700,000 overnight stays in a&o hostels in Austria. Overall, a strong 76 percent room occupancy rate. New a&o app wins app award and already has over 250,000 users.
Vienna/Berlin (OTS) – Europe’s largest hostel chain a&o started the new year with the momentum of an “exceptionally strong 2023”: “We have big plans and are heading towards key milestones in our company’s history – new houses, more sustainability, future-oriented work culture,” says founder and CEO Oliver Winter in advance. With 6.1 million overnight stays (2022: 5.55 million), 2.7 million guests (2.2 million) and sales of 217 million euros (172 million), 2023 ranks number one in the company’s history one. Premieres such as the first sustainability report and the regained staff strength also characterized the past year.
Other striking values include: average room occupancy 76% (67%), 600,000 calls to the reservation hotline, over 85,000 chatbot sessions and 250,000 app users. Winter also speaks of “Hostel Momentum with a future”: In economically tense times, the choice falls on a budget product – and then again and again out of conviction: “Once you have experienced how it can work, you will decide more quickly in favor of affordable quality in the future. The proportion of business travelers has just reached the double-digit percentage range – there is clearly still room for improvement here, I am very confident that the segment will continue to grow.”
“Core value of sustainability”: Net Zero 2025 and 2 million euros investment
“Affordable, sustainable travel remains our program,” affirms the founder of the a&o Hostels. Sustainability as the “core value of the business model”, as it is stated in the first sustainability report, will also set the direction for 2024: the company is investing around two million euros in, among other things, energy-saving construction and renovation measures. There are still a few challenges waiting for the a&o ESG and Green team before the next big milestone, Europe’s first Net Zero hostel chain in 2025: The CO2 footprint per overnight stay should be reduced from the current 3.73 kilograms to less than 3.0 kilograms be lowered. Since measurements began in 2015, a&o has achieved a reduction in emissions of around 56 percent – and thus undercuts the competition by up to 80 percent.
Employer brand: flexibility, diversity, mentoring
Currently 48 nations make a&o an international team player. German as a native language is no longer a requirement at the reception of the German and Austrian locations. Work and lateral careers are part of everyday life, flexible working time models, mentoring, further training and training programs are on the agenda. “a&o has established itself as a corporate brand, now we also want to set standards as an employer brand.”
App award for new a&o app
The a&o Hostels have now once again proven their position as a digital pioneer: for the first time, the German App Award 2024 was presented by n-tv and DISQ. From 30,000 consumer votes submitted on user-friendliness and customer service, a&o emerged as the winner in the “Mobility & Travel” category. The app from the in-house development team already has 250,000 users and makes your stay at a&o even more comfortable – from booking to the bar.
a&o Florence – opening in early summer
The opening of the new a&o Hostel Florence is scheduled for early summer. Centrally located at Campo di Marte train station, which is served by the ÖBB night trains, it is the ideal accommodation for train travelers from Austria. The city center around the Piazza del Duomo can be reached in less than 30 minutes on foot.
Questions & Contact:
Dr. Petra Zahrt | +49 (0) 172 94 54 753 | petra.zahrt@aohostels.com