Hi everyone,
For a good part of the last 6 months I have been putting together my business plan for opening a hostel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Whilst the business plan is coming along nicely, I'm still a bit in the dark as to how it will go from a document in my computer to a real-life hostel.
A little background: I've travelled extensively throughout the Southeast Asian region on more than one occasion. My business partner is a good friend, a like minded traveller and has also spent a considerable amount of time in the region. I have a university background in business as well as several years in a small family operation. My business partner comes from a graphic design background with experience in sign writing, digital art, and front of house web design.
We are aiming to start construction end 2015.
Ok, back to the question.. Has anyone got any tips or ideas to do with the building and opening stage of a hostel? preferably in Cambodia. We still have a fair amount to do before then but, in order to see the picture in its entirety I'd like to have an idea of where to ultimately work to.
Thank you in advance!
10 years
I live in Bali, but have spent a few weeks traveling in Cambodia. I thought the hostel concept would never work in SE Asia as there are plenty of cheap hotels and guesthouses. There are however a couple of hostels now open in Bali, so you might want to look at their websites for some inspiration.
You might want to look at an old house and renovate that rather than trying to build from scratch. I am sorry I can't really offer much. Maybe just research and research your market.
10 years
I have experience in developing hostels from scratch here in Thailand and would be happy to help you in your plans, ask away and if I have the answers I will do my best to help....all I ask is that we do not bullshit each other
Good luck
10 years
Well I guess my main question would be how do I estimate percentage of beds occupied during the different holiday seasons. I have written a few emails to multiple hostels in the surrounding area but none have been too keen to help me out with any sort of historical figures on bed occupancy.. In my 3 year profit and loss breakdown I have gone for 30-40% occupancy in low season for the first year and 40-70% in the high season for the first year.. These percentages increase for the following years (in hope the hostel develops some what of a good reputation). I kind of guessed these numbers based off annual tourism numbers from the last 2-5 years in Cambodia...
Any suggestions as to whether I could improve the accuracy of this?
10 years
Hi,
There are a couple of ways to gauge potential occupancy rates(it is only ever going to be an approx figure as you say obtaining information in this part of the world is not easy)
Information can be sourced from:
Central governments do publish tourists numbers (but few show per region)
Local occupancy rates may be available on line via companies such as http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/HNR-region-region-Asia.html
or your national/local press.
The likes of Expedia, hostelworld, booking.com have good good info on the make up of their guests and may share some of this information.
Hostel International in you country will have a regional office and may share information.
The best factual equation is I believe:
WYSE Travel Confederation states 20% of all holiday makers in the mature markets e.g. Nth Europe, USA Australasia etc. are backpackers, my suggestion is to work with this figure, but only use 5% of the 20% total (if you employ the figure Capital Venture companies work with when looking to judge the viability of a project i.e. 1% you come to the same result).
If you would like a spread sheet I work with when gauging a potential venue location do drop me your email address.
I hope this helps
10 years
fantastic, I'll have a look into the info and links you've provided. I appreciate it a lot, Thank you!
My email is [email protected]
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