WeWork to Offer Discounted Rent to Queens Chamber Members, Joins Queens Tech Council

Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Shyam Gidumal, President and Chief Operating Officer of WeWork, Brendan Leavy, Business Development Manager at the Queens Chamber of Commerce (Photo: Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)

March 17, 2021 By Michael Dorgan

WeWork, the shared-office leasing company, announced Tuesday that it has entered into a partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce to offer its members discounted rent.

The company has also entered into a similar deal with the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx Chambers of Commerce as part of an effort to help businesses return to profitability.

WeWork, which made the announcement at its Long Island City office Tuesday, also said that it has joined the Queens Tech Council. The council was established last month with the aim of helping local businesses embrace new technology.

Chamber members, through the partnership, will be offered two months free rent on a six-month lease for private office space at a designated WeWork location.

Similarly, Queens Chamber of Commerce members can get 15 percent off a 12-month contract on WeWork’s “all-access” service. The all-access service provides workers with the right to use any WeWork office location– a popular service for business people who travel regularly and require flexible office space.

There are 78 WeWork locations in total throughout the city, two of which are in Queens.

WeWork is also giving a free one-month trial to any Queens Chamber of Commerce member looking to use the “all-access” service for the first time.

An office area inside WeWork in Long Island City (Photo by Sarah Blesener, provided by WeWork)

Shyam Gidumal, the President and Chief Operating Officer of WeWork, said that the partnership comes at a time when the economic outlook is beginning to improve.

“It’s a very powerful environment that we have now and we’re beginning to see those green shoots come out,” Gidumal said yesterday at the WeWork Long Island City office at 28-07 Jackson Ave.

“We really want to be able to get companies back to work… in a safe and effective way,” he said, noting that work stations inside every WeWork location are appropriately spaced out for social distancing.

Enhanced cleaning procedures, he said, have also been implemented at all locations along with improvements in air ventilation systems.

Tom Grech, the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, said that the WeWork partnership is a major boost for Queens.

“As our borough and our city begin a safety-focused return to in-person work, the business community must do everything possible to kickstart our economic recovery by fostering innovation and growth,” Grech said.

Grech said that he also welcomed WeWork’s decision to join the Queens Tech Council, which is comprised of representatives from major tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon as well as professionals from start-up companies and local businesses.

“WeWork’s partnership and commitment to the Queens Tech Council will be a valuable asset in spurring economic development, ensuring that businesses in Queens have the resources they need to grow and thrive.”