Articles tagged “hostels”

Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at a Choice and Wyndham combo, a good 'dirty' hostel company, and Memorial Day travel in the U.S.

a&o is part of the hospitality industry that honors refuse, repurpose, reduce as the new slogan in achieving its net-zero goal. And giving new life to old buildings on the way.

Shaky financial markets didn't deter Selina from debuting as a publicly traded company, taking advantage of a post-pandemic surge in youth travel. Critics pointed to its lack of profits. But fans praised the hotel brand's relentless experimentation in a sector that's often too cautious.

It's a tantalizing opportunity for Selina to start producing music festivals and wellness retreats at its hospitality venues through new brands. No lifestyle hotel group has cracked the festival space yet, and wellness has lots more room to run.

Startup Draper House, which is part of the billionaire investor's funding network, is the perfect embodiment of entrepreneurial tourism, a fast-growing sub sector that blends startup culture and venture capital with hospitality. Co-branding opportunities could help it expand rapidly.

Selina's launch of a loyalty card will be eyed by other emerging brands in travel lodging. Its choices in marketing the card to early-career travelers will be watched by all hoteliers coveting that segment.

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?

Hospitality companies provided more than a million beds to emergency and frontline workers during the pandemic. As the legions of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine grow, they're back at it with a little tech boost to assist.

Before going public, Selina has offered a 63-page investor deck, touting its brilliance. But can the hospitality startup scale? We dig into the data and the premises behind the pitch to weigh the risks.