Hostelling International
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| Abbreviation | HI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1932 |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Accommodation for backpackers across the world |
| Location |
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Region served | Global |
Membership | Youth Hostel members |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | hihostels |
Hostelling International (HI), a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, partners with UNESCO and the World Tourism Organisation UNWTO.[1] Formerly known as International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), Hostelling International (HI) has grown to include 60 member associations, managing over 2,650 hostels worldwide.[2]
Origins of the IYHF[edit]
Richard Schirrmann, after creating many Youth hostels in Germany, founded the nationwide German Youth Hostel Association in 1919 to create an organized network of affordable and safe accommodation for schools, youths, and individuals.[3]
This concept spread to other European countries, leading to the formation of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) in October 1932[4] in Amsterdam by representatives from associations in Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Britain, Ireland, France, and Belgium. In 1933, Richard Schirrmann became the president, but the German Government forced him to resign in 1936.[5]
Initially, youth hostels had a distinct setup from modern hostels, but with the rise of backpacking culture, they adapted to meet the changing needs of travellers so as not to lose customers and abandoning the idea of chores in most locations, except for a few.[citation needed]
Modern organization[edit]
Sixty National Youth Hostel Associations are members of Hostelling International (HI), with over 2,650 hostels worldwide.[2] Based in Welwyn Garden City, near London, the organisation provides services for travellers and coordinates the national organisations. It also facilitates youth work and international and cross-cultural understanding in conjunction with UNESCO.[citation needed]
HI marked its eightieth anniversary in 2012. The organization held its inaugural International Conference in 1932 at the YMCA hotel in Amsterdam. Representatives from eleven National Associations attended this conference, during which they agreed on a standardized international membership card and established minimum standards for the equipment and supervision of youth hostels. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, HI hosts 37 million overnight stays annually.[2]
Though the parent organization has charity status in the UK, not all member organizations have charity or nonprofit status. Hostelling International Canada lost a legal battle for charity status in 2008,[6][7] and the YHA in England and Wales considered becoming a commercial company during a 2005 consultation,[8] partially in response to increased competition from independent for-profit hostels.
See also[edit]
- Category: Hostelling International member associations – pages for individual member associations of HI
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ "About HI – Hostelling International". hihostels.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Hostelling International". hihostels.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "A Brief History of Hostelling International". 16 May 2011.
- ^ Coburn, p. 48
- ^ Coburn, p. 81
- ^ Broder, Peter (2009). "Giving charities their due". LawNow.
- ^ Blumberg, Mark. "Canadian Charities and Business Activities" (PDF). Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Sources[edit]
- Coburn, Oliver. Youth Hostel Story. London: National Council of Social Service, 1950.
- Grassl, Anton and Heath, Graham. The Magic Triangle: a short history of the world youth hostel movement. [S.l.]: International Youth Hostel Federation, 1982.
- Heath, Graham. Richard Schirrmann, the first youth hosteller. Copenhagen : International Youth Hostel Federation, 1962.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
