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A Follow-up Discussion about Hostels - Additional Insights from the Staff

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Last week, we reviewed some reasons why hostels are becoming more popular among travelers and investors, but that alone, is not a complete story because we are still missing one important piece of the puzzle – i.e., additional insights from the staff who is actually working in a hostel. As a result, I especially invited Joanne Lam to share her experience of working in a hostel with us, who is currently working in the Green Tortoise San Francisco Hostel and a master’s student at the Collins College of Hospitality Management (Cal Poly Pomona). 

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Here are some highlights of what she shared: 


Joanne’s Work Experience in Hostels

“I’ve been working in a hostel for a total of about two years. ..." 

Who Stays in Hostels

"... Many of them are backpackers, solo travelers, or simply with a few friends traveling for a long period of time; anywhere between two weeks to six months. Our guests all have very unique personalities. They seek connections everywhere they go. They are flexible and welcoming to new adventures on a daily basis..."


Why People Choose to Stay in Hostels

“... Our guests choose to stay in a hostel over other hotels because of the vibe, the community, the activities and being able to be themselves in any given situation. Many choose us because their friends have had great experiences with us, and they want to experience the Green Tortoise experience themselves..."


How Hostels Keep Everyone Engaged

“The free breakfast and free dinners are a huge part of how we engage the travelers. Free dinners are similar to a family meal, where we encourage travelers to help with the preparation of the meals. Our nightly social events range from pub-crawls, live music, to dinner outings in the area. We also create a list of activities happening in and around San Francisco on a weekly basis for our guests, especially events that are more local than touristic..." 

Who is Working in Hostels

“Our associates working for the Green Tortoise San Francisco are quite unique and yet at the same time, very much alike. We have staff from all over the world such as Australia, New Zealand, as well as Italy..." 


The Relationship between the Management Team and the Staff

“This may sound cheesy, but we’re a family. It’s the Green Tortoise family. The relationship between the associates and travelers are very friendly, comfortable and incredibly interactive..." 

The Work Environment in Hostels

"... Every day is an adventure to meet different travelers and hear their stories..."

Trends Affecting Hostels

"... The health and wellness travel trend booming in recent years have also made an impact on the hostel business. Travelers can cook in hostel kitchens, and not have to go out to eat as much whether it’s for health or economic reasons..."
   
Note that Every Hostel is Unique

“I believe one very unique aspect of hostels currently is that each hostel, and or organization of hostels offer different activities and environment..." 

About the Author - Joanne Lam

Joanne Lam is a master’s student in The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California Polytechnic University Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). She is currently investigating how hostels can be used to build a more culturally intelligent world. Having lived in Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Boston - where she received her BA degree in Communication Studies from Emerson College - she is an avid traveler of the world who is always seeking for new adventures, new stories to tell, and new ways to build a utopian society. Her blog, Stuck Like A Pincushion, is a compilation of photographs, stories, and thoughts of her daily interactions. Joanne’s perspectives on travel and the hospitality industry is largely influenced by her own experiences. There is only one way to describe what she’s all about- as the tagline on her blog writes: “live to exist outside our bodies in the lives and thoughts of others.” To stay tune with Joanne’s daily musings, follow Joanne Lam on Instagram and Twitter.

Want to know more hostels? Visit MultiBriefs.com or leave Joanne or me a note. 

#Q&A #Hostels #Travel #Tourism #Trends

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