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Thinking about opening a hostel in Austin, TX

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paulinafricke started this discussion 10 years 12 months ago

Hi my name is Paulina, joined the site to research some more information on the possibility of opening a hostel in Austin, TX. There are currently 3 hostels in Austin, and only one is in downtown. I've been doing a lot of research and I believe the city could support more than three hostels, but does anyone in the area have thoughts otherwise?

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rjd1983

10 years

Well Paulina, I think you're right, Austin could support another hostel, but it would have to be a small one about 40-60 beds - any more than that, you would over capacitate the market. From my experience, the weekends are extremely busy and sell out a week or two ahead, and you are predominately catering for young Americans wanting to party on 6th Street. If you can handle young Americans on drunken weekends, then by all means open a hostel there!

Locationwise, you will need to be with in a 5-10 minute walk of 6th Street to make the most out of your hostel in Austin. From what I can gather, Austin is booming, and that means property prices are booming, so it might be difficult to make another hostel financially viable there.

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ESS Universal Ltd

10 years

Hi Paulina

Two of my colleagues are about to open the first international hostel in Grand Rapids Michigan, they are very helpful guy's and sure would advise you of any up's n down's they came across; also they are setting up the ESS Universal hostel supply outlet, a one stop shop for correct hostel equipment, worth a look I think, you can contact Mark or Phil Bourman at:

[email protected] and see hostel equipment at www.heavydutybunkbeds.co.uk

Good luck Pauline with your venture!

Regards
Will

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juls

10 years

Hi Paulina,

I currently live in Austin, TX and have thought (for many years now) that it could handle a couple more hostels.

Feel free to contact me if you do go forward in Austin. I would love to be a resource in some capacity, as this is something I have thought about doing myself many times.

I also agree that it could be a challenge to create a financially viable hostel, with properties so expensive etc., but my background isn't really in business...

On that note, I may consider opening a hostel in the SoCo (south congress) or south first areas if I were you- as it is a very popular tourist location with plenty of attractions in walking distance etc. though still just a 5-10 minute bus ride to downtown (and there is no hostel there as of yet). It is, however, also an expensive neighborhood..

Best of luck!

-Julie

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rjd1983

10 years

Paulina

How did you get on with this? Did you decide to open a hostel?

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