Cool start-ups servicing travel’s in-between moments

Portrait from above of a young man walking with luggage at station

When you’re travelling – and it can be for business or leisure – sometimes you just need an in-between place.

Industry site, Skift, has found a bunch of delightful in-between hubs for weary travellers, from meeting spaces for business people and beds where they charge by the minute.

Now if your flight is early/late/cancelled and your hotels can’t accommodate, at least there’s these options to get you through and keep you comfortable.

The in-between chill out

Arrived but your room’s not ready? Hotel Icon in Hong Kong has a solution.

According to Skift, who spoke to General Manager Richard Hatter, they offer what’s called the Timeless lounge.

It’s a space facility and rest area, perfect for the in-between check-in state, and that lets you refresh, workout, read quietly or just chill.

Hatter said down the track he would like to see more space in the lounge and things like beautiful print media to enjoy while you wait added to the concept, which frankly is miles ahead of a hotel that, as Skift writes, pats you on the head and tells you to come back at 3pm.

The in-between shower

Hydra New York mightn’t be as developed as the Timeless lounge, but it’s certainly got a good idea going.

Per Skift, the company builds small shower facilities in unused areas of commercial real estate.

This means not only can you shower when your plane lands and your hotel’s not ready, but for business travellers and local workers, you can shower after a run to work or an outdoor gym session en route to the office.

The concept is to offer more private, caban-style suites for half hour or hour timeslots, as well as more public locker-room style areas quite similar to a gym change room.

The in-between business

Breather is another concept that allows for on-demand meeting spaces, and is perfect for business travellers.

They trialled it recently, according to Skift, and users found it a clean, well-designer room in the middle of everything in city spaces.

You can book it all via an app, with the company positioning its services for times when you need a breakout meeting away from the office, or need a meeting space for when you’re catching that late-night flight.

The in-between sleep

Need a nap but don’t want to fork out for a 24-hour hotel room? Recharge has your back.

Recharge is, per Skift, aimed at what the company calls a ‘mix’ of families, business travellers, commuters and sleepy travellers in need of some quick shut-eye.

Recharge lets users instantly book rooms in New York City – and book them only for the time you need.

With an investment from JetBlue’s tech incubator, JetBlue Technology Ventures, Recharge officially launched in 2015 in San Francisco and recently opened in New York at the Arlo and Ace hotels, as well as higher-end options like the Pierre, writes Skift.

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