6^th European Hostel Meeting - Interlaken 2007

Friday Night at Balmer’s Herberge:

Welcome drinks were hosted at Balmer’s Herberge and the Foster’s, Newcastle Brown Ale, K1664, Bulmer’s & Strongbow Cider flowed all night long thanks to Scottish Newcastle. Erich Balmer kicked off the night with a real Swiss welcome and an introduction to the core staff of his hostel – the same people that made the evening run so smoothly for all who attended!

Hard to say if it was the excitement of reconnecting with old friends, meeting new faces… or the free welcome drinks – but the evening continued well past the 7-10 schedule and delegates & backpackers alike mingled and danced into the early hours…

Balmer’s Herberge: www.balmers.com
Did we catch you on camera? Click here for photos from the Welcome Drinks: to the pictures...

Location:
The 6^th European Hostel Meeting took place in the gorgeous Casino Kursaal. Surrounded by exquisite Swiss scenery, delegates were welcomed into the Theatre to start their day.

Jim Zielinski, General Manager of the Bulldog Hotel & a Director of the European Hostel Cooperation presented the findings of the European Hostel Survey. The survey was put together by the EHC after consultations with hostels across Europe. Responses were gathered from hostels in Prague, Barcelona, Munich, Dresden, Berlin & Amsterdam, from July 2006 – February 2007.

The results presented solidified information already suspected – we’re dealing with “travelers” not “backpackers” - and also introduced us to some new ideas from hostel’s target market – the traveler is spending a lot more money then in the past.

A full overview of the survey can be downloaded here: Get the Presentation

Project Manager, Guy Verlinde, a specialist in researching and winning funding from the European Commission, presented an overview on how hostels themselves can access these funds. After outlining his own experience with this, including his current project i-hostels, Guy went on to explain the different approaches a hostel can take: from a profit & non-profit angle.

Advice was also given on how to write a “sexy” funding proposal and who to approach first. Step by step, Guy broke down the beurocracy to provide hostels with an outline for their own action plans.

You can download Guy’s presentation here: Get the Presentation

Morgan Zuill, Marketing Director of Scottish Newcastle GmbH & Romain Veinnois, Project Director for St. Christopher’s Inns, addressed the growing partnership of breweries & hostels. Using the success of the St. Christopher’s/Scottish Newcastle partnership as a case study, hostels were given tips on how to grow their business further through their bars. Specific questions on what exactly a brewery can do for a hostel were addressed in the open forum section of the workshop and some of Scottish Newcastle’s edgy advertising was on show for all who attended!

To download Morgan and Romain’s presentation click here: Get the Presentation

Have more specific questions for Scottish Newcastle? Please contact Verity Gale, Marketing Specialist directly at: Verity. Gale@sndeutschland.de

Representatives from already existing national and regional hostel networks throughout Europe; The Swiss Backpackers, the German Backpacker Network, Independent Hostels UK, Scottish Independent Hostels & Backpacker Spain joined Helga Jaekel of GOMIO.COM to discuss the possibilities of a pan-European Network.

Along with these groups, hostels interested in forming a network in the future or are about to do som also participated. From overseas we were happy to welcome a representative of the Backpackers Hostels Canada

The purpose of the meeting was to find out if there is a general interest in a European Network as an umbrella organization on a non-profit basis. Ideas were collected on expectations towards the European Network, included offering an online forum for the exchange of experiences and opinions. Further the network could be used as a marketing tool and represent European Hostels at international fairs. Due to this interest The European Hostel Cooperation will gladly undertake the task and offer a forum for this European Association.

Anyone interested please contact Helga in the head office of the EHC: helga@gomio.com

PR & Communications specialist Rod Macrae, of Macrae Media & Communications addressed the never ending opportunities of hostels working with the media to further publicize their respective businesses. Rod addressed issues such as what makes a good press release, what various media branches are looking for & how to establish a connection with your local media sources.

Rod also focused on how hostels can work with the media in times of crisis within their own city & country. Using the example of the London Bombings, he dissected the media response and gave advice on how to turn that around to encourage traffic back through London.

For a copy of Rod’s presentation, please click here: Get the Presentation

Questions for Rod? Pop him an email at: rod@macraecommunication.com

“This workshop is to show you how you can use and abuse your regional tourism board” started Roland Baumgartner in his workshop. Having worked for Switzerland Tourism (www.myswitzerland.com) for 25 years, he presented hostels with ideas of how they can use the marketing strategies of their local tourism board. As one of the main points he stated that it is important to look for the specific distinctions of your region (Switzerland = mountains). Hostels should keep themselves informed on current numbers and statistics in tourism and make special sales campaigns using the significant points they have. Develop a quality system so that the guests know what to expect when they book their structure. Roland also recommending using the internet through actively participating in travel forums, creating blogs, putting flyers online as a download file on your website or maybe an e-postcard.

The possibilities are endless and it’s up to your imagination what you make out of it!

Tobias De Pessemier of USE-IT Belgium & USE-IT Europe presented the concept of marketing a destination. The concept began in Copenhagen in 1972 and USE-IT has since developed into a non-profit organization helping young travelers on their journeys. They provide backpackers with the information that they are looking for like cheap food or accommodation, where to meet locals or how to behave with them (shake hands 2 or 3 kisses?) All this info can be found in their offices or in the cool and successful maps that they are making at the moment. This unique approach is all about destination focus and has developed into a way of convincing guests to extend their stay by showing them what their destination has on offer.

Currently operating in 7 cities across Europe, they plan to open new offices next year in Berlin and Ljubljana.

Check out their concept at: click here...
Questions? Contact Tobias via: www.use-it.be

Susann Koschmieder, General Manager of the European Hostel Cooperation gave an overview of the recent developments of GOMIO.COM, the European Backpacking Portal created by Hostel Owners and presented by The European Hostel Cooperation. Also addressed in this workshop were the many options available to members of the EHC & Gomio.com – the online booking portal, reception management software, internet facilities and more!

For a copy of Susann’s presentation, click here: Get the Presentation

Panel Discussion – Interlaken’s Experience – A Study on How the Development of the Backpacker Industry has Affected all Accommodation Sectors

In between the many workshops, all delegates met up again in the theatre to observe a panel discussion led by Gerald Reisecker of Packed Magazine. The panel discussion began with a presentation from Katrin Stuessi of Swiss Consulting firm Grisch Consulta. Grisch was commissioned by Swiss Tourism to conduct an independent study on the travel patterns within Interlaken. Their results led to a greater recognition of the backpacker segment and led to a focus on branding towards this market.

The focus then continued onto the panel of guests: Urs Graf (Mayor of Interlaken), Urs Kessler (Jungfraubahnen), Stefan Otz (Managing Director, Interlaken Tourism), Erich Balmer (Balmer’s Herberge) & Rene Klopfer (Hotel Association, Interlaken) who fielded questions from Gerald as to how hostels & hotels are working together to promote Interlaken as a destination. Issues were addressed regarding the spend backpackers make in Interlaken, obstacles with noise regulations, how to cooperate to market together & what Interlaken has done and learnt throughout the process.

To download the findings of Grisch Consulta, please click here: Get the Presentation

In 2005 the guys from Home Hostels, Valencia packed up a Citroen and proceeded to drive from Spain down the African continent arriving in South Africa. Their goal – to break the bubble of the typical backpacker world & to start interacting and affecting their surroundings, truly learning from the cultures they visited. Hand in hand with this came the realization that as an industry – the low budget arena has a responsibility to promote humanitarian actions and interactions along the way.

Fabio, Massimo, Pepe & Exequiel started the presentation with an overview of their 7 month long journey across the continent of Africa. They stepped aside to let the trip do the talking by presenting a 20 minute documentary taken along the way.

The presentation ended the day with the recognition that this industry, the one that exposes travellers from all over the world to new cultures daily, has a power and a responsibility to change perceptions one backpacker at a time!

To find out more about the Moving Slowly project, including their upcoming trip across South & Central America please visit: www.movingslowly.com

The meeting ended with an invitation from the Geneva Lake Region hostels to sample the delicious wines of their area. A great time to chill out, recap what was discussed throughout the day and sip on some delicious wine! Thank you again Geneva Lake Region!

For photos from throughout the day, click here.

Keeping the distinctiveness of Interlaken, this year’s party was held at the Kletterlhalle K44 – an indoor climbing hall. Within the backdrop of the climbing walls, the evening was again full of chatting, dancing & free flowing beer & cider curtousey of Scottish Newcastle.

Many thanks again to Bart Stapel for catering, Scottish & Newcastle for getting the party going and GOMIO.COM.

Kletterhalle: www.k44.ch

Ready for the embarrassment… click here for pictures from the night!

In only the way this industry can do it, we continued the party on to the early morning only to arrive at Mattenhof Resort/Funny Farm the next morning for the second day of the 6th European Hostel Meeting – the Trade Show.

With over 30 tables presenting their businesses from across the world, as well as the ever popular free flyer exchange program… the day was a chance for everyone to take the time to exchange ideas, learn of new projects & sit down with a beer at the Fosters bar to review future plans.

Of course, those that needed to line their stomachs walked away happy as well with a breakfast hosted throughout the trade show by the Interlaken Hostels. A fitting way to a full weekend!

Trying to remember all you saw? Click here for photos from the day!

Press Release
Jungfrau Zeitung
Berner Oberländer - Titel
Berner Oberländer - Artikel
Berner Oberländer - Online
Hotel & Tourismus
Sonntags Zeitung

Book an ad/advertorial for the May/April edition of Packed Magazine now and we DOUBLE your adspace for FREE. Every 6th European Hostel Meeting participant gets a free UPGRADE. So you pay for an 1/8th page and get a quarter page or pay for a ¼ page and get a half page,...

Deadline for this offer and next issue booking is April 15th 2007. The May/June issue is released in early May.

To book your space, contact Packed Magazine at: office@packedmagazine.com

Welcome Drinks
European Hostel Meeting
European Hostel Party
European Hostel Trade Show

Jumping to yet another exciting European destination, the European Hostel Cooperation & the hostels of Barcelona are pleased to invite you to next year’s, 7^th European Hostel Meeting in sunny Barcelona!! We look forward to welcoming you into this vibrant destination next year, March 1^st & 2^nd 2008. See you all there!

Interlaken – March, 24^th/25^th 2007

Friday Night The Meeting Opening Presentation Workshop I Workshop II Workshop III Workshop IV Workshop V Workshop VI Workshop VII Closing Presentation Time to Party!! The European Hostel Trade Show Exclusive "Packed" Hostel meeting offer! Picture Tour 7th European Hostel Meeting

The 6th European Hostel Meeting is sponsored in part by Official Platinum Sponsors:

Further Support Provided by Silver Sponsors:

Previous Meetings: