Exploring the Huge Potential of Hostels: How They're Bridging Affordability and Experiential Hospitality in Hawaii (And Beyond)

Meet Nathan and Michael, the founders of Howzit Hostels, who are revolutionizing the hostel experience in Hawaii today, and across the rest of the US tomorrow.

Nathan and Michael, broadcasting live from the beautiful island of Maui, share their journey from real estate sales to creating upscale hostels that blend affordability with a boutique hotel feel. They dive into the origins of their business, explaining how the local greeting "Howzit" inspired their brand name and how an unexpected listing led them to explore the untapped potential of hostels in the U.S.

Nathan, Michael, and I discuss:

The massive opportunities that exist in reimaging hostels — especially for younger travelers who are in the market for more experiential stays
Their innovative use of AI for dynamic pricing which helps them generate around $200,000 in monthly revenue from their two properties.
The unique staffing opportunities hostels enable with traveler work exchanges 
The vast growth potential in the U.S. hostel market, particularly in converting underutilized urban buildings into vibrant communal spaces.
What they’ve got planned next and how you might be able to join them in expanding their vision across the states 

Explore Howzit Hostels

Discover Vortex Maui

Connect with Nathan and Michael on Instagram

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. 

Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. 

Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. 

Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.

Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. 

Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?

Send him an email directly at [email protected] or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!

About the Show

Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.

You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.

Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.