North American Hostel Association
2024 Conference Agenda
TUESDAY, APRIL 23
Location: NW Portland Hostel (479 NW 18th Ave)
3:00 PM
Registration Open
6:30 PM
Evening Social sponsored by Cloudbeds
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24
Location: EcoTrust Building (721 NW 9th Ave) [Note: breakfast will be at NW Portland Hostel]
7:00 AM
Breakfast/Networking @ NW Portland Hostel sponsored by HI USA
8:30 AM
Registration Open @ EcoTrust Building
9:00 AM
Welcome to Portland
Presentation: Working with Destination Marketing Organizations
Heather Anderson, Director of International Tourism, Travel Portland
10:00 AM
Host Hostel Spotlights & FAM Tour
NW Portland Hostel, Portland, OR - Jim Kennett, Owner
Bunk+Brew, Bend, OR - Frankie Maduzia & J. Charles Griggs, Co-Founder, Co-Owners
10:30 AM
Coffee Break sponsored by Travel Portland
11:00 AM
Presentation: NAHA - Why We Are Here
J. Charles Griggs, President, North American Hostel Association
11:15 AM
Presentation: Youth Travel in North America
Alannah De Faoite, Commercial Manager, Hostelworld and
Erica McMahon, Regional Manager, EMEA & Americas, Hostelworld
12:00 PM
Lunch sponsored by HI USA
1:00 PM
Presentation: Trends Shaping the Travel Landscape
Stephan Leuenberger, Head of Market Development, Hostels, Cloudbeds
2:00 PM
Educational Session: AI-Powered Revenue Management
Mateusz Sznir, CEO, PricePoint
2:30 PM
Educational Session: Traveler Chats, LinkUps and Sustainability
Rocio Fuente, Associate Market Manager North America, Hostelworld
3:00 PM
Coffee Break sponsored by Travel Portland
3:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Hostel Spotlights
Bon Paul & Sharkey’s Hostel - Joe Gill, Owner/Operator
Monterey Hostel - Ryan Oetting, Executive Director & Operator
Safestay - Peter Zielke, Chief Operating Officer
Che Hostels – Matias Frank, Founder
4:45 PM
Feedback Session: Shaping NAHA - Your Expectations and Needs
J. Charles Griggs, President, North American Hostel Association ("NAHA")
5:15 PM
Adjourn
6:30 PM
Dinner and Party @ The Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St) sponsored by Hostelworld
10:30 PM
After-Party @ NW Portland Hostel
THURSDAY, APRIL 25
Location: EcoTrust Building (721 NW 9th Ave) [Note: breakfast will be at NW Portland Hostel]
7:00 AM
Breakfast/Networking @ NW Portland Hostel sponsored by Goki
9:00 AM
Presentation: The Hostel Collective
Syndey Ilg Malone & Thea Delamater, Co-Founders
9:20 AM
Presentation: HI USA Referral Program for Independent Hostels
Angela Morris, Director of Hostel Services, HI USA
9:40 AM
Presentation: Diversity in Hostels
Joe Hindman, Owner and General Manager, Modal Hostel
10:30 AM
Coffee Break sponsored by Safestay
11:00 AM
Presentation: Insurance Needs for Hostels
Brian Shahum, Senior Broker - Property & Casualty, USI Insurance Services
11:30 AM
Lunch with Affinity Tables sponsored by Goki
1:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Starting Business Associations
Cathrin Essbach, Backpacker Network Germany
Stephen Green, Business for a Better Portland
2:45 PM
Feedback Session: What Should NAHA Focus On?
J. Charles Griggs, President, North American Hostel Association
3:30 PM
Coffee Break sponsored by Mews
4:00 PM
Action: Join a Working Group/Committee and Next Steps
5:15 PM
Adjourn
6:30 PM
Evening Out in Small Groups at Local Restaurants