Hostelworld, the largest online hostel-booking platform sparking social experiences, and innovative tourism organisation Gold Coast Tourism, are bringing something BIG to the Gold Coast this September.

The two have joined forces to create the world's first ever Sand Hostel on the iconic Gold Coast foreshore, offering one-off experiences and unique activities over the three-day event.

Located on the stunning Kurrawa Terrace, the Sand Hostel will be open to the public from 20 - 22 September and will offer two exclusive accommodation spaces for guests (an eight-bed dorm and one private double room). Those not staying at the hostel can also come and enjoy the facilities during the day and live music into the evening at the beachfront lounge area and bar. Food trucks, plus a variety of activities including beach volleyball, surf lessons, beach yoga, sand sculpting classes and more will also be on offer.

Anyone wishing to stay at the exclusive Sand Hostel will have to book one of the limited spots via the Hostelworld website. Bookings open on Wednesday 20th September.

The Sand Hostel has been designed and created by Lively Worldwide working alongside production designer, Jon Dowding, whose feature film achievements include Mad Max and The Blue Lagoon. World champion sand sculptor Dennis Masoud, or 'Sandman' as he is known, is building the sand structure and will add impeccable finishing touches to the enormous construction, which will use approximately 24 tonnes of sand.

“By teaming up with Gold Coast Tourism, we want to challenge the perception of hostels and show how they are amazing social hubs where you meet open-minded travellers and create extraordinary memories. We've listened to what our customers want and created the ultimate dream hostel right here on the Gold Coast. The Sand Hostel will offer the opportunity for the lucky guests to immerse themselves in the local Gold Coast culture and interact with travellers from across the globe with the sand between their toes in a beautiful setting. It will be unlike anything anyone has ever seen before.” says Hostelworld's Head of Acquisition, Niall Walsh.

“Joining with Hostelworld was a natural fit to show young travellers the real Gold Coast experience, through modern hostelling. There is an inexplicable energy that lives here and we invite young travellers to see how the Gold Coast has evolved. Our unique coastal culture, emerging street food and craft beer hubs, iconic beaches and lush hinterland sets the scene for truly memorable experiences. We are excited for these guests to uncover those genuine, remarkable moments that millennials so desire and that are in abundance here on the Gold Coast,” said Gold Coast Tourism Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Strategy, Dean Gould.

http://www.hostelworld.com/
https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/
#SandHostel #wearegoldcoast
@hostelworld @destinationgoldcoast

For more information on The Sand Hostel or for interview opportunities with Niall Walsh (Hostelworld), Dean Gould (Gold Coast Tourism) Denis Masoud (Sand sculptor), please contact Polkadot Communications:

Annabel Carroll
annabel@polkadotcomms.com.au
0451 915 112 // 02 9281 4190

Carissa Davis
carissa@polkadotcomms.com.au
0406 408 892 // 02 9281 4190

Notes to Editors
The Sand Hostel will be open to the public from Wednesday 20th September at 12pm until Friday 22nd at 12pm and open for media opportunities on 19th September upon request.

Bookings from 20th Sept via http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Sand-Hostel/Coolangatta/275457

About Hostelworld:
Hostelworld is the market leader in youth travel, with the largest online booking platform sparking social experiences and encouraging passionate travellers to see the world. Hostelworld is perfect for travellers who want to meet new people, make memorable connections and have extraordinary tales to tell when they return home.
Hostels are about so much more than affordable prices, they're amazing social hubs where you'll meet open-minded travellers to create unforgettable adventures with. It's the social nature of hostels that makes any holiday so unique and exciting, with 51% of travellers agreeing that the most important factor in a great trip is meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Hostelworld ignites that social travel experience with the best booking options to help travellers make the most of their trip. Hostelworld has over nine million reviews across 35,000 properties in more than 180 countries, making it the leading provider for social travel and online booking.
Headquartered in Dublin, Hostelworld has offices around the world in London, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul and Porto, and was recently recognised as a Best Workplace for 2017 by the Great Place to Work Institute.

About Gold Coast Tourism:
We're the city by the sea that's maintained its coastal town soul. We're a place of powerful contrasts, the nostalgic and the new, the audacious and the abundant, all united by an unmistakable energy. It's an energy as constant as the tides from our foreshore to our hinterland. It lives in our rainforests, baristas, life guards and vivid city lights. You can almost taste it in our fresh, salty air. It inspires the way we live, shapes the way we think and fuels our evolution. We're not the place you used to know or think we might be. We are destination Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast welcomes over 300,000 international youth travellers annually (18-30yrs), representing over 30% of all international arrivals and contributing significantly to the local economy.

Licensed images and video are available for non-commercial use by media, tour operators, travel agents, meeting professionals, and convention promoters. These assets are available for download from the Destination Gold Coast Content Hub by registering at http://www.barberstock.com/destinationgoldcoast

Assets can also be accessed here http://barberstock.com/collection/destinationgoldcoast/dgc-youth-market-asset-collection