Imagine a conference where the entire focus is hostels and budget accommodation. Imagine rows and rows of eager independent hostel owners, large hostel chain management, hostel investors, budget hotel investors, influential hostel bloggers, the top PR representatives for tourism and travel, mobile app developers, budget accommodation statisticians and consultants and more. Imagine hearing about multi-million dollar investments in to the hostel sector and about the innovative new designers.
All of this became a reality this week at the very first ever Hostel & Budget Traveller Conference in London.
I felt like I had died and gone to hostel-heaven.
Great audience to kick off #hbt2014 pic.twitter.com/umBkto7F8g
— Hostel & Budget Trav (@HostelandBudget) November 18, 2014
The Very FIRST Hostel & Budget Traveller Conference 2014
So why is this so important for the hostel world? For the very first time the industry came together to discuss key topics surrounding:
- Brand management
- Investment
- The importance and impact of technology in an industry that is growing around the millennial generation
- The blurred lines between hostels and budget hotels
- Innovative business models
- Budget travel sector market insight
Josh Wyatt, senior investment director at Patron Capital who owns a stake in the rapidly expanding Generator Hostels, spoke of the importance of the people gathered at the conference, who he called Early Adopters. Some of the companies and individuals who were present have been working in the hostel and budget traveller sector for years, and some even decades. Yet the execution of the Hostel & Budget Traveller Conference goes to show that it is a sector that the rest of the travel industry now have to take very seriously.
‘Hostel’ Is No Longer A Dirty Word
Is hostel a dirty word? Hell no! I ❤️ hostels (obviously) #hbt2014 — The Hostel Girl (@the_hostelgirl) November 18, 2014
A key message of the conference was the need of a change in perception when it comes to the term ‘hostel’. Speakers spoke of their thought processes when building brands on whether or not the word ‘hostel’ should be included in their branding. A key intention of The Hostel Girl is to aid with this change in perceptions, so to get yourself started take a look at the following:
If you haven’t already heard of the Luxury Hostel Project by Kash over at the Budget Traveller then make sure you go and download his ebook, The Luxury Hostels of Europe… it’s free! Another great blogger working towards a shift in the perception of ‘hostel’ as a dirty word…
@BudgetTraveller advises hostels to avoid word “poshtel”; call them “luxury hostels” – challenges expectations #hbt2014
— Debbie Hindle (@Debbie_Hindle) November 18, 2014
In support of changing perceptions about hostels, the STAY WYSE association presented their research on youth travel at the conference and showed that youth travellers are now far more likely to stay in hostels than they were in 2007. In fact, only 29% of those participants who identified themselves as backpackers were likely to stay in hotels, with the majority showing a preference for hostels. Most interestingly, compared to the 2007 data, hostels are now just as popular for youth travellers (with 32% showing preference) as hotel accommodation (31%). Most importantly, for The Hostel Girl at least(!) is that the highest motivator for youth travellers staying in hostels is to meet other travellers… long live the hostel community!
Youth travellers opting for hostels to meet other travellers highlighting the importance of the social aspect of hostels #hbt2014 @StayWYSE
— The Hostel Girl (@the_hostelgirl) November 18, 2014
The Hostel & Budget Hotel of the Future
The Hostel & Budget Traveller Conference was by far the most interesting collection of hostel-enthusiasts I have met since beginning to attend conferences in the travel industry. The information presented and discussions generated gave an insight into hostel life that can only mean great things to come for the hostel industry. If delegates took away one key message, it was that we are front-runners in an exciting new era for hostel travel!
Fingers crossed for round two next year!! And also a huge thanks to everyone involved!
Lots of love,
