How industry advocacy, shared standards, and collective knowledge help hostels operate sustainably in North AmericaHostels occupy a rare and valuable space in the travel ecosystem. They are places of cultural exchange, community, and accessibility, offering experiences that traditional hotels and...
During (my recent journey to Ecuador, where I shared the inspiring story of the Pelgrim family from the Netherlands who took over the Mudhouse Hostel in Mompiche), I next had the chance to visit another lifestyle hostel that was actually for sale on HostelManagement.com—Hostel Coco Loco. Situated...
Hello, Hostel Community!I've always said, "hostels are so much more than just a cheap place to stay!" Those of us who have stayed in hostels know this intimately because we've had some of our most profound life experiences in community with other travelers. Handy Hostel has coined the phrase...
You know how we're always talking about the importance of fire safety? Well, I’ve got some blazing hot info for you. For a while now, I've talked about a serious flaw with ionization type smoke detectors. Sure, they're great at detecting burnt toast at 2am in the morning (we've all been there...
How many of you have memories from your earliest days of backpacking that include finding dorms ranging from ‘I guess this will do’ to ‘this is appalling but hey, it’s cheap!’ A main fixture was of course the rickety bunk bed that woke you every time the other person slightly moved in their sleep...
After my recent trip to Ukraine, I would like to ask you a question. We often don't like to think about these things but how could YOUR hostel serve the citizens of your country in an emergency?I personally witnessed the resilience and the optimism of the Ukrainian people and made a video to...
The video above is not the best I can do, but there is limited time these days. Message from Darren OverbyFor over 30 years, I have worked to create international peace through hostels. While many people feel hostels are simply a cheap place to stay, I have always known they are so...
(Note: The information in this blog post is also available in the video above. Why not subscribe to our YouTube channel?) Is your hostel not showing up as high as you would like in Google search results? Do you want more direct bookings, but realize that travelers...
The Childers Backpackers Fire happened in 2000 and it had a profound effect on me as a hostel owner. 15 backpackers died and many were injured. Since 2000, there have been many other hostel fires so fire safety is something every hostel owner should pay attention to. In this week'...
I routinely talk with aspiring owners to help them realize their dream of owning their own hostel. However, I felt this conversation with aspiring hostel owner, Brett Berghauer, was unique. Brett's questions really seemed to get at the heart of what hostel ownership is all about. It also led me to...
Headlines in OurHostels - Episode #3This is a weekly Hostel Management video where we will let you know what's happening on the site and what's new in the world of hosteling.
