About Our Hostels 
San Diego 
HI-USA
About Us
For over 40 years, Hostelling International USA, San Diego (HI-San Diego), a 501 (c) 3 non-profit membership organization, has helped the San Diego community develop a deeper appreciation of countries and cultures dramatically different from their own. HI-San Diego fosters experiences that forever change the way people regard each other and the world. Our mission is to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.
Hostelling is educational travel. HI-San Diego advocates global awareness with two welcoming, comfortable and affordable hostels to over 15,000 people annually. The hostels are designed to promote interaction with open areas where guests can meet and talk. Much of the interaction between hostellers happens over a meal. With a full kitchen available to hostellers, the hostels provide an excellent forum for intercultural dialogue. Community members are invited into the hostels through volunteering and through community service projects.
HI-USA
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.
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.
Our Mission
The mission of Hostelling International 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.
We work to achieve this through the following activities:
- 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.
Our History
San Diego civic leader and education activist, Mary Lanyon Fay started the San Diego Hostel movement in 1938. She inspired the development of a chain of hostels that were used by travelling bicycle groups. In 1959, the San Diego Council of American Youth Hostels became a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization.
In 1971, the energy and commitment to global awareness compelled the San Diego Council to expand its vision, and join Hostelling International's team of over 4,000 not-for-profit hostels worldwide. The Council celebrated its adoption into the HI-USA team by opening the doors of the first HI-San Diego hostel in the YMCA building downtown. In 1979, it purchased a property in Point Loma and created the HI-San Diego, Point Loma (Elliott) Hostel, a comfortable, 53-bed hostel close to the beach.
On April 1, 1997, the HI-San Diego Downtown hostel moved to its current location at 521 Market Street, in the heart of the historic Gaslamp District. This urban hostel sleeps 150 people, and provides U.S. and International travelers with safe, simple and low-cost overnight accommodations.
Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels has been repositioned as Hostelling International-USA, to better capitalize on the strength of the global brand. This is a great opportunity for the organization to strengthen primary markets served and maintain market leadership among budget travelers with strategies that promote the network of clean, affordable and environmentally friendly hostel accommodations and programs.
Hostelling International USA, San Diego Council has a dedicated staff, committed Board of Directors and a volunteer base of community members interested in sharing in the hostelling experience.
The Board
The Council is governed by a local board. HI-USA members in San Diego elect our directors to a three-year term. Each director can serve a maximum of three terms.
2007-2008 Board of Directors:
- Rebecca Reid, President
- Nandita Murthy, Vice President
- Barbara Ness, Secretary
- Francis Pickford, Treasurer
Members:
- Denise Bercovitch
- Teri House
- Keith McGuinness
- Gustavo Torres
- Jim Wermers
Council Staff
San Diego Council is a central services office that provides support to the 2 hostels in San Diego and membership throughout San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and parts of Orange Counties. Most of our employees work at one of the hostels, providing outstanding service to our guests.
Questions or comment about San Diego Council, can be directed to one of the following staff members:
- Sue Schaffner, Executive Director - (619) 338-9981 ext 11
- Laura Kuebel, Program Coordinator - (619) 338-9981 ext 14
- Jerry Lee, Finance Coordinator - (619) 338-9981 ext 10
- Jared McCannell, Volunteer and Activities Coordinator - (619) 338-9991 ext 13
- Tiffany Olson, Events Coordinator - (619) 338-9981 ext 15