At LCA’s Workplace Wonderlands – Office Marketing Redefined, global workplace expert and ERA-co Strategy Director Stav Eilam joined industry leaders at LCA’s latest Accelerator Panel, Workplace Wonderlands – Office Marketing Redefined, to explore what truly tips the scale when occupiers choose where to lease. 

Hosted in London on 4 March, the discussion brought together Samantha McClary, CEO of the British Council for Offices, Jon Gardiner, Savills UK Board Member for Strategic Development Leasing Advisory, and Daniel Abrahams, Partner at Freeths, to explore what occupiers truly value in 2026 and how developers should respond. 

At the heart of the discussion was the changing role of the office. With attendance patterns now stabilising, the focus is moving beyond amenity lists towards how well the workplace fits into the way people live, work and move throughout the day. 

Fitness studios, roof terraces and hospitality-style spaces have quickly become baseline expectations across many developments. But when every building offers similar features, differentiation has to come from somewhere deeper. 

For Stav, what sets the strongest workplaces apart is simple:

“Great assets have a sense of place – the secret sauce that goes beyond postcode prestige.” 

That sense of place extends beyond the building itself. The cafés, streets, public spaces and cultural life surrounding a workplace shape the daily experience of being there. The most successful developments position themselves within this wider urban fabric rather than trying to contain everything internally. 

This shift is reflected in how London workers actually use the office. Most now spend around 2.7 days a week there – not as a default, but as a deliberate choice within a broader routine. 

As Stav explains:

“Hybrid working has reshaped how Londoners think about the office, with most seeing it as part of a wider ‘workplace ecosystem’: home, office and the city.” 

In this new workplace ecosystem, the office shouldn’t try to compete with the home. Its role is to complement it – bringing people together for collaboration, culture and shared experiences. 

Stav also highlighted the role narrative plays in how workplaces attract occupiers: 

“Storytelling, language and narrative matter. Sometimes choosing where to lease becomes a matter of heart over mind – we all love a great story.” 

At the same time, she noted that there is no single formula for the future office: 

“There is no one-size-fits-all. Occupiers from different sectors have different needs. Knowing your target audience and tailoring your offer is key.” 

 The buildings that will win are not those with the longest amenity list, but those with the clearest sense of who they’re for and are designed to evolve as workplace needs change.