IWG, the operator of flexible and co-working spaces, says it has signed the first franchise partner in Romania.
The company, which manages the Regus and Spaces brands locally, is teaming up with Transinvest to open a flexible and co-working space in Cluj-Napoca. Thus, IWG will open the first building under the Regus brand outside Bucharest in 2022 on a surface of 1,500 sqm.
“Both globally and in Romania, we are seeing rising demand for hybrid work solutions. By joining forces with like-minded partners such as Transinvest, we will scale up our presence throughout the country. As the benefits of a hybrid model become apparent in Romania, IWG has seen double-digit growth yearly,” said Ramona Iacob, Country Manager of IWG Romania. She added that the new building in Cluj-Napoca is part of the IWG strategy to create a network of co-working spaces connecting cities in Romania.
Árpád Szántó, Network Development Director SEE at IWG declared: “The flex space market is one of the most fast-paced and dynamic sectors, with a growth potential of 24% every year. This is highlighted by recent IWG research that showed that 72% of office workers prefer a hybrid model over going back to the office full time with a 10% pay rise. We are pleased to establish the first partnership with a franchise operator to offer the benefits of hybrid work to as many people and companies in Romania as possible.”
“For the next few years, we have an ambitious plan to open ten new buildings under the Regus brand in the country’s North-West region, an objective through which we will strengthen Regus’ presence in Romania,” added Victor Tighinean, Transinvest’s representative. Transinvest is part of the Tighinean Holding group, a family business operated by the Tighinean brothers.
IWG’s portfolio in Romania covers 26,000 sqm of flexible workspaces in nine locations from Bucharest.