International Workplace Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInternational Workplace Group is a global flexible-workspace company operating serviced offices, coworking spaces, meeting facilities and related workplace services under brands including Regus and Spaces.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
International Workplace Group plc, commonly known as IWG, is a global provider of flexible workspace. The company supplies serviced offices, coworking environments, meeting rooms, virtual-office services and other workplace products to businesses and individual professionals. Its best-known operating brands include Regus, the company founded in Brussels in 1989, and Spaces, a coworking brand acquired in 2015. Rather than relying on a single standardized office format, IWG operates a portfolio of workplace concepts intended for different customer needs, from private offices and enterprise suites to collaborative coworking areas and short-term meeting facilities. The business began when English entrepreneur Mark Dixon established Regus in Brussels with the aim of making professional office space available on more flexible terms than conventional long-term commercial leases. Regus expanded internationally during the 1990s, entering Latin America through a São Paulo centre in 1994 and Asia through a Beijing centre in the same year. It completed a London Stock Exchange initial public offering in 2000, giving the company public-market capital to support further expansion. Its growth strategy combined organic centre openings with acquisitions, including Stratis Business Centers in the United States, HQ Global Workplaces, Laptop Lane and MWB Business Exchange. The company encountered substantial financial pressure in the early 2000s. Its United States business entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2003 following difficulties associated with the collapse of the dot-com economy. The US operations later emerged from bankruptcy after restructuring, supported in part by the strength of the UK business. Regus also sold a controlling interest in its UK operation in 2002 to raise capital before buying that business back in 2006. These events shaped a more diversified and financially cautious international operating model. During the 2000s and 2010s, Regus expanded its physical network through airport locations, partnerships with airlines and financial-services companies, and new centres in emerging markets. It introduced the Businessworld membership programme in 2008, allowing customers to obtain tiered access to workspace services across the network. In 2015, the acquisition of Dutch coworking company Spaces broadened the group’s brand portfolio and strengthened its position in the growing coworking segment. In 2016, a new holding structure under the IWG name was created, with the group’s head office established in Zug, Switzerland. IWG’s model depends on securing or operating property in locations where customers value convenience, professional infrastructure and shorter commitments than traditional leases provide. Its network has included city-centre offices, suburban sites, transport hubs and locations integrated into mixed-use developments. The company has also used partnerships and franchise-style arrangements to extend its geographic reach. By 2019, it reported approximately 3,000 coworking spaces in about 120 countries. The COVID-19 pandemic created severe disruption for the flexible-office sector. In 2020, IWG reported financial difficulties and several dozen entities connected with Regus and Spaces entered Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States. At the same time, the shift toward hybrid and distributed work increased interest in suburban and local workspace. IWG subsequently emphasized locations closer to where people live, as well as solutions for companies seeking more adaptable office footprints. The group continued to develop its brand and digital capabilities. It acquired a majority stake in The Wing in 2021, although that women's coworking network later ceased operations. In 2022, IWG combined its digital business with The Instant Group in a transaction involving assets such as Easyoffices.com, Meetingo.com, Rovva and Worka. In 2023, it opened The Engine Room at Battersea Power Station in London, adapting part of the Grade II-listed Boiler House into a flexible-workspace location. In 2024, the company confirmed the formal name International Workplace Group plc and changed its reporting currency and share denomination from sterling to US dollars. IWG remains an active international workplace operator, with Regus and Spaces continuing to anchor a multi-brand platform serving companies, entrepreneurs, mobile professionals and hybrid-work users.
History
International Workplace Group traces its origins to Regus, founded in Brussels in 1989 by English entrepreneur Mark Dixon. The original proposition was to provide businesses and professionals with ready-to-use offices that could be rented more flexibly than conventional commercial premises. Regus expanded beyond Belgium during the 1990s, opening a São Paulo centre in 1994 and entering Asia with a Beijing centre that year. The company went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2000. It then pursued an acquisition-led expansion strategy, buying the US franchised network Stratis Business Centers in 2001 and HQ Global Workplaces in 2004. Regus also acquired Laptop Lane, an airport business-centre chain, in 2006. Its network strategy included city offices, airport sites and partnerships with major travel and financial-services organizations. In 2006, it established locations at Amsterdam Schiphol and Brussels Airport; in subsequent years it expanded into Bulgaria and the Middle East. Regus experienced serious financial strain in the early 2000s. In 2002, it sold a 58 percent controlling interest in its UK business to Rex 2002 Limited, a vehicle associated with Alchemy Partners, raising £51 million. Its US business entered Chapter 11 in 2003 after suffering during the collapse of the dot-com economy. The US operation emerged from protection after restructuring, with support from the profitable UK business. Regus reacquired the UK business in 2006 for £88 million. The company introduced Businessworld in 2008, creating a tiered membership system that provided flexible access to workspace services across its locations. In the same period, the corporate structure was reorganized: Regus Group plc became Regus plc, a holding company with its headquarters in Luxembourg and registered office in Jersey. The company continued opening centres while renegotiating some UK lease arrangements, a policy that generated opposition from parts of the British property industry. A separate legal dispute concerning air-conditioning service at a Regus centre reached the Court of Appeal in 2008, which reversed an earlier ruling that a contractual exclusion clause was unreasonable. Regus continued consolidating the serviced-office sector in the 2010s. In 2013 it took control of MWB Business Exchange through a £65.6 million cash offer. In 2015 it acquired Spaces, a Dutch coworking business founded in 2006. The group also partnered with the Singapore government to establish facilities in public libraries. In December 2016, a new holding company named IWG was established through a scheme of arrangement. The group moved its head office to Zug, Switzerland, while retaining its Jersey registration and London listing. By 2019, IWG had approximately 3,000 coworking spaces across around 120 countries. Its brands served customers ranging from independent professionals and start-ups to large enterprises seeking distributed offices and flexible capacity. The company’s portfolio included Regus and Spaces, alongside other workplace and digital services. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a major operational and financial shock. In 2020, 97 entities connected with Regus and Spaces filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States. At the same time, changes in working patterns increased demand for suburban and local workspace, as employees and employers sought alternatives to central business districts and fully remote arrangements. IWG acquired a majority stake in The Wing in February 2021, but The Wing later ceased operations on 30 August 2022. In March 2022, IWG merged its digital business with The Instant Group. The assets involved included Easyoffices.com, Meetingo.com, Rovva and Worka, strengthening the group’s online and digitally enabled workplace capabilities. In June 2023, IWG opened The Engine Room at Battersea Power Station, using space within the redeveloped Grade II-listed Boiler House. In June 2024, the company confirmed its formal name change to International Workplace Group plc. The change was accompanied by a move in reporting currency and a change in the denomination of its shares from sterling to US dollars. IWG remains an active international operator of flexible offices, coworking spaces and related workplace services.
- 2024
Formal name becomes International Workplace Group plc
[1]The company confirms its name change and adopts US dollars for reporting and share denomination.
- 2022
Digital business combines with The Instant Group
[1]IWG combines digital workplace assets with The Instant Group.
- 2020
Pandemic-related Chapter 11 filings
[1]Ninety-seven entities associated with Regus and Spaces enter US Chapter 11 proceedings.
- 2016
IWG holding company is established
[1]A new holding structure is created under the IWG name, with headquarters in Zug.
- 2015
Spaces joins the group
[1]Regus acquires Dutch coworking company Spaces.
- 2008
Businessworld membership launches
[1]Regus introduces a multi-level membership service offering access across its locations.
- 2003
US restructuring
[1]The US business enters Chapter 11 and later emerges after restructuring.
- 2000
Initial public offering
[1]Regus completes an IPO on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1994
International expansion reaches Latin America and Asia
[1]Regus opens a centre in São Paulo and its first Asian centre in Beijing.
- 1989
Regus is founded in Brussels
[1]Mark Dixon establishes Regus to provide flexible office space for businesses and professionals.
Products and positioning
A global, multi-brand flexible-workspace platform positioned between conventional long-term commercial leasing and fully remote work. IWG emphasizes geographic reach, ready-to-use professional infrastructure, shorter commitments, workplace choice and solutions for hybrid, mobile and distributed teams.
Serviced offices and flexible workspace · 1989
Regus
Regus is IWG’s principal serviced-office brand. It provides furnished private offices, coworking areas, meeting rooms, business lounges, virtual-office services and short- or longer-term workspace arrangements. The brand is designed for companies and professionals that need operational office infrastructure without taking a conventional long commercial lease.
Coworking and creative workspace · 2006
Spaces
Spaces is a coworking-oriented brand founded in the Netherlands and acquired by Regus in 2015. Its locations emphasize collaborative environments, shared work areas, private offices, meeting facilities and a more design-led community atmosphere. It complements Regus by addressing customers seeking flexible workspace with a stronger coworking and networking orientation.
Flexible-access membership · 2008
Businessworld
Businessworld is a membership programme introduced by Regus in 2008. It provides tiered access to workplace services across the network, allowing members to use selected offices, business lounges and related facilities without committing to a traditional dedicated office lease.
Flexible workspace location · 2023
The Engine Room
The Engine Room is an IWG flexible-workspace location opened in 2023 within the redeveloped Battersea Power Station complex in London. It occupies space in the Grade II-listed Boiler House and represents the group’s placement of flexible offices in prominent mixed-use and landmark developments.
Controversies
2001
Criticism after the September 11 attacks
Five Regus employees died in the September 11 attacks because the company operated a business centre on the 93rd floor of the South Tower. Regus faced criticism over its response to the victims’ families, while a company official stated that it had proactively contacted every family of missing team members.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Singapore public-library workspace partnership
Singapore
Regus partnered with the Singapore government to open flexible-workspace facilities within public libraries.
Outcome. The partnership extended flexible-workspace provision into public community locations.
- 2012StartUp Loans workspace access initiative
United Kingdom
Following an announcement by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Regus agreed to provide 30,000 young entrepreneurs across England with access to its office network, complementing the government’s StartUp Loans scheme.
Outcome. The initiative linked Regus workspace access with a government-backed entrepreneurship programme.
Brand decisions
2024
Adopt the International Workplace Group plc nameStrategyBackground
The group had developed beyond its original Regus identity into a multi-brand workplace platform.
Action taken
The company confirmed its name change to International Workplace Group plc and changed its reporting currency and share denomination from sterling to US dollars.
Aftermath
The corporate name more directly reflects the breadth of the group’s workplace portfolio, while Regus and Spaces remain operating brands.
2022
Combine digital business with The Instant GroupM&ABackground
IWG sought to expand its digitally enabled workplace and office-booking capabilities.
Action taken
The company merged its digital business with The Instant Group, including assets such as Easyoffices.com, Meetingo.com, Rovva and Worka.
Aftermath
The transaction increased the group’s exposure to online marketplace and digital workplace services.
2020
File Chapter 11 proceedings for pandemic-affected entitiesOtherBackground
COVID-19 sharply disrupted office occupancy and flexible-workspace demand.
Action taken
Ninety-seven entities connected with Regus and Spaces entered Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States.
Aftermath
The crisis accelerated attention to suburban and localized workspace as working patterns became more distributed.
2016
Create the IWG holding structureStrategyBackground
The company cited an increasingly complex legislative environment and sought a revised corporate structure.
Action taken
A scheme of arrangement established a new holding company named IWG, with headquarters in Zug, Switzerland.
Aftermath
The group operated under the IWG structure while continuing to use brands such as Regus and Spaces.
2008
Launch BusinessworldProduct launchBackground
Customers increasingly required access to workspace across multiple cities rather than a single fixed office.
Action taken
Regus introduced a multi-level membership programme providing flexible access to its locations and services.
Aftermath
The programme broadened the group’s offer beyond dedicated offices toward recurring network-access memberships.
2006
Reacquire the UK businessM&ABackground
After stabilizing its operations, Regus sought to restore direct control over its UK business.
Action taken
Regus reacquired the UK business.
Aftermath
The group regained control of an important domestic operation.
Acquisition consideration. £88 million (2006)
2003
Place US operations into Chapter 11OtherBackground
The US business struggled after the collapse of the dot-com bubble.
Action taken
Regus sought Chapter 11 protection for its US operations and pursued a restructuring.
Aftermath
The US business later exited Chapter 11 with financial support connected to the profitable UK business.
2002
Sell controlling stake in UK businessStrategyBackground
Regus was experiencing severe financial difficulties and needed to raise capital.
Action taken
The company sold a 58 percent controlling interest in its UK business to Rex 2002 Limited, associated with Alchemy Partners.
Aftermath
The transaction raised £51 million and preceded the later reacquisition of the UK business.
Capital raised. £51 million raised (2002)
Recent events
Reported
IWG announces merger of digital and technology assets with The Instant Group[2]
IWG said it had entered into a contract to merge certain digital and technology assets with The Instant Group. IWG would invest approximately £270 million, while The Instant Group management would invest approximately £50 million into IWG plc.
Sheng Tai International and IWG sign Malaysia franchise agreement[3]
Sheng Tai International and IWG signed a franchise agreement to collaborate on opening flexible workspaces in Malaysia. Sheng Tai International planned to invest approximately RM8 million to start the partnership with three centres in its Melaka commercial properties.
Reported
Regus affiliate filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at 1 Concourse Parkway[4]
Regus Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for an affiliated entity that leases space at 1 Concourse Parkway in Atlanta. The article described this as one of several Regus locations placed in bankruptcy that month.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
IWG signs franchise partnership with API in the Philippines[5]
IWG partnered with Cebu-based property developer AppleOne Properties Inc. to develop IWG’s first workspace franchises in the Philippines. A public signing ceremony marked the first franchise partnership in Southeast Asia.
Reported
AppleOne announces acquisition of two Regus sites in Cebu[6]
AppleOne Properties announced that it is acquiring two Regus sites in Cebu.
Reported
AppleOne Properties and IWG sign franchise partnership[6]
AppleOne Properties signed a franchise partnership agreement with IWG to develop eight flexible-workspace centers in six cities in the Visayas region over five years.
Sources8 sources
- 1International Workplace Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2IWG宣布与The Instant Group合并数字及技术资产finanznachrichten.de
- 3Sheng Tai International与IWG签署马来西亚特许经营协议briefingwire.com
- 4Regus关联实体在1 Concourse Parkway申请第11章破产保护bisnow.com
- 5IWG与API签署菲律宾特许经营合作manilatimes.net
- 6AppleOne宣布收购Regus在宿务的两个办公地点sunstar.com.ph
- 7European company IWG partners with Cebu's AppleOne for 1st franchise partnership in Southeast Asiagoodnewspilipinas.com
- 8Sheng Tai International Partners with IWG to open flexible workspace in Malaysiafinanznachrichten.de
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