“Wired” Backpacker Showcased at 2006 Hostel Conference & Awards Presented by Hostelworld.com: Backpackers, Hostels Embrace Technology in New Era of Travel

This year’s Hostelworld.com Hostel Conference was designed to provide insights into: how to market to a global audience; where the growth in backpacker travel will come from in the next five years; and how best to target these customers.

Dublin, Ireland (PRWEB) February 4, 2006 -- Ray Nolan, CEO and founder of Web Reservations International, discussed how technology will play a major role in the future of youth travel, speaking at the annual Hostelworld.com Conference in the Hilton Hotel Dublin. Basing his comments on a recent Hostelworld.com survey, Nolan noted that more than 80 percent of youth travelers carry a mobile phone, 86 percent travel with a digital camera and a surprising 21 percent even take a laptop computer on their trips.

Recognizing that backpackers are often ahead of the curve when it comes to technology advances, Hostelworld.com anticipated this trend and as a result currently offers short message service (SMS) confirmations to backpackers on the road. Hostelworld.com also helps hostel owners make their sites i-mode compliant so backpackers can book through cell phones and create on-the-go travel guide Podcasts.

“Our customers embrace new technologies. When we offer SMS confirmations to a phone and mobile accommodation booking, the take-up is impressive. Most hostels now also offer wireless Internet access. And it’s not unusual to see backpackers traveling with laptops,” said Nolan in his keynote opening remarks.

This year’s Hostelworld.com Hostel Conference was designed to provide insights into: how to market to a global audience; where the growth in backpacker travel will come from in the next five years; and how best to target these customers. Other important industry issues discussed included yield management, building a hostel brand and the importance of access in generating new business. Following Nolan’s speech, more than 350 industry representatives including hostel owners and managers, destination marketing companies and backpacker tour companies participated in sessions addressing:
-Marketing
-Emerging Markets
-Revenue & Pricing Management
-Branding
-Crisis Management

The event has become the annual forum for international hostel owners and managers to meet and discuss issues pertinent to their industry. It also provides the backdrop to the annual “Hoscar” awards ceremony where Hostelworld.com announces the world’s Top Ten Hostels as voted by more than 500,000 Hostelworld.com customers worldwide. The Hoscar winners will be announced on Tuesday, January 31, 2006.

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.

For further information on the event or to obtain images, please contact:

Jenny Hoefel
The Castle Group, Inc.
jhoefel @ thecastlegrp.com
(617) 227-0012 x233

# # #