There are numerous options when it comes to operating a hostel but one must-have is a PMS. While there are still hostels getting by on paper & pencil or basic spreadsheets, it’s becoming far rarer as owners and managers discover just how much time, money, and energy a great PMS (property...
Interested in learning more about hosteling? Want insider tips on how hostels operate, what makes a facility unique, and the amazing people who run them? Then you can't miss out on the Hostel Road Trip Podcast highlighting some of the best hostels by region.The podcast kicked off this past month...
Aside from “Where did all the teaspoons go??” and “How can I make my staff actually want to clean?”, one of the most common questions that plague hostel owners is “What should a manager do?” This may seem like a silly or even obvious question but the answer can vary dramatically depending on who...
Recently while traveling through the US, I stayed at Bunk + Brew Hostel in Bend, Oregon. Before departing, I decided to jump on a live stream on my personal Facebook page called “5 Reasons Why I LOVE Staying In Hostels”. I know a lot of my Facebook audience is Americans in the Pacific Northwest, so...
The following press release was provided by In The Works, a PR firm representing the YHA Swanage. The result of a £1.5 million refurbishment has been unveiled at YHA Swanage in the South West.The extensive investment at YHA Swanage has created 11 brand new en suite bedrooms and...
The date and time of this panel is Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 @ 17:00 UCT. **We recently did a two-part, in-depth blog post on Guest Screening. Both of these generated a lot of feedback, both here on Hostel Management and on our Facebook group. This is a very tricky topic, with a lot of...
Last month we published a blog on the importance of “Guest Screening”. This is a tricky topic, and we received a lot of feedback and multiple points of view. One thing remained certain, many hostels around the world take precautions in some form to keep “bad apples” out in an attempt to maintain...
No accommodation provider, or any business for that matter, wants to have dodgy or dangerous guests. However communal living, a foundational aspect of hostels, presents a unique challenge in this respect. Beyond the obvious issues with someone who is dangerous or a potential thief, having the wrong...
On 25 May 2018 the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will take effect and become immediately enforceable.As a hostel operator, this DOES apply to your business, regardless of where you operate. It’s a big deal, so we’ll cover some of what you need to know about it.Important note: I am...
After attending the American Hostel Conference last month, I gained great insight into the many types of hostels in the US, especially those opening up. Several attendees were in the process of starting a new hostel or had the dream to do so. The conference had some great presentations for both...
A hostel owner in Victoria, Australia believes her businesses are no longer viable because of competition from Airbnb.Mohya Davies has run a backpackers hostel and holiday apartments in Foster, near Wilsons Promontory in eastern Victoria, for 15 years, but is shutting both businesses at the end of...
I recently attended and presented at the wonderful first annual American Hostel Conference, hosted by Vicki Matsis of NotSo Hostel in Charleston, South Carolina. It had been awhile since I was able to attend a hostel conference, and I had a good laugh when old friends greeted me upon arrival with “...
