Hostelworld CEO on Building for the Social Traveler

At Phocuswright Europe 2026, Hostelworld CEO Gary Morrison argued that the industry misunderstands hostel travelers, who are not just budget-conscious. Hostelworld is building its business around social needs and launched a social network in 2022. Morrison believes that as AI changes travel discovery, companies with proprietary data and differentiated experiences will stand out. Hostelworld combines millions of social interactions with booking and event data to help travelers find companions and local experiences.