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To run a hostel, it is important initially to establish exactly what is classified as a hostel. A hostel, a place for individual and group travelers to stay with a choice of shared dorm or private room accommodation, at a budget price. Travelers must also be able to access common areas and common facilities.
There are a number of aspects to consider when you want to run a hostel, these include the day-to-day running of a hostel, marketing your hostel, and knowing your competition. Here we will discuss issues related to the day-to-day running of a hostel.
Security
Security is probably the biggest issue to address when running your hostel. A hostel with a poor reputation for safety is not a hostel that will last long in such a competitive market. Rooms and floors should be secure with safe deposit boxes and luggage storage available to all travelers. If these facilities are available at the reception of a hostel, then the reception must have double the security. Travelers need to feel that they can leave their belongings in good hands. This brings us to the need to have a 24 hour reception. With flights and travelers able to arrive at any time of the day, a good hostel will be ready to offer a clean and comfortable bed for anyone. On the other hand, if travelers going out late at night need to know that their belongings can be stored safely and can be accessed at any time.
24 hours reception
The reception should be a welcoming place. Staff should be friendly and knowledgeable about that area. The front desk is often the first point of call for travelers, so staff should be able to answer questions. The reception must also be a place of acquaintance with posters, brochures, flyers, many ideas for travelers. The music at the reception is also a must, but remember to keep it eclectic to cater to everyone’s unique tastes. Keep a guest book or suggestion box at reception for feedback and any issues a traveler may have. It’s best to listen to complaints first and resolve them before they end up on travel forums. This is also a good way to establish how happy visitors are with their stay at your hostel.
Clean and usable kitchen
Travelers need a full kitchen with utensils, a dishwasher, and plenty of storage space. If a kitchen isn’t clean, people can’t use it, raising questions about the cleanliness of the rest of the hostel. Remember that dining is a community activity and helps travelers get to know each other, so make this area usable.
A very comfortable bed
Travelers regularly sleep in different beds, so when a good, comfortable one shows up, they try to stay in it as long as possible.
Washing facilities at a reasonable price.
Travelers expect to pay for washing facilities, but this does not mean that they are happy to spend large amounts on them, remember that travelers are often on a budget. Give travelers the facilities they need at a reasonable cost.
Television room
A TV room in a hostel raises a debate. Some argue that television discourages people from getting to know each other, others suggest that television is a comfort in the home that gives people a chance to relax. Think about who is staying in your hostel. Many hostels with travelers on work visas will have people staying longer while they work. Television is often a relaxing evening activity for people after work. When the weather is bad, movie days or nights can be a very popular activity. Think about how often people talk about what is happening or what has happened on TV, does it really deter people from communicating with each other?
Internet access
WIFI is now essential in a hostel. Travelers are not the same as before. Laptops are now an important item for traveling and WIFI is expected. For those without laptops, a hostel should provide easy internet access with facilities to use Skype, upload pictures and burn them to CD, and download music to iPods and mp3 players. These are essentials for travelers now, so a good hostel should provide them.
daytime activities
In addition to staff being fully capable of suggesting activities to travelers, if a hostel can offer travelers day trips at a cheap price, it can increase your chances of extended stays and positive word of mouth. Remember that sometimes travelers are only around for a few days and therefore need to adapt as much as possible in a short space of time. Give them the opportunity to see the sights, but without the hassle of finding out and booking them themselves.
Night activities.
Many travelers and backpackers like to relax in the evenings and meet some of their fellow travelers and like minded people. Offering evening activities is a great way to make travelers feel comfortable meeting others. However, remember to assess who your visitors are. If an activity isn’t popular, think about why it is. Also, remember that travelers now come in all shapes and sizes with many different interests. Evening activities should reflect the demographics within your hostel.
Smoke and drink
Hostels must be non-smoking with smoking areas. Drinking in the hostel is another debatable topic. If you are a dry hostel, you should offer another alternative, such as an in-house bar, with reasonably priced drinks, remembering that travelers are often on a budget. If you allow drinking in the hostel, think about certain guidelines. Not everyone wants to be disturbed by travelers drinking late at night in their bedroom.
Each of these aspects of running a shelter must be constantly monitored. As stated above, the hostel and traveler market now operates on a large scale and reputation accounts for much of a hostel’s marketing. Don’t offer or advertise anything you can’t achieve and take the time, or ask staff, to talk to visitors and travellers. Be interactive so you can get feedback and get a sense of the different types of travelers your hostel attracts.