An international campaign to help save the hostel industry from the devastating financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has launched this week.

With the global travel sector devastated by the outbreak in recent weeks, thousands of hostels have been forced to close their doors without knowing when - or if - they will be able to reopen them. 

Industry leaders including travel blogger Kash Bhattacharya from the Budget Traveller, marketing agency Stay the Night and hostel.consulting have joined forces to launch the Adopt a Hostel campaign, with support from the world's leading hostel-focused online booking platform Hostelworld.

The campaign is calling on travellers to purchase a virtual gift card for a future stay or donate to a hostel of their choice. Over 200 hostels from around the world have joined the campaign and many more are expected to follow in a move which could help save the sector from collapse. 

Kash said: “Having spent the last 10 years visiting and blogging about almost 500 hostels, I can't imagine the travel industry without them. Hostels are such a huge part of so many travellers identities, and have shaped lives in so many different ways.

“The inspiration for 'Adopt a Hostel' came to us after seeing two independent hostels - The Beehive and 7 Fells - asking their past guests to help them through the crisis by buying a voucher.

“Seeing the passionate response to their idea made me think of the number of travellers out there who have an emotional connection to hostels and would like to give back and show their support by 'adopting a hostel'.”

Known for providing affordable accommodation in prime locations across the world, hostels have made international travel accessible - and possible - for people of all backgrounds.

Rosie Willan, co-founder and Director of marketing agency Stay the Night, said: “In a world that can sometimes seem more divided than ever, hostels provide unique spaces for travellers to challenge their perceptions and connect with like-minded people from all walks of life. 

“Having worked with hostels around the world - and stayed in hostels while backpacking myself - it's been hard to witness the impact that COVID-19 has had on the industry in recent weeks . We wanted to take action and we hope the Adopt a Hostel campaign will help hostels make it through this turbulent time.” 

In recent years, the hostel industry has been going from strength to strength and been a large player in the transformation of the hospitality industry. Prior to the outbreak, the global hostel market was estimated to grow to be worth $6.4 billion by the end of 2020.

Many in the industry remain optimistic about the future beyond COVID-19.

Lior, an independent hostel coach and creator of hostel.consulting, said: "I have seen the hostels I work with go through a series of stressful stages as the coronavirus crisis emerged and grew.  Watching the endless cancellations come in and everyone pack up and leave is truly heartbreaking for hostels which are built on a sense of community and energy. 

“Many hostels I speak to accept the situation we are in as an industry and remain optimistic about the future. I really hope that - with the help of the Adopt a Hostel campaign - all hostels can pull through this and reopen their doors when travel returns once more.”

Hostelworld Group (HSW) were quick to back the campaign. Fabrizio Giulio, Chief Supply Officer at Hostelworld Group said: “Our backpacker community has a deep-rooted love of and loyalty to hostels, so when the team behind Adopt a Hostel approached us with this initiative we didn't hesitate.

“Hostelworld has been working alongside its hostel partners for 20 years, and we want to ensure our industry comes out the other side of this in the best possible position. We call on all travellers to support their favourite hostels at a time when they need it most.”

You can purchase a gift card or donate to a hostel via www.adoptahostel.com. 

ENDS.

You can view the official Adopt a Hostel campaign video here. 

For more information or high res images, please contact charlotte@staythenight.net.

Notes to editors: 

• Download the official campaign video, click here.
• To visit the Adopt a Hostel website, click here.
• The campaign is free to join for hostels and our partner, Gift Up! have removed their 3.49% fee up to €5000 in gift card sales until July 1, 2020.
• Hostels included in the promotional video are CURIOCITY, Goodmorning Hostel Lisbon and The Beehive. Video directed by Sabrina Wulf, travel.eat.shoot.productions.
• Other campaign supporters include FrontDesk Master, Europe's Famous Hostels and Hostel Geeks.