This was posted in a thread about internet marketing, but I think the "Chain debate" qualifies for an own thread.
Well, I'd like to tell you a story instead. Here in Hungary we no fast food restaurants 20 years ago due to the Iron Curtain. We had nice little family restaurants instead. Since changing of the system, we have McDonalds, Burger King, KFC almost every corner. Guess how many people are eating in those little places with loads of atmosphere?
As you can see, relating to the new trends of travelling, Hostelworld is more oriented to offer Hotels instead of Hostels, obviously because they get more commission of it. As Hostelworld originally was based on serving low-budget tourists (they had the maximum 3 star hotels listed) , Boo.com is open for the 4-5 star hotels as well. If, let say, all your "rollie-pollies" (those guests who rather use the rolling cases instead of backpacks) would stay in hotels instead, how many people would stay in your hostel?
That is a big unfortunate, although understandable in a sense... As a FastFoodNation is more likely FasFoodPopulation, it is a process everywhere around the world. You get the "same" identity, quality, price anywhere you got into a fastfood shop, it is the same cult growing in shopping, as well travelling, etc. This is how big hostel chains growing these days, you can almost travel around Western-Europe staying in the same named hostel, getting the same services, almost like at an identical twin's house.This could be a safety issue although a bit boring as well... but also makes up a standard, as you trust it more then trying a new one... Which is risky, but way before that was the adventurous part of backpacking. :(
I work in one of these evil Hostel chains and think what aboriginalhostel says is a tad arrogant (excuse me).
1.
The "changing of the system" did not only bring McDonald´s to Budapest, but also an amazing lot of Hungarian-owned small backpacker hostels. So I think it´s unfair to blame the existence of McJunk on globalisation or capitalism - if that would be true, it would have brought hostel chains to Budapest, too. I think the people in Budapest just like to eat fast food - that´s a pity, but it´s their own choice.
2.
McDonalds with 30.000 restaurants worlswide is not quite the same thing as a hostel chain with 3 venues.
3.
As the name of your hostel suggests, you use an Australian theme just like we do. So you can´t just blame it on international chains if local identity gets lost.
4.
You mention the "adventurous part of backpacking". I already backpacked in times when almost nobody used the internet, and nobody reserved ahead. You just popped into a place and then were frustrated when it was full. My point is: let people decide themselves what sort of adventures they are looking for.
5.
It is arguable that small hostels are better than big ones. I like small hostels very much and sometimes wish I worked in a 50-bed hostel, but that size makes no financial ends meet in western Europe. I won´t work for Hungarian wages if I can have an Austrian one.
6.
I think most hostels as such son´t contribute a lot to "local identity". We´re all copying the same Australian business model here. It´s the sort of people who work in a hostel who give the place identity and they´ll always be locals.
7.
I can´t see what´s particularly bad about the fact that several hostels are under the same management. If it wouldn´t be for the same name, nobody would even notice that.
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