Report

Hostelworld "categories"

Hostel Reviews, Booking Engines, and Directories

ACBBPatrick started this discussion 14 years 2 weeks ago

Hostelworld Categories. Found this very interesting new feature that Hostelworld is introducing. I can't find any formal announcement from Hostelworld about this. I haven't found any discussion about this on this site either. Not sure how long that this has been "percolating" but it may turn out to be the biggest change to their hostel description section in the history of their site. I believe this will be very contentious.

For those of you with out access to the back-office of a hostels Hostelworld microsite here are the categories that they have created for all hostels to choose from. As it stands now they want us to choose two of the following list:

Eco Hostel
Adventure Hostel
Beach Hostel
Party Hostel
Ski Hostel
Surf Hostel
Haunted Hostel
Remote/off the beaten track hostel
Family Hostel
Gay Friendly Hostel
Ryokan Hostel
Onsen Hostel

That's it.:eek:

The only explanation I could find was this ominous statement:

"Please select two categories that you feel represents your hostel.
Currently categories won't show on Hostelworld.com but they will in the coming months."

Wow...

Comments

Report

uktrail

14 years

Well, they should have consulted people like us before they made their list. There are some good categories there, but an awful lot missing.

I am thinking of the last two hostels I stayed in. These both fitted my choice of being friendly and sociable. Their best category would be: Not a party hostel. One of them was a mountain hostel (why is that choice not there, when they have beach, surf and other locational aspects??). It could just about be called an adventure hostel, if mountain hiking counts as adventure. The other one was strong on ecology, but while I support the idea, I would not choose a hostel based on it.

I then think about the potential hostel that, given the opportunity, I might start. It would be friendly and sociable, it would be in a small town, it would certainly welcome families but it would strongly cater for individuals, it would operate sensible recycling, it would be as friendly to gays as to everyone else. It would be none of the categories -- and that would be its main attraction!

Report

ACBBPatrick

14 years

How can any hostel accept being pigeon-holed into any categories let alone only two? There are tens of thousands of "hostel properties" in the world. There are millions of backpackers in the world. There are four seasons (well only two in some places, backpackers and no backpackers). The guest experience at our hostels change daily! Yet we are somehow able to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction regardless of the current demographic or even expectation. Do you base it: on how you see your hostel or what you want, on what happened yesterday or on a third party's evaluation (guide book writers, bloggers, self-appointed experts views)?

Using a rigid system of classifications (any list of choices is limiting in some way) will lead to disatisfaction as people then try to measure your hostel against the criteria Hostelworld has chosen. For instance how many backpackers will know the difference between a Ryokan and an Onsen (I'm not sure if there even is a difference)

One of the missing definitions of a hostel from all the wise discourse I have read on this site and from other places/guidebooks is that a hostel is often what you make it, or better yet what the current crop of guests transforms the place into. This changes all the time. We set some basic etiquette standards and expectations, keep the social vibe going, watch for out of bounds issues etc but the guests are the demographic. This changes every day. A rigid system of classification will alienate people and worse yet opportunity for hostels.

Just watch when a "party hostel" has an off night a verbose backpacker slams the hostel with a review for instance. A beach hostel, with great surf, that is gay friendly, eco friendly, near a ski hill, that is haunted. What do you choose?

One of the joys/fears of hostelling is about the surprises that await when you first walk through the door of a hostel. There are many complaints about backpackers not stretching their boundaries and taking chances more on this site. People longing for the non-web/notebook days and even non guide book days. I don't see this classification system helping that issue at all.

I suppose that in the cities where hundreds of hostels exist this may be helpful but those cities are far and few between around the world. Really.

Choosing between hostels is first and foremost in today's world a decision that is most often in fact always on Hostelworld's site a decision that is made by the guest based on previous guests experiences. Word of mouth, plain and simple.

Hey Hostelworld. Take a much more comprehensive list with items like the criteria/descriptions above that you are proposing and add it to the "penny for your thoughts" questionaire. ie What two items on this list best describe your experience at this hostel. Then average the scores, post the highest two on each hostels microsite. Give the in depth averages to those that want to find out a deeper look into each hostels averages (hostel staff obviously and possibly those that achieve "Avid Traveller" status). More people will complete reviews which is better for everyone. This sticks to the spirit of the review system, is transparent and based on the widest possible demographic.

Hey Lurkers join this forum and tell us what you think. Dinosaurs, we need your wise counsel.

Report

Josh Hostels

14 years

Interesting... I think it might be more accurate to have the guests choose the categories, like on Tripadvisor. Also, to make it less restrictive for the hostels, maybe use "fuzzy" categorization instead of limiting it to just two categories. They would get more accurate results and be able to match the hostels with what guests are looking for much better.

Well, they should have consulted people like us before they made their list. There are some good categories there, but an awful lot missing.

I am thinking of the last two hostels I stayed in. These both fitted my choice of being friendly and sociable. Their best category would be: Not a party hostel. One of them was a mountain hostel (why is that choice not there, when they have beach, surf and other locational aspects??). It could just about be called an adventure hostel, if mountain hiking counts as adventure.

It might be more accurate to do it by "attributes" rather than than categories. "Not a party hostel" is a good attribute that people are looking for.

The categories look familiar though. :)

Eco-hostels:
http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/42/eco-friendly-hostels
http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/hostel-types/eco-hostels/

Party hostels:
http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/39/party-hostels
http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/hostel-types/party-hostels/

Family hostels:
http://www.hostelworld.com/travel-features/86/family-friendly-hostels
http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/hostel-types/family-hostels/

Beach hostels:
http://www.hostels.com/features/beach-hostels
http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/summer-hostel-holiday/beach-hostels/

Etc...

How can any hostel accept being pigeon-holed into any categories let alone only two?...

Using a rigid system of classifications (any list of choices is limiting in some way) will lead to disatisfaction as people then try to measure your hostel against the criteria Hostelworld has chosen.

If they would have users choose the categories or tag the hostels with attributes, they should be able to get enough data to make the attributes "fuzzy" -- one hostel could be categorized something like: 70% party hostel, 15% non-party hostel, 85% ski hostel, 50% adventure hostel, and then matched up to user preferences.

Report

santa klaus

14 years

"Haunted" as in Ghostbusters? Spooky staff included? Weird sounds at night?
Sorry, English is not my native language and the dictionary doesn´t offer any alternative meaning.
Can anyone please tell me what a "haunted hostel" is supposed to be? :confused:

I think I will select "Ryokan Hostel" and "Onsen Hostel". I have no idea what that is, but it sounds funny.

Report

uktrail

14 years

"Haunted" as in Ghostbusters? Spooky staff included? Weird sounds at night?
Sorry, English is not my native language and the dictionary doesn´t offer any alternative meaning.
Can anyone please tell me what a "haunted hostel" is supposed to be? :confused:

Carbisdale Castle in Scotland has gone through the following evolution:

* Hey, it's a castle! I wonder if it has a ghost?

* Someone said it has a ghost.

* People say that it has a ghost.

* It has a ghost.

* Come and stay at Carbisdale Castle with its resident ghost (official publicity).

I guess this makes it a haunted hostel (:confused:).

(Of course, it's not true. The castle is too modern to have a ghost! (built around 1914). ):D

Report

santa klaus

14 years

Aha... :D

Whatever they smoke, I want that stuff, too.

Report

Ria

14 years

A haunted hostel has a ghost in it or claims to...our San Diego hostel is reported to have a ghost and we are listed in several publications as being haunted - even historical ones from before we were a hostel. Recently a guest (and a personal friend of mine) had a ghost encounter in this hostel...but will i list it as haunted? I'm not sure as i'm not sure if, like another poster mentioned, the ghost does not 'show' itself if they will walk away disappointed and give us a lower rating as a result - or if they will stay away because they are frightened. (btw - the 'ghost' only surfaces a few times per year so feel free to stay anyway just in case you are worried - i'll be sure to put you in a non-ghost room lol).

Can anyone tell me what a •Ryokan Hostel and •Onsen Hostel hostel are?

I have noted one of our hostels as a party hostel because we actually do get complaints of the hostel being too party oriented...so better they know...

but i agree that we need more categories before i'm comfortable to choose selections. For instance, all my hostels are gay friendly...but if i have to choose two categories and i don't choose that one, will people think they are NOT gay friendly?

How the heck do i describe our hostel that is social but not a party hostel?

I think more work needs to be done.

Report

Rucksack Brian

14 years

...the ghost does not 'show' itself if they will walk away disappointed and give us a lower rating as a result

At one point I considered opening a haunted hostel and using holograms to ensure that ghosts would be seen. Someday I might still do that.

Report

ACBBPatrick

14 years

A haunted hostel has a ghost in it or claims to...our San Diego hostel is reported to have a ghost and we are listed in several publications as being haunted - even historical ones from before we were a hostel. Recently a guest (and a personal friend of mine) had a ghost encounter in this hostel...but will i list it as haunted? I'm not sure as i'm not sure if, like another poster mentioned, the ghost does not 'show' itself if they will walk away disappointed and give us a lower rating as a result - or if they will stay away because they are frightened. (btw - the 'ghost' only surfaces a few times per year so feel free to stay anyway just in case you are worried - i'll be sure to put you in a non-ghost room lol).

Can anyone tell me what a •Ryokan Hostel and •Onsen Hostel hostel are?

I have noted one of our hostels as a party hostel because we actually do get complaints of the hostel being too party oriented...so better they know...

but i agree that we need more categories before i'm comfortable to choose selections. For instance, all my hostels are gay friendly...but if i have to choose two categories and i don't choose that one, will people think they are NOT gay friendly?

How the heck do i describe our hostel that is social but not a party hostel?

I think more work needs to be done.

By the way this is not a "proposal" by Hostelworld, this is a done deal, a directive/requirement for all hostels. The only unknown is when it will appear on their sites, which will include all the affiliates I'm sure.

How many hostels in the world fit any two of these criteria? I suppose if I had 5 hostels in a city then I would feel comfortable that I was able to service our current guest demographic adequately.

Am I the only one seeing the business limiting implications of this classification system?

I would like someone to explain the benefits of this rigid, limited classification system for hostels.

@Ria A Ryokan is a traditional "old school" Japanese hotel, often in resort areas, where you are treated with very attentive personable service, in that wonderful, polite Japanese way, it may or may not include a traditional Japanese bath.

An Onsen is a traditional Japanese bath, often at natural hotsprings, that may or may not contain a traditional Japanese hotel!

Traditional Japanese hotels are based around tatami rooms serving as guest accommodations, with Futon mats for sleeping at night. During the day the futons are put away and the sleeping area becomes a day room that also can serve as an "in room" traditional dining area. The attentive services is very memorable, relaxing and enjoyable.

Add the word hostel to these places and who knows what they are?

Report

abooth77

14 years

I just checked Hostelworld.com and it wasn't that obvious as to how to find these categories listed. You have to go to the Guides & Info tab at the top, then click on Features and then you'll see "Hostel Types" listed in the right-hand column. There aren't that many hostels listed in any of the categories. It just appears that they are creating a new search variable…I don’t think people actually travel like this but who knows. Hostelworld will also probably use this for some of their front page promotions.

Overall though, I don't think this is something that we need to be overly concerned about at this point until/unless more information comes out to state the contrary.

Search form

Report 'Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Report 'Re: Hostelworld "categories"'?

Pages

Join the world's largest community of hostel professionals.

Check Your Email