About Hosteltrends

We are dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, industry insights, and trends shaping the future of hostel accommodation worldwide.

Our Mission

Hosteltrends was founded with a simple yet ambitious goal: to elevate the conversation around the hostel industry. We believe that hostels are more than just budget accommodation; they are vibrant hubs of culture, connection, and innovation.

Our mission is to empower hostel owners, operators, and investors with the data, insights, and analysis they need to make informed decisions and drive the industry forward.

From analyzing the latest booking trends to exploring sustainable practices and design innovations, we cover the topics that matter most to the hostel community.

Meet Our Team

Our team of industry experts brings decades of combined experience in hostel management, technology, and hospitality.

Aiko Tamura

Aiko brings over 14 years of expertise in driving digital growth and online marketing for hostels across Asia, particularly Japan and Southeast Asia. She combines deep technical knowledge with practical strategies in SEO, SEM, and AI integration to help hospitality brands thrive in a mobile-first world. Her energetic, witty style blends tech insights with cultural anecdotes, making complex digital topics accessible and actionable for hostel managers.

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Dennis Pitcock

Dennis jumped into the hostel industry after a summer backpacking trip across Europe in 2008. He quickly went from guest to manager within weeks and has since consulted for hostels of all sizes across three continents. With a background in eCommerce, Dennis has a strong passion for the tech side of hospitality and activities. Though he has moved on from directly working in hostels to focus on hospitality tech and big tech industries, he remains deeply connected to the hostel community by helping keep this magazine up and running.

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Elena Rossi

Elena Rossi is a sustainable hospitality advocate with a passion for community-driven development. Her journey began with extensive volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and mission trips across Africa, where she learned the value of building resilient communities from the ground up. A veteran of the HelpX and Workaway circuits, Elena has traded skills for accommodation in eco-lodges from Costa Rica to Cambodia, gaining firsthand experience in permaculture, zero-waste operations, and ethical tourism. She now helps hostels implement practical green initiatives that benefit both the planet and the local community.

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Julian St. Clair

Julian St. Clair is renowned in the hospitality world for his dynamic contributions to fashion-forward interiors and guest experience. Beginning his career with major hotel brands in San Francisco, Julian infused luxury aesthetics into high-end settings before finding his passion for elevating the ambiance of budget hostels. He has traveled the globe—sourcing elegance in Paris, harmony in Bali, and vibrant color in Morocco—curating creative solutions that bring style and comfort to spaces without breaking the budget.

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Lena Müller

Lena is a seasoned hospitality finance consultant with an MBA and over a decade of experience advising hostels in Europe on profitability and sustainable growth. Known for her analytical and empowering approach, she balances strategic financial modeling with creative thinking, often drawing from her love of music festivals and nightlife to bring a fresh perspective to building successful business portfolios in the hostel industry. For fun and inspiration, Lena enjoys reading annual reports and SEC filings of major public hospitality companies, gaining insights from their financial strategies and market movements.

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Marco Gómez

Marco Gómez grew up in a family that ran a small hotel, which gave him firsthand insight into the daily workings of hospitality from an early age. With over a decade of experience in hostel operations across North and South America, Marco excels at managing daily workflows, training staff, and enhancing guest experiences with practical, no-nonsense solutions. Known for his flamboyant style and warm personality, he blends professionalism with a vibrant approach to sharing real-world tips and operational advice that resonates with hostel managers and newcomers alike.

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Alumni Contributors

Former team members who helped shape Hosteltrends

Byron Bunda

Erin Walsh

Justina Poškevičiūtė

Oliver Simon

Thea Delamater

Join Our Team

We're expanding our global network of hostel industry experts. Whether you're a seasoned operator, marketing guru, tech innovator, or passionate writer, there's a place for you at Hosteltrends.

Managing Partners

Lead our expansion in Europe and Oceania. Earn partnership stake by contributing content, managing social media, and serving as regional liaison. All consulting leads in your region are yours.

Partnership StakeRegional Leadership

Contributors

Share your expertise through engaging articles. We're looking for industry professionals who can deliver informative, insightful content with personality and occasional humor.

Regular BylineIndustry Recognition

Guest Authors

Have a unique perspective or case study to share? We welcome guest posts that align with our mission to elevate hostel industry discourse.

One-Time PostsFlexible Topics

Editors

Help us maintain quality and consistency. Start with article editing and grow into senior roles managing content calendars, deadlines, and editorial strategy.

Flexible InvolvementGrowth Opportunities

Other Opportunities

We're also seeking partnerships, sponsorships, designers, and industry experts in operations, marketing, technology, and finance. If you have valuable insights to share, we want to hear from you.

Get in Touch

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