My Vancouver Tim Charter

SameSun Backpackers

•    Popula)on  -­‐  2.4  million  in  metro  Vancouver•    Incorporated  in  1886  (125  years  young)•    Weather  averages  from  5°C  (winter)  to  23°C  (summer)•    Loca)on  –  Pacific  West  Coast  and  only  thirty-­‐eight     kilometers    (24  miles)  south  of  downtown       Vancouver  is  the  Canada-­‐US  border•    Over  8  million  visitors  in  metro  Vancouver  per  year  which  is  down  from  2007  when  it  was  almost  9  million

Vancouver’s major industries• Interna'onal  trade  -­‐  2nd  largest  port  on  the  west  coast  in  

North  America  (in  total  cargo  volume)• Film  and  TV  –  “Hollywood  North”  where  100’s  of  films  and  

TV  shows  have  been  shot.    Home  of  Lions  Gate  Studios     and  Pixar’s  Canadian  office  • Technology  -­‐  many  soRware  companies  have  offices  in  

Vancouver,  including  Electronic  Arts• Tourism  -­‐  2010  Winter  Olympics,  Expo  86,  Stanley  Park,    

amazing  beaches,  3  local  ski  hills,  one  of  the  most  livable  ci'es  in  the  world  and  Whistler’s  just  up  the  road

• Banking  and  Finance  -­‐  most  Canadian  Banks  have  branded  buildings  in  Vancouver

• Weed….  $3  to  $4  Billion  per  year    (es'mated)

Vancouver’s Backpackers and HostelsThere  are  15  hostels  and  backpackers  in  Vancouver•  SameSun  Backpackers•  3  X  Hostelling  Interna)onals  •  YWCA  Hotel  •  2  X  Cambie  Hostels•  2  X  C  and  N  Backpackers  Hostels•  Vancouver  Backpacker  guest  house  •  Vancouver  Grand  Hotel  •  St.  Claire  Hostel  •  Ellison  House  •  American  Backpacker’s  

There  are  about  2000  dorm  rooms  in  Vancouver  and  approximately  150  private  hostel  roomsDorm  rates  range  from  $10.00  to  $40.00Privates  $35.00  per  person  to  $100.00

Issues and challenges facing hostels in Vancouver•  Declining  tourism

Stemming  from  the  high  Canadian  dollar,  the  Olympic  hangover,  the  US  /  Canadian  border  'ghtening  up,  global  recession  

•  High  Taxes  –  12%  HST  +  hotel  tax

•  High  Labour  costs  –  minimum  wage  hike  from  $8.00  to  $  10.25  as  of  May  2012    

•  Long  slow  season  (wet  and  cold  winters)

•  Compe''on  –  our  friends  H.I.  are  right  across  the  street  •Most  of  the  hostels  listed  are  in  the  downtown  core

•  We  are  compe'ng  with  Hotels  for  market  share•  Even  hostel  booking  sites  are  adver'sing  for  hotels

•  Dealing  with  the  social  problems  in  Vancouver

•  Bed  bugs….  s'll  around  ,  but  not  in  my  building!

How are hostels regulated in Vancouver?  

•  Hostels  are  treated  like  hotels.    They  are  taxed  the  same  and  we  pay  a  premium  for  a  downtown  loca)on  •  Vancouver  real  estate  is  on  the  rise  while  tourism  is  down•  The  average  hotel  yield  in  2011  dropped  an  astounding  17%,  meaning  we  are  now  finding  ourselves  compe)ng  with  major  hotel  brands  that  are  blowing  out  their  excess  inventory•“Single  Room  Occupancy”  by-­‐law  in  Vancouver,  whereby  hotel-­‐zoned  buildings  that  have  been  used  for  social  housing  must  remain  as  social  housing  (similar  to  San  Fran)

How do hostels work with your local tourist board and Chamber of Commerce?•  Some  Hostels  are  members  of  Tourism  Vancouver,  Tourism  Bri)sh  Columbia  and  the  Chamber  of  Commerce

•  I  visit  Tourism  Vancouver  oien  and  a  few  )mes  a  year    I  do  a  power-­‐point  presenta)on  and  bring  them  cookies,  fruit,  water,  and  coffee

•Once  a  year  they  do  an  on-­‐site  tour•I  also  visit  Tourism  BC  at  the  interna)onal  airport

SAMESUN

SameSun Backpackers •  Opened  in  April  of  2004•  1018  Granville  street  is  a  heritage  building  that  opened  in  August  of  1908  (103  years  old)•  11  private  rooms  and  254  dorm  beds•  Dorm  prices:   $27.50  (low  season)  to  $35.00  (high  season)  •  Private  room  prices:   $70.00  (low  season)  to  $95.00  (high  season)•  Both  include  tax  and  a  free  breakfast  including  Bagels,  cream  cheese,  preserves,  fruit  salad,  juice,  coffee,  tea,  etc.•  High  season:Summer  is  from  July  to  September•  Low  season:Winter  is  December  to  April

If possible, please describe one improvement that you have made in the last year that has made a possible difference for your hostel?

•We  have  upgraded  every  room  with  new  bed  lights,  shelves,  beoer  beds,  hooks,  fans,  power  bars  for  all  beds,  new  linens,  new  lockers,  repainted  everything  and  redone  the  flooring  •Beoer  product  =  happier  clientele

The Beaver Bar and Restaurant� On site restaurant

with nightly drink specials

� $4.95 dinner special every night

� Open till 1am weekdays and 2am weekends

� Big screen TV� Monday - Bingo� Tuesday - Open Mike� Wednesday – Poker� Thursday - Trivia� Sunday - Roast Beef

Dinner

Amenities� Free wireless internet

� Free continental breakfast from

7am -10am� $2.00 Brekky

includes eggs, sausage, hash browns or beans

� Lounge area with pool table

� New Big Screen TV room with

Netflix and leather couches

� Coin operated laundry� Clean, renovated

bathrooms� Luggage storing

New kitchen� Full common

kitchen� Attached to

outdoor patio� Clean and

spacious� New stainless

steel counters and cupboards

� Lots of fridge space and food lockers

Stainless Steel Bathrooms and Kitchen

� We are a hostel staffed by Canadian & international backpackers

� Just off the Canada line at Granville and Nelson

� On site Restaurant and Bar

� On-line ratings 87% +++

Best hostel in Vancouver?

Questions?