NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
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A MESSAGE FROM THE STAY WYSE CHAIRMAN
CONTENTS
Dear STAY WYSE members and colleagues,
STAY WYSE at WYSTC Our Annual General Meeting
The Board and myself are looking forward to meeting with you at our upcoming AGM at WYSTC, Beijing. We have been working hard to address the issues raised at our last AGM and will be sharing with you our progress on them. Furthermore I’m happy to inform you that our recent annual Industry Benchmark Study, the only of its kind, saw the most respondents ever and we have also recently launched a major recruitment drive. I sincerely hope you will attend this year’s important AGM on October 20th and benefit from the significant industry knowledge shared at WYSTC. This year’s AGM will start with a closed members-only session followed by an open seminar session. Please feel free to invite non-STAY WYSE members to the latter seminar session. The Board and myself look forward to meeting you personally in Beijing. Ulises Ortega - STAY WYSE Chairperson
JOIN STAY WYSE AT THE WORLD YOUTH AND STUDENT TRAVEL IN BEIJING
http:// www.wystc .org/Docs/ 2010/
The World Youth and Student Travel Conference is the annual event of the WYSE Travel Confederation, of which STAY WYSE is a Sector Association. It is endorsed by the UNWTO and UNESCO and is the most important trade event of the year for the global youth, student and educational travel industry.
WYSTC connects the many sectors and organisations that serve millions of young people who travel to study, work and grow. Bringing these diverse industries together under one roof provides a singular opportunity to pursue innovative partnerships, develop creative marketing and distribution channels and tap into new markets. This year, WYSTC will take place from 17th to 20th October 2010 at the China World Trade Centre in Beijing, China.
FREE Green Sustainability Indexing Green Globe Initiative Best Practices Guide STAY WYSE Banners Get yours now Welcoming New Members New York’s New Hotel Law The World’s Coolest Hostels List your hostel
WYSTC SCHEDULE Sunday 17th October Afternoon
Keynote & Plenary
Evening
Welcome Reception
Monday 18th October All day
Seminars
Evening
Networking Reception
Tuesday 19th October Morning
Travel Mart
The STAY WYSE 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on October 20th during WYSTC Beijing. During the AGM, STAY WYSE members will be asked to ratify new members, conduct association business and additionally it is an opportunity for the membership to discuss issues of importance to the Youth Travel Accommodation (YTA) industry. Furthermore, members will will be presented with the latest Benchmark Study findings.
All day
Business Appointments
Evening
Hostelling International & STAY WYSE Cocktail
The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity to contribute to our strategic vision and to have a say on the priorities of the STAY WYSE Association. It provides the membership with the opportunity to meet the STAY WYSE Board of Directors and develop STAY WYSE policy.
Wednesday 20th October
Please let us know whether there is any particular issue you would like to see addressed during the conference and we will do our best to incorporate it. We invite all STAY WYSE members to join us at the 2010 Annual General Meeting at WYSTC, Beijing.
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All day
Business Appointments
Lunch
STAY WYSE AGM & Seminar
Evening
Farewell Party
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NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
WWW.STAYWYSE.ORG WWW.STAYWYSE.ORG WWW.STAYWYSE.ORG
FREE GREEN SUSTAINABILITY INDEXING FOR STAY WYSE MEMBERS http:// www.gree nglobe.co m/
Chairperson
Mr Ulises Ortega Mundo Joven Mexico
Are you a youth hostel or accommodation provider wishing to improve your green credentials? Confused about which of the 300+ sustainable index brands to choose from worldwide?
The STAY WYSE association has teamed up with the Green Globe Sustainability Index, one of the most recognisable, international green certificates, to launch a simple and practical programme specifically for youth hostels worldwide. In contrast to conventional and expensive certificate programmes, the STAY WYSE Sustainable Index supports the green ambitions of hostels and members by providing interactive online guidance. So, there’s no need for onsite inspections or high fees. Participants of the scheme fill in an interactive online questionnaire which assesses their sustainability performance, providing measurement and benchmarking guidelines for hostels and their respective supply chains. This is done on a continuous basis, enabling participants to constantly rate, improve and promote their eco-friendliness. Interested? STAY WYSE Members will receive one-year free green sustainability indexing. To sign up please contact Laura Daly, the STAY WYSE Association Manager for your promotional code.
STAY WYSE PUBLISHES YTA PROVIDER’S GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICES
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STAY WYSE Board
Board Members Carmel Dunne Hostelworld Ireland Mikael Hansson Hostelling International United Kingdom David Chapman International Students House United Kingdom Steve Lowy Umi Hotels United Kingdom Murray Roberts St Christopher’s Inn United Kingdom John Dickson Hostelling International United Kingdom
Youth Travel Accommodation Providers (YTAP) operate under standards set by public authorities that vary widely around the world. This guide to best practice sets out standards for providing services that should be met or exceeded by Youth Travel Accommodation Providers. It covers areas such as general regulations, services and policies; fire safety and emergency requirements; and facilities such as bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. Click here to view or download the guide.
JOIN THE STAY WYSE ONLINE NETWORK What better way to stay informed about new developments within the YTA sector, discuss ongoing industry issues and develop your professional network than joining the STAY WYSE members’ Linked In group? Follow STAY WYSE tweets on our Twitter feed and become a fan of STAY WYSE on Facebook!
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NEWSLETTER
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SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
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HAVE YOU GOT YOUR STAY WYSE BANNER? A range of STAY WYSE Banners are available online for download for STAY WYSE members. Highlight your membership of the only global forum for Youth Travel Accommodation providers and your dedication to providing safe, clean and affordable travel accommodation to your customers by including a STAY WYSE banner on your website. Simply select your preferred banner and follow the instructions online. Don’t forget to link to www.staywyse.org.
W E L C O M I N G N E W S TAY W Y S E MEMBERS STAY WYSE would like to welcome HipHopHostels and GoMio and as their newest members! GoMio is a booking portal, with youth hostels and budget accommodation providers in destinations worldwide. HipHopHostels has twelve amazing hostels located in the heart of Paris near popular attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Coeur. Know a YTA provider who’s not yet a member? Refer them to STAY WYSE and receive 10% discount on your 2011 membership when they are approved. Email STAY WYSE for more info.
NEW YORK NEWS A new bill has come into force in New York making it illegal to rent space in most multifamily residential buildings for less than 30 days at a stretch. It reverses a 2009 court decision that sanctioned short-term rentals so long as fewer than half of all units in a residential building were used for nonpermanent residents. The STAY WYSE Board is currently in discussions with key stakeholders to ensure that the safety, health and welfare of young travellers is promoted through this bill, whilst at the same time ensuring it does not negatively impact young travellers to New York.
EQUITY POINT MARRAKECH ONE OF THE WORLD’S COOLEST HOSTELS The Guardian Newspaper has handpicked a selection of the best boutique hostels around the world, including STAY WYSE member Equity Point’s Marrakech hostel.
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The Guardian writes “Boutique hostels are ideally primed for the credit crunch age. As holidaymakers' budgets have been tightening, hostels have been upping their game. Perhaps the most noticeable difference is that hostels are no longer the sole preserve of backpackers - most hostels now offer private rooms, some of which wouldn't look out of place in a boutique hotel.” If you would like your hostel to be considered for inclusion in the Guardian list, simply submit a tip on the Guardian’s Been There site. To be included in the list your hostel must have dorm rooms and private doubles.
SUBMIT AN ARTICLE If you would like to submit an article for the next edition of the STAY WYSE Newsletter, please send your materials and articles to the STAY WYSE Association Manager no later than Friday, October 1st 2010. Let us know about developments in your organisation, what’s been happening in your country, changes in legislation, and issues of concern. We want to hear from you! Contact the STAY WYSE Secretariat for further details.
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