Vantage Space Global Trends Report: Q3 2024

1: Global Average Occupancy

In Q3 2024, occupancy levels declined across all regions compared to Q2, with the global average falling to 32.0%—a notable 7.0 percentage point drop. APAC remains the most actively occupied region at 37.0%, though it experienced the steepest quarter-on-quarter decline alongside EMEA. EMEA and AMER followed with 29.0% and 26.0% average occupancy respectively. The relatively stable passive occupancy in EMEA suggests ongoing hybrid work patterns, while AMER’s low figures reflect continued adjustments to space allocation and return-to-office policies.

Table 1: Average Occupancy by Region. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data.

2: Average Occupancy by Space Type

Work space occupancy remains highest in APAC (41.0%), where individual workstations continue to see relatively high usage despite a regional dip. Globally, meeting space occupancy dropped sharply to 21.0%, a 14.0-point decline, suggesting significant underuse of formal collaboration areas, particularly pronounced in AMER (-19.0 points) and APAC (-18.0 points). Interestingly, “other” spaces saw a slight global increase (+3.0%), driven perhaps by employees seeking alternative, informal work settings. AMER saw low occupancy across all space types, reinforcing trends toward potential downsizing or strategic reconfiguration.

Table 2: Average Occupancy by Space Type. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data.

3: Meeting Room Occupancy

Meeting rooms are spaces designed for collaborative activities, such as team meetings or client presentations. A continuing trend is the use of large meeting rooms for small groups, creating inefficiencies in how space is used and perceived.

Table 3: Average Meeting Size by Region. Note: The changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data.

The global average meeting size decreased significantly to 2.7 attendees, reinforcing the need for smaller, more agile meeting rooms. EMEA experienced the most dramatic shift with a drop of 8.8 attendees, indicating a sharp correction following previously higher average meeting sizes. In contrast, APAC and AMER saw marginal increases, though small meetings remain dominant across all regions.

Across all regions, a mismatch persists between meeting room size and actual usage. Globally, 44.0% of meeting rooms are designed for five or more occupants, while over 75% (42.2% + 27.6% + 10.3% + 6.6% = 86.7%) of observed meetings involve four or fewer participants. EMEA stands out with 68.0% of its rooms built for larger groups (size 4+), yet less than 10% (6.9% + 4.1% + 2.7% + 1.9% + 2.3% + 1.1% + 3.9% = ~23%) of meetings exceed four attendees—highlighting a clear opportunity to rebalance meeting room inventories in favor of smaller, more flexible spaces.

Conclusion

As of October 1, 2024, workplace occupancy trends suggest a continued shift toward flexibility and selectivity in office usage, possibly influenced by typical post-summer adjustments and evolving hybrid work models. The global decline in occupancy—particularly in meeting spaces—aligns with rising hybrid work adoption and a strategic rethinking of in-person collaboration needs. EMEA’s dramatic drop in average meeting sizes and APAC’s stable work space utilization illustrate divergent regional adjustments. The data underscores the persistent need for a better match between room types and employee behavior, particularly in rightsizing meeting spaces. Organizations that prioritize adaptability, data-informed decisions, and employee-centric design will be best positioned to navigate these ongoing shifts.