Will Adam Neumann change the future of travel?

If Adam Neumann was not busy chasing his old darling, he might have already set the hospitality industry on fire with this groundbreaking trend: community living.

Yes, his attempt to scale WeLive didn’t quite hit the mark, but maybe he was just a bit too early to the party. The way I see it, the traditional, stationary lifestyle we’re accustomed to is on the brink of a major shakeup.

Remember when travel was mostly a one-day or two-day affair, primarily for work? Then Airbnb burst onto the scene, and suddenly, taking longer trips became the norm. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed this even further, making it clear that we could be on the move for weeks, or even months at a time. This shift hasn’t gone unnoticed; every major hotel chain seems to be jumping on the long-stay bandwagon.

In a similar vein to how WeWork breathed new life into coworking spaces (and made us forget those drab Regus offices with their atrocious carpets and blinding fluorescent lights), brands like Sonder are making extended stays much more appealing. They’ve managed to elevate the basic “bed and kitchenette” setup to something you might actually look forward to — no disrespect to Adagio.

The concept of community living isn’t just a daydream; it’s already beginning to take shape in today’s world. Take “creator houses,” for example, where a new generation of content creators are coming together to live, work, and inspire under one roof, all coordinated by specialised agencies. Even Airbnb is getting in on the action, with CEO Brian Chesky teasing the notion of a “Guest Passport” — a feature designed to connect traveler’s with similar interests for a more personalised stay.

These innovations, driven by technological advancements, are responses to the pressing issues of modern life, such as the housing crisis and evolving work models. Given these developments, it’s clear that community living is on a fast track from a niche idea to a widely embraced reality.