Hostelworld Launching Platform to Connect Solo Travelers Before Trips
Photo Credit: Hostelworld wants to appeal to more first-timers. Unsplash / Marcus Loke
Skift Take
Adding social network-like features could win it some more new-to-hosteling customers, clearly needed after racking up losses of $90 million during the pandemic. But doesn't this take the fun out of the haphazard nature of hosteling?
Online travel agent Hostelworld has had a particularly tough couple of years, as travelers avoided shared accommodations like hostel dormitories in the face of the highly contagious Covid-19 virus.
The company posted a loss of $36.7 million in 2021, according to preliminary results, which was an improvement on the $53.9 million loss in 2020. Net bookings of 1.5 million were also down 70 percent on 2019 levels.
But it’s now launched a networking platform called The Solo System within its app and website to grow back its share of solo travelers, and especially those nervous about hosteling for the first time. Before the pandemic, some 60 percent of Hostelworld guests were single travelers. Other tools in the pipeline include platforms to help guests
