The Little Red Dot has earned its place among the world’s top ten best ‘workation’ destinations for hybrid workers, securing the seventh spot in the International Workplace Group’s (IWG) annual survey for 2024. Notably, Singapore ranks second in Asia, only trailing behind Beijing, which claimed the fourth spot on the global list.
Budapest topped IWG’s rankings for 2024, surpassing last year’s leader, Barcelona, which, along with Rio de Janeiro, claimed joint second place. Other cities rounding out the top 10 include Lisbon, New York, Jakarta, Los Angeles, and Milan.
Singapore made a remarkable leap in this year’s rankings, jumping from 21st place in 2023 to seventh. Several other Asian cities were also highlighted in the study, including Mumbai (14th), Manila (16th), and Hong Kong (19th).
According to IWG, Singapore’s rapid ascent can be attributed to its robust digital infrastructure and strong support for remote workers. “Hybrid workers will benefit from a thriving digital nomad community, bolstered by local government initiatives aimed at enhancing the city’s appeal to remote workers, such as city-wide 5G coverage and the introduction of a digital nomad visa,” said the global flexible workspace provider.
The IWG survey, now in its second year, evaluates cities on a range of factors, including climate, culture, accommodation, transportation, food and drink, happiness, broadband speed, and the availability of flexible workspace, scoring each city between 1 and 10.
Budapest, with a leading score of 75, was praised for its affordable accommodation, efficient transport system, fast broadband speeds, and extensive availability of flexible workspaces, making it the top destination for hybrid workers in 2024. Barcelona, with a score of 73.5, continues to be a prime ‘workation’ spot, supported by Spain’s comprehensive digital nomad visa, excellent transportation network, and relatively low cost of living.
Rio de Janeiro was also recognized for its affordability in accommodation, food, and transportation, combined with strong broadband speeds, making it a favorable destination for hybrid workers.
Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO of IWG, noted that the growing popularity of hybrid work is driven by advances in cloud technology, making it easier for workers to operate from anywhere. Dixon anticipates that this trend will continue to rise, with more companies adopting flexible working arrangements to attract top talent and enhance employees’ work-life balance.
The IWG study revealed that nearly 74% of hybrid workers consider a “work-from-anywhere” (WFA) policy a key factor when evaluating new job opportunities, with an equal number stating that such policies significantly boost their job satisfaction.
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