Cryptocurrency seems to be a rabbit-hole of a subject, what with the seemingly endless new coins being created and new tech jargon juggling around the internet. Reading all the bitcoin websites about just getting started can seem like more work than it is worth for your 50-bed hostel. ...
What is Bitcoin and Blockchain?I am not going to get in too deep with cryptocurrencies because there are a ton of websites devoted to Bitcoin and can explain it in better detail than I can. In fact, I will include several links to sites that explain in depth about the various tech jargon I use in...
It has been said many times before: it is not “if” a situation arises, but “when”. How do good leaders prepare for crisis? They respond rather than react to disaster, the difference between the two is in preparation and being proactive.This month, I spoke with Gal Mor, of Abraham Hostels in...
Who is Booking.com?You see it within the top five of search results every time you Google a hotel name. And you will often see it listed in the sidebar when Googling a city name so you can plan your trip. With over 29 million hotels and accommodation provider listings to date, Booking.com has...
I recently read this article about an American tourist turning violent against hostel staff in Thailand. Reason? He didn’t want to pay for the young lady he brought into the dorms with him the night before. 4am is still night, right? The tourist was being detained physically by hostel staff and...
Wherever you are, a disaster can strike. Besides flash floods and hurricanes, a fire from an ill-placed tea towel next to a gas hob could potentially destroy your business and harm people. It is vital to have a preparedness plan in place, to go over it often to make sure it is up to date, and...
TripAdvisor is a name that invokes both familiarity and trepidation. It is both a trusted source of user reviews and yet beckons those of vindictive spirit if even the rain happens to fall while they are on holiday. No doubt TripAdvisor is a powerful online tool-slash-weapon, like a sharp butcher...
Who is Agoda?Agoda started up as an OTA in Asia in 2005 but was purchased into the Booking Holdings Group in 2007, which also encompasses Priceline and Booking.com. Agoda has always been Asia-centric, both in customer base and accommodation base, but has been expanding their offerings and audience...
This year’s American Hostel Conference had plenty to talk about. The two-day affair was hosted by VIkki Matsis at the Notso Hostel in South Carolina with many guest speakers and participants from Alaska to Maine. Here is a small excerpt highlighting what you may have missed from the event.The...
Marketing:IntroWelcome to the final part of this three-part series on creating your hostel website where we will detail what you need to know to successfully market your hostel. Although this is the first time we have covered marketing specifically you will be pleased to know that most of the...
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...
Essential Elements:What is the purpose of your hostel website?To decide what the essential elements are for your hostel website we must go back to the original question - What is your website for? The answer for most people is to turn visitors into guests at your hostel - simple. So now the...
