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North American Hostel Association
2024 Conference 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

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