Regus Membership Program Success Signals Growth Potential

NEW YORK, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Regus, the global leader in flexible workplace solutions, has experienced a nearly 50 percent increase in memberships to its Businessworld program over the last 12 months, proving that the trend towards flexible working in the United States is continuing to gain momentum.

The Businessworld program offers members four packages providing flexible workplaces, office facilities and meeting rooms on demand in Regus' more than 1,000 locations worldwide. This program plays a major role in Regus' newly-signed Global Services Agreement with General Electric. Through Businessworld, GE's workforce now has access to professional workspaces at any Regus location, allowing its mobile and flexible workers to remain productive while on the road.

Launched on the eve of the recession in 2008, the Businessworld program saw immediate success as a low-cost solution to traditional office costs, enhancing the flexibility and effectiveness when working on the move or in a non-office location.

"As the economy continues to show signs of improvement, companies are increasingly adopting the Businessworld program as a core part of their real estate strategy," said Guillermo Rotman, CEO, Regus Americas.  "U.S. membership in our Businessworld program has continued to increase over the last 12 months.  During this period membership has grown nearly 50 percent as companies and individuals realized their potential to decrease their real estate costs and better serve an increasingly mobile workforce."

According to a recent study by IDC, more workers are now turning to mobile solutions, highlighting the need for more flexible workplace solutions than the traditional office lease may provide. The analysis of three core mobile workers – those in offices, non-office based and working from home – found that by the year 2013, the number of mobile workers in the U.S. will grow to almost 120 million, or 75.5% of the country's total workforce. The study predicts that the global mobile workforce could grow to 1.2 billion by 2013.

Rotman added, "Forward-thinking organizations are changing the way they see the work place and turning to Regus for their growing remote and flexible workforce needs. This growing trend has resulted in companies looking for more options that provide employees with the professional tools and resources they need to do their job, from advanced technology to decentralized offices and meeting space."

Regus proved its ability to address the growing need for more flexible solutions by helping Nortel save more than $190 million dollars. Nortel, a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities, is using Regus' professional business centers, lounges and meeting rooms to provide a variety of solutions for more than 2,500 employees including mobile, remote and home-based workers. During the first two years of its new work place strategy, Nortel was able to close more than 200 smaller sites, consolidate remaining physical locations into core sites and realize the savings in overhead.

Rotman said: "Businessworld is a valuable solution for on-the-go professionals who want a working environment that doesn't compromise productivity. It's the only membership program in the world that provides instant access to more than 1,000 workplaces and all the tools the mobile workforce needs to operate productively and cost-effectively. Businessworld will really show its huge potential for growth in the next 10 years as flexible working becomes the norm."

About Regus

Regus, the world's leading global provider of innovative workplace solutions with 1,000 locations in 450 cities and 80 countries, offers products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world's largest network of video communication studios.

For more information visit the Regus Press Center at www.regus.presscentre.com.

About Businessworld

Regus Businessworld gives users the option of four cards – Blue is free and provides discounts on Regus products. Gold Card offers unlimited access to Regus business lounges and cafes with administrative support, preferred rates on additional products. Platinum offers 10 days of open plan office use per month in any Regus centre worldwide plus all the benefits of Gold. PlatinumPlus gives unlimited private office usage alongside Gold benefits.

For more information please visit www.regus.com/businessworld.

SOURCE Regus