October 20, 2017, HONG KONG: naked Hub, Asia’s largest network of premium co-working spaces, has kicked off a new initiative in Hong Kong titled “naked Conversations,” designed to spark a dialogue around the forces shaping the future of work and life. naked Conversations takes the format of a series of panel discussions bringing together thought leaders across different industries with diverse perspectives to discuss and debate current topics of importance. The launch of naked Conversations in Hong Kong follows that of naked Hub China, where the first panel discussion was held in Shanghai two days earlier.
In the evening, naked Hub will celebrate its two new Hubs at Bonham Strand and New Street with a grand opening bash stretching across the Western District. Guests will begin the experiential journey with a Galleria Fantasticathemed soirée at naked Hub@New Street, and then proceed to follow a path illuminated with naked Hub balloons leading them to naked Hub@Bonham Strand, where they will dance the night away in an elaborate Chinese-style speakeasy.
The first naked Conversation in Hong Kong Hong Kong’s inaugural edition of naked Conversations was held at naked Hub@Bonham Strand, focusing on the topic of how co-working and sharing economies are revolutionizing the way we work. Grant Horsfield, Founder and Chairman of naked Group, opened the panel discussion by demystifying the concept of sharing economies and explaining how these new business models have a multiplier effect on generating greater value from limited resources. The panelist line-up was comprised of:
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Tim Alpe, Chief Operating Officer of Ovolo Hotels, on how hospitality, co-living, and co-working are becoming increasingly intertwined
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Devin Ehrig, Founding Partner at Shadow Factory,a VR and AR production services company based in
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naked Hub, on how a startup can prosper in a co-working environment
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Jordan Kostelac, Senior Workplace Strategist at JLL, on how a more efficient use of space and design can help companies create a more successful culture
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Dominic Penaloza, Chief Innovation Officer of naked Group, on how technology brings speed and flexibility to the modern enterprise
The panel was moderated by Elaine Cheung,CFO of Regal Springs and a Board of Governors Member at the American Chamber of Commerce, who drove a dynamic conversation along key talking points:
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Why shared economies are an increasingly popular model of working and living in Hong Kong
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How co-working drives social interactions and business connections that lead to innovation
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The evolving nature of work and how corporate cultures are changing in line with modern lifestyles
The objective of the panel session was to reimagine common perceptions about co-working. “Sharing is often misunderstood,” said Grant Horsfield, Founder and Chairman of naked Group. “Sharing creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders through a multiplier effect that benefits more than the employer and workers. It’s about creating a paradigm shift in everything from real estate to the employment market while also helping our environment through finding better utilization solutions – all values we believe in at naked.”
Dominic Penaloza, Chief Innovation Officer of naked Group added, “Technology has taken the concept of “sharing” forward and created opportunities where underutilization of resources can be improved and the road to entrepreneurship and innovation can become more accessible for many.”
Video highlights from the panel will be published shortly on naked Hub Hong Kong’s social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. naked Conversations will continue to roll out in Hubs across Asia as naked Hub expands its footprint in the region.
naked Hub Opening Bash This evening, naked Hub will celebrate the launch of its two Hubs in Hong Kong with a three-part opening bash.
Guests begin their journey at naked Hub@New Street, a Galleria Fantastica -themed wonderland complete with a live body art performance, a silent disco meditation zone, and a 3D virtual reality painting station created by fellow Hubber Shadow Factory. They will then embark on a walking journey through the winding alleys of the Western District, with their route mapped by a series of naked Hub balloons.
Their final destination is naked Hub@Bonham Strand, where low-lighting, Chinese lanterns, and other décor touches will transform the space into a Chinese-style speakeasy. Guests will be kept dancing to the sounds of a contemporary crossover effect of lo-fi and downtempo jazz from DJ Gie with an accompanying live saxophone player. Refreshments such as cucumber gin fizz, whisky sours, and cognac will be served with a signature naked twist alongside delectable canapés such as peppered filet steak on potato cakes with truffle hollandaise, Asian marinated crispy duck, mandarin, and pomegranate, and salted caramel chocolate tarts with gold chocolate pearls. The evening is set to be a fantastic and memorable way to announce naked Hub’s values of “Fresh, Fun, Green, and Great” to Hong Kong.
