Hostels Unite for a World Without Borders, a Collaborative Action
- northamericanhoste
- Sep 19
- 6 min read
Travel isn’t just about where you go. It’s about who you become, who you meet, and how you grow together.
In the hostel world, no one builds a hostel empire alone. From shared dorms to shared dreams, the power of togetherness can transform beds into booming businesses, couch-surfing into community, and solo journeys into global movements. That’s where industry collaboration and associations like NAHA (North American Hostel Association) step in.
Rising Tides: Hostel Industry Statistics 2025-2026
To appreciate why associations matter, first let’s look at what’s happening around us.
Globally, the hostel market was valued at USD $5.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to around $5.61 billion in 2025, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of nearly 9.9% according to The Business Research Company
Looking forward, projections from various sources estimate that the global hostel market could reach $8-13 billion+ by the end of the decade, depending on region and innovation.
In North America specifically, the hostel market generated USD 1,468.1 million in revenue in 2024, and is forecasted to grow at about 5.3% annually from 2025 to 2030.
What does this tell us? The hostel sector is healthy, growing, evolving, and increasingly competitive. Those beds won’t fill themselves. Successful hostel operators are those who adapt, innovate, and stay plugged into what the world (and travellers) are doing.
Post-Pandemic Hostel Trends: What’s Changed so Far
The COVID-19 pandemic altered the landscape of travel, and hostels have been reimagining themselves in response.
Solo travel trends have surged. Many travellers, especially younger or digital nomad types, are now preferring flexible stays, safer, smaller-group interactions, and hostels that can offer both community and privacy.
Hybrid hostel models (mixing dorms + private rooms, social + quiet spaces, experience + rest) are becoming more common.
There’s been a greater emphasis on digital tools: contactless check-in/check-out, booking via apps, virtual tours, and online community building.
Increased attention to health, safety, cleanliness, and environmental sustainability. Guests expect higher hostel accreditation standards, clear policies, and visible hygiene protocols.
These changes make it clear: hostels that cling to “old ways” risk getting left behind.
NAHA’s Mission & the Power of Association and Collaboration
Enter NAHA—the North American Hostel Association. Its mission is to advocate for and empower member hostel operators in North America, foster their business interests, and advance the overall hostel industry through resources, advocacy, and collaboration.
Hostels Unite with Collaborative Action
Organizes an annual conference that brings hostel owners together to learn, network, share innovations, and compare successes.
Provides industry insights & marketing resources so members can stay competitive in fast-changing markets.
Acts as a collective voice: advocating for favorable hostel regulations by country or region, negotiating bulk discounts (collective purchasing), and pushing for accreditation or standardization where needed.
Benefits of Joining a Hospitality Association: More Than Just Perks
Associations like NAHA don’t just look good on your website. They also deliver concrete benefits. Here are some ways hostel owners gain:
Networking for hostel owners
Hostels Unite with Collaborative Action. Connecting with peers means learning insider tips, avoiding pitfalls, and swapping stories. Whether in virtual meetups or in-person at conferences, the relationships formed can lead to partnerships, collaborations, peer mentorship, and community.
Access to industry standards and accreditation
As travellers become more discerning, hostels that meet certain accreditation standards get rewarded through guest trust, better reviews, and maybe even regulatory favour. Associations help define and promote those standards.
Staying ahead in innovation
Innovation in the hostel sector, whether tech, sustainability, or experience design, often arises when people share what’s working. Associations provide forums to learn about what’s new, pilot new ideas, and adopt best practices.
Advocacy and regulation
Rules vary by country or region, such as zoning, safety codes, health regulations, and licensing. Hostels alone may struggle to influence policy. Together, they have clout. Associations can help members understand hostel regulations and push for fair policies.
Member benefits & cost savings
Bulk purchasing, discounts on services, supplies, shared marketing, and access to research and data can reduce costs or increase revenue. For NAHA, member benefits include exclusive marketing materials, community support, and access to a directory of fellow hostels.
Confidence from hostel success stories
Hearing about successes how a hostel in one place doubled occupancy by changing layout, or another leveraged solo travel trends or digital nomads successfully inspire and provide real-world templates.
The “Future of Hostel Travel”: What Is It Bringing?
Given all the recent shifts and data, here are some projections for where hostel travel is heading in 2025-2026:
Digital nomad hostels will continue to rise. Not just places to sleep, but spaces to work, connect, and stay longer. Hostels with good WiFi, coworking amenities, and local community integration will stand out.
Backpacking trends remain pivotal. Backpackers historically drive demand, and their priorities—cheap, social, authentic—continue shaping what hostels offer. But backpackers are also evolving: sustainability, wellness, and local experiences are more valued.
More regulation & accreditation: As the hostel market grows, and as hostels diversify (private rooms, luxury hostels, wellness hostels), there’s increasing pressure (from governments, from guests, sometimes from lenders) to maintain uniform safety, hygiene, and quality standards.
Tech + hybrid models: Expect more hostels to offer flexible booking, contactless check-ins, smart door locks, and app integrations. Also, hybrid hosting: combining hotel-like comforts in private rooms with the community vibes of dorms or shared spaces.
Hostel Unite Through Success Stories Collaboration: Learning from Those Who’ve Done It
Real life is always the best teacher. For instance, a hostel operator in San Diego pivoted during the pandemic by focusing on “workation” guests, improving remote work facilities, and offering mid-stay discounts. That turned what could have been a disaster into a growth opportunity.
Another hostel used association data to benchmark itself: comparing daily occupancy vs ADR vs guest satisfaction, and then implemented small changes (better lighting, more community events, digital check-in). The result: improved reviews, longer stays, and more repeat guests. Note that NAHA members have access to some of these kinds of success stories & shared case studies!
Challenges and Why Collaboration Is More Important Than Ever
Even with all the positives, there are serious headwinds:
Rising operational costs (utilities, labour, maintenance) post-pandemic.
Competition not just from peer hostels, but from private rentals, boutique hotels, and alternative lodging models.
Diversity of hostel regulations across regions: health & safety codes, fire regulation, zoning, licensing. Navigating these (especially for hostels operating in multiple jurisdictions) is complex.
Guest expectations are rising, such as cleanliness, privacy, sustainability,and digital convenience, which means hostels must invest, adapt, and sometimes rethink their business models.
These are big tasks, and individually they can overwhelm. But associations help distribute load: knowledge, shared resources, and advocacy make them more manageable.
Why NAHA, in Particular, is Positioned to Help
Putting together NAHA’s mission with these trends, here’s how NAHA is poised to make a difference. It’s non-profit and trade-focused, meaning its priority is the health of the hostel sector, not profit margins from outside businesses. It organizes rotating annual conferences, enabling cross-pollination of ideas and regional learning. It brings practical benefits such as bulk purchasing, marketing, advocacy, and shared resources that directly support hostel survival and growth. The community aspect: having a network you can lean on during crises (like pandemics, regulatory changes, cost surges) is invaluable.
What Hostel Owners, Solo Travellers & Industry Supporters Can Do
If you run a hostel or are thinking of starting one, or if you just care about the future of backpacking, digital nomading, and communal travel, here are steps you can take:
Become a member of NAHA or a relevant hostel/hospitality association. It’s not just a badge; it’s a connection, advocacy, data, and support.
Participate in association events & knowledge sharing. Go to conferences, virtual meetups. Share your own success or failure because others will learn from you, and you’ll learn from them.
Align with accreditation standards. Even if not required in your region, customers increasingly want assurances. Having clear standards (cleanliness, safety, privacy) helps.
Track hostel industry statistics 2025-2026 & beyond. Data is your compass. Know occupancy trends, guest preferences, and regulatory changes in your country.
Innovate with purpose. Whether it’s building for digital nomads, offering hybrid/private dorms, focusing on sustainability, or customizing the guest experience because those who innovate intentionally will stand out.
In a Nutshell, Community Builds More Than Beds
Hostels are more than cheap beds. They are launchpads for global friendships, personal transformation, local impact, and cross-cultural understanding. And associations like NAHA are the support beams beneath them, helping tie together scattered hostels into communities of practice, innovation, and resilience.
In a world recovering from a pandemic, facing climate change, shifting travel norms, and rising expectations, the power of collaboration isn’t just nice, but it’s also essential.
So if you’re a hostel owner, hostelite, or someone who just believes in the magic of communal travel, take this to heart: when we come together, we can shape the future of hostel travel. One that’s safer, smarter, more inclusive, and richer in human connection.
Let’s build that future. Together.
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