Have you been looking for a place where you can combine work and leisure? Look no further.
The Hungarian capital, Budapest, topped a list of the best global cities for combining work and vacation, or “workcation,” compiled by flexible and hybrid workspace operator International Workplace Group.
The findings are based on internal research and a survey of 1,000 hybrid office workers globally.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies around the world temporarily closed their offices to comply with hygiene standards, hybrid and remote working became widespread and has become a permanent fixture for many companies.
According to a report released by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the number of people working from home will increase fivefold between 2019 and 2023, with 40% of U.S. employees now working remotely at least one day a week.
“With cloud technology enabling people to get anywhere in the world with a quality internet connection, it's no wonder that more and more people are embracing the idea of combining work and travel, whether that's adding a few days to the end of a holiday or spending a few months as a digital nomad,” said Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of International Workplace Group.
According to the IWG report, 84% of hybrid workers have extended or are considering extending their leave to work remotely, and 75% said that “the freedom to work from anywhere increases their job satisfaction.”
The IWG report compared 30 cities around the world and rated them out of 10 in the following categories:
ClimateCultureAccommodationTransportFoodCost of living (a cup of coffee)HappinessBroadband speedSustainabilityAvailability of flexible workspace
The criteria were chosen “to gauge how comfortable or favorable the overseas environment would be, especially taking into account job responsibilities,” Dixon told CNBC Make It.
“In addition to basic residential requirements (housing, transport, food etc.), there are other important considerations such as availability of broadband and flexible workspace that can have a significant impact on worker productivity,” he said.
Budapest topped this year's list, receiving high scores in the categories of accommodation (9.5/10), transport (9.5/10), sustainability (8.5/10) and broadband speeds (8/10).
The Hungarian capital is “famous for its classical architecture and attracts around 12 million international tourists per year. It also boasts more than 200 museums, vibrant neighborhoods and abundant green spaces, making it an ideal choice for digital nomads,” according to the report.
According to IWG, the top 10 best cities for workcation are:
Budapest Barcelona Rio de Janeiro Beijing Lisbon New York Singapore Jakarta LA Milan
Last year's top pick, Barcelona, remains popular among hybrid workers: In addition to digital nomad visas, reliable transport infrastructure and a relatively affordable cost of living, the Spanish city also offers “a vibrant atmosphere, stunning architecture and nearly year-round sunshine,” the report said.
Barcelona received high scores in the areas of transport (9/10), climate (8.5/10) and accommodation (8.5/10), categories which measure the cost of a monthly transport pass, hours of sunshine per year and average monthly rent, respectively.
Asian cities also feature prominently on this year's list, with Beijing, Singapore and Jakarta making it into the top 10. Beijing dropped one place this year to fourth place.
Meanwhile, Singapore rose 14 places from last year to rank 7th. The city-state received very high scores in the areas of broadband quality (10/10) and sustainability (9/10).
Boasting the world's second-largest airport, Singapore serves as the “global gateway to Southeast Asia,” making it an attractive destination for travelers. Singapore has been named the happiest country in Asia for the second year in a row, and according to IWG, it plans to provide island-wide 5G coverage by 2025.
“This trend will continue to accelerate as more and more companies adopt WFA policies to improve their employees' work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as employers,” Dixon said.
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