41 Percent of Canadian Companies Plan to Hire Additional Staff in 2011

Regus Business Tracker Survey Also Reveals Companies Look to Increase Employment Globally as Upturn Takes Hold

DALLAS, October 12, 2010 - Businesses across the globe are now looking to hire new staff, in one of
the first signs that global economic recovery and growth is on a sustainable
upward trajectory. This is the key finding of the bi-annual Regus
(www.regus.com/) Business Tracker survey that interviews more than
10,000 businesses around the world. The fact that companies are looking to
hire additional staff will be regarded as a significant indicator that the
mindset of organizations has shifted towards investment in growth through
human capital. Regus, a global provider of flexible workplace solutions,
found that more than a third of companies (36 percent net[1]) surveyed said
they intend to increase headcount. Canadian business outperformed the global
average with two fifths (41 percent net) of companies preparing to add new
staff in 2011.

These findings are particularly significant, coming in the wake of recent
observations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (
www.imf.org/external/index.htm) and International Labour Organization
(ILO) (www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm) that global unemployment
has reached record proportions in the last three years (up to 210 million
since 2007). These organizations have warned about potential problems for
national economies if this trend continues. Unemployment reduces national
taxation income and increases public spending. The findings of the Regus
Business Tracker provide important evidence that the world unemployment
situation may be set to ease in 2011.

The survey canvassed the opinions of more than 10,000 senior business
people in 78 countries asking them about their current revenue performance,
their profitability, their projected future revenues and their wider
expectations of national economic growth. These indicators form the basis for
the report's Business Optimism Index, which unusually reflects actual
performance as well as near-term outlook. Globally, this edition of the index
revealed a far more positive outlook, with a greater proportion of optimist
countries than six months ago. For Canada in particular, the global index
revealed a more subdued rating of 99, down nine points on six months ago.

Wes Lenci, Regus regional vice president for Canada, comments: "The
intention to increase headcount is a clear indicator that businesses want to
be prepared to grasp the opportunities that recovering markets may throw
their way. For Canada in particular, where employment increased by 36,000 in
August and 8.1 percent more people entered the labor force, unemployment
nevertheless edged up 0.1 percentage points. This finding tentatively
confirms that employment prospects in Canada are set to improve.[2]"

"In spite of this optimism, our research also highlights that 41 percent
of companies are still looking to reduce their overhead, through means other
than reducing staff. This reveals an attitude of cautious optimism. As
companies look to find economies in their own operations, we are likely to
see more and more organizations offering flexible working practices to their
existing or prospective employees in a bid to achieve a better work-life
balance and run a leaner organization."

About Regus

Regus is the world's largest provider of workplace solutions, with
products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional
meeting rooms, business lounges and the world's largest network of video
communication studios. Regus enables people to work their way, whether it's
from home, on the road or from an office. Customers such as Google,
GlaxoSmithKline, and Nokia join hundreds of thousands of growing small and
medium businesses that benefit from outsourcing their office and workplace
needs to Regus, allowing them to focus on their core activities.

More than 800,000 customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread
across a global footprint of 1,100 locations in 500 cities and 85 countries,
which allow individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever
they want to. Regus was founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1989, is
headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more
information please visit: www.regus.com

To download a copy of the full report please visit
www.regus.presscentre.com

    Press contacts:

    Julia Gaynor
    Affect Strategies
    +1-212-398-9680
    jgaynor@affectstrategies.com

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[1] The net employment figures in the Regus Business Tracker consist of:
<% of companies intending to increase staff over the next 6 months> minus <%
of companies intending to cut staff over the next 6 months>

[2]
www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/labour-travail/lfs-epa/lfs-epa-eng.htm

Press contacts: Julia Gaynor, Affect Strategies, +1-212-398-9680, jgaynor at affectstrategies.com