Kash Bhattacharya created the Luxury Hostels of Europe project to rebrand the image of hostels. Over 6 months, he visited 50 hostels in 43 cities across Europe, developing criteria for what constitutes a luxury hostel. Key elements included private rooms, breakfast, and social activities. The project gained media coverage and helped hostels improve their image for female and older travelers. Kash advocates for high customer service, memorable experiences, social media marketing, and inclusiveness to attract more guests.

1. "Luxury Hostels of Europe-
Rebranding the image of hostels"
Kash Bhattacharya

2. What to expect today
1. Little about me & video of a Luxury Hostel
and….. me getting wet in the shower
2. 4 problems- How I arrived at the idea of the
project
3. Definition of what is a Luxury Hostel and how
it evolved throughout the project
4. Impact achieved
5. 5 key takeaways from my project for you to
reflect on

3. WHO is the My name is Kash. Not Cash.
BudgetTraveller? Been blogging for 4 years.
Full-time professionally for
2 years
Started my own magazine for
students in Scotland when I
was 20 & bankrupt by 21.
Working in publishing for 8
years as an advertising
manager for lifestyle
publications.

4. Video
My interview about Luxury Hostels for German
TV station RTL
2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLeKEUqok
uQ

5. ‘Problems are the best source of
inspiration for the best ideas and
innovations.’

6. 4 problems of the BudgetTraveller
Idea was born on the……29th April, 2012

7. Early hours of 29th April, I was stuck in a 12 bed
dorm with a bunch of Brazilian guys who were
snoring like hyenas
Problem no 1: Ear plugs really don’t work. At
33 was I too old for hostelling?

8. After the recent breakdown of a longterm relationship
on advice of a friend I had started dating via
Match.com
After a few not so successful attempts I finally got
myself a date with a lovely girl whose sole goal in life
was to travel the world.
Soulmate?
Date was going really well. She laughed at my stupid
jokes. All was going well until I told her that…

9. I write about budget travel & love hostels
She confessed to me we could never travel together
because she hates hostels.
‘Unlike when I was 19, I have a job and money now.
Just like girls of my own age I prefer my own space
staying in a hotel and having a room to myself than
staying with smelly backpackers in a hostel dorm.
Problem no 2 Girls of my age have a negative
perception of hostelling

10. Problem no 3
To make things worse I was having a hard time
going to communal hostel toilets. I was
diagnosed by Wikipedia as having a disease
called Parcopresis- Irrational fear of shitting in
public toilets

11. Problem no 4 Negative image of Budget Travel &
hostelling within the travel industry
Attracting sponsors to work with my blog was a
big problem.
DMO’s I was working with were more keen on
promoting hotels and not recognising the
potential value of youth tourism.

12. The magic solution?
Backpacking for grown-ups
I needed to find a hybrid of a hostel
and a hotel
Find a project that could rebrand the
image of hostelling

13. To move away from the stereotypical
boring image of hostels 

14. To make hostels more sexier& stylish 
POETS HOSTEL Lisbon

15. STAY INN HOSTEL Lisbon

16. GALLERY HOSTEL Porto

17. MY BIG IDEA
Create a guide to Luxury Hostels of
Europe
Initial definition
A hostel that combines the luxury of a private
room in a hotel with the friendly, social vibe of a
hostel.

18. MY BIG IDEA
Visit 50 Hostels, 43 cities in
6 months.
Hostels pay a fee to be
involved.
3 key elements
1. Real-time blogging
2. Blog posts
3. Wrapping up blog posts
into a free e-book: No
guidebook on the market or
blog.

19. Definition evolved during my trip
Why makes Luxury Hostels
different + special?
More than just a nice
bed, it’s an experience
Argentine Tango lessons in a
hostel
Casa Gracia Hostel
Barcelona

20. OSTELLO BELLO, Milan
Welcome drink, when you check in.
Breakfast on demand!
Relax in the sun, read a book on the 2 terraces.
Aperitivo Hour: Hostel guests meet the locals

21. PLUS HOSTELS, Florence
Outdoor and heated indoor swimming pool,
sauna, steam bath, indoor restaurant, lounge and
terrace bar, info and tour desk

22. ‘More than just a bed, an experience’
Top 5 Luxury Hostel Kitchens
I had a look on google stats and we're getting a high
referral rate from your blog, so it's nice to see the work
paying off!
Charley Batt, Loft Mountain Hostel

23. Impact so far
Visited 31 hostels, 27 cities and handed out
10000 postcards
#Luxuryhostels has received 12 million
impressions so far.
Nominated
Most innovative blogging projects of the year:
World Travel Market 2012
Destinology Travel Bloggy Awards.

24. Coverage in Glamour , Cosmopolitan & Conde Nast
Traveller
Que! Spain biggest free newspaper & interviewed
on German National TV.

25. Collaboration- Key to the project
Project has been a branding, PR exercise for hostels ,
by collaborating with key brands in the niche like
easyJet, Interrail, Travelzoo, Busabout &
Travellerspoint
In April 2013, Travelzoo UK will send a copy of the e-
book to their 2.2 million subscribers

26. 5 key takeaways
1. Good customer service-smile doesn’t cost
anything
2. Create a memorable experience
3. Empower and make your staff your brand
ambassadors
4. Use social media to tell your story and
communicate your brand
5. Don’t forget solo travellers –Guest Relations
Manager

27. Thank you for listening!
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