If one of my biggest struggles in life is managing my time, then a close second is not wasting it to begin with. I chose this month’s topic of “Efficiency” because August is high season for many hostels and it becomes even more important.
In the last 10 years I’ve lived in 5 different countries, and traveled in many more.
Backpackers: the Ultimate Lazy. Go around the block for a bar? Can’t be bothered. Oh, you serve drinks at the bar downstairs? Eh, I suppose I could make it that far for a round. Or seven.
Someone once told me a brilliant idea for a hostel tshirt. It was basically along the lines of “My name is ____. I’m from ____. I’m traveling for ____ weeks/months. I’m going to ____ next.” The guest could just fill in the blanks with a marker, and thus avoid the standard hostel small talk.
The scope of a hostel manager’s job is about as wide and varied as country flags on an aged backpack.
Our HostelManagement theme for December is “Industry Expectations: Standing out, while fitting in.” I have to admit, even I thought to myself, “How can I write about such a cliche?” I want my writing to be meaningful, but most of all useful.
This month our panel discussion will be the topic “If I Knew Then What I Know Now”. While generally I will focus my writing around the chosen topic, I don’t exactly feel qualified to speak up on that one yet.