Program
Sunday Nov. 14th
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 11:00 - 18:00 | Free tour of the Brooklyn Museum Sponsored by GoMio.com |
Monday Nov. 15th
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 14:30 - 18:00 | Registration at the DUMBO Loft |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Opening remarks by Michael Tumminia of GoMio.com |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Opening networking reception at the DUMBO Loft Sponsored by GoMio.com and TTI Technologies |
Tuesday Nov. 16th
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Light breakfast at the DUMBO Loft Sponsored by Jazz Hostels and Ronnybrook Farms |
| 10:00 - 10:40 | Presentation: Making Electronic Distribution Standards Work for the Hostelling Industry Presenter: Valyn Perini of OpenTravel Alliance |
| 10:45 - 11:20 | Presentation: Innovative Technology for Hostels - Streamline Operations and Increase Security Presenter: Nancy Carle of TTI Technologies |
| 11:30 - 11.50 | Presentation: Reports on the Hostel Scene from around the World Presenters: - Vikki Matsis of the Notso Hostel on Charleston, South Carolina - Yaron Burgin of ILH - Israel Hostels on Abraham Hostel Jerusalem - Jim Zielinski of the Bulldog Hotel on Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
| 11.55 - 12:35 | Presentation: Getting better online feedback from your guests and managing online reviews. Presenter: Brian Gehrisch of Rucksack Ventures |
| 12.45 - 14:00 | Lunch break. Note: See list of lunch venues offering discounts for the conference participants. |
| 14:00 - 14:45 | Presentation: Business Intelligence for the Hostel Industry Presenter: Andreas Stolz of ASSD. |
| 14:45 - 15:00 | Coffee break |
| 15:00 - 15:35 | Presentation: How to make a social hostel. Presenter: Chris Bilson of Youth Hostel Plakias |
| 15:40 - 16:20 | Presentation: Make your website a successful sales tool via references from social networks and search engine friendly sources. Presenter: Soraya García Merino of Internet Advantage |
| 16.25 - 16.45 | Presentation: Reports on the Hostel Scene from around the World Presenters: - Iuliana Csapo of the Transylvania Hostel on Hostels in Romania - Chris Syvertsen of Bohemian Hostels on Prague, Czech Republic - Mat Meadows of Chicago Getaway Hostel on Chicago, Illinois |
| 17:30 - 19:30 | HI-New York Tour & Welcome Reception at the HI-NY Ballroom Tour of North America's biggest hostel followed by reception Sponsored by HI-New York |
Wednesday Nov. 17th
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Light breakfast at the DUMBO Loft Sponsored by Jazz Hostels and Ronnybrook Farms |
| 10:00 - 10:40 | Presentation:What is a bed bug? And how can hostels avoid them and treat them? Presenter: Louis Sorkin of the American Museum of Natural History. |
| 10.45 - 11:25 | Presentation:Getting involved with local tourism agencies is good for hostels. Presenters: - Gary Poliquin of GO Backpackers Hostel - Joao Teixeira of Alfama Patio Hostel and Portuguese Hostel Association. |
| 11.30 - 12:00 | Presentation: Overview of the "new" GoMio. Presenter: Michael Tumminia of GoMio.com |
| 12.05 - 12:20 | Presentation: The Evolution of Traveling - Overview of Rideamigos.com. Presenter: Jeffrey Chernick of Rideamigos |
| 12.25 - 12:55 | Presentation: Upcoming trends in location-based review services: Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, Google Places, Facebook Places, augmented reality apps and mobile devices. Presenter: Josh Cohen of HostelManagement.com |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch. Note: See list of lunch venues offering discounts for conference participants. |
| 14:00 - 14:45 | Presentation:Dynamic Rates and Yield Management in Hostels Presenter: Andrew Guzowski of OnLine Systems |
| 14:45 - 15:00 | Coffee break |
| 15:00 - 15:30 | Presentation: Non-traditional marketing for hostels Presenter: Roland Solenthaler of 1291 Bed & Breakfast |
| 15:40 - 16:45 | Panel discussion: - Regulatory Oversight of the Hostel Industry - A good thing or a bad thing for Hostels? Moderators: Maria Argyropoulos of USA Hostels & Michael Tumminia of GoMio.com Panelists: - Gary Poliquin of GO Backpackers Hostel - Vikki Matsis Vikki Matsis of the Notso Hostel in Charleston, SC - Yaron Burgin Yaron Burgin of Israel Hostels - Jim Zielinski Jim Zielinski of the Bulldog Hotel in Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Mathias Schwender Mathias Schwender of Bohemian Hostels in Prague, Czech Republic - Jay Segal Jay Segal of Greenburg Traurig - Ludwig Ottenbreit Ludwig Ottenbreit of the A&O Hotels & Hostels in Germany, Austria & the Czech Republic - Sandra Nielsen Sandra Nielsen of Backpacker Network Germany - Jim Williams Jim Williams of the Hostel Handbook |
| 16:50 - 17:25 | Presentation: The Career Break Movement - Potential new customers for Hostels. Presenter: Michaela Potter of Briefcase to Backpack and Meet, Plan, Go! And Teresa Gotay of the Art of Backpacking |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Presentation: The Making of "A Map for Saturday" a film exploring the subculture of long-term travel. Presenter: Brook Silva-Braga of Earthchild Productions |
| 18:10 - 18:30 | School Bus Ride to the Brooklyn Brewery |
| 18:30 - 20:30 | Tour of the Brooklyn Brewer and sample some of the finest lager in the world Sponsored by the Brooklyn Brewery |
| 20.30 - 22:30 | Bowling at the Brooklyn Bowl |
