Comments on: Good Idea: Establishing a Hostel in Columbus

By: deraj1013

deraj1013 — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:11:16 +0000

From the Dispatch…

Hostel operator lands in hot water
Code enforcers cite some problems, but city law is murky

By Kevin Joy and Mark Ferenchik
Columbus code enforcers say the owner of a University District hostel is violating city zoning laws by acting as an unlicensed “rooming house” and has 20 days to comply.

By: Walker

Walker — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:19:20 +0000

University District venture starts simple – in one bedroom of the owner’s duplex – but he has big plans for next year
Thursday, January 6, 2011
BY KEVIN JOY
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Mathew Dietrich felt an urge that he can liken only to the ethereal whisper in the movie Field of Dreams – a socially minded motivation that, unlike the film, involved no backyard ballpark:

If you open your home; furnish it with Ikea bunk beds; offer towels, guitars and a hookah pipe; serve bagels for breakfast; and show Pineapple Express on a projector-screen television, they will come.

By: mdietr

mdietr — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:33:48 +0000

@sirlancelot: I disagree completely, the plans for the Hostel here would be reasonable in scale (5-6 rooms mixed dorms and privates). There will be one full time staff person and ideally one or two part time workers. Our plans are not to purchase a building, and all insurance, taxes, furnishings, and renovations would fall under the 50k.

An organization does not need to be big with deep pockets to be a success. Having grown up in a bed and breakfast (which was both comparable in size and was run much like this proposed hostel will be), I know it is not impossible for me to manage this. After only a few years, that bed and breakfast is now among the top in the country, and its here in Ohio.

By: sirlancelot

sirlancelot — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:27:20 +0000

$50,000 from Pepsi to start another hostel is a nice promotional gesture. It does not begin to cover the start-up costs. Just to purchase a modest building and land, the renovations, furnishing, staffing, taxes, and insurance would easily top $500,000. It would need a full-time manager and support staff that is properly supervised by a board of directors. How would it pay for the annual cost of operation? Do they expect hostelers will help with the chores?

Others have noted issues of location, transportation and marketing. WIll the hostel merely provide accomodations or will it have an educational or cultural aspect? No one wants a repeat of the old AYH Hostel/rooming house and its problems.

OSU or another large institution with the resources and staff might have better success with a hostel.

By: Austin Kocher

Austin Kocher — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:23:41 +0000

There is a misconception that traveling is about going to ÃƒÂ¼ber-famous places or going to the beach. The reality is that every city has a flavor, a rhythm, a groove. There are inspiring things going on everywhere, and traveling is about finding people and projects that inspire you to do something awesome. I think Columbus is inspiring. But we –Americans, Columbusites– have not made traveling meaningful or normal. A hostel doesn’t just bring people here. It helps us get out there!

Having a hostel is an important attraction for a city. Columbus has a lot to offer: art, cycling, universities, DIY, music, and more. There are neat projects, interesting spaces, motivated people.

I’m very excited to see more conversation around this. A year and a half ago, I was looking for a building or house to buy and build a hostel. Then I went to grad school. *Hehehe* We all know what happened next…

Go hosteling!

By: surber17

surber17 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:00:34 +0000

90% of the reason I dont travel is because lodging is so expensive. At 70 - 80 bucks a night (find me something cheaper in the city), if I were to stay for 4 days, with tax, I’m looking at nearly 350-400 bucks. Now add in travel expenses and I’m at around 500 bucks. I can’t afford that plus entertainment expenses when I get there. Give me an option for ultra cheap, safe, clean lodging and I’m in. This is an excellent idea.

By: lifeontwowheels

lifeontwowheels — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:44:37 +0000

Which rock are you living under here in Columbus?

By: thegreatagent

thegreatagent — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:41:50 +0000

I had to create an account to say that is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. No one comes to Columbus for a travel destination unless they know someone here or are on business.

Although I guess a for-profit hostel in Columbus deserves $50k more than low income kids with cancer…

By: cc

cc — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:03:37 +0000

lanned said

“Every hostel I have stayed in has been safe and relatively clean. Most have had a maximum number of days you are allowed to stay, and most donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t allow locals to stay. That keeps out anyone who might get too comfortable or any locals looking for a cheap bed.”

When I stayed, the Heart of Ohio Hostel also didn’t let you hang out there during the day. You left in morning and returned in the evening.

By: Hunaahi

Hunaahi — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:59:56 +0000

an alternative to a hostel is couchsurfing.org

I would love to see a hostel here though!

By: lanned

lanned — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:53:45 +0000

I agree that Columbus needs a hostel. It could be very successful. Too many people don’t understand the concept/purpose of a hostel–yeah, it’s meant for travellers to stay somewhere cheap, but also to avoid that feeling of seclusion you get in a hotel. Travellers (think backpackers) love staying in hostels because they can meet other travellers. Every hostel I have stayed in has been safe and relatively clean. Most have had a maximum number of days you are allowed to stay, and most don’t allow locals to stay. That keeps out anyone who might get too comfortable or any locals looking for a cheap bed.

The hostel should not be close to campus though–there are already enough places to stay. Most visitors to the campus area visit (and stay with) their friends who go to OSU.

By: GW_Justice

GW_Justice — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:46 +0000

Wow, I knew that the old Columbus Council AYH was the organization that ran the cbus hostel, and I was looking for the story of the disaffiliation that resulted in the COP (Columbus Outdoor Pursuits).

There is a complete history of the org at the COP website.

Did you know that there used to be 9 hostels in the Col. area? Even a “rolling hostel” a hostel in a rail car that traveled between cities? Lots of good history on this page. Including the dirt on the breakup and how it ended the hostels in the city.

By: TheButcher

TheButcher — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:05:51 +0000

This is a great idea. I used to work at the old hostel. You would want it close to campus though. We used to get a large portion of our business from foreign OSU students that would come to Columbus early. I think that is why they put it on 12th ave to begin with.

By: DavidF

DavidF — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:00:38 +0000

@core: +1.
But the blog is hilarious. (unintentionally I suspect)

By: mdietr

mdietr — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:54:46 +0000

Enough of all that, he is entitled to his opinion which I happen to believe is simply misinformed.

I just want to say that I am thankful for all the support you guys have given me in the past couple of days. I am closer now than ever to achieving this dream. I figured I’d also mention that I have set up a Facebook Group that you may join if you would like to follow this or ask questions: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=323437319288

-Mat