Commercial Real Estate is ultimately a people business. In a tenant’s market, every person matters, from the COO leading a high-stakes board meeting to the programmer working from their home office. To help owners and operators understand these nuances, VTS commissioned an independent study of over 400 business leaders.
The resulting VTS Global Workplace Report provides unparalleled insights into today’s tenants and the workplace strategies they are putting into action for 2026.
Data Beats Headlines: Moving Beyond the "Return to Office" Debate
While headlines often focus on the extremes, ”remote forever" versus "mandatory return", the reality on the ground is far more nuanced. Corporate leaders are focusing on company culture and the specific role the office plays in their long-term growth. To cut through the noise, VTS partnered with a research agency to survey leaders across diverse industries and sizes in both the U.S. and Europe.
4 Core Pillars of the 2026 Workplace Experience:
- Workplace Strategy: How the in-office experience is currently being utilized.
- Tenant-Landlord Sentiment: The health of the relationship between occupiers and owners.
- Property Access: Operational "wants" vs. "needs" for modern buildings.
- Workplace Engagement: The tools required to drive office attendance.
Meet the Business Leaders
To draw actionable conclusions from the survey, we focused on building a sample set of respondents integral to renewing or leasing space. Participants included company executives and senior employees who manage talent or are directly involved in managing office operations, employee engagement & retention, and workplace experience. These are the personas that matter most to closing a deal and meeting your revenue goals.
Key Findings: Surprising Stats on Strategy and Operations
Our research validated some industry themes while surfacing surprising new shifts in tenant demand:
- Hybrid is the Standard: Only 1% of tenants have gone entirely remote, while 62% have firmly adopted hybrid work arrangements.
- The Maintenance Gap: One in four tenants cited unaddressed maintenance as the factor that most negatively impacts their relationship with a landlord.
- The Single-App Demand: 92% of tenants are interested in using a single application to access both the base building and their specific office suite.
- Attendance Drivers: 88% of tenants say a personalized workplace app, combining desk booking, building amenities, and company info, would boost employee office attendance.
Strategic Decision-Making: Leveraging Proprietary Data
VTS is the leader in delivering proprietary insights to CRE stakeholders. As of May 2026, the VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) shows that while national demand is stabilizing, markets like San Francisco and New York are outperforming expectations due to the tech and AI sector surge.
The Global Workplace Report is designed to help owners keep up with these evolving demands. Hybrid work is no longer a temporary fix; it is the new baseline. Understanding these shifts is the only way to remain competitive in today's market.
For more complimentary data and analysis to shape critical tenant, leasing, and marketing strategy decision-making, check out the quarterly VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) and our 2023 Global Landlord Report.
2026 Tenant Expectations FAQs
1. What do corporate tenants value most in 2026?
Tenants prioritize a frictionless experience. According to the VTS Global Workplace Report, 92% of business leaders want a single-app solution for building access and suite management. In comparison, nearly 90% believe personalized digital tools are the key to driving employee attendance.
2. How has hybrid work changed office demand in 2026?
While demand remains below 2019 levels, it is highly concentrated in "flight-to-quality" assets. Only 1% of surveyed companies are fully remote. The current challenge for landlords is not "if" tenants will return, but "how" their spaces support the hybrid needs of the 62% of firms that have adopted these models.
3. What is the most common complaint from tenants regarding their landlords?
The most significant negative impact on tenant-landlord relationships is unaddressed maintenance. High-touch communication and responsive building operations are now the primary drivers of tenant retention and renewal strategies.
For more complimentary data and analysis to shape critical tenant, leasing, and marketing strategy decision-making, check out the quarterly VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) and our 2023 Global Landlord Report.
