Join the HI family and our growing network of exceptional hostels with the mission to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of peoples, places, and cultures through hostelling.

To learn more, please contact our regional associations. 

Our Hostel Standards

All Hostelling International hostels in Canada strive to deliver a high quality, friendly, safe and comfortable accommodation experience

Our hostels are inspected annually to ensure they meet the international standards for comfort, cleanliness, security, friendliness, environmental sensitivity, and privacy.

While all hostels adhere to these standards, the level of services available at each hostel may vary. Hostelling International-Canada classifies each hostel according to such things as:

• Guest access 
• Availability of private rooms
• Booking systems
• Facilities (i.e. laundry, self-catering kitchen, etc.)
• Equipment and activities (i.e. bicycle rentals and organized hikes, etc.)

HI Canada has two sorts of hostels: standard hostels, in towns and cities across the country, and wilderness hostels. Both types of hostels are inspected regularly to insure they are welcoming, clean, safe, and comfortable and offer privacy.

Standard hostels typically offer more in the way of amenities and services (such free Wi-Fi, expeditions to let you experience the city or cafés on site), while wilderness hostels are located in our national parks and offer easier access to the great outdoors. 

The Hostel Info Kit

As an HI hostel, you will enjoy the benefits of the most recognized brand in hostel accommodations worldwide. This includes access to our trademark and branding efforts. Let us do the work for you!

1. National Marketing Publications*

As an affiliate, your hostel will be included in national publications. With a circulation of over 200,000 copies worldwide of the Hostels in Canada Map Brochure, your hostel will get increased exposure. (*some production deadlines apply)

2. IYHF & HIC Web-sites

You will be provided a multiple page listing on the HI Canada national website, the premiere website for hostel travelers in Canada. This site is a bilingual site that allows you to post information on activities, discounts, packages, photos rates and more. Also included is a secure reservation site. Your hostel could also be listed on the IYHF international multi-lingual website, www.hihostels.com with access to its reservations system.

3. Trade Shows

Benefit from being part of our promotional programs and promoted at international trade shows as a member of the HI Canada network.

4. Membership Communications

As a membership organization, HI Canada communicates regularly with its members - over 30,000 across Canada. As an HI hostel, you would gain access to regional member newsletters where available.

5. Customer Feedback Tools

To continually improve our facilities, HI Canada has developed the tools necessary to obtain customer feedback. HI Canada comment cards are made available to all hostels including the on-line comment card.

6. Access to a network of experts

With a network of over 50 hostels and 3 regional offices, you will have access to a broad knowledge base. The opportunity to network with peers at annual meetings and training seminars is invaluable.  

In exchange for the many benefits listed on the previous page, HI-Canada has certain requirements that each new hostel must also meet:

1. Meet Standards

To join HI Canada, your facility must meet all local/municipal/provincial/federal legislation pertaining to the operation of a hostel (accommodations), and in particular building, health, fire and zoning codes. The facility must also meet HI Canada quality standards as set out in its Quality Standards Guide and pass an annual inspection by an HI Canada certified inspector. A set of standards will be provided to each operator once it is determined that the facility is suitable to join our network.

2. Does your facility meet the exclusivity range of any existing HI Canada hostels in your area?

Contact your regional office for details.

3. Fees

Pay the required fees; enrollment, royalty etc. as determined by the region. 

4. Reporting to HIC

HI Canada has certain reporting requirements such as membership sales and overnights, to be submitted in a timely manner.

5.Membership

HI Canada is a membership-based organization, and as such we require hostels to honour our membership policies, by selling memberships, and offering a discounted member rate on the hostel overnight rates (a minimum $4 difference). 

6. Proper insurance coverage

7. Sign and honour licensing agreement

This includes honouring all aspects including the trademark agreement.

HI Canada is an association consisting of three regional partners. Depending on geographical location, each hostel would belong to one of these three regions. 
  
For those interested in joining our association, the process is as follows:   

Step 1: Pre-Application

Contact the regional office to which your facility would belong, to discuss the opportunities in your location. Contact information can be found here.  

Step 2:  Application

Once it is determined that there are opportunities within your location, submit a business plan to the regional office for review and assessment. The business plan should include some or all of the following items (but is not limited to):  

• Applicant profile (data form);
• Facility data sheet (number of beds, on-site services etc);
• Photos Floor plans;
• Brochures or other marketing material already in publication. 

At this time, you may be required to produce documents indicating your facility meets all necessary local/provincial/federal codes (including, but not limited to; fire, zoning, building, and health).  

Step 3: On-site Inspection by HI Canada

Once the business plan has been approved, the facility will be inspected according to the HI Canada quality standards by a HI Canada certified inspector. A fee may be requested prior to inspection, which may be deducted from the initial enrollment fee once the facility is licensed. 

Step 4: Licensing

Once the site inspection has been completed and approved, the parties would review and sign the affiliate agreement.  This step includes completion of the Trademark Registration Form, and all other documentation related to the agreement and includes providing HI Canada with a copy of the insurance certificate which includes HI Canada and the HI Canada regional association as "Additional Insured".