Spokespeople

Barbara Wein, Executive Director
HI-USA, Golden Gate Council
Topics: Mission, History, Governance and Finance

Barbara Wein has led HI-USA, Golden Gate Council for the past 20 years. Under her leadership the network has opened four new hostels, doubled its annual number of overnights to more than 200,000 and created the Hostel Adventure Program to serve inner-city youth. The Council’s $5 million annual budget, 100 employees and high guest satisfaction ratings places it among the top HI-USA affiliates. She has assembled professionals in marketing, tourism, law and development to create the most influential board of directors in the Council’s 46-year history. Wein also serves on numerous HI-USA taskforces to strengthen and improve the organization’s financial health, quality assurance standards and innovative programs.

“Hostelling International has taken proactive measures to reduce costs as a result of the U.S. travel downturn,” says Wein. “We remain in a position to deliver a message of peace and international understanding to travelers of any age from around the world.”

Jeanne Comaskey, Director of San Francisco Operations
HI-USA, Golden Gate Council
Topics: Trends and Analysis, Marketplace Competition, and Quality Assurance

Jeanne Comaskey was promoted to direct operations in April 2001 when the Council’s two San Francisco locations generated more than half of its annual revenue and consistently experienced 90 percent or higher occupancy rates. Six months later the Council opened its third city hostel, creating a single-market budget accommodations network with one of the highest capacities in the country. Comaskey leveraged more than 16 years of lodging experience to offset losses caused by Sept. 11, which changed the industry a mere four weeks later.

In 2002 San Francisco visitor volume declined 13 percent yet Comaskey kept the network cash neutral by growing revenue and reducing operating expense. “I’ve experienced the effect tragedies like 9/11 have on nonprofits and tax revenue,” explains Comaskey, who also serves as president of the board for the Bay Area Women and Children’s Center. “Imagine how state and federal deficits hit low-income women, children and families. The day we achieve international understanding is the day no government leader will suggest taking resources from people in need to fight those we simply don’t understand.”

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Media Summary

Hostelling International USA, Golden Gate Council (nationally registered as Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc.) is a network of 10 hostels in scenic Northern California that hosted nearly 200,000 overnights in FYE ’06—more than 20 percent of HI’s total U.S. overnights (visit Our Hostels for property information and HI-USA to access our national office).

Golden Gate Council has provided top-quality budget accommodations to travelers since our founding in 1958 by a team of volunteers (visit About Us for a complete timeline). We are one of 34 regional council affiliates providing affordable accommodations and educational programs across the United States. Hostelling International is the global brand for the International Youth Hostel Federation and its 60 member countries, including HI-USA (visit HI to access our international headquarters).

We market our services to travelers of all ages, cultures and backgrounds because our hostels appeal to a mix of travelers, from urban high-rise buildings with hundreds of beds to small hostels in rural settings. Individuals, groups, families and organizations all turn to us for quality at a great price. Once they have experienced the HI difference, they count on us to provide a safe place to other travelers and to learn about other cultures.

HI’s mission and vision have never been more important or relevant, nor has there been a better time to promote intercultural understanding (visit About Us for our mission and vision statements). Our unique structure provides access to nearly every region of the world. We are working even harder to provide a safe place for travelers to learn about other cultures and are motivated to work even harder to achieve intercultural understanding as we approach our 50th anniversary.

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Media Overnight

Golden Gate Council wants you to become better acquainted with our hostels, our guests and how we have adapted our product without compromising quality or HI’s mission.

In one night you will gain first-hand knowledge to answer:

• Accommodations: Is it hard to fall asleep with strangers?
  
• Age range: Does anyone older than 30 stay at a hostel?
  
• Membership: Can I make a reservation if I’m not a member?
  
• Safety: Will my kids be safe at a hostel?

Our media contact will coordinate a single overnight or a tour of our 10 hostels in Northern California. She will also help you arrange a stay at one of the other 100 HI hostels in the United States. Complete our Media Overnight Request or call our media contact today.

It is that simple.

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