FOR MANY A businessman visiting Hong Kong from abroad, the need to find a suitable space in which to do his deals is of paramount importance. Many executives fail to find hotel business centres sufficiently stimulating - and with good reason. They are often drab affairs, punctuated by basic office facilities.
The key thing to remember is that hotel business centres are rarely major money-spinners, so are often in a state of neglect. For more and more travelling executives, the logical alternative to these centres is serviced offices.
Hong Kong's serviced-office sector has, in the past, had trouble maintaining its integrity. Advertisements which promise top-quality office space at HK$2,000 per month have raised comparisons between the sector and the dubious used-car industry.
Understandably, then, business travellers have not always been keen to rent out a serviced office. Once they find they are being hit with additional charges for everything from phone-answering services to electricity bills, the common reaction is to retreat to the hotel business centre where, at least, the facilities are relatively cheap.
The past few years, however, have seen a small revolution in the sector. A number of global office providers have set up shop in the SAR, providing professional services.
The most well-known of these is The Executive Centre, a multinational company that owns serviced offices all over the world. Alan Seigrist, their corporate development director, believes that business travellers are finding ready made offices increasingly attractive.