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 “...
Hostelworld have announced the winners of the 2018 HOSCAR Awards. Here are the winners from the Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large categories.Best Small Hostels (1-75 beds)1) Sungate One - Madrid, Spain2) Hostel Majdas - Mostar, Bosnia And Herzegovina3) Cozy Nook Hostel - Da Lat, Vietnam4...
Starting on 01 February 2018 Hostelworld will raise the commission to 15% for properties that previously paid only 12%.Back in 2014 HW raised their commissions from 10% to 12% for existing hostels. All other property types as well as any new hostels to open after that change went into effect were...
Website Campaign Live has reported that former Ladbrokes Coral marketing boss Kristof Fahy has joined booking website Hostelworld as its first chief customer officer.He started at Hostelworld this month (January 2018), filling the vacancy left by former chief marketing officer Otto Rosenberger, who...
Peter Gaines has marked his reappointment as the Chairman of the leading youth charity YHA (England and Wales) by signing off a £2.5 million investment in Bath Youth Hostel, the single biggest investment in a Youth Hostel in the South West.Peter Gaines was originally appointed as chairman of YHA in...
Finding the right manager for your hostel can feel like a huge task. Between finding applicants, testing them out to see if they are a good fit, and then fully training them, there is plenty to think about. -Where are the best places to find suitable managers?-Should you only hire management...
Marketing can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Some hostel owners may also feel like you have to spend a lot of money or lose a lot via OTA commissions since they can play a huge role in marketing a hostel. However neither of those have to be true to have effective marketing.There are...
How much more could you do with your hostel if you surrounded yourself with friends and industry professionals who are as passionate about their hostels as you are and willing to share their experiences?Join us for the Hostel Management Unconference in Norfolk, England! You’ll enjoy two and a...
