Many people have heard of search engine optimization or "SEO". SEO is a set of techniques to increase traffic to a website through search engine referrals.
Hostelbookers.com lists 10,000 properties in 2,500 destinations. They have reported that bookings in 2008 are up by 83%. Their top 10 most popular destinations in 2008 are:
Here are 10 free places to list your hostel online and get additional exposure on the Web:
Skype is a free program that many travelers use to make free or cheap phone calls over the Internet. If you want backpackers to be able to call your front desk for free from Skype at Internet cafes, you can put a Skype button on your Web site.
This is the first post in what is going to be a blog about travel industry marketing. Even though most of the content will specifically be about hostels, the tips and techniques will be applicable to marketing hotels, tours, or any segment of the travel industry.
Hostelworld.com is asking Oxford, Collins and Chambers' dictionaries to redefine the word hostel. Many dictionaries still use outdated and inaccurate definitions of the word.
The HI Redwood National Park hostel was voted the #1 HI hostel in the world by users of hihostels.com, tying with the Shin-Osaka HI hostel in Japan.
New Zealand's Minister for the Environment spoke at YHA Wellington City on 29 April 2008:
