14 years
A start was made a while back with a web site for hostel workers that offered various deals. Only 14 hostels joined up. I think it is time to get it moving again.
http://www.hostelworkers.info/hostels-specials.html
Free accommodation for hostel staff members?
Hostel Trends and News
One popular suggestion that I have heard at conferences, Unconferences, and staff meet-ups this year is the idea that hostels should offer complimentary dorm beds to staff members from other hostels when they travel. I think it's a great idea for everyone involved.
Obviously there would be limitations based on availability and demand, but what do you guys think about this? Should this be adopted as a general policy among the hostel industry?
Do you charge staff members from other hostels when they stay with you?
- Comments
14 years
It has been our written policy for years to offer discounts for staff from other hostels. They only need to prove they are current staff (usually a confirmed email from their manager works).
We offer comp accomodation for managers and owners of hostels.
Of course this depends on the season and availability but generally it's a 20-25% discount for staff and a 2 day comp for managers/owners. we also try to put owners/managers in private rooms when available.
of course all our staff get free stays in our other hostels! We may also add a family discount this year.
I really thought more hostels did this....as it is a great way to spread the word and generally hostel staff are not well paid so it's a nice/right thing to do.
had no idea we were so unique in this.
14 years
I think there are a lot more hostels that have this policy than just USA Hostels and the ones we see in Plakian's link. They just haven't chimed in yet. (Don't be shy, friends!)
Not only is it the nice/right thing to do, but it's great publicity for your hostel too! Travelers are probably going to listen to a person that they know more than any online reviewer, especially if that person has established himself as a trusted source of travel info. That's what a receptionist does best! If that receptionist has experienced your hostel for himself then his recommendation carries even more weight. In my opinion it's just good business sense.
13 years
Hi, I will add my 2 hostels (X Hostel Varna and X Hostel Alicante) to that website and will try to convince other hostel owners I know to do the same :)
11 years
WE offer 2 free nights for hostel staff from other hostels in the dorm room on the upper bunk beds. If it slow season ( or not a weekend in high season) hostel owners or managers get one night free in a private room plus second free in dorm room. We get the same back when traveling to many other hostels. This give us a chance to share ideas and often the staff, from other hostels give us paying customers later.
11 years
The www.hostelworkers.info website was discussed again recently in the I work in a hostel / with hostels - Hostel workers community facebook group.
If you offer special deals and discounts for hostel workers, please contact the site and list your offer. It would be great to see a collective effort by our industry to support our colleagues.
The problem with the facebook group is that the offers are made as posts on the group's wall. If someone in traveling to your city (or you are traveling somewhere) it is very hard to find those offers after a few other posts have been made. Through the site it would be much more organized.
[Note: I have no affiliation with HostelWorkers.info, but I think it's a great idea and I fully support it]
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