Hostelworld.com Announces Top Hostels Worldwide at 2006 Hostel Conference

Hostelworld.com, the leading provider of online lodging reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market, rolled out the red carpet for an international audience of hostel owners and other industry luminaries during its third annual Hoscars award ceremony.

Dublin, Ireland – (PRWEB) February 4, 2006 -- Movie stars may long for an Oscar, but hostel owners want to win a “Hoscar!” Last night in Dublin, Hostelworld.com, the leading provider of online lodging reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market, rolled out the red carpet for an international audience of hostel owners and other industry luminaries during its third annual Hoscars award ceremony.

The winner of the award for “Best Hostel of 2005” was Friendly Fun Frank’s Backpackers in Riga, Latvia.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Frank Kerry, owner of Friendly Fun Frank’s Backpackers, said he was “over the moon” when asked how he felt after winning the award. “We’ve only been open ten months and we wouldn’t have thought in our dreams that this recognition would be possible.”

Frank added that it’s the personal touch that makes his hostel so popular. “It is a personal place. When people first come in we greet them, give them a complimentary drink, and give them the dos and don’ts about Riga. Basically we look after them from the moment they walk in. From the outside, our building is nothing. But when backpackers walk in, they’re surprised. They’re taken by the hand from the time they enter to the time they leave. Obviously they appreciate it because you see the reviews and the comments they make.”

More than 500,000 hostel users voted in this year’s competition, selecting winning hostels from the more than 10,000 properties featured on Hostelworld.com. The travelers, who booked their hostel stays online, were surveyed after their stays and asked to grade their hostel based on six different criteria: character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness.

The coveted Hoscar awards were announced during Hostelworld.com’s second annual Hostel Conference, which took place in the Hilton Hotel, Dublin, and featured speakers on a variety of topics relevant to the hostel industry including yield management, branding, crisis management and low-cost airfares.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Temple Bar Music Center in Dublin and were attended by more than 300 hostel owners and managers from around the world.

And the winners are…

Hostelworld.com’s Top Ten Hostels in the World

1.    Friendly Fun Frank’s Backpacker Hostel, Riga, Latvia

2.    Picasso’s Corner Backpacker Hostel, Malaga, Spain

3.    Mama’s Hostel, Krakow, Poland

4.    Oasis Backpackers Hostel, Granada, Spain

5.    Athens Backpackers, Athens, Greece

6.    Wombats City Hostel, Munich, Germany

7.    MuchoMadrid, Madrid, Spain

8.    Hôme Deluxe, Valencia, Spain

9.    Indigo Youth Hostel, Valencia, Spain

10.    Funky Backpackers, Granada, Spain

The Hoscars also recognize several other categories important to travelers. These winners include:

-Best Small Hostel – Nord Hostel, St Petersburg, Russia

-Best Large Hostel – Wake Up! Sydney, Australia

-Most Secure – MuchoMadrid, Madrid, Spain

-Cleanest – EastSeven Berlin Hostel, Berlin, Germany

-Best Staff - Picasso’s Corner Backpackers Hostel, Malaga, Spain

-Best Character – Red Lantern House, Beijing, China

-Most Fun – Oasis Backpackers Hostel, Granada, Spain

-Best Location – Mama’s Hostel, Krakow, Poland

All winning hostels received the prestigious ‘Hoscar,’ a gold-plated statuette of a seasoned backpacker. For additional information and user comments on the hostels mentioned above and a list of winning hostels based on geography, please visit www.hostelworld.com. Graphics of hostels are available upon request.

About Hostelworld.com

Hostelworld.com is fully owned and operated by Web Reservations International Ltd. (WRI). WRI is the leading provider of online reservations to the BIYT market (Budget, Independent and Youth Travel). Through its Hostelworld.com division, WRI offers confirmed online reservations for hostels and budget hotels.

Media contact:

Jenny Hoefel

The Castle Group, Inc.

jhoefel.hostelworld@thecastlegrp.com

(617) 227-0012 x233

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