Over the past few weeks, we have watched hostels all over the world come under incredible strain due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As this pandemic continues to hit our hostel community, it’s easy to feel helpless. That’s why when Kash from Budget Traveller reached out to us about a voucher scheme to support hostels around the world, we jumped at the opportunity to get on board.
Alongside Kash, the team at hostel.consulting and Gift Up!, we are launching the ‘Adopt a Hostel’ campaign to help support hostels during this crisis.
The campaign will encourage travellers to purchase a gift card for a future stay at a hostel of their choice or to make a donation, which will help hostels cover their costs and survive through this difficult time.
Interested in joining the campaign? Here’s what you need to know:
HOW DO I JOIN THE CAMPAIGN?
To join the scheme, simply click here to sign up.
When you’ve filled out the quick form, you will receive an email with further instructions including a guide to setting up the Gift Up app and marketing the campaign in your own networks.
WILL IT COST ME ANYTHING?
No! Joining the Adopt a Hostel scheme is free. We are not taking any commission and Gift Up – who we will be offering the virtual vouchers from – have generously waived their 3.49% commission fee for the first €5000 in gift card sales. The only cost will be your time.
HOW DO I SET UP MY VIRTUAL VOUCHERS?
We are partnering with Gift Up for this scheme. You will need to sign up to the Gift Up app to set up your voucher – in your sign-up email, we will send you a detailed tutorial on how to do this along with a voucher template you can use if you wish.
HOW WILL PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT ADOPT A HOSTEL?
First, we will be launching the Adopt a Hostel website later this week which will feature hostel listings and your vouchers.
We will also be carrying out a full PR campaign to promote Adopt a Hostel. This will include reaching out to our press contacts to secure international media coverage and teaming up with a wide range of creative influencers who will share the campaign in their networks.
We also highly recommend that you publicise the campaign and promote your vouchers in your own networks – when the Adopt a Hostel site goes live, you will receive a handy guide that will outline the different ways you can do this. You can also reach out to us anytime with any further marketing queries.
WILL TRAVELLERS ACTUALLY BUY THESE VOUCHERS?
This is a valid question given that many people are strapped for cash during this time. However, through the course of this crisis we have seen that people are keen to get behind businesses they value.
While people aren’t likely to be booking travel right now, they will still be planning future trips for when things return to normal. We believe travellers will want to support the hostels they love and purchasing a voucher is a great, low-risk way to do this.
Sign up to Adopt a Hostel here.
Got a question that we haven’t covered? Drop us a message on Instagram or email Adopt a Hostel here and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
