Objective: As a not-for-profit association and a social economy enterprise, our mission is to reconcile profitability and social responsibility by adopting ethical revenue management practices.
We recognize that youth hostels are more than just accommodation, they are places that foster community, cultural exchange, and accessible travel for young people from all over the world. Our revenue management strategy is guided by principles of fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability.
We are committed to ensuring that our pricing policies are transparent, accessible, and in line with our values as a socially responsible organization.
Our mission is to offer affordable accommodation and a rewarding experience to young travelers in search of discovery and connection.
Guidelines for Ethical Revenue Management
1. Transparency, ethics, and fairness
- Transparency: We are committed to informing our customers about our dynamic pricing mechanisms. Customers must understand how and why prices can vary.
- Ethics: Clearly display prices, fees, and any additional costs on booking platforms as well as at ground level. Customers should never feel deceived or be surprised by hidden fees, tips, or surcharges. Our practice is to offer full transparency and value for our customers.
- Fairness: Offer “special / differentiated” rates in a way that benefits both the organization and travelers.
2. Rate Accessibility
- Affordable accommodation for all: We maintain a range of room and bed options to suit different budgets, depending on the period and destination requested.
- Preferential rates: Subject to availability, we offer preferential rates primarily to youth groups and non-profit organizations aligned with the hostel’s mission to promote cultural exchange and accessible travel.
3. Social commitment
- Supporting local economies: When creating packages or promotional offers, we favour collaborations with local businesses and suppliers to support the local economy.
- Surplus: Surpluses generated are reinvested back into the organization to improve our hostels and enrich the traveler experience.
- Charitable and Solidarity Initiatives: We allocate a portion of revenues to support local community projects or charities, reinforcing the hostel’s commitment to social responsibility.
- Listening to travellers’ opinions: We are committed to offering good value for money and remain attentive to the needs and feedback of our travelers to ensure they receive the best possible hosteling experience.
- Staff training in ethical practices: We provide teams with the impactful training and tools to make decisions that balance financial sustainability with ethical considerations.
4. Continuous Improvement
We understand that the travel landscape is constantly evolving. Therefore, we are committed to continually reviewing and updating our revenue management practices to ensure that they remain fair, transparent, and socially responsible.
Conclusion
The goal of our pricing practices is to make travel affordable and enjoyable for as many people as possible, while maintaining the financial health of our hostels.
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, we aim to create an environment where travelers feel respected, valued, and included in the wider hosteling community.
We believe that a socially responsible approach to revenue management not only builds trust, but also enhances long-term success, reputation, and customer loyalty.