Update on the hostel scene in Barcelona by Carles Gras from Equity Point Hostels

2. Chart Title
18,000,000
16,000,000
14,000,000
12,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
1995 2000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Tourists Bednights

3. 85% 84%
80%
80% 78%
76% 76%
75%
75% 72% 73%
70%
65% 64%
60%
55%
50%
Occupancy
1995 2000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

4. Top European Destinations
1.- London 45.953.317 bednights
2.- Paris 36.877.033 bednights
3.- Berlin 22.359.470 bednights
4.- Rome 22.021.993 bednights
5.- Madrid 16.366.927 bednights
6.- Barcelona 15.529.218 bednights
7.- St. Petersburgs 14.715.344 bednights
8.- Prague 13.214.304 bednights
9.- Vienna 12.246.204 bednights
10.- Munich 11.738.112 bednights
*BARCELONA is the first city in the ranking that is not a CAPITAL
** (source : Europeancitesmarketing.com)
*** According to IDESCAT (Catalan Goverment) the number of bednights in
Barcelona are 16.838.857 for 2011, representing 7.633.852 tourist.

5. THE HOSTEL SITUATION

6. THE HOSTEL SITUATION
A taste of our reality

7. THE HOSTEL SITUATION
But. . . Why ?
1.- We are not included into the Tourist Dept.
2.- We are included in the Youth area of the
Family and Social Welfare Dept. , so not really a
Touristic area !!
3.- We are between two Dept., and non of them
cares about us. Non of them have resources for
us.
4.- Nobody takes the responsibility to shut down
illegal properties.
5.- The city council is swamped with work

8. THE HOSTEL SITUATION
Our solution
In March 2012, the Catalan
Association of Touristic
Hostels (ACATUR) was
created by the major hostels
players in town.
It was created with only two main goals:
- Help to regulate the sector
- Contact with administrations
So CLOSING the illegal properties !!

9. What we found:
. 30 of them without any kind of license
. Some of them with licenses like elders’
hospital, Students houses or Spanish Hostal, . .
.
. Some of them operating with 200 beds with a
license of 23 beds . . . . . .
. It’s a never ending list of examples . . . .

10. What we’ve done :
. Meetings with all Administrations related to
hostel industry
. We have reported all this properties to ALL
administrations.
. More than 71 properties have been reported to
the city authorities to be shut down.

11. Achievements :
. For the first time ever, hostels are being
listened by local authorities, we are respected.
. For the first time ever, hostels have a unique
voice and someone who represents them.
. 23 hostels (2930 beds – 65% of the total)
. Presence in the press and radio
. Proceedings against illegal hostels have been
opened.
. Even the hotel industry has contacted us to
work together.