Hostelskills Conference - Travel Trends from Booking.com

Hostelskills Conference 2018 in Krakow

Thank you to the Hostelskills team for hosting another hostel focused event in Krakow, inviting speakers to share their expertise with others in the industry.

Booking.com - The Journey is the experience

Booking.com Presents 2018 Hostel Trends at Hostelskills

Thanks to Booking.com for their insightful talk on trends for 2018 and predictions for 2019. The following is data taken from their presentation by Ewelina Kondratowicz and Jakub Brzozowski.

Booking.com books over 1.55M room nights every 24 hours in over 1.7M properties. On their website they have almost 26K active hostels worldwide with over 172M guest reviews.
32% of travelers expect to research, book and organise travel this year on mobile - on top of 44% of travellers expecting to be able to book their trip on mobile.

Videos in 2019 will be 80% of internet traffic. Currently 58% on Google are for specific brands or companies. 71% of travel searches on YouTUbe are for destination names.


Millienials (1980-2000)

They want to see as many people as possible, prioritising social interactions adn shared adventures. They are spending more on experience and travel, and they are environmentally conscious. 93% book on mobile, 44% use location as a key factor, 40% use reveiws only and 60% intend to post on social media during their stay. 55% of them say free WIFI is essential. 85% check photos and videos. 88% look at attractions nearby. 80% of last-minute bookings are done on mobile.


Trends for 2018

Luxury Hotels are offering a balance of privacy, amenities and social activities. More than 70% of hostel travelers are millenials, 72% are solo travelers, often requiring more privacy. Luxury hotels are now copying hostels.

Where do your bookings come from? Booking.com uses the following channels to book your property. Affiliate partners and meta searches such as tripadvisor, Kayak, eDreams, easyjet, agoda promote bookings through Booking.com, along with paid search. There is also print marketing through Conde Nast Traveler and others, along with social media and television commercials.


What is so special about Hostels?
Guests love hostels, they love the experience and want to book a bed in a shared communal environment. It´s the second most booked item on Booking.com´s site. Discounts motivate long stays, add-ons like free breakfast encourages bookings, and lastminute deals with price cuts are available a couple of days or hours before the deadline. Loyalty offers, such as ´Genius Program´ gives frequent travelers advantages.


What can hostels learn?
Hostels can learn that being flexible is more attractive. The center of your home page is where your offers should be, your content and your photos also speak volumes. Use exterior, bedroom, bathroom and chill-out places - this helps your guest to imagine their stay. Also don´t forget details and the view!

In summary, to be bookable, make it easy to book via mobile, have flexible availability, conditions and opportunities - such as add-ons, and show everything in your photos!


Great conference in Krakow, thanks to Hostelskills and Booking.com for the valuable insights.

Travel Trends for 2018

What will be the trends in the travel industry for 2018?

Here are our thoughts on what's around the corner for 2018

We think we will see a rise in biophilic design; a focus on natural design that enhances moods and relaxes. The hotel industry has already experienced this with a surge in travelers looking to destress and be ‘mindful’ in a community environment. People are looking to connect. There is always a consumer demand for environmental responsibility so hopefully that will also continue to be an important factor. 

There is also a continuation in the 2017 trend towards all things ‘local’, so I expect to see more local partnerships and artisanal products and locally sourced produce on menus in hostels. 

Creating immersive and genuine experiences, whether this is through local or regional experiences or offering tours or interactive experiences that gives the customer a deeper and more real experience of the destination. Everything is trending toward making a stay experiential, so I would urge hostels to look at what they actually offer other than a night’s sleep. It also doesn’t have to be a long list, it could just be one thing that you do really well and that gives guests a unique stay.

There are also a lot of hostels making time for co-working or “life spaces” to attract business travelers and local people in the daytime to create a community vibe. This changes functionality of your communal areas and leans towards the sharing economy models out there, but also makes the most of the co-living approach which has been popular in Southeast Asia for a while already.

We hope you enjoyed our predictions for Travel Trends for 2018 - find out more on our Facebook page here

Making the most of working with video marketing

How to make the most of working with video marketing

Having always been the most popular method of interacting with customers online, video exploded in 2017 with the live stories enabled by social media platforms meaning we were all inundated with short clips of real experiences. Here's how to make the most of it for your marketing for 2018.

Live streaming on social media platforms is still rising in popularity after dominating 2017. When it began it was a great way to interact with audiences and showcase your brand; now it’s standard, so hostels have to get behind this. Standing out from the noise is the biggest challenge with social media – there are more than 50 million small businesses using social media platforms - especially if you are trying to build your brand and attract new customers with limited resources. Live streaming is a really quick and attention grabbing way to do this and try to avoid brand fatigue of constantly selling something. It is also part of the move towards personal and local experiences as its shows an immersive experience.   

Facebook has made changes for Ecommerce and product focused ad formats to allow for more visually intriguing adverts; namely video. This is one way to attract new customers, now that Business Pages will see less placement in newsfeeds. 

Three quarters of consumers report that watching a video heavily influences their purchase decision on social media. We always encourage businesses to make videos whenever they can because it’s the best way to showcase their brand. Hostels have personalities, and reading about a hostel or seeing photos doesn’t compare to seeing the hostel experience through video. It also works in any language! Video is also great for using on different platforms. The other advantage is now everyone has video capability on their cell phones, you don’t even need them to be professionally shot. People expect a handheld live video to be unprofessional. And you can also take advantage of guests making video to create user generated content. Going ‘live’ on social media channels with videos of live music or bar antics always attracts a lot of attention and shows your hostel to be experiential rather than just a place to sleep.


Making the most of working with video marketing, by Hostel Doctor

Hostel Review - City Backpackers Stockholm

Why we love City Backpackers Hostel in Stockholm

Stockholm is known for its eclectic watery skyline with a plethora of islands and the colourful buildings in historical Gamla Stan; but the highlight for us was hanging out with our favourite meatball-loving Swedes at City Backpacker’s Hostel.

Why is it so good?

Firstly, it’s authentic. This is place for true backpackers, and has been since 1994! This is a great place to meet other backpackers, hang-out, sleep, share a sauna.. yes really! They have a sauna for guests to enjoy - and believe me if you’re here in winter, you’ll be really into that idea after a day skipping through the snow filled streets of Stockholm.

The team here do everything they can to make you feel welcome, and the design is young and fun, without being pretentious. If you want to strum your guitar in the garden (not in the middle of the night, ok?) or relax on their sofas, then you’re welcome. And you can get a great cocktail or beer in the restaurant next door to. Skål!

They have a very cute garden for those long summer nights, with live music and events here too. Then for winter you can get cosy in their chill out rooms - grab a bit to eat in their communal kitchen, or just relax and be toasty and watch the snowfall outside.

Cool things they offer

The Sauna is one of them.

We also love their stacks of National Geographics, the food in Nomad Swedish Restaurant and Bar next door, the facilities and the tours. They also hire out everything from skateboards to ice skates! Unique to Stockholm possibly..

We also secretly want to be Vikings, and not just because of the TV show, so what better than to have some authentic Viking experiences? They offer some awesome tours, but the Viking Tour has to be the best. Save it for winter - when you can show your strength with an outdoor sauna and then dip in the (frozen over) sea!!

The Location

Their location is near all the shopping streets and plenty of restaurants, and you can hop on the metro here to get all over town. The old town of Stockholm is known for its vibrant colours as the buildings of Gamla Stan date back to the 13th century. This is not just a pretty pedestrianised corner of Stockholm but actually where the Danish King killed all the Swedish noblemen in the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520. Find out about the history of Stockholm with one of the organised tours from the hostel.

We love this cool hostel, and we hope you do too. Find out more about them here

Famous Hostels Market Research

 Famous Hostel Guest Survey

Hostel Doctor has just conducted a survey of guests at 5 locations across Europe to find out about their bookings, expectations and the marketing cycle for hostels on behalf of Europe's Famous Hostels. The results are in, and they're quite a surprise.

Did you know, most bookings made by the under 25 year group were made by apps only? Do you know what percentage of bookings are made within 24 hours of arrival? Do you know where guests are mostly reviewing your business? Some of the results were a surprise to us.

We love keeping up with the latest trends and actions of the youth travel market, so for us, this project of genuine market research was a great to take part in. Speaking to the guests directly and gaining insights into what they genuinely wanted from their hostel, and hostel booking experience, has been invaluable at preparing us and our clients to keep ahead of the competition.

If you want to find out more about what Hostel Doctor can do you for your business, then get in touch with us at hello@hosteldoctor.com or check out our services on our website here www.hosteldoctor.com

Visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget

Visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget

{For Famous Hostels, January 2017}

With a reputation for beautiful people, designer interiors and an expensive bar scene, Scandinavia can intimidate backpackers – but don’t be afraid – there’s plenty of cool stuff to do if you’re visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget!

Scandinavia on a budget

If you’re yearning to see the wonders of Scandinavia then you don’t have to bring your own beers and live off pickled herrings – there is another way! Despite being pricier than their European neighbours, these icy countries have warm hearts and plenty of places that are budget friendly. We went in search of bicycles, saunas, ABBA looking people and trolls (the good kind…)

Visiting Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish capital is as good looking as the people, with colourful houses lining the harbours, a cobbled old town and plenty of bicycles and boats. There’s something for everyone here whether you’re into palaces, a hippy alternative scene, partying or wooded parks. There are even beaches – yes beaches – easily accessible on the metro line (packed in summer but a little bit cold in winter). Copenhagen is a city that also offers some tranquility and nature near the city center as well as late night Tuborgs (the local beer that’s not Carlsberg).

Although the main sites, such as Tivoli Gardens from summer to Christmas, are expensive to pay for entrances, there are plenty of free museums and galleries, as well as cool places to walk and see, such as the ‘alternative’ neighborhood, or ‘free state’, of Christiania. 

The main attraction here was the hippy settlement / marijuana smoking / artist community that has lived here since the 70’s, enjoying the lakeside setting and relaxed drug laws to create a community. The harbor area is also worth walking around – the most popular tourist draw is the picture perfect Nyhavn (New Harbor) where the houses are particularly brightly coloured and have formed the backdrop for movies such as The Danish Girl. Many of the key buildings such as the opera house and palaces can be seen from the waterfront too – get on your bike!

Read the whole article here at Famous Hostels

Best European Winter Sports Destinations on a budget

Best European Winter Sports Destinations on a budget

{For Famous Hostels, January 2017}


If you want to hit the slopes but think it’s too expensive then think again – here are our best European winter sports destinations on a budget.

Bad Gastein, Austria

Did you know that Austria has some of the best ski slopes in the world? This famous spa town is also a winter sport mecca as one of the biggest ski resorts in the Austrian Alps. No surprises here that there are plenty of slopes and adventure sports on offer – and it’s easy to get to by train. The town has been famous for steaming away your worries in its medicinal waters since the 1800s and still has a well priced thermal spa where you can relax in the steam baths outdoors while watching the snow. You don’t have to be royalty to stay here either, with plenty of apres ski bars around town with generous happy hours and late open hours. What’s not to love?

 

Interlaken, Switzerland

This winter wonderland is located in between two beautiful lakes and in the shadow of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains. A stunning town all year round, they offer plenty of action and adventure sports both in summer and winter season and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Highlights for winter sports including skiing and snowboarding (of course) and the more exciting night sledding (yes – after dark rushing down the mountain!), snow shoeing, or leave it all behind and go get yourself in a hot tub with a cold beer.

Read more at Famous Hostels

7 Reasons to Love Lisbon

7 Reasons to Love Lisbon

Not only are there seven hills to watch sunset from, Lisbon has some of the best cultural, historical and fun sites to explore. There are a million reasons but if we had to pick… here are our 7 Reasons to Love Lisbon!

7 reasons to Love Lisbon

We love the people, the food, the friendly yet cool atmosphere – not to mention the music festivals all summer long. But if we had to pick 7 reasons to love Lisbon…

1. Best Party in Europe

Could it be? We think so. With the whole of the Barrio Alto becoming a party at night, Lisbon is pretty good at rocking until daylight. Check out one of the local bars or hit the clubs on the waterfront.

To read this article go to Equity Point Blogs here

Five Free Things to do in Prague

Five Free Things to do in Prague

The Bohemian capital is a ‘must see’ on any trip to Europe, and the charming old town and castle will have you charmed, but it’s not as budget friendly as it used to be. We’ve done the maths for you and here are our budget busting tips for Five Free Things to do in Prague!

1. The Astronomical Clock 

The centre of Prague is beautifully preserved and packed full of Medieval and Gothic architecture with the most famous being the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

There’s an hourly show with apostles emerging and beneath the clock tower there are 27 tributary crosses to commemorate the mass execution of 27 leaders of the Bohemian Revolt that happened here in 1621. There will also be crowds gathered because it’s the favourite site in Prague and it’s also free! If you can, climb up the 600 year old spire and see the amazing view of the old town.

Find out more at our post on Equity Point Hostel's blog here

COPENHAGEN PRIDE 2016

COPENHAGEN PRIDE 2016

Join Copenhagen Pride 2016 and be part of the city’s biggest and most outrageous party!

If you love to party then you won’t want to miss the annual Gay Pride celebration in our city 16-21st August 2016 which hits a peak with a high-energy parade through some of the city’s coolest areas in the company of thousands of your newest friends.

Pride is a very special moment in Copenhagen’s crowded party calendar and gives the city a week to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pride and culture and to party!

Read more here..
http://www.copenhagendowntown.com/blog/copenhagen-pride-2016

Hostel Doctor Features on Hotel Impossible Makeover Show

Hostel Doctor was fortunate to be invited to take part in US Travel Channel's hit show 'Hotel Impossible' for their Season 7 Premiere 'Hostel Takeover'. On the show, client The Gardner Hotel & Hostel is given a makeover to restore it to a great place to stay - and Hostel Doctor was in charge of modernising their branding and online presence.

Our client The Gardner Hotel and Hostel in El Paso, Texas, was given the makeover treatment by Anthony Melchiorri and the design team to update the hostel rooms and communal area to make it modern, safe, clean and comfortable. They called in Hostel Doctor to update their online presence, produce their new website and branding, and to market the revamped hostel. We're pleased to say that the hostel has had a great turnaround.  

It was great to contribute to the show and we're really please that they chose to have a hostel featuring. Hopefully it can bring more attention to hostels as a great budget option for those traveling in the US and showcase what they're all about. 

To see full episode visit http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/hotel-impossible/video/hostel-takeover

Find out what happened behind the filming and what's next for The Gardner here