Event Places

Main session with international delegates in Milan and thematic sessions both in Milan and in other hostels connected across Italy. 

Interactions with international speakers and hostels of other countries during the live stream

Operating model

A centrally directed model, a main conference in a specific context, and sessions held simultaneously in other locations with similar programs and/or contextualized adaptations. A hybrid approach is also envisaged, with presentations from Italy and abroad broadcast online.

Context: This is the first international event focused on hostel tourism, held for the first time in the world. It uses a widespread format that includes meetings and discussions held simultaneously in multiple cities and at hostels throughout Italy. The general plenary session is scheduled to take place at a single location in Italy. 

Young International speakers

Thee plenary session will also feature presentations by young international speakers who have taken part in the 'Young Ideas for the Future of Hostels' competition. These are young people aged between 18 and 35 who wish to bring innovative visions, stories, research, projects and bold ideas to the world of hostels, capable of inspiring the evolution of hostel tourism. 

Objectives

Campaigns presentation

In schools, discussions are planned with teachers and pupils to present the campaigns run by the Italian and global hostel networks on the harm caused by smoking, alcohol and drugs of all kinds; on the importance of sharing, which, through the hostel lifestyle, encourages socialisation and also prevents all forms of bullying and on the 'Hostel Menus' designed to prevent childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Language and communication

Multilingual communication is planned for promotion, public relations and the management of media and social media channels, with the aim of making the event attractive to an international audience of participants and to the organizations with which partnerships are to be established.

Institutional and international involvement:

Ministries, Italian and foreign public bodies, key organizations in the cultural and tourism sector, as well as diplomatic representations and hostel tourism entities both in Italy and abroad. International speakers will focus on industry-related topics, along with sessions dedicated to specific topics related to Hostel Tourism. Before the end of the entire event, a comprehensive document with proposals for the Hostel Tourism will be drafted and shared, drafted and signed by the delegates, which will be submitted to national and international institutions. 

Expected results

Maximize the sector's media and institutional visibility, produce proposals and recommendations for the future of Hostel Tourism and foster lasting collaborations between hostels, institutions, organizations, tourism operators, students, universities, technical schools and schools of all levels, including professional operators (travel agents, OTA, etc). Key elements for the entire project are the involvement of young international speakers (aged 18 to 35) and the participation of citisens in the Italian cities and hostels where the scheduled sessions will be held.

Vita da Ostello Award

The award will be presented during the closing gala evening to those who have distinguished themselves, in various ways, in the field of hostel tourism, both in Italy and abroad.

The invitation is issued to young people aged 18 to 35 who wish to bring to the hostels an innovative vision, stories, research, projects, and bold reflections capable of inspiring the evolution of the entire hostel tourism sector.

We are not looking for traditional presentations, we want new perspectives, new ideas, new stories, new experiments and new viewpoints of young people from all over the world! 

We are looking for young individuals who have something authentic and relevant to say about one or more major themes currently reshaping the travel industry, including:

- new hostel tourism models (experiential, community-based, regenerative, sports tourism);

- new distribution models;

- ideas to enhance organized hostel tourism and the role of travel agencies;

- digitalization and artificial intelligence;

- new traveller behaviours and future travel generations;

- hostel tourism and inclusion;

- innovation in services, destinations, marketing.

2) A presentation video (max 2 minutes)

Show yourself authentically:

- introduce yourself;

- explain your proposed topic;

- share what motivates you to step on stage.

The future of hostel tourism starts with you!