Apr 26th, 2010
Changing Face of Hostels and Cheap Accommodation
The youth and budget travel market demands more today than ever, the travellers are street wise and globally savvy, they know what they want and at what price. If you ask any young person what they want to do in life they probably wouldn’t give you any sensible answer, but one thing they definitely know [...]
Apr 21st, 2010
ATEC delegates agree discounting is killing product and investment
Discounting in the backpacker accommodation sector is hampering product development and inward investment, delegates at the ATEC Backpacker and Youth Industry Conference have agreed. Participants in a breakout session focussing on accommodation cited unsustainable discounting as a major challenge for the industry, with guilty parties unable to reinvest in their businesses and having to cut [...]
Jan 18th, 2010
Umi hotel group expands into Russia
Umi hotels, the British luxury budget hotel group are expanding their portfolio with a third property in central Moscow. Following the success of umi London and umi Brighton, the company has entered into a partnership agreement with the owners of the currently ten-bedroom Petrovka Loft Hotel, Moscow. The three private investors were seeking partners to [...]
Nov 16th, 2009
Hostelworld parent company sold to US investor for rumoured A$320 million
Web Reservations International (WRI), the Irish company which owns Hostelworld.com, has been sold to US investment firm Hellman Friedman for an undisclosed sum rumoured to be in excess of A$320 million. WRI was founded in 1999 when hostel owner Thomas Kennedy and software developer Ray Nolan developed the idea for an automated hostel booking service [...]
Nov 9th, 2009
Student passport to the world
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) has been hailed as the “student passport to the world” by its vast base of 4.5 million cardholders worldwide. Endorsed by UNESCO and boasting of 40,000 discounts in 120 countries, this internationally recognized student/ youth/ teacher lifestyle cards card comes with a bundle of benefits for its card holders. [...]
Oct 7th, 2009
Is Flashpacking Killing The Art Of Backpacking?
Flashpackers are often simply affluent backpackers with larger disposable income. They choose to travel in more comfort than the average backpacker, often avoiding public transport and opting for hotels over hostels. Flashpackers are commonly quite tech-savvy and pack a variety of technological items including, mp3 players, mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras. Backpacking doesn’t always [...]
Oct 7th, 2009
Backpacker travel agents under fire for incorrect pricing
Three backpacker travel agents have come under fire from the ACCC (Australian government organisation responsible for ensuring compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974) for breaching the new component pricing laws in their advertising. According to the ACCC, Wicked Travel, Peter Pan’s Adventure Travel and Adventure Travel Bugs published advertisements that did not comply with [...]
Aug 10th, 2009
Nomads Opens New Hostel in Queenstown
The brand new property, which officially opened on 4th August 2009 consists of 78 rooms in a variety of dorms, family and king ensuite configuration. Located in beautiful Queenstown in New Zealands South Island, ‘Nomads Queenstown Backpackers’ is located on Church Street in Queenstown city centre within easy walking distance of all of Queenstowns shops [...]
Aug 3rd, 2009
Private rooms and fewer rules are transforming the hostel experience
They used to be called “youth hostels,” catering to the 25-and-younger backpacker crowd. But hostels aren’t just for youth — or backpackers — anymore. They used to be called “youth hostels,” catering to the 25-and-younger backpacker crowd. But hostels aren’t just for youth — or backpackers — anymore. The big trend in hostels is toward [...]
Aug 3rd, 2009
Youth hostels are growing up
Youth hostelling, it seems, is not all about youth anymore. It’s growing in popularity for all ages. The Swiss Youth Hostels Association says backpackers spent more than 986,000 nights in the country’s 59 hostels last year and turnover rose to more than CHF 40 million. But in the face of growing competition from other budget [...]
Copyright © 2010 WYSTC Blog.
