A recap of the NAHA Conference 2026
For the third year in a row, the North American Hostel Association (NAHA) met in Montreal, Canada, for a three-day event of networking, sharing industry information, and celebrating some of the top hostels in NAHA. Held at M Montreal Hostel, the 2026 NAHA Conference welcomed more than 100 industry professionals, from hostel owners and managers to account and operations managers of global brands such as Europe’s Famous Hostels Association, Safestay, and Hostelworld.
The major sponsors for the conference included Sleeptite, Cloudbeds, HI Canada, ASSD, HI USA, MEWS, Pricepoint, and Hostelworld. Supporting sponsors included ITH Mountain Hostel & Lodge, CHE Hostels, Hostel Sailing Tours, Samesun, Skor Systems, Hostel Management, Safestay, Roommaster, and HostelSphere.
The networking and industry panels were among the key highlights, with industry leaders sharing insights on topics such as cybersecurity, implementing AI in hostels, the pros and cons of automated processes, using virtual assistants, and adapting to travel trends in hostels. The program also allowed for several breakout sessions and interactive games, keeping the event social and running smoothly. On the second night of the conference, awards were given out for hostels that are part of NAHA, in categories such as 'best vibes', 'best facilities', and 'hostel of the year'. A post-conference trip to Quebec City was also planned, allowing attendees a chance to spend extra time exploring, networking, and sharing industry information while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
What Went Into Putting on the Conference
Helena Brohm, the operations manager at M Montreal, took a few minutes to chat with me about what went into putting on a conference of this size and how the hostel prepared for more than 130 attendees. M Montreal is a family-run business, and one of the largest hostels in North America, holding more than 450 beds.
“I’m a big believer in organizing things ahead of time,” said Brohm. “The most important thing was getting the conference venue booked. Once we did that, we could plan everything else around that. After that, it was just details.”
The main conference venue for the panels and presentations was the UQAM Sherbrooke Pavilion, a Beaux-Arts style building built between 1909 and 1911. Brohm said that much of the planning for the conference, including picking venues and determining catering options, was done months in advance. As early as last summer, right after the 2025 NAHA Conference in Mexico, she was brought on to help plan and coordinate the 2026 Conference in Montreal.
That entailed hopping on weekly calls with board members of NAHA to help flesh out a vision and plan of attack for putting together a three-day conference that involved multiple event venues and separate hostels for lodging. Those meetings helped both parties determine the expectations and limits for the conference, using last year’s conference as a strong reference point for how to plan the 2026 conference.
Overall, the conference went smoothly on both ends. Brohm, during the second day of the conference, commented on how well things came together and how receptive the members of NAHA were to the choice of venues and catering options. As for whether she would do it again, Brohm quipped, with a laugh, “Maybe in ten years.”
