76% of flex operators plan to expand in the next 12 months driven by increasing occupancy, according to Workthere survey
Manhattan, NY Savills flexible office specialist Workthere, has revealed that more than three quarters (76%) of the flex operators surveyed worldwide as part of its 2026 Flexmark Report, are planning to expand their offering in the next year, with management agreements the preferred model for half (50%) of respondents.
These growth plans are in line with strong occupancy levels recorded in flex offices around the world, with global occupancy reaching a record high of 85% in 2026 according to Workthere’s report. San Francisco recorded the highest occupancy at 97%, followed by other mature flex markets including Madrid (91%), London (90%) and New York (90%).
Occupancy was also robust outside of global business centres. The majority (86%) of markets reported occupancy levels above 80% including Bengaluru, Ho Chi Minh City and Mexico City, as well as more traditional hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong.
Part of the strong occupancy levels can be attributed to the increasing adoption of flex by corporates. Their requirements are generally larger, with half (48%) of them seeking more than 50 desks, compared to start-ups and SMEs where 85% seek fewer than 20 desks. Multinationals have the largest requirements, with a quarter (23%) looking for more than 200 desks.
Corporates also tend to stay in situ longer than other occupier types, at 3.9 years compared to 2.6 years for start-ups and SMEs. The longer commitment brings greater income but also the potential of longer void periods. Three quarters (74%) of flex spaces with up to 25 desks are re-let within three months, while half (53%) of suites over 26 desks take longer than four months to re-let.
Cal Lee, global head of Workthere, said, “The global flexible workspace market is proving its growing maturity as a sector, with occupancy reaching record levels and operators looking to expand in an effort to meet growing demand. Historically, take-up has been dominated by established operators like IWG and WeWork expanding but recently there has been a proliferation of growing operators coming through and establishing themselves in the global market such as The Executive Centre and Industrious. Clearly, the best performing cities are the ones that have strong business ecosystems, but smaller hubs are also performing well. Businesses of all sizes continue to recognise the value that flex offers them.”
This research analysed 199 survey responses from operators in 39 countries spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Data collected between 9th June and 31st July 2026.