International Hostel Conference in Moscow: 16-19 January, 2014

The Moscow Hostel League is organizing an international hostel conference in Moscow, Russia. 16-19 January, 2014

Dear Hostel Owners, Managers, and Hostel Staff!

The «Moscow Hostel League» (a non-commercial partnership of Moscow hostels) together with the Tourism Committee of Moscow City invites you to participate in our 2014 annual hostel conference entitled «Hostels and smaller accommodation facilities, a way of raising professionalism in this field».

The conference will take place from 16 to 19 January 2014 in Moscow.
PARTICIPATION IN THE CONFERENCE IS FREE

More than 150 international hostel owners, managers and staff are expected to take part in the conference with the overall aim of raising and developing hostels in Russia. Amongst subjects to be discussed will be how to adopt international standards, raise operating standards, and how to comply with local legal and regulatory frameworks. The tourism committee of Russia will be on hand with expert professionals in these areas to offer advice.

The conference will discuss the following topics:

• A market over view of hostels in Russia (Speaker - the Chairman of The Moscow Hostels’ League)
• Organization of guest leisure activities (Various Speakers )
• HR issues, hiring and motivating staff (representatives from Russian and foreign hostels)
• Discussion of guest reviews, how to increase your ratings and avoid bad reviews (speaker - foreign specialist)
• Ways to attract Asian guests, working with Asian systems and resources on the internet (Speaker - Asian specialist)
• Russian Legal aspects of hostel work (speaker - Natalia Petrovskaya, lawyer)
• Organization of security in the hostel and what to do with unwanted guests (Speaker will be a Representative of the local law enforcement!)
• Success stories highlighting some of the best hostels in the world (Speakers - foreign and Russian representatives of hostels)
• Ways to increase hostel profitability and revenue streams. How to attract more direct bookings, and add additional services in hostels, such as selling drinks and snacks, taxis, laundry, excursions etc (speaker - foreign guest)
• Working with Booking.com: to optimize a hostels presence, nuances, advertising, etc. (Speaker - one of the top managers of Booking.com)
• «Apartment» hostels and hostels in non-residential buildings, exchange of international experiences (speakers: representatives of Germany, Romania and the Russian Federation)
• Hostel seasonality and the way to try and to attract bookings in the low season.

And now the fun stuff :)

Leisure Activities Program – ALL OF THESE ARE FREE

• Moscow Walking Tour
• Moscow Tour by double-decker bus
• Possibility to visit the Moscow Circus or theatre (small surcharge)
• Gala Dinner/ Russian Banquet for all conference participants
• Russian Sauna
• Horseback riding
• Sleigh rides + winter FUN
• Visit to a Russian Church
• Drinking Russian Vodka, and tours of Moscow nightlife (Tour Guide is the Manager of Napoleon Hostel. Participants to pay for their own drinks)

Conference participation conditions:

• Participation in the conference is FREE
• For the first 50 registered participants accommodation in Moscow is FREE for the period of the conference
• All activities are FREE
• Meals are paid independently
• Registration fee – 20$ contribution for gala dinner
• For foreign participants VISA SUPPORT IS FREE
• For registration please go to: http://ruhostels.ru/engconference

Yours Faithfully,
Director of the «League of Hostels», Olga Nedorezova