Skift Take

Hostels satisfy a basic human need: social connections. And Hostelworld CEO Gary Morrison wants to act on it.

Privacy is premium for guests at hotels and short-term rentals. But it’s a different story for hostels. 

"What we aspire to create is a place for people who are looking to meet other people while traveling," said Hostelworld CEO Gary Morrison at the Skift Global Forum last month.

I caught up with Morrison recently to understand Hostelworld's mission – and the business strategy behind it.  

On the Role of Hostels in the Lodging Market

Airbnbs, hotels, bed and breakfast inns — these are really descriptions of accommodation. There's another way to think about it, said Morrison. He observed that business and leisure travel wasn’t