We recently connected with David Adato and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, David thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The biggest industry trend I’m seeing is fast-paced growth. We’re receiving calls and inquiries daily about our shared office space and co-working environments that cater to small business owners and entrepreneurs. We’re also responding to our clients’ growing desire for flexibility. Our members want to know that they can expand or reduce their space and services as their companies grow and scale. Since the pandemic, businesses have pivoted and learned that employees can be as productive working in remote or hybrid settings than ever before. And many enjoy a more flexible work environment; a survey from Salesforce reported that 64% of workers prefer a hybrid scenario. At Downtown Works, we believe that by 2030, 30% of all offices will be flexible offices.

We also see more people choosing to work closer to home as suburbs become the new power centers. People are opting for flex workspaces to avoid long commutes, and still have access to meetings rooms, AV, video studios and more. Another trend we are seeing is an increase in team and collaboration spaces such as meeting rooms and training rooms. Many companies are looking for in-person meetings but not ready for an office environment just yet. Downtown Works is responding to this trend by offering more flexibility and price structuring that better meets the needs of companies interested in these spaces.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that, can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

When we opened our first location in 2016, I initially worked as a consultant, assisting with special projects. Over time, my role expanded, and soon I was managing all of our IT, operations, and assisting with the expansion of our second location. Today, I am now Operations Manager for all three Downtown Works locations in San Diego County, and I really love what I do. One of my favorite things to do is to find way new ways to enhance and improve our systems. I’m always looking at ways to keep learning and step out of my comfort zone in order to challenge myself and I find I’m often working seven days a week.

Downtown Works was started by entrepreneurs committed to creating contemporary, hospitality-inspired, tech-rich spaces to support success of high-achieving professionals and entrepreneurs. It’s also a great solution for those who want to be in a friendly, creative and stimulating co-working environment. I like to think of it as a flexible workspace that not only brings people together to foster brilliant ideas, but increases work/life balance.

One of the services that sets us apart is our new Flex+ program. It allows members the flexibility and ability to rotate an almost unlimited number of individuals within single or multiple offices without penalties or added fees. I have found that our attention to detail, all the added values and benefits we provide while keeping costs in check is what makes us so popular. We not only offer a lot of flexibility, but provide a sense of community while offering highly personalized customer service. Our staff is very interactive and really cares. It’s the little things, like greeting you by name, which enhance your day and provide a home-like environment. Everything we do is to help our members be as successful as possible.

Another way we accomplish this is by helping people make connections and creating an environment for sharing and interaction. We’ll often introduce members to each other and help them create mutually beneficial relationships. We even host a happy hour once a month to get people mingling and getting to know each other better. We have a strong dedication to our guests and members, and we get to know them personally and learn how we can best help them.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Before the pandemic, our occupancy was at an all-time high and we were set to reach record numbers. As the pandemic worsened, we were facing cancellations, non-payments and reduced revenues. Since we own the buildings we operate in, we were luckier than most, but we were still in a recovery mode. The pandemic forced us to rethink our business model and identify new ways to encourage people to come back. We lowered our prices to stay competitive, became more flexible with our terms and really focused on offering a highly personal customer service experience. By July of 2021, just about nine months after opening, our Carlsbad location was at 100% occupancy. In the last few months, we have seen the demand for conference room space nearly triple from what we did in the last two years combined. It’s definitely an exciting time to be in this industry as the flexible workspace market continues to expand and grow. This year, we are on track to have our best year yet, even compared to pre-pandemic levels.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

At Downtown Works, we find that the best source of new clients for us has been from word-of-mouth. We also take pride in receiving positive reviews and have an interesting mix of impressive Google and Yelp reviews (190 and counting with five stars), effective Google ad responses and Instagram tags. We have a limited advertising and marketing budget, but we find that once people call us for more information, or take a tour and interact with our friendly staff, the feedback is always very positive. Another avenue we take is partnering with local businesses, etc. We have solid partnerships with organizations like Startup SD, Wonderfront Festival and others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.downtownworks.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downtownworks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidadato/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/downtownworks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1PtysbhKEk0bo87v-if0Ug