Each week, we give you a run down of the latest news in the hostel industry and offer our insight (we can also provide a variety of GIFs for your entertainment).
1. INSTAGRAM IS TAKING OVER THE (TRAVEL) WORLD
“People are spending a lot more in-destination today than they used to. They are blending business with leisure and they want to post photographs of themselves doing exciting, cultural things on platforms like Instagram. They don’t have the money to buy a house or car or assets, but they are spending on the experience…” – travel industry veteran Mike Croucher says– Source.
Instagram is becoming absolutely pivotal for hostels across the world – 59% of the platforms total user base is made up of 18 – 29 year olds and this year it will overtake all other social media platforms (for the first time ever) in terms of revenue.
Instagram is transforming not only the way people choose their next travel destination, but how travel brands market themselves to potential guests. Hotel G in Singapore say every decision they make has the platform in mind, with this article by Dezeen exploring how architects are increasingly being asked to integrate Instagram into their hotel designs. Modern travellers love to snap and share their surroundings wherever possible – for many, a place being ‘Instagrammable’ is a big draw when it comes to making a booking.
For hostels, a strong, consistent and on brand Instagram feed has never been more important.
Check your:
- Images – share high quality, attractive images that reflect your brand’s personality and makes your hostel look desirable
- Bio – does it explain clearly and quickly what you are and who you are suited to?
- Calls to action – Treat the last line in your bio as a ‘call to action’ and tell your followers what action you want them to take next – whether that’s clicking the link in your bio, answering a question or signing up to a mailing list.
2. USING GOOGLE’S LATEST RESEARCH TO BOOST YOUR BOOKINGS
Google’s latest travel research found that frequent travellers value other areas over loyalty schemes when it comes to booking.
Travellers cited good customer service (online and offline!), an easy to use website and online reviews as the three most important factors which influence them to book.
Interested in finding out more on how you can use this research to boost your hostel bookings? Read our blog post all about Google’s findings here.
3. SELINA PLANS HUGE EXPANSION INTO ISRAEL
‘Selina, the youth hostel chain founded by Israelis Daniel Rudasevski and Rafi Museri, has signed a partnership with Ampa Real Estate to build hostels with 5,000 to 7,000 beds in Israel over the coming five years.’ – Source.
Last week, Selina announced a new partnership deal with Ampa Real Estate which will see the booming brand open up to 7,000 beds in Israel by 2023.
The hostel chain have experienced rapid global expansion over the last few years, recently announcing their plans to open up five properties across the UK and with countless other openings on the horizon.
Describing their properties as a ‘haven for nomads, travelers, and explorers redefining what it means to travel, work and explore’, Selina place a big emphasis on community, connection and co-working spaces. They even run a 12-week coding academy in Mexico for travellers looking to learn a new skill while immersing themselves in a different culture!
With the rise of digital nomads and demand for fast, free Wifi, it’s a clever niche to carve out – particularly as it is predicted that 50% of workers will be working remotely by 2050.
We’re certainly looking forward to seeing what Selina do next…
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