Magic Triangle in China

How it all began... 

Since the beginning of Youth Hostelling nearly 100 year ago one thing was clear: Regardless of origin or wealth young people should be able to explore the world, experience community and through the stay in Hostels broaden their horizons and enrichen their life’s.  

Education and tolerance are just as important to us today as they were then. With the aim to open eyes as well as minds, to grow their appreciation for the world around them. We hope to strengthen backbones and support intercultural meetings and understanding and like that create a greater future for everyone. 

1909    

German school teacher Richard Schirrmann sees the need for overnight accommodation for school children so that they have a place to stay during class trips. Schools are then used during the holidays, with classrooms being temporarily converted to accommodate beds.    

1912    

Schirrmann sets up the first youth hostel in his own school in Altena, Westphalia. Soon after this is replaced by a permanent hostel in Altena Castle (a real medieval fortified castle!). Still a castle today, we dare you to visit it!

"It is impossible to squeeze the limitless world into a crowded classroom. So the school must go out into the world."

Richard Schirrmann

1919    

The idea of hostelling spreads across Germany and Schirrmann founds the German Youth Hostel Association.    

1932    

The youth hostel movement quickly spreads worldwide so the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) is founded. Richard Schirrmann is appointed President.

It was agreed by through conference that participants accept as their ultimate objective the reciprocal recognition of national membership cards in all countries, and they will work to achieve this objective as quickly as possible. This was the start of national membership cards being recognised worldwide.

1936    Schirrmann is forced to resign by the German government.    

1947    Awarded consultative status with UNESCO    

1950's    

 Awarded observer status with United Nations

The youth hostel movement began to expand rapidly into new continents; Asia, Africa and Latin America.

1952    Implementation of standards    

1997    The network reached over 500 million overnights    

1980's    

Known as the decade of development – the  international network agreed to work together to open up new markets.

Implementation of a standardised committment to our environment

1988    Conference adopted a paper on environmental guidelines including the use of non-pollutant materials in Youth Hostels and education of hostellers    

1992    IYHF Environment Charter approved    

1997    

The network reached over 1 billion overnights

2000    

Introduction of the current booking system: prior to this bookings were made using vouchers which you could post off to the hostel, this moved onto BABA (book a bed ahead) by fax and then in the1980's IBN (International Booking Network) this morphed into the booking system with have now in 2000’s

From 2000 onwards the concept of Youth Hostelling for Peace and International Understanding was embraced.

2006    The International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) operates as Hostelling International (HI).    

2008    

The network reached over 1,5 billion overnights

2009    The 100th anniversary was celebrated all over the HI network.    

2010    

HI and all its member associations sign the HI Sustainability Charter - Our policy in sustainable tourism, demonstrating the commitment of the movement to “intensifying their efforts to achieve a worldwide network of sustainable organisations and hostels”.

HI becomes a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) International Standards Working Group (ISWG).

2011

   HI receives the Golden Backpack Awards UK by TNT Magazine - Winner in the Besy Hostels category.    

2012    HI receives the myclimate award for “Newcomer of the Year” in the hotel industry.    

2013    

HI receives the Ambassador for Peace Award from the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) for its work encouraging young people to travel to break down cultural barriers and promote peace.

HI receives several distinctions for the Big Blog Exchange programme:

WYSE Travel Confederation's Global Youth Travel Award for Marketing Innovation;

British Youth Travel Awards for Best Marketing; 

Recognition from the UNWTO, runner up for the Award for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism in the category “Non-Governmental Organizations”.

HI is selected as finalists at the Hertfordshire Business Awards:

HI Groups in International Business of the Year category;

Big Blog Exchange in Innovation category.

2014    HI becomes a member of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme.    

2015    

HI is elected Vice-Chairman of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Affiliate Members Programme and part of the UNWTO Committee on Tourism and Sustainability.

First global Sleep for Peace campaign.

The HI-Quality & Sustainability standards are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

2016    

HI adopts the 10 areas of Sustainable Hostelling as our Strategy to deliver the HI Sustainability Charter and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs).

2017

HI celebrates the United Nations (UN) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

HI is elected to lead the UNWTO SDGs Support Working Group for Affiliate Members.

2018

The HI International Office is Quality & Sustainability certified.

HI approves by Conference to minimize, if possible ban, single-use plastics at all HI Hostels

HI approves by Conference that all HI Hostels that offer food products take steps to reduce their foodprint