There’s no question that the world is becoming a more connected place. Affordable international airfares, instantaneous connections, and enticing travel social media have created a generation that glorifies and craves shared experiences and global destinations. Out of this desire for unique experiences, the sharing economy has sprung to make this lifestyle more attainable and convenient. Companies providing house sharing, car sharing, and workplace sharing are ubiquitous and successful and changing the way people interact on a daily basis.
Capitalizing on these market developments, and creating a new way to live, work, and travel is a new start up called Roam.
The Details
Roam combines the desire to travel globally with a productive and economically realistic life.
For $500 a week (or $1800 a month) you can rent a private room. And these aren’t your standard hostel rooms. Every room has a king or queen bed, provides tuft and needle and parachute bedding, and combines unique architectural details that you would expect in a design hotel. The kitchen, living, and work areas are shared spaces and each property has Internet access to make sure that you can live a connected and productive life. In addition, most properties have a media room, pool, and other great common areas.
In order to help spur on a sense of community, Roam properties also hold really interesting events like pop-up dinners with up-and-coming chefs, Pecha-Kucha, and weekends away.
The Locations
Roam currently has two properties open in Bali and Miami, with a third opening in Madrid at the end of May. They also have two more properties scheduled to open in Buenos Aires and London.
Length of Stay
The shortest stay allowed in Roam community is one week. However, the company suggests that every guest stay at least a month to get fully connected and within the community (preference will be given to those requesting a longer stay). The longest amount of time is indefinite.
The Ideal Tenant
Interestingly, throughout their media, Roam acknowledges that this lifestyle is not for everyone. The ability to work remotely is an obvious must, but terms like “adventurous,” “open-minded,” and “established” are highlighted. That’s not to say that Roam will turn you away if you’re 21 and looking for a place to hang out on your gap-year, but more that these communities are built for a higher purpose. They exist to facilitate cultural exchanges and make global living attainable. Those looking for these types of experiences are more likely to thrive in a Roam space.
Thoughts
The ability to travel and work around the world sounds too good to be true, but Roam has created a compelling foundation that makes this lifestyle a realistic option (for some). Professions that allow for an independent remote lifestyle exist but will trend towards established freelancing and creative professionals.
Traveling is becoming more attainable, but truly integrating into a new community can be difficult and usually takes time. That’s the true value of Roam. It’s a shortcut to establishing a new community. In many ways it’s combining the best of adulthood with college life. Individuals from completely different locations and backgrounds are thrown together creating hubs of dialogue, creativity, and productivity. This community is spurred on through inspiring locations, design, and events. If a community grows stale, or the wanderlust feeling is too much to overcome, you will eventually be free to travel to four different continents and plug into a new community.
That’s the true value of Roam and why it’s so enticing to a generation that is always connected, needs to share, and is committed to not only living life, but experiencing it.
