| The Council has served a
community
of travelers
for nearly 50 years
Founded in 1958, Golden Gate Council is a network of 10 affordable accommodations providing top-quality service, cleanliness and security to guests in San Francisco, Sacramento and other scenic Northern California locations.
Hostelling International operates more than 4,000 hostels worldwide, including 100 in the United States, bringing travelers together to learn about other people, places and cultures.
Download a PDF of the Golden Gate Council Annual Report 2006.
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HI Brand
HI is a seal of approval
recognized around the world
HI stands for Hostelling International, a global brand name established in the early 1990s by the nonprofit International Youth Hostel Federation. Hostels that display the trademarked HI and the blue triangle logo must meet international quality standards for cleanliness, service and safety.
Hostelling International USA, one of 60 member countries of IYHF, has 34 regional council affiliates operating more than 100 hostels that meet or surpass the HI quality standards. Golden Gate Council is among the top HI-USA affiliates with more than 200,000 overnights annually at its 10 hostels.
HI hostels provide travelers with more than guaranteed quality at a great price. HI hostels are a safe place for travelers to meet informally, share their experiences and learn about other cultures. This interaction fosters a remarkable international awareness about current issues and serves as a catalyst for peace and understanding.
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Mission and Vision
The Council is a mission-based nonprofit
with a vision for intercultural understandings
The mission of Golden Gate Council is to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. Our vision is for guests to become caring global citizens who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding stewards of the earth.
- Promote global awareness through a network of welcoming, comfortable and affordable hostels that encourage exploration and nurture cross-cultural communication, and through programs that interpret culture principally through interaction among hostellers and community members.
- Encourage educational travel through information, activities and services that facilitate safe, affordable and culturally sensitive hostel travel for people of all ages.
- Protect the environment through activities that promote meaningful, low-impact travel using hostels and that focus on the conservation and interpretation of the built and natural environment.
- Broaden community participation through involvement of all members of the community in hostel travel, programs and volunteer participation.
History
The Council invests in Northern California while
supporting travelers
from around the world
Hostelling began in 1909 to help young people of limited means experience the countryside and cities of the world. Hostels are now at the heart of international tourism for a wide age group. Hostellers contribute up to US$1.4 billion to tourist revenues worldwide every year.
Golden Gate Council was founded in 1958 as Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. This remains our nationally registered legal name. In 2004 our trading name became Hostelling International USA, Golden Gate Council to strengthen the HI brand while showing our affiliation with HI-USA.
- 1934: Isabel and Monroe Smith found American Youth Hostels (now Hostelling International USA) and open the first U.S. HI hostel in Northfield, MA.
- 1937: Frank and Josephine Duveneck open the Hidden Villa Ranch Hostel (now HI-Hidden Villa) in Los Altos, CA.
- 1958: Kathleen and Walter McAdam found Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels (now HI-USA, Golden Gate Council) with volunteers.
- 1960: First HI-USA hostel in San Francisco opens in Pacific Heights at Conard House.
- 1972: Golden Gate Council volunteers transform an old farmhouse into the Laguna Ranch Hostel (now HI-Point Reyes) in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore.
- 1978: Golden Gate Council volunteers open the Marin Headlands Hostel (now HI-Marin Headlands), its second National Park hostel.
- 1980: San Francisco International Hostel (now HI-SF Fisherman’s Wharf) opens in Fort Mason due to the generosity of Sybil Jean Logan and hundreds of donors and volunteers. It is an instant success and the model for future urban HI-USA hostels.
- 1980: Bob Coppock and Golden Gate Council volunteers work to save two lighthouses on the San Mateo coast: Montara Lighthouse Hostel (now HI-Point Montara Lighthouse) opens in 1980 and Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel (now HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse) opens in 1981.
- 1986: The Hostel Adventure Program is developed to provide environmental education and outdoor experiences to Bay Area inner-city children.
- 1987: Golden Gate Council opens the Redwood Hostel (now HI-Redwood National Park) in the historic DeMartin House in Redwood National Park; a partnership between HI-USA, the National Park Service, the Coastal Conservancy and the California Conservation Corps.
- 1992: Hostel at Union Square (now HI-SF Downtown) opens in partnership with HI-USA.
- 1995: Sacramento International Hostel (now HI-Sacramento) opens after seven years of political maneuvering in partnership with the City of Sacramento and funding from the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency.
- 1998: Golden Gate Council celebrates its 40th anniversary.
- 2001: HI-SF City Center, the first Golden Gate Council-owned hostel, opens weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Board
The Council is governed by a local board
HI-USA members in Northern California elect our directors to a three-year term. Each director can serve a maximum of three terms.
- Walter Knoepfel, President
- Richard Winer, Vice President
- Aimee Scott , Secretary
- Alek Vernitsky, Treasurer
Members:
- Victor Bekhet
- Vatche Kalfayan
- Andrew Mowat
- Emily Pimentel
Staff
The Council is a dedicated
team of 100 professionals
Golden Gate Council is a central services office that provides support to the 10 hostels in Northern California. Most of our employees work at one of the hostels, providing outstanding service to our guests. Visit Our Hostels to learn more about these staff members.
Jobs
Join us!
This is a listing of current openings at Golden Gate Council. Please also visit the national HI-USA site for opportunities throughout the country.
Posted: April 11, 2007
Hostel Assistant for HI-Point Reyes National Seashore
HI-Point Reyes is a 44-bed hostel providing unique, low-cost, short-term overnight accommodations for 7,000 educational and recreational travelers each year. It is located less than two miles from Limantour Beach, on the edge of a wilderness area with hundreds of miles of hiking trails, in the spectacular Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS), an hour northwest of San Francisco.
The Point Reyes Hostel is operated by the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and world peace through travel.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Promote the mission of Hostelling International: To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.
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Promote stewardship of the hostel, PRNS, and the environment.
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Take individual and group reservations by telephone, email, and an online system.
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Welcome, register, orient, and supervise guests; provide group orientations.
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Maintain security and safety of the hostel and personal belongings of guests.
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Represent and promote HI and the hostel in a positive manner to guests, callers, and local officials.
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Provide information about HI, the hostel, PRNS, and local area to guests.
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Collect and accurately record overnight fees, sale of goods, and rentals.
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Housekeeping duties.
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Provide on-call assistance in emergencies while on duty.
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Other duties as assigned by the Hostel Manager.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Must have customer service experience and enjoy working with the public
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Excellent oral communication and organizational skills
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Experience handling cash and recording sales transactions
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively without immediate supervision
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Housekeeping experience helpful
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Hostelling experience and demonstrated support of the HI mission helpful
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Must be flexible regarding work schedule; must be available to work evenings, early mornings, holidays, and weekends
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Computer skills (WINXP, MS Word, Excel, Outlook) a plus
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First aid and CPR certification preferred; training can be provided
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Live/work experience a plus
Reports to: General Manager
HOURS
25-35 hours per week
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Housing may be provided for live-in staff. Staff housing is located very close to the main hostel building and has beautiful south-facing views of the hillsides; utilities are included. The starting wage is $8 per hour for live-in or $10 per hour if living off site. Benefits include: living in a beautiful National Park; working to create intercultural understanding and mutual respect; liberal paid vacation, holiday, and sick pay; dental and health insurance.
TO APPLY
Send letter of interest and resume to:
hmorris@norcalhostels.org
Hostel Assistant Search
Point Reyes Hostel
P.O. Box 247
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
HI-USA Golden Gate Council is an equal opportunity employer.
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