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2024 Portland Conference

Our 2024 Portland event was a tremendous success! we brought hostel Industry Professionals from all over North America in one place. We Had Speakers, Workshops, and no shortage of fun together during our time at this event. Most of us stayed at the NW Portland Hostel, allowing us to see and learn how one of the best hostels on on the West Coast Operates.

 

What Was Included!

Some Highlights

Portland was a great up and coming destination with plenty to entertain us before and after the conference! Thanks you Northwest Hostels and all the sponsors for the amazing hospitatility. 

What was on the Agenda

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Location: NW Portland Hostel (479 NW 18th Ave)

3:00 PM

Registration Open

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6:30 PM

Evening Social sponsored by Cloudbeds​

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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

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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

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9:00 AM

Presentation: The Hostel Collective

Syndey Ilg Malone & Thea Delamater, Co-Founders

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9:20 AM

Presentation: HI USA Referral Program for Independent Hostels

Angela Morris, Director of Hostel Services, HI USA

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9:40 AM

Presentation: Diversity in Hostels

Joe Hindman, Owner and General Manager, Modal Hostel

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10:30 AM

Coffee Break sponsored by Safestay

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11:00 AM

Presentation: Insurance Needs for Hostels

Brian Shahum, Senior Broker - Property & Casualty, USI Insurance Services

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11:30 AM

Lunch with Affinity Tables sponsored by Goki

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1:30 PM

Panel Discussion: Starting Business Associations

Cathrin Essbach, Backpacker Network Germany

Stephen Green, Business for a Better Portland

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2:45 PM

Feedback Session: What Should NAHA Focus On?

J. Charles Griggs, President, North American Hostel Association

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3:30 PM

Coffee Break sponsored by Mews

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4:00 PM

Action: Join a Working Group/Committee and Next Steps

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5:15 PM

Adjourn

                             

6:30 PM

Evening Out in Small Groups at Local Restaurants

What Topics Were Covered

during this Event?

Optimizing Google Business

Presented by the CEO of Locl, a trusted marking firm specializing in Google Business profiles.

Revenue Management

Learn about the importance of revenue management and pricing your beds/rooms. Presented by Pricepoint.

Human intervention training

In this session, you will learn specific techniques to help with troublesome guests or outsiders at your hostel.

6 trends shaping the travel landscape

Strategies for adapting to the six trends shaping the travel landscape and ensure long-term growth. Presented by Cloudbeds.

Working with local tourism boards

Travel Portland's VP of International Affairs will discuss how hostels can work with their locaion travel and tourism organizations.

Diversity in hostels

Joe Hindman of Modal Hostel discusses diversity in hostels with an emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community.

Using Hostelworld's LinkUps

Use Hostelworld's LinkUps to your advantage! Learn all about the ins and outs to posting your activities.

The state of youth travel

Hostelworld will talk to us about the current state of youth travel-- particularly in North America. 

Insurance needs for hostels

Learn about insurance needs and get your questions answered by an expert in the insurance field. 

How NAHA can help hostels

We want to hear from you! How can NAHA best help hostels in North America? What would you like to see us do together?

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