15 years
Hi there
What is the best reservation system to get register for first time for a new hostel?
hostelworld.com?, hostelbookers.com? hostelsclub.com? any other?
Thanks,
JC
Questions about starting a new hostel?
Start a Hostel
This is the section of the site to ask questions and answer questions about opening a hostel.
Many people would like to open a hostel, but they don't know where to begin.
Many common questions are about topics like:
- Zoning requirements
- Startup costs
- How to market the hostel
- Whether to join an established hostel association like HI
- What kinds of rules to include or avoid
- How to keep shady characters out
What makes a good hostel? How does one open a hostel?
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- Comments
15 years
So join all 3 giving 50% of your beds to HW and 15% to each of HB and HC. Allocate beds for at least the next 6 months.
It is always good to keep a few beds back for walk ins and for reservations who want to stay longer. Nothing worse than having to say to someone who is having a good time "No, you have to leave today".
After a couple of months you can adjust the percentages according to demand.
15 years
AH Ok.
But the cost associated to work with three reservations systems are the same? It does not mean I will have higher cost to be dealing with the three of them?
Thanks,
JC
15 years
No cost at all other than the usual 10% 'deposit', provided that you manage the reservations yourself without these fancy computer systems! I prefer the "gut feeling" approach; by the end of May, if there are loads of reservations for July & August, I simply close off all the booking engines knowing that I can fill the last few places with walk-ins. I have been doing this for years with a 48 bed hostel; much bigger then yes, you will probably need a PMS (Property Management System) - refer to other threads about this.
15 years
OK thank you for clarifying all theses things. Is important for me to know about these staff since we are just in the start up process for an hostal and there is a lot of things that we either don´t know or have doubts.
JC
15 years
The 10% deposit... i assume that means they get 10% of the room fee?
Yes - but here we do not talk about rooms but about beds.
15 years
Has anyone else run into issues with the local planning/zoning and fire marshal's offices in regards to the following issues? These relate to opening a hostel under the laws (local zoning, State Fire Marshal, Building Code (based on IBC), and Florida Statutes) of Florida. The following is based on what I have come to find out - so the following information MAY NOT BE CORRECT, as these are my assumptions based on what I have read. If you have any clarifications or suggestions to the following, please feel free to provide them here.
1. Classification as either: A) Group Housing; or B) Bed and Breakfast.
There are different use and occupancy restrictions for each. For example, group housing fits a hostel better in terms of different people living together and sharing space (temporarily), but a bed and breakfast has a better "sound" to it but in some places requires you to serve a "continental" breakfast.
2. Requirements to install an automatic fire sprinkler system and/or fire alarm system.
This can be quite costly for, say, an old house that one wants to convert to a hostel. I can see the necessity though...
3. Restrictions on number of occupancy (kinda goes with #1).
If you're a Bed and Breakfast in a non-residential district, you can have 8 "loding units", but if it's in a residential district, you're restricted to 2. What defines a "lodging unit"?
If you're a "group housing" facility, then you're restricted to 50 square feet of floor area, per person, per loding unit. You also need to provide restrooms that include a shower, a sink, and a toilet, for each lodging unit, on each floor of the building , for each sex that sleeps on that floor. Again, definition of lodging unit anyone?
Comments or suggestions on anything related to these topics are greatly encouraged! Thanks!
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