205. How AI Gave WorkLodge Record Tours Every Month After 11 Years in Coworking

What happens when a coworking operator stops waiting for software and builds his own?

Mike Thakur, founder and CEO of WorkLodge in Houston, is back. After 11 years and a decade of mixed results with ad agencies, he rolled up his sleeves and started building with AI. Since turning his system on in March, WorkLodge has hit a record number of tours almost every month, some months 40 to 50 percent above their previous best.

We also get into:

• How Mike built his own booking system, landing pages and ad tracking with AI, and captures leads even when someone abandons a form halfway.

• Lola, the AI phone agent that answers when the front desk can't, books tours and sends summaries into Slack.

• Why meeting rooms are booking out with non-members, and the 12-person room Mike wishes he had built sooner.

• Why AI hasn't cost a single job on his team, and why he says it lies and needs a human to check it.

• Moving back to Houston, putting his kids to work in the business, and the nonprofit project he is still searching for.

If you've wondered what AI can really do for a flex space, this is an episode you'll want to hear.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Mike Thakur / WorkLodge on LinkedIn (company page; personal profile URL not verified)

WorkLodge website

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