YHA Wellington City voted ‘Best Hostel in the World’

YHA Wellington City was not only ranked ‘Number 1 in the world’ by internationally-renowned travel website Hostelbookers in November 2006, but  followed this success with another, voted 4th best in the world on the Hostelworld.com website.

YHA New Zealand CEO, Mark Wells said, “These rankings are based entirely on customer feedback and travellers’ first-hand experience, so it places YHA New Zealand’s products in direct comparison with services offered internationally.”

“To achieve a world number one and number four ranking on the hostelling industry’s two largest travel information sites is proof of YHA’s standing in the international travel sector.” 

YHA Wellington City is a 320-bed hostel offering guests 5-star Qualmark rated accommodation in the cultural heart of the city and Hostel Manager, Hamish Allardice believes the hostels’ international ranking has been achieved largely through the efforts of his staff, adding, “The staff at YHA Wellington City ate integral to the success of our business”.  “As well as having the back-up of a strong, well-recognised and trusted brand, the dedication shown by YHA staff to providing the very best hostel experience stays with our guests long after they’ve left the hostel.”  “There is no doubt, given these latest rankings, that it has an enormously positive impact on travellers’ experiences not just of the city, but of New Zealand as a whole”.

Hostelbookers is an independent site offering online bookings for 2000 hostels worldwide, while HostelWorld.com provides information and booking access to more than 10,000 international hostels and YHA New Zealand has been a member of these websites for only a year, so the successful rankings are indicative of the strength of the brand and the current resurgence in accommodation options that allow travellers a taste of the real New Zealand.

Mark Wells added, “YHA New Zealand’s presence in third party booking sites acknowledges the increasing importance of engaging the online community, who use the internet to compare what’s on offer and make the best possible travel and accommodation choices, long before they leave home. If we can secure a reservation prior to their arrival in New Zealand, then it’s likely that the high standard of our products and services will keep them in the YHA loop until their departure”.

He also believes that having an online presence will only be successful if you have the staff, facilities and resources to back up the web claims, adding, “Backpackers and hostellers have increasing expectations, but they’re still on a budget.”  “YHA has to look for ways to not only meet their expectations, but to exceed them”.  “One way we can achieve this is to follow the comments being made in backpacker forums”.  “They allow us to monitor what our customers are saying about us, and indeed the competition, and then act upon it.”

As well as the two world-rankings in 2006, a YHA New Zealand hostel has also been nominated for an “HOSCAR”, the hostel industry’s annual on-line awards.

More than 500,000 hostel users worldwide are asked to record their comments on their experiences of the 10,000 properties featured on the Hostelworld.com site. Customers, who booked their hostel stay online, are surveyed after their stay and asked to grade the hostel based on six different criteria: character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness.

YHA has received a nomination in the ‘Best in Oceania’ category and HOSCAR winners will be announced at the international awards ceremony, being staged in Dublin, Ireland, on 31 January 2007.

Report by the Mole