1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,080
Welcome back to the hostile road trip podcast.

2
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:13,860
Very excited to be here with Maria at aropolis. I will not try to spell it.

3
00:00:13,860 --> 00:00:21,720
From the gas lamp hostile in San Diego, California. I'm live from a 69 airstream in Joshua tree, California.

4
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,740
And Bob's down in Puerto Vallarta.

5
00:00:24,740 --> 00:00:27,120
Or bus areas Mexico.

6
00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,760
Correct, yes. But today.

7
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:36,960
Today we're diving into the gas lamp hostile and we've done an episode before with Maria.

8
00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,960
During the pandemic.

9
00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,860
Which was, you know, this will be interesting to touch base with her now following the pandemic.

10
00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:46,860
And Maria, for those of you who don't know her.

11
00:00:46,860 --> 00:00:50,880
I would argue that has the most active experience in the country.

12
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,200
She's still sitting behind the desk and running the shop herself. Very hands on.

13
00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,480
Owner operator and has also had a.

14
00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,700
What 20 year career Maria? Yeah, we're in year 21 now. Yeah.

15
00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:07,920
Yeah, 20 over 20 year career and has gone the full cycle from.

16
00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,400
Management to upper management to ownership.

17
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:17,560
To owner operator, so really just a wealth of knowledge on all topics hostile.

18
00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:23,440
So very grateful to have you here Maria. Thank you for taking the time to be with us.

19
00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,660
And to kick off the hostile road trip podcast here after the.

20
00:01:27,660 --> 00:01:30,880
Shutdown that we had to go through for covert there.

21
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:41,800
But so, how have you been? Well, 1st of all, thank you for that lovely introduction. Your check is in the mail as usual for.

22
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,560
And yeah, no, we're we're good. I mean.

23
00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:53,840
You know, it was, it was a rough road, but we survived it, you know, with, especially since we didn't get any PPP help.

24
00:01:53,840 --> 00:02:04,400
And so, you know, we were kind of, you know, we just had to kind of punt. We talked to all about that last time the last time we got to have drinks while we were having this conversation. But, you know.

25
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,440
No drinking on the job, so all I've got is, you know.

26
00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:27,360
I can't so to here, but yeah, no, I mean, you know, we, we came out of it. Okay, you know, I mean, we paid all our debts back and, you know, as you know, at least I would assume you were in the same boat as us last winter was a little quiet, but things are picking back up for this year and.

27
00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:36,360
Booking.com is claiming that this is going to be a good year for the Americas, you know, since Europe had the banner year last year.

28
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:47,360
So we're keeping our fingers crossed that that's going to be the case though it wasn't too bad last year me and you know that that 2022 was everybody was shocked at how good a year it was.

29
00:02:47,360 --> 00:03:00,360
We only went down a little bit less than 8% from the 2022 year which I thought was pretty good considering, you know, we were, we were getting mostly Americans and weekend business.

30
00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:15,360
But I feel like this year should be a strong year especially because Comic Cons back full force, you know, because it was the end of the strike last year the actor strike and twitches back, which is a big deal as well.

31
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,360
So I'm feeling good about this year.

32
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:34,360
Nice I've been hearing the international travel is going to be returning a lot this year that from what I'm hearing is they're providing more visas to travelers so hopefully we'll start to see the international rebound come back because that's been desperately

33
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,360
missed in the hostile business for the last four years.

34
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:57,360
Absolutely I mean we're definitely not at the levels we were before we're still primarily Americans and I think, I think the only saving grace has been that at least in San Diego the hotels have skyrocketed their prices and so people are turning to hostels,

35
00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:09,360
because they really want to go on vacation but they can't afford I mean, we have an AC that opened up across the way and AC Maria, and you know the prices started $300 something dollars a night.

36
00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:20,360
And yeah and it's literally right directly across the street from us so you know I think people are willing to give up bathrooms in their rooms to save money on on their stay.

37
00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:31,360
So, yeah, I mean that's really been what saved us I, if we had been out in the country somewhere I don't know what would have happened, you know, yeah.

38
00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:47,360
I had a question since you know you've made this unique jump that only a few people have done, but you were a manager for many years and climbed the ladder as I said, from, you know, management to upper management in a hostel that had multiple locations.

39
00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:58,360
And now you're the owner of your own. What would you say the biggest differences for being a hostile manager to a hostile owner, if you were to tell someone who was thinking of making that jump.

40
00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:03,360
Yeah, when I was in man thought about this recently actually it's funny you're bringing it up.

41
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:10,360
Before when I was in management when I went on vacation I went on vacation you know there were other people.

42
00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:24,360
I don't really, I mean even though I've got great business partner. I don't really feel like I'm ever really on vacation you know what I mean like there's always something that comes up you have to talk to each other about it's like being able to completely turn

43
00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:39,360
it off is, is hard it's something we both both me and, and Aaron have struggled to, you know, try to stay out of each other's way on our days off but I'd say that's probably the toughest thing.

44
00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:48,360
But what I think the best thing is, is I don't have to answer to anybody anymore you know so.

45
00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:57,360
Yeah, you know you didn't have you know when you when you guys started on hostile nobody had to listen to me anymore.

46
00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:10,360
But, yeah, I think that's the best plus is that, you know what I mean like I can come in when I want leave when I want them of course I put in my full day, since I am the on site manager.

47
00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:25,360
And, but you know it's, it's, it'll affords me more flexibility to change things on a whim if I want to change the way we do something change an activity if I want to change up something we're, you know, providing to the guests, I mean, it gives us that full

48
00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:39,360
time flexibility and I think that's the biggest plus is not having to worry about someone else who's saying, you know, save money here, you know, because I need to make more money there we can choose where we want to spend money or save money so

49
00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:49,360
you've got directors cut. Now, on that same topic and you at the last conference there was this pairing process that they did at the conference in Portland.

50
00:06:49,360 --> 00:07:02,360
You had some younger gals that were, I think you had talking to them they were trying to start up a hostile in Atlanta. What would be some things that you would tell younger people that were getting into the game and starting up you know as advice,

51
00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:09,360
you know, some things that really popped to your mind first like oh you should know this or you should be aware of that.

52
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:25,360
Well, the first thing was I asked them if they had ever worked in a hostile, and I'm a little vague on it but I'm pretty sure that maybe one had been a volunteer but the other one had not only she'd only ever been a guest.

53
00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:40,360
And I said to the both of them, you need to get a job in hostile first like to just open one up from scratch. I said we'll probably overwhelm you. They also had some pretty lofty ideals on like the size of hostile they wanted to open, and I actually

54
00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:56,360
asked you guys as an example and I said, Look, you know, this was yeah this was it h you know this is how they started. And you know they got their hands around the business they got themselves you know they started with me I think you had like 36 or 40 something

55
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:57,360
beds.

56
00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,360
And

57
00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,360
yeah, house party.

58
00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,360
I pumped you I pumped you up a little bit there so.

59
00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:17,360
And I, you know, and I said look you know they they they got their hands wet being the owners, because, you know, they've been managed, you know, been in management had worked there.

60
00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:38,360
And, you know, then they expanded and I said I think it can be overwhelming if you jump in and you've got, you know, 100 beds, I mean, you know it's for me to running 100 beds is easy because I have this running 600 beds, you know, one point, so, well I shouldn't say easy

61
00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,360
you know what I mean, like, you know, it's never it's never easy.

62
00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:55,360
Yeah, but yeah it's you you under you've been through it you can roll with the punches you you you know you you kind of know how to to, you know, Bob and we even adapt when you need to because you've done it before.

63
00:08:55,360 --> 00:09:12,360
You know, you go over your head so fast with that type of, you know, path to like if you go big, or if you go like, build to suit right away you know that just seems so much of a big truth big bite to take you know like the, the low low pass up there in Portland.

64
00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:26,360
And it was a build out and it had so much going on and all these facets that I remember when we stayed there and I was looking around I was like, wow, what an operation this must be to run, you know, like, and it must be expensive, you know, all these different stores having staffs

65
00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:32,360
and different managers and different things and, you know, and then you can see how that can get you into trouble.

66
00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:39,360
Quick. Yeah, that was, that was, it's kind of a sad story I feel.

67
00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:52,360
I think if that hostile first of all hadn't opened in during the pandemic, which you know Portland's devastated and and had opened probably in a first tier city like LA.

68
00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:59,360
I think they would have hit it out of the ballpark but they just were victims of circumstance, more than anything.

69
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:09,360
So, um, but that was, that was their second hostile they have a, I think a fairly good size hostile in New York or Queens I think.

70
00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:19,360
But it shows that even experienced operators can get, you know, jammed up easily so for the person who's just jumping in. Definitely, I think good advice to go small.

71
00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:37,360
Yeah, and I think these ladies were looking to try to buy a building too and I was like, I was like, oh boy, just me, I'm, I'm a lot more conservative you know what I mean I I'm like, make sure you know that what you're doing and, and before you commit yourself

72
00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:43,360
to something at a higher level, but that's me I've always been more conservative in my approach to things.

73
00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:55,360
There are so many hostels out there that need good managers so definitely getting in and managing one of these hostels before you spend all your investment or somebody else's money definitely is wise to learn the business and make sure you love it,

74
00:10:55,360 --> 00:11:01,360
it's definitely a unique business to be in, and you really have to enjoy it. Otherwise you'll go crazy.

75
00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:13,360
And as you guys know, you know, being a guest, and even being a volunteer is a hell of a lot different than being a manager you know when I first started in Hollywood as the manager.

76
00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:25,360
You know, I think I said this in one of our other conversations I came in thinking oh kumbaya we're all going to do our job and get along and have fun and I was a big smack in the face to realize that behind the scenes was a lot different than, you know,

77
00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:37,360
than just hanging out at the hostel and while I still love it or I wouldn't be doing this 21 years later or maybe I'm a little insane I'm not sure.

78
00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:51,360
It's, you know, it was a big dose of reality to realize like this isn't just fun, it is a job, you know, it is it takes it takes just as much as anything else to do properly.

79
00:11:51,360 --> 00:12:05,360
Definitely about for the let's talk about the traveler. How have you seen the traveler change over the last 10 years, as far as hosting the traveler and just the types of travelers and you notice the difference or an evolution of the hospital traveler.

80
00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:18,360
Such a long, you know, purview on that you know over your 20 years in the business. Yeah, yeah, I think I mean the travelers a lot more demanding now, they want, they want a lot more for their money and of course we're charging a lot more.

81
00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:29,360
I mean, I just pulled up a bunch of old data that we had and you know when I started in Hollywood in 2003 we were charging $17 for a bed.

82
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:39,360
And then we were also refunding the shuttle from the airport. So, you know, it's a big difference from today so I get why people want more.

83
00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:50,360
I think back then they were happy to come, they were much bigger partiers for sure. I think they were you know there's a lot of drinking a lot of carousing.

84
00:12:50,360 --> 00:13:04,360
And it was, you know, people were just happy to have a bug free place with a hot shower you know and you know you had the, you had the internet key if you had an internet kiosk from the use you were like a cool hostel because you had, you know,

85
00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:12,360
you can charge them you know and now they get all been out of shape if the free Wi Fi doesn't reach all the way to their bed.

86
00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,360
Stream movies at once.

87
00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:30,360
So you know that's a big difference from Oh yeah I can pay five cents a minute or whatever it is go use the kiosk to hey wait a minute I'm in the back room and I can't, you know, watch my movie and it's like, you know, you're like well you know I'm doing we're doing the best

88
00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,360
job with what we got to work with and.

89
00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,360
So I think there's, I think there's that.

90
00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:53,360
And I think, you know, they're there because there's these large hostels in Europe, and even some of the larger ones in Australia, you know that are like resorts now there's, you know, for those travelers coming from those countries I mean even some of the ones in Thailand

91
00:13:53,360 --> 00:14:01,360
are amazing. You know when you come to the US you know the redheaded stepchild of the hostile business.

92
00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:15,360
You know they there's this expectation I think to have that generator level St. Christopher's level and you know we're not that here in the US you know we're we're, we're definitely more mom and pop markets still.

93
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:34,360
Yeah, you know, and so I think I think there's, you know, you got to, you got to work hard here to make sure you're trying to satisfy them on on most of the levels of what their expectation is but overall I still think you get a pretty relaxed, nice traveler,

94
00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:43,360
I don't think that's changed but there are a lot calmer than they used to be the drinking is way down compared to what it used to be, you know.

95
00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:51,360
So a lot more also in California weed is, you know, legal so they're probably stoned have to calm down. Yeah.

96
00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,360
Yeah, that's very true.

97
00:14:54,360 --> 00:15:05,360
Yeah, noticing a lot of hostels to where people are kind of going with the direction of you have like the backpacker hostile, that's more roots and you can feel the vibe when you walk in.

98
00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:13,360
And I think you're seeing a lot of people that created fancy postels that are super nice or expensive but they just don't have the vibe.

99
00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:23,360
And I think hostels kind of have to decide, you know, there's a market for both. And I think, as you're creating a hostile you got it, you can kind of decide or blend ideally I know.

100
00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:35,360
Yeah, you can do a mixture of the two but I think you're seeing or you know we're seeing a lot of those kind of different options I think you're having more and more hostels are becoming popular with more types of hostels so I think it'll continue

101
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:42,360
to evolve, but, you know, that's definitely something I've been seeing recently.

102
00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:49,360
What about the difference. Okay. No, it's just gonna say I agree with, I agree with you, Bobby.

103
00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:58,360
I was gonna ask the difference of 20 years ago when you started percentage of Americans in house compared to now.

104
00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:13,360
Well, yeah, much lower. I mean, I'd say, you know, I'm, you know, there also was this thing 20 years ago where, you know, there was this thing of discriminating against Americans you know because of the fact that, you know, most a lot of them had no idea what

105
00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:20,360
it was so you were kind of like, yeah, they had the reputation of being the trouble, you know, guest.

106
00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:29,360
And there was a lot less of them I'd say like in this hostel because I have the history of this hostile having worked for the previous owner.

107
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:44,360
And we got more Americans here than the other hostels in the chain did because of the Convention Center, but our average here of Americans was about 20% it was a lot less than Hollywood which was about 7%, I'd say.

108
00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:59,360
And now here I'd say, I mean it's changing a little bit now like like so the last two months have we've seen a bigger influx of the internationals but I'd say last year we were like 80 85% Americans.

109
00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,360
I mean, they're worried about.

110
00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:15,360
You know, the giant swing and and it puts you know makes you on your toes and more, but I'm also finding that these American travelers are more savvy than they were 20 years ago like they have a better understanding some of them what hostels are, and

111
00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:30,360
the ones that were new for them. They're more accepting because I would say so. Yeah, yeah, I think this generation of traveler is more experimental, you know they're more, plus they've got social media lot there's a lot of stuff

112
00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:45,360
talk that talks about hostels I mean 20 years ago, you only knew about hostels because if you bought a lonely planet, you know, and, and read about it now you can go on tick tock and there's, you know, tons of people talking about their hostile travel so I think that's made people

113
00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:48,360
more open so I don't find.

114
00:17:48,360 --> 00:18:04,360
I think there's the same stigma on the true traveler, you know there's the other American traveler but the true traveler, I think there's, you know, a lot there a lot more relaxed and a lot more accepting in that so I think I'm going to bring this up again when we're

115
00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:22,360
talking about hostels, it's hard for the younger people that work for us to believe that.

116
00:18:22,360 --> 00:18:37,360
But this huge swing we've had where the majority of the people in house are American. It creates an entirely different like products that you have to make, as compared to the, the other way where it was like, there is this the whole world's in here from

117
00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:53,360
everywhere. And then there's these bold Americans that have come to try this out, you know, as an experiment is that that creates a much different product that you have to create as compared to where it used to be, but they're bewildered by tell

118
00:18:53,360 --> 00:19:07,360
them that you know like that'd be like, you know, a couple of American staff and two or three American guests and that was it. Yeah, and everyone else, 95 people were all international.

119
00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:12,360
Fun time. Do you see that down in Mexico Bob to be any different.

120
00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:27,360
It's all Canada, all of Canada comes down.

121
00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:45,360
Yeah, they're getting better value for their dollar there and then they're going to get here. So, yeah.

122
00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:57,360
What are some strategies you tried to do or implemented to help improve your business that maybe you can recommend other people to try in their low season.

123
00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:01,360
Bring to the gods.

124
00:20:01,360 --> 00:20:19,360
Oh, yeah. Well one thing we did is we started to advertise more for longer term stays. So we started connecting with the businesses in the area, because it's so expensive as you guys know to live here now like we've been dumped what the most expensive

125
00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:35,360
thing in the US compared to wages or something. So, one of the things we've done is, is try to is to provide like longer term stays you know students more foreign language students new workers to the area.

126
00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:50,360
And I think that's one thing we had to do is, you know, we were never wanting to do long term stays because we all know anyone in the business knows where the downside of that can be, you know, just to becomes too homey for some people, and they

127
00:20:50,360 --> 00:21:02,360
forget, you know, but that was something that we had to do I mean otherwise you know you're going to be sitting here with, you know, you know, 90% of your hostile empty.

128
00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:07,360
And it, like when we've been advertising it I wish I had something here to show you.

129
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:09,360
When we've been advertising it.

130
00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,360
We've said that you know it only runs in the winter months.

131
00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:28,360
So, because you know you don't want people living here year round then it translates into your reviews you know, when, when you have the majority of people they're living there, rather than it being a true hostile, you know.

132
00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:43,360
So, yeah, that that's probably the one thing is just being flexible and and and realizing that you know you got to pay the bills, but still being selective like I interview every single person who what who stays with us longer than the two weeks like

133
00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:53,360
they don't they don't get to stay unless I unless me or Aaron, or one of our assistant managers meets them, you know, and we get a low down on why they're here.

134
00:21:53,360 --> 00:22:07,360
Yeah, definitely you mentioned a partner in the local businesses that's something we've been focusing on too and I think can be great for for all businesses out there you know during the low season you can find yourself at, you know, 30 to 50% occupancy but if you can build

135
00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:22,360
those partnerships up with all the local businesses. That can be a great way to get your occupancies up you know 1020%. It takes time and you got to build those relationships but it definitely, you know, when you have the low season you want to have other people

136
00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:26,360
talking about your hostile your brand, and that can go a long way.

137
00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,360
Yeah, it's.

138
00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:41,360
Yeah, if we had a bigger facility like if we had more co co working space I think we could have tried, you know, to push harder on the co live like the live work but we just don't have the space for that.

139
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:50,360
You know, for a facility that has more common space that would be another strategy because that's a big thing in Europe right now.

140
00:22:50,360 --> 00:23:06,360
But yeah for us, you know it's, it's fine for students they come into the lounge they do their work and then they're done but for somebody who's actually working that's that's a tougher, that's a tougher sell for us because we don't have the size to accommodate it.

141
00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:10,360
Now, have you seen.

142
00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:17,360
Have you seen, have you seen a group travel return from like tour companies or business travel have you seen a rebound there.

143
00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:25,360
I'm pretty sure all the four companies are dead.

144
00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:41,360
No, we've tried we've tried to reach out to to Trek America, they apparently went under and I don't know if you guys know but Trek America bought every other smaller company because years ago we were soundtrack I think you might have been around.

145
00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:51,360
I remember that. Yeah. And then some track got bought by somebody else got bought by somebody else got bought by Trek America, and you know we've tried to reach out to Trek America.

146
00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:57,360
We've reached out to kill Roy they said they're not. They haven't been coming back to the US yet.

147
00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:13,360
And then they as we know died. I did just get a group request, but it was like a direct group request but not like a travel group. And then we went to. What was that thing in Europe last year.

148
00:24:13,360 --> 00:24:29,360
I think it was, I think it was, but they weren't focused on. They weren't focused on American travel you know these these travel companies so I don't know if you guys had any luck because I, I've not been able to find anybody who's doing group travel to the

149
00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:30,360
United States.

150
00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:35,360
You know that's in San Diego anyway.

151
00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:49,360
It's pretty slow I think that I think the visa thing had a lot of from what I talked to one of the language school saying that none of these travel companies can get consistent visas for everybody to get over to get into the US so I think that's really hurting

152
00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:51,360
there.

153
00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:55,360
You know hurting that market. So,

154
00:24:55,360 --> 00:25:10,360
hopefully, the airline prices are coming down to I've heard so that's true. That should help stimulate some travel. Um, but I mean if not I guess I'm gonna, you know, just start advertising that we take refugees.

155
00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:17,360
Hostile refugee, you know you just put your name up you know, put up a sign you'll get in trouble.

156
00:25:17,360 --> 00:25:27,360
All the people that come through have been very nice. You know, that's great. I would, I would welcome the international flavor. I miss it sometimes. Like I said, it's been such a polar flip.

157
00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:39,360
Now, what about just a moment to hear your thoughts on some cool activity in the hostile industry in the United States with 2 of these associations popping up in the past year or 2.

158
00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:42,360
You got hostiling us.

159
00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:47,360
With the gals, uh, via Sydney over in Denver.

160
00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:50,360
And then you got Jim and.

161
00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:57,360
The guys from bunk and brew up in the Pacific Northwest to have created the North Americanist Hostile Association.

162
00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:03,360
You have been in the industry for 20 years and you've seen some of these.

163
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:13,360
Come and go and there's always been a desire and there's been multiple attempts. What are your thoughts on some of the more recent ones we have here?

164
00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:26,360
Oh, I think not. I was gonna work. I mean, I, I, we got people who are serious about this. Um, you know, I'm privy to what's going on because my business partners on the board.

165
00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:33,360
Um, and they've they they're real serious and I, we are so overdue to have an association for the.

166
00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:43,360
I mean, you know, I mean, there's been talk about it. Yeah, there's been talk about it for a lot of years and you know, I, I talked to hostile world about a years ago and they were kind of like, yeah, you guys should do this.

167
00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:55,360
I'm like, what, what's their time? I've got 5 hostiles. You know what I mean? Like, like, um, you know, I was so excited when I met Britta and she was telling us that they were pulling this nah together and they'd already got.

168
00:26:55,360 --> 00:27:02,360
And it is, you know, the not for profit status and all that. I'm super jazzed about it. Um, I mean, I am.

169
00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:16,360
I mean, you know, if I would, I would love, I think people need to do this. I think people need to join us and these guys are doing it right there. You know, they're starting out with having a conference and they're not charging a lot for people to join the association.

170
00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:30,360
I mean, the, the potential, especially for going to the OTAs and being heard. I mean, how many of us are frustrated at booking.com? I just got two bat two ones from booking.com from no shows.

171
00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:34,360
Oh, they didn't even stay there. I love that. I hate that.

172
00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:48,360
And they won't take it down because we actually looked it up and under their guidelines, no shows can leave reviews yet. They also say that they want people, you know, they want people leave reviews who have stayed at the location. They can't totally contradict themselves.

173
00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:59,360
You think they're gonna listen to me? I'm bitching at them about it saying these people were no shows. Why do they get to leave a review? And they're like, well, you know, they get to express their opinion. I'm like, how do you express an opinion of a place you never went to?

174
00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:22,360
So, I mean, being able to be heard by the OTAs, I mean, you put all you put 100 hostels together and get some of the larger ones like same sons chain involved or the H I if that, you know, involved and, you know, then you've got something to talk about when you're saying, listen, we got 10,000 beds, you know, 150, whatever, whatever, however many beds it is.

175
00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:40,360
And say you need to listen to us. Maybe we can get somebody to listen to us. I know hostile world will but it's getting to the expedient in the booking.com and saying, you know, you know, you there's some things that need to change. You can't, you know, we're not the Marriott's of the world where a couple of bad reviews who cares.

176
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:56,360
It can really affect an independent operator, you know, hard it is to get those reviews to change and not just that. It's also what about we've heard about in hostels that are having a hard time getting insurance because insurance companies don't know what a hostile is and they've got this.

177
00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:16,360
I don't know what are they imagining the movie or I don't know what they've got in their head. I mean, you know, thank goodness you put us in touch with your broker, because you know he'd already worked with you guys and and we're able to be able to get it easily and not at a horrible, you know, expensive rate.

178
00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:31,360
And, you know, so there's that and then there's, and then there's just the being able to, you know, let our staff go stay at other hostels maybe for a discount or for free that's an that's a perk for us to be able to give and then just the exchange of knowledge.

179
00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:47,360
You know, you feel like a lone ranger a lot me we're lucky because we've had a relationship, you know, together for gotten with 10 plus years now, you know, and there's other people out there that I've reached out to and I've taken ideas from you know to to learn some different things

180
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,360
from operations.

181
00:29:49,360 --> 00:30:02,360
And, you know, that's, it's hard to be a lone ranger you know I mean I mean to the chat because there's the two WhatsApp groups there's the world hostel group and then there's the Naha one.

182
00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:16,360
And I'm actually surprised at some of the stuff I'm hearing and I'm saying to Aaron. Maybe we need to be more strict on certain things that we are because it seems like other people are you know and I just think I just think this is something that everyone should be a part of who's in the

183
00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,360
business. I'm a huge champion for this.

184
00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:40,360
Yeah, that's a good point. You know if I were a hot like we are spoiled in the way of, you know, we've known each other a long time and we're, we're frequently in the same name city and very easily can get together and run into each other but if you're in the hostel where the only hostile in the state, you know you're really out there by yourself, and no one really understands what you're going through so I would definitely

185
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:55,360
support that type of situation those hostels would definitely benefit so much from join that and then one other quick one on it. You joined the hostiling us booking engine process. Have you gotten much traction what's your update on that.

186
00:30:55,360 --> 00:31:14,360
Yeah, I think, I mean we have their posters up here and have you gotten bookings, because, yeah, we haven't we haven't really seen anything yet I mean I don't think I mean it's hard to compete, I mean I wish them all the luck in the world, but it's hard to come I mean, how do you compete with booking.com

187
00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:26,360
you know I mean, it's, I mean look at hostile world they are they're losing market share year over year as far as I understand you know because booking.com just has millions of dollars to pour into.

188
00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:44,360
And, as you know, it's legal to like, buy your name for you know when people are searching and until they change how that works, you know, and I don't know if Google ever do that but um, you know that's, it's just hard to compete but we you know we have their posters up and we would

189
00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:58,360
be happy to help out but yeah it's hard with, you know, with with that as you say it's no there's no way there's going to be an outspending and a marketing campaign or something of that nature that would be very difficult but if more hostiles can post posters inside

190
00:31:58,360 --> 00:31:59,360
and encourage them.

191
00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:09,360
Guests that are moving on to different cities to utilize that site you know, I think the grassroots style is the best possibility that that has to have an impact.

192
00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:24,360
I mean honestly I'm a huge fan of tick tock. I think you know if they could somehow get some social media influencer out there to talk it up, you know, and how this is you know let's, you know, screw big business you know let's look through this,

193
00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:40,360
you know, so you know through this company because it, you know, because then the little guys get to keep the money that they've you know that they're that they're earning instead of giving 15 to 18 or even more you know percentage to the big OTA is, you know that might have

194
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:47,360
that could you know you social media you know you go viral you know how that works if you go viral people tension you know so.

195
00:32:47,360 --> 00:33:03,360
And I mean I. That's my thought is you've got to get a good point. You got to get somebody out there who lets people know it's there and the only way it's going to work is through a non source that doesn't cost much, you know, because, yeah.

196
00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:18,360
Travelers you mentioned.

197
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:33,360
I mean I've seen it in San Diego on tick tock. And now it shows the real people living that life staying in those hostels and that's just such a change how people plan their trips now, and I think soon it's going to be people are going to book their big book their

198
00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:52,360
book or they already do but it will be more seamless, where can you do that.

199
00:33:52,360 --> 00:34:13,360
And I think that's part of it is they want that more authentic experience tick tock still even though there's that slick edge of tick tock you know that if I see one more Cox cable app come up on tick tock seriously but.

200
00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:26,360
There's there it's kind of, you know, but, but then there's this part that's kind of still more the homegrown and I think that's appealing to people, so we put our energy into tick tock.

201
00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,360
Nice.

202
00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:32,360
Alrighty, James anything for you in closing.

203
00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:46,360
Well, I just again want to thank you so much for taking the time we know that you weren't feeling well and that like I said earlier you still do rock out the desk yourself so so much appreciated.

204
00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:56,360
You're joining us and I think you gave a lot of valuable information to existing operators and potential operators out there in the industry and we look forward to seeing you in April.

205
00:34:56,360 --> 00:35:14,360
Are you going to go on the post conference? Joy ride to bend Oregon in the magic farm? No, I can't because the week before that I'm going to be in Ann Arbor with family and so it was a bad timing because it's from Ann Arbor to Portland.

206
00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:20,360
So I don't I think it'd be wrong if I was going to third another almost like another 3 days.

207
00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:29,360
So, so I'm going to be I'm going to be the good I'm going to be the good person, the good employee and come back to work instead of leaving it all with Aaron for the whole time.

208
00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:30,360
All right.

209
00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:31,360
All right.

210
00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,360
I will try to change your mind.

211
00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,360
We'll try to change your mind.

212
00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,360
I don't know Thursday night when we're drinking.

213
00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:46,360
I was planning on going I was and then this thing came up with the family so yeah so the timing doesn't really matter.

214
00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:56,360
And then this thing came up with the family so yeah so the timing just doesn't work for this year but you know they're trying to pitch us on hosting in San Diego next year.

215
00:35:56,360 --> 00:36:09,360
I know that's a lot of work though you know I commend everyone so much who runs those things you know even the old one that used to be in Charleston, South Carolina with Vicki and the gals in Denver it's a lot of work to pull those things off.

216
00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:23,360
Oh, I used to be a meeting planner and one of my earlier life's before I came into the hostile world and yeah when Aaron brought it up to me I was she said well, I'll talk to me about it I'm looking at Aaron like yeah tell me where I got the time for that.

217
00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:28,360
Yeah, I don't yeah I love to attend them.

218
00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:39,360
Well and I said and I said to her, listen, we got to get James on board because there's no way we could do this just the two of us.

219
00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:47,360
But I think that, you know, those two places are doing a great job, Denver and Portland and I would be happy to keep on going there.

220
00:36:47,360 --> 00:37:01,360
You know I'm happy to like be the part, you know the part of it that like puts the parties together and the place to have the meetings I just can't be the one who finds them meeting speakers you know what I mean like that's it's a that's a lot of work and I commend

221
00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,360
them for it, it is a lot of work that they're putting in so.

222
00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:14,360
But yeah they are talking about trying to have it down here next year and I'm like, I just will see.

223
00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:31,360
Find a venue, find the, where would you look for a venue and, but it is a lot of work that's for sure. Yeah, you gotta Yeah, you gotta have somewhere to have it at so anyway, but, well not like we don't have a gazillion hotels around us so, you know, anyway, but yeah

224
00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,360
guys, it was great talking to you guys.

225
00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:46,360
I don't know when you'll be back in town again but you know Valley High is calling our names so yeah it is we need a my tie date I agree. Yeah, and I've still never been out on the boat.

226
00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:59,360
Never in all the years I've known you. Okay, I know that's fair that's fair. Well, I'll tell you what if we did almost if we did host the conference that's how we get them to stick about the boat every day.

227
00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:10,360
But thank you again. It's been a pleasure having you on the hosta road trip podcast. Stay tuned for this episode to be released on all the various platforms.

228
00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:13,360
All right.

229
00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:17,360
I hope the hope of Mexico's treating you well down there.

230
00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:30,360
Thank you.