Photograph by Douglas Lyle Thompson, Fast Company

From the Blog, The Good, the Bad, and the Funky, by Yvette Jong, for HOTELSmag.com

Many of us strive to work while we vacation in a pursuit of work life balance. Can popular lobby workspaces have adverse affects on business and leisure travelers alike, and is there an argument for some hotels to keep 'business centers?'

I’m in Sri Lanka for work and pleasure, so I’m answering emails and taking calls around the clock. Sure, I don’t need to rent a desktop or use fax machines and copiers, and while there are comfortable lobbies and lounges with WiFi, I'm struggling to find a place that’s quiet enough to work without distracting myself and/or my family.

So what’s the next solution for business travelers on holiday if we're losing the obsolete business centers of yesteryear? And how do we create a bit of space between work and life? Can we have our cake and eat it, too?

Craft House Founder and Director, Yvette Jong, contributes regularly to her HOTELS Magazine Blog titled, "The Good, the Bad and the Funky." Topics of discussion include all aspects of hospitality development, operations, branding, marketing, human resources, sustainability and much more.

Are business centers a thing of the past?

Many of us strive to work while we vacation in a pursuit of work life balance. Can popular lobby workspaces have adverse affects on business and leisure travelers alike, and is there an argument for some hotels to keep 'business centers?'