“Sounds like home.” Policing plastic waste, but make it art Would you stay in a former police station turned design-led, eco-friendly hostel? Located inside a former police station in Milan, Italy, Madama Hostel & Bistrot has built its sustainability journey around giving things a second life – from the building itself and reclaimed furnishings to the everyday…
Author: Stephanie Stewart
Sustainability Stories: The Green Rainbow – How Eco-Pride is redefining travel in Cape Town
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when environmental sustainability, inclusive tourism, and Pride collide – meet Rayan. Traveller. Volunteer. Pride advocate. After winning Hostelworld’s ESG World Tourism Day competition, Rayan travelled to Cape Town, South Africa. Not just to explore and celebrate Pride, but to help build something new. Having previously heard Soul Fam…
Sustainability Stories: Pride, Place & Purpose – How The Cool Hostel built a queer-friendly space rooted in community
“The Cool Hostel, where you can show up exactly as you are.” Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusivity and diversity. But in Coquimbo, Northern Chile, one hostel is building that – not just for a moment, but every single day. We met Cris Sankari, co-founder of The Cool Hostel, the…
Sustainability Stories: “It changed the way I travel” – Volunteering in Colombia, One Year On
(L: Entrance to El Rio Hostel. R: Boat trip with our guide Gabriel and dog Suki) A year ago, you met Amy Phung, winner of Hostelworld’s yearly staff travel competition, who spent several weeks travelling across Colombia – hopping from hostel to hostel, and discovering a country that surprised her at every turn. Almost a year on,…
Sustainability Stories: Inside Hostelworld’s 2026 Culture Champion – Black Llama Cusco
“When guests stay with us, they’re not just visiting – they’re starting to understand Cusco and the heritage”, says Eric Beland, founder of Black Llama Hostel Cusco. Sitting at over 3,400 metres in the Peruvian Andes, Cusco, otherwise known as the “navel of the world”, is one of South America’s most historic and visited cities,…
Sustainability Stories: Earth Day – What Casa en el Agua Teaches Us About Everyday Sustainability
Every day action. Intentional choices. Impact that lasts. On Earth Day, it’s easy to focus on big promises and bold commitments. But during our recent fireside chat with Casa en el Agua, a simple but powerful message emerged: sustainability is built through intention, consistency, and everyday action. Casa en el Agua is a hostel quite literally…
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