Each week, we give you a run down of the hostel industry insights and offer our take (we can also provide a variety of GIFs for your entertainment, too!).
1. THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER – HOW DID HOSTELS BECOME SO GLAM?
‘Somewhat suddenly, a string of buzzy hostels have emerged to snatch cachet from hotels: the Generator group, the Freehand group, Singapore’s Shophouse, and Clink in the U.K. and Holland. (French hotel firm Accor has just launched its own poshtel brand, Jo & Joe.) So what changed? It’s a combination of great timing, shifting demographics, and IKEA. – Source.
Since the early 2000s, hostels have transformed from ‘cheap, unexciting.. crash pads aimed at cash-strapped students’ to a string of luxury, upscale accommodation providers which have transformed the way travellers explore the world.
The global recession of 2008 saw the industry begin to boom as potential guests turned to more budget travel options. As travel blogger Nomadic Matt explained: “There was a shift in attitude among people – taking a career break or quitting your job to go traveling, or even taking a year-long honeymoon – wasn’t such a weird or crazy thing.”
The market expanded to a wider pool of travellers who tried (and liked!) hostels for the first time – but who had different demands than past hostel guests. These demands – along with the surge in solo travel – meant that hostels had to maintain both their affordability and safe, sociable spaces while developing luxury facilities and modern design. Hostels across the world rose to the challenge and a new hybrid was born – the poshtel.
With ‘Instagrammable’ bars and restaurants, swimming pools, co-working spaces and more, poshtels are now competing with hotels by offering travellers of all ages and interests the ultimate guest experience – and even better, all still on a budget too.
As the industry develops, it’s important for hostels to not lose their personality in the glitz and glamour of it all. The main target audience for hostels are still adventurous, young travellers who want to see new places, meet new people and experience ‘life like a local’ in their chosen destination. It’s vital for hostels to continue showing travellers that they remain the places to stay for this type of authentic experience.
While online booking sites have helped move high-end hostels into the mainstream, it’s time for hostels to take back control by promoting themselves more effectively online. The hostel experience is out of this world – so let’s carry on showing it…
2. LAUNCH OF OUR FIRST FREE ONLINE COURSE FOR HOSTELS…
Do you need to get on top of your social media but aren’t sure where to start? Feel like you’re spending too much time planning and posting? Or aren’t you sure how to measure the results of your hard work?
Well, you’re in luck…
We are running a FREE email course – 5 Days to Socially Savvy – designed to help you and your team save time, effort and money when it comes to your hostel’s social media.
We’ll be sharing our secret weapons for spending less time on social with daily routines and checklists, scheduling tips and tools and downloadable templates every day.
If you want to get more organised and efficient when it comes to your social media, then this is the perfect beginner course for you.
There are limited spaces available for this course so if you are interested, secure your place and SIGN UP HERE.
3. BUSINESS OTA TARGETS HOSTEL’S EXTENDED STAYS AS NEXT BIG THING
“Design-led hostels are being introduced to BridgeStreet’s platform in order to offer more variety to business travellers. Marketed with the messaging – ‘there’s never been more for less’ – the platform are hoping to promote the facilities of hostels to business travellers looking to book places outside of the traditional extended stay hotels” – Source.
Extended stay booking provider BridgeStreet Global Hospitality has introduced hostels to their platform in order to offer more variety to business travellers.
As business travellers are becoming increasingly more willing to stay in alternative accommodation, the site – described as a ‘mini-online travel agency for business travel’ – is shaking up their marketplace with the inclusion of design-led hostels.
As more and more platforms like this begin to highlight the benefits of extended stays at a hostel for business travellers, it poses the question – how are you encouraging these long-term visits on your own website and social media?
Hostels provide affordable spaces for business travellers to network with like-minded people and now is the time to promote this. Perhaps you can offer a particularly good promo code for long-term stays if booked via your website? Or could you film a quick tour of the facilities you offer those looking to stay somewhere on business and post it on your InstaStories?
Business travel (and those looking to combine a little leisure on the side too) is on the rise for hostels which means a new pool of potential guests to target – it’s time to figure out a way to reach them… (P.s – if you’d like some advice, just get in touch!)
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