If you want people to continue booking rooms at your hostel, you are going to need to offer the same amenities that all those high-end hostels are offering and maybe even a few more. Some of these amenities may cost you a little bit of money, but many of them will be negligible to your bottom line.
Here are 6 simple tips to help you compete with high-end hostels:
- Serve Breakfast for Free
A simple or hearty breakfast will keep your guests returning time and time again, and they will tell all their friends and fellow travelers about your hostel as well. Not one of your guests will complain about a free meal that tastes and smells delicious.
- Allow Guests to Connect to WiFi for Free
In this day of technology, each one of your guests is going to need access to WiFi at some point in time and they will appreciate the fact that you have it ready for them to use. To up your services a little more, you may want to consider having a computer or two in a common area that your guests can use to check email or search for things during their stay.
- A Well-Stocked Kitchen
You will want to consider stocking your kitchen with plenty of cookware and dishes for your guests to use. Many of them will prefer to cook their own meals, instead of going out, and they are going to need the equipment to do. You will get bonus points if you supply certain items for free, including coffee, tea, oil, salt, and pepper.
- Offer Planned Activities
You are not going to want any of your guests to be bored during their stay, and while you can point them in the direction of some local happenings, it is best if you have them planned out for everyone. Take your guests on a walk of the town, go for a hike through the woods, or check out a local museum together.
- Offer In-Hostel Laundry
A laundry area that is located inside your hostel will be welcomed by all your guests. You can charge for these services, but if you want to compete with high-end hostels, you may want to rethink that option. Of course, the more high-end a hostel is the better chance that they offer laundry services, so no guest needs to do their own laundry. That option will take more work from you though.
- Bar or Café with Affordable Drinks and Snacks
You may think that a bar or café inside your hostel will be a lot of work, and in a way it will, but you can end up ahead of the game financially after a while. If you keep everything affordable, while pricing everything so you can make a small profit, you will find that all your guests will take the convenience of staying at the hostel over going out. This isn’t as simple of a tip as the others, but it is still one that should be considered if you are trying to compete with high-end hostels.