It is a good thing that the skills you develop to run and especially market a hostel can also be used to help other businesses, because life as a hostel consultant is pretty challenging. It is almost impossible to build up savings and even more challenging to make a living from it. If you are considering this path, please keep the following in mind about potential clients:
Those hostels that can afford a consultant usually hire their own agents to get their work done. This applies mostly to large, mega, and chain hostels.
Owners and operators of medium and small-sized hostels are some of the most resilient small business operators out there. They will find a solution within their budget one way or another, no matter how long it takes them.
Of those who are left, they are usually in a tough situation where they cannot afford to hire a consultant. Even if they could, they would have a difficult time paying one, and often won’t sign off on solution recommendations if they cost money.
Despite all this, consulting for hostels has major upsides. One upside is that it is a great way to keep traveling. I have taken gigs based solely on the location. If someone wants to pay for my travels and put me up in a private room, I can significantly lower my rates to practically cover my living expenses, depending on the tasks at hand, of course. Another upside is that I get to meet many interesting people. Hostel owners, operators, and employees have some of the most eccentric personalities out there. They are super passionate about what they do, fun to work with, and open to new ideas. It can be a pleasure helping them reach solutions and advance their businesses. Despite its global reach, the hostel community is a small network, and word of mouth spreads fast within it. One good gig can lead to many down the line.
Finally, I realized that you have to help the cause too. Hostelling has had a bad reputation stemming from a past full of inconsistent experiences where owners ran the facilities into the ground, compromising the safety and security of their guests. Many hostels have matured far beyond the sets of a Tarantino film, and I like to do my best to get the rest of the hostels up to par. That is why I am offering free advice here on HostelTrends, occasionally on the HostelManagement site, and often corresponding on their Facebook page too. This advice helps me establish myself as a professional in the field. I get my best gigs through this—gigs that consist mostly of busy hostels looking to expand without the time to do the research themselves. These gigs also include potential hostels and/or their investors looking for a feasibility analysis or a competitive landscape for their new ventures. Most of the time, these gigs can often be done remotely, so I can carry on with other commitments and easily execute them. No matter how many deadlines are coming up, I am always open to new gigs. If I cannot do them, I can help my potential clients find someone who can. For this reason, I am looking for other hostel professionals to join the HostelTrends team. Please reach out if you are interested in joining.