Highlights from CSWC 2024: A Deep Dive into Coworking in Spain and Beyond

Day One: Numbers and Trends in Spanish Coworking

The Coworking Spain Conference 2024 took place in Madrid on May 28th and 29th, and we were thrilled to participate and proudly sponsor it! Four members of our Cobot team, Thilo Utke, Kristina Schneider, Laura Tump, and Denis von Brasche, attended the two-day event hosted at the El Beatriz Auditorium.

Under the motto "All You Need is Flex,” we engaged in talks and networking events with over 200 people from the coworking, coliving, and flex office industry. We've been enjoying and supporting this event for years and consider it one of the best in the coworking industry. The audience was diverse, from coworking space operators to tech developers, and they were all interested in the future of flexible workspaces.

Here's a detailed look at the key takeaways from the first day:

The State of Coworking in Spain

Manuel Zea, a prominent advocate of the coworking philosophy and industry in Spain, kicked off the conference with an insightful presentation on the state of coworking in Spain.

As the founder of CoworkingSpain.es and the organizer of the Spanish Coworking Conference (CWSC), Manuel provided a comprehensive overview of the coworking landscape in Spain. His presentation was grounded on data from 1036 coworking spaces in Spain. This data provided in the session aimed to establish the scene by giving participants a comprehensive overview of the state of play, emerging trends, and issues facing Spain's coworking sector.

Coworking in Spain is growing fast. Key data from CWSC shows its size and trends:

• Number of Spaces: Spain hosts approximately 1036 active coworking spaces, with significant concentrations in Barcelona (265) and Madrid (172), and the rest are spread across cities like Valencia, Malaga, and Sevilla.
• Average Size of a Space:
  • Barcelona: 954-1279 sqm (urban/province)
  • Madrid: 1159-1446 sqm (urban/province)
  • Smaller sizes in other regions
• Total Space: All analyzed spaces total 787,000 sqm, with Madrid and Barcelona accounting for the most significant shares. The number has continuously grown since the beginning of Coworking Spain’s data collection. By far, the largest share is in Madrid and Barcelona.

The Big Players in Spain

Manuel Zea's data also highlighted the major coworking operators in Spain. While international giants like IWG and WeWork lead the market, local success stories like Aticco, Loom, and Utopias are making significant strides :

• Aticco: 13 spaces covering 56,491 m² (average size: 4345 m²)
• IWG: 74 spaces covering 155,000 m² (average size: 2100 m²)
• WeWork: 9 spaces covering 58,500 m² (average size: 6500 m²)

The coworking industry in Spain is valued at 262 million EUR. This significant valuation highlights the growing demand for flexible workspaces. These spaces are essential not only for providing convenience to remote and independent workers but also for fostering a sense of community and collaboration, which are crucial elements driving the industry’s growth.

Ernesto de Olazábal: From Small Beginnings to a $15M Success

Ernesto de Olazábal, Cofounder and CEO of Comunal, shared insights on how he grew his coworking business from a modest 200 square meters space to 30,000 square meters across 18 locations, generating $15 million in annual revenue within ten years.

Initially managing four distinct businesses, Ernesto decided to focus solely on coworking, after recognizing its potential and seeing he can connect it with his passion for direct customer interaction.

Customer and Employee Focus

Ernesto emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong customer experience. While it may seem trivial, he pointed out that daily operations often lose sight of this fundamental principle. He also highlighted the significance of employee experience, noting that his clients, usually companies, highly value a positive work environment for their employees. This focus attracts clients and creates a supportive and productive workplace.

He elaborated on the importance of having happy customers and a happy team, using NPS (Net Promoter Score) and eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score) to measure customer and employee satisfaction. This focus on both customer and employee happiness has been a critical factor in Comunal’s success.

Innovative Practices

Ernesto introduced a day pass system, charging $10 per day pass and operating at three times the capacity. While clients waited for spaces, the cafeterias inside the coworking spaces function as social hubs, strengthening the sense of community.

Moreover, to grow to multiple locations, Ernesto implemented a profit-sharing model, partnering with landlords to ensure mutual benefits and aligned interests. He also benchmarked the coworking industry against the hotel industry, noting that both prioritize service, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. So he made these the 3 focus points of Comunal’s offering.

We released a two-part interview series with Ernesto in the past, which delves deeper into his journey and his success tactics. Check it out on our blog: ‘’Co-creating a better future with Comunal: Expanding to Mexico, Investor Behavior, and Other Uncomfortable Truths Part 1 and Part 2.’’

João Simões: Human-Centered Coworking

João Simões, founder of IDEA Spaces, in Portugal, delivered the most heartfelt and authentic talk of the day, challenging attendees to reflect on what truly makes them happy and how to build genuine relationships that serve human needs. His human-centered approach focuses on prioritizing people, life, relationships, and emotions within coworking environments. In his session, he elaborated more on this approach:

Engaging with Members

João believes that understanding members on a personal level fosters a sense of belonging and leads to a more fulfilling experience. João dedicates 70% of his time to engaging with members, understanding their needs, and facilitating connections. By getting to know each member personally, he helps them connect with others who can benefit from their skills and expertise, making the coworking environment more collaborative and successful.

Building Trust and Community

• João promotes a culture of trust and open communication as the foundation for a strong community. By actively listening to members and understanding their needs, he creates a supportive environment where people feel valued and connected.
• According to him, the human side and personal relationships are what set IDEA Spaces apart and drive its growth and success.

Long-Term Success

• Over his eight years of experience, João has seen firsthand that a human-centered approach leads to sustained growth and success.
• He continually adapts and improves the coworking experience through a human-centric approach, understanding the changing needs of the community members. This focus on the human element ensures that members feel valued and supported, which is crucial for retaining and attracting new members.

João's heartfelt dedication to creating a human-centered coworking space is the secret to IDEA Spaces' success. By prioritizing genuine relationships and a supportive community, he sets IDEA Spaces apart, showing how focusing on people can drive both personal fulfillment and business growth.

Salvador Aguilar Orquin: The CBRE Data

Salvador Aguilar Orquin from CBRE reiterated the provided data on flex office spaces, noting high occupancy rates in Madrid and Barcelona. He discussed the changing patterns of office demand, highlighting that most leases are for periods between nine months and over a year, with a preference for smaller office spaces. The data revealed:

• Occupancy Rates:
  • Madrid: 83% average occupancy (Q1 2023: 84%)
  • Barcelona: 78% average occupancy (Q1 2023: 81%)

Notably, three operators in Madrid have over 90% occupancy, which indicates a healthy market.

• Demand:
  • Q1 2023 saw approximately 2,500 seats transacted in both Madrid and Barcelona.
  • 80% of demand lasts between 9 months and a year.
  • More than 90% of the demand is for offices with at most 30 seats.
• Reasons for Loss of Seats:
  • The main reason: Moving to traditional offices.
  • Company downsizing.
• Pricing:
  • The average price for a private office desk:
    • Spain: €395
    • Europe: €670
    • Berlin and Munich: €900

This data is vital for understanding market demand, pricing strategies, and the reasons behind shifts in occupancy, such as companies moving to traditional offices or reducing their size. It helped attendees understand the broader economic and market factors influencing the coworking industry.

Unique Coworking Spaces Around the World (Ashley Proctor)

Ashley Proctor, Founder of the Creative Blueprint and CEO of 312 Main in Vancouver, is a leading figure in the coworking industry. With over two decades of experience, she promotes inclusive work environments and social enterprise integration into coworking spaces to support cultural and economic growth.

In this session, she shared examples of sustainable and impactful coworking models from all around the world, focusing on what makes these spaces thrive:

1. Organizational Structure: Successful spaces prioritize long-term sustainability through scalable operations, financial management, and resilient organizational culture.As their community's requirements change, the spaces prioritize member involvement and retention. This approach resonates highly with João Simões’ advocacy.
2. Multi-Use Spaces: Spaces must remain adaptable as members and their needs change. Coworking spaces can accommodate different work styles and activities by offering various functional areas—such as quiet zones, collaborative spaces, event venues, and relaxation areas.
3. Value-Aligned Partners: Partnerships are most successful when both parties are genuinely excited about the collaboration. This alignment ultimately adds to the resilience and long-term success of coworking spaces by promoting trust, improving cooperation, and maximizing the impact of teamwork.
4. Community Investment: Successful spaces often utilize investments from their community, such as bonds, to turn social capital into actual capital. This approach secures funding and deepens the members' commitment and sense of ownership.

Final Takeaways: Improving Coworking Spaces with Connection and Strategic Growth

Day one of the Coworking Spain Conference 2024 provided invaluable insights into coworking's current state and future directions in Spain.

From data-driven analyses to inspiring success stories and heartfelt talks, the sessions underscored the importance of flexibility, community, and a people-focused approach in shaping the future of coworking spaces. The key takeaway from Day 1 is that coworking spaces should be designed with members' needs in mind, adjust to changing work methods, and prioritize creating strong and supportive communities.

Attending this event is always a highlight for us at Cobot. Our long-standing relationship with the conference deepens our appreciation for the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the coworking scene in Spain. Stay tuned for our upcoming roundup of Day 2, which will include takeaways from our very own Chief Product Officer Kristina Schneider’s talk on ‘The future of tech coworking software.’

If you're looking to automate your coworking tasks and focus on community growth, try Cobot. Feel free to contact us or sign up for a demo here, and get started today.

Happy Coworking!