What it means
Desk hoteling adds a reservation layer on top of flexible seating. Instead of arriving and hoping a good desk is free, employees book a specific workstation hours or days in advance -- much like booking a hotel room. This gives people certainty about where they will sit while still allowing the organisation to share desks across a larger workforce.
The term distinguishes itself from hot desking by emphasising the advance reservation. In practice, desk hoteling requires a booking platform that shows real-time availability, lets people pick desks on a floor plan, and prevents double bookings. Many systems also support recurring reservations so employees can lock in the same desk every Tuesday and Thursday.
Desk hoteling is especially popular in hybrid offices where teams coordinate their in-office days. It strikes a balance between the efficiency of shared seating and the comfort of knowing exactly where you will work.