HI USA taps Cloudbeds to streamline hostel network

Hostelling International USA has chosen Cloudbeds to run operations across its US hostel network. The nonprofit says the change will cover the country's largest hostel network.

HI USA records more than 600,000 overnight stays a year across a portfolio that includes historic city buildings and converted landmarks. It wanted a cloud-based system to manage the operational demands of hostel properties, improve efficiency for frontline staff and create a more consistent approach across its network.

Cloudbeds will provide a single platform for property management, distribution, revenue and guest experience functions. The move is intended to reduce reliance on older systems that required heavier IT involvement and give site teams more control over day-to-day work.

The agreement marks a technology shift for a hostel operator with a long-standing presence in the US travel market. HI USA, a nonprofit membership organisation, uses travel to promote cultural understanding and serves guests from more than 100 countries.

Operational shift

Unlike traditional hotels, hostels often have to manage shared rooms, varied guest stays and a greater focus on communal spaces and social programming. HI USA was looking for a system that could handle that complexity, ease staff onboarding and standardise processes across properties.

The platform's design is expected to help staff complete guest-facing and operational tasks with less administrative work. It is also intended to improve visibility across the network and support a more consistent guest journey.

Cloudbeds began in the hostel sector and has since expanded across the wider hospitality market. Its platform is used by accommodation operators in 150 countries.

Adam Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Cloudbeds, linked the deal to the company's origins in hostels.

"Hostels are where Cloudbeds began, and HI USA represents exactly why. From day one, we were building for operators who understood that hospitality is about something bigger than a transaction. HI USA has proven that for 80 years. Today, we bring the full weight of our platform to their work - so their teams can spend less time in the system and more time on the human side of hospitality that defines who they are," said Adam Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Cloudbeds.

Mission focus

For HI USA, the technology decision also supports its broader social and educational aims. Simpler workflows and lower administrative demands should allow staff to spend more time helping guests and advancing the organisation's mission.

That mission has shaped HI USA's identity for decades, with the organisation positioning its hostels as places for exchange as well as accommodation. Its properties range from converted mansions to lighthouses and historic urban sites, reflecting a model that combines lower-cost travel with local and cultural experiences.

Sam Hussain, Vice President, Head of IT at Hostelling International USA, said the shift was intended to support both staff and guests.

"Technology plays a critical role in how we bring our mission to life. By simplifying operations and reducing administrative work, we can empower our teams to focus on what matters most - creating meaningful connections between people and places. This transition allows us to better support our staff, enhance the guest experience, and deliver on our purpose of fostering cultural understanding through travel," said Sam Hussain, Vice President, Head of IT, Hostelling International USA.

Broader trend

The move also reflects a wider shift in hospitality technology, as operators replace older software stacks with cloud-based systems designed to combine multiple functions in one product. For hostel groups and other multi-property organisations, that can reduce fragmentation between booking, operations and guest service tools.

HI USA says the new system should give it more flexibility to adjust operations over time while maintaining consistency across the network. It should also help the organisation support mission-driven travel experiences without adding to the administrative burden on staff.

HI USA is part of Hostelling International, a global network spanning nearly 90 countries, and says the HI brand is recognised worldwide.