are available within walking distance has become critical in a world where mobility is heavily constrained.”
MyTown’s key corporate clients were able to implement their Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) by leasing units and office space from MyTown’s portfolio of 18 sites.
“We receive frequent feedback from our clients that we both help their employees keep their work-life balance in check and at the same time increase continuity of business operations,” said MyTown Marketing Head Reigine Banaag.
To cater to its tenants’ changing work needs, MyTown opened its “worklab” spaces 24/7. It is also installing fully fitted out micro-offices for SMEs and other corporate clients, and worked with internet providers to offer faster internet connections so tenants can work efficiently and perform video calls with colleagues, family and friends.
It also rolled out more cashless payment methods through its MyTown mobile app, and shifted from face-to-face to virtual events.