Berlin has seen strong growth in tourism in recent years, with nearly 10 million visitors in 2011. The hostel industry has also expanded rapidly to accommodate increased demand. However, some challenges have emerged, such as potential oversaturation of the market and concerns from local politicians about the conversion of apartment units to hostels reducing housing availability. The document provides statistics on Berlin's tourism industry and growth, and details about two of the owner's hostels.

1. Berlin, Germany
Hostel Market 2012

2. Alexander Skora
• Owner of
SleepCheapHostel.com
• Owner + Operator of
HappyGoLuckyHotel.com
• Real estate development
• Real estate financing
• Licensing and consulting
• Joint Ventures
• Skora@HappyGoLuckyHotel.com

3. Berlin numbers 2011-July 2012
• In Berlin live close to 3.8 million people
• Berlin is the capital of Germany with 80
million people
• Berlin is the 3rd favorite travel destination
in Europe after London and Paris

4. Berlin numbers 2011-July 2012
• The recent economic developments bring tens of thousands of
young people from
Spain, Greece, Italy, etc.
to Germany and their first stop is mostly Berlin. This is because of
the affordable accomodations, the many artists living and working in
Berlin and its image of an inspiring and attractive young and
experimental city.

5. Berlin tourism 2011 – July 2012
• 9.866.088 guests in 2011 + 9% to 2010
• 6.055.244 guests Jan-Jul 2012 + 10% to 2011
• 22.359.470 nights in 2011 + 7.5% to 2010
• 13.835.165 nights Jan-Jul 2012 + 11.3% to 2011
• About 40 % of the guests were visitors
outside of Germany

6. Berlin tourism 2011 – July 2012
• 10 billion € is the money generated by
hospitality and tourist related
businesses in Berlin in 2011.

7. Berlin tourism 2011 – July 2012
• 280.000 people in Berlin make a
living in this industry with an average
income of 17.000 €

8. Berlin tourism 2011 – July 2012
• 794 businesses with more than 10 beds:
• 515 hotels
• 268 hostels and bed+breakfasts (Pension)
• 11 camping grounds

9. Berlin tourism 2011 – July 2012
• 130.000 beds incl. camping
• 62 % average occupancy incl. camping
• 2,5 days average stay

10. Berlin tourism 1993 – 2011
• 1993: 3.000.000 visitors 7.300.000 nights
• 2000: 5.000.000 visitors 11.400.000 nights
• 2005: 6.500.000 visitors 14.600.000 nights
• 2006: 7.000.000 visitors 16.000.000 nights
• 2007: 7.500.000 visitors 17.000.000 nights
• 2008: 8.000.000 visitors 18.000.000 nights
• 2010: 9.000.000 visitors 21.000.000 nights
• 2011: 9.900.000 visitors 22.500.000 nights

11. Berlin visitors 1994 – 2011
• United Kingdom 1994: 75.000 visitors 2011: 360.000
• Netherlands 1994: 46.000 visitors 2011: 270.000
• United States 1994: 95.000 visitors 2011: 270.000
• Italy 1994: 38.000 visitors 2011: 260.000
• Spain 1994: 20.000 visitors 2011: 240.000
• France 1994: 42.000 visitors 2011: 200.000
• Denmark 1994: 40.000 visitors 2011: 200.000
• Switzerland 1994: 37.000 visitors 2011: 180.000
• Sweden 1994: 53.000 visitors 2011: 130.000
• Russia 1994: 40.000 visitors 2011: 130.000

12. SleepCheapHostel + HappyGoLucky Hotel
• SleepCheapHostel opened in 2005,
expanded from 30 to ca. 150 beds
• HappyGoLucky Hotel opened in 1990,
expanded to ca. 250 beds now and 300
beds in 2013

13. SleepCheapHostel + HappyGoLucky Hotel
• Dorm beds from 10 € to 15 € per night
• Singles from 30 € to 45 € per night
• Both hostels close to ICC congress centre

14. Challenges for Berlin hostels
• Possible oversaturation of the market in some
parts of Berlin by ballooning number of hostels,
which opened up over the last 5 years

15. Challenges for Berlin hostels
• Local politicians are worried about amount of
apartment space converted to hostels and
shortage on the housing market with sharp
increase in rents due to high demand from
people moving to Berlin especially from
economically challenged countries in Europe

16. Hostels and politics
• Newly built Hotels and Hostels are highly
regulated, but converted apartment or loft
buildings are a lot of times „under the radar“ in
terms of building inspections.
• Berlin chamber of commerce mostly only works
with hotels.

17. Hostels and politics
• Hostels are on their own in Berlin without a lobby
or organization due to the nature of the
independent spirits and travellers running these
enterprises in creative and experimental ways
and making the rules up as they go.

18. Interesting improvements
• Installing cameras in the lobby, courtyard
• Renting dorm rooms to students during
the winter months

19. Interesting improvements
• Installing cameras in the lobby, courtyard
• Renting dorm rooms to students during
the winter months

20. Skora@HappyGoLuckyHotel.com
• For more questions and the possibility to license
the names for your hostel in your city:
• SleepCheapHostel.com
• HappyGoLuckyHostel.com
• Thank you, toda raba, muchas gracias, Danke