A new Chicago hostel has taken the social media platform to a whole new level. The Hollander became the first of its kind when it encouraged its guests to connect with each other on Instagram even before their stay.
The Hollander is the "first-ever social stay" which means those who book a room or a bed at the hostel can share their Instagram handle and be connected with fellow guests who'll be staying there at the same time. According to The Lonely Planet, the Chicago hostel has become the thriving ground for "a community where the most digitally connected travelers can meet and share their adventures during their stay." Even the design of the hostel encourages fellow travelers to make new friends and hang out together.
This Chicago hostel revealed on its website that it aims to do the same for their guests "what social media does for the world: bring us all closer together through shared experiences." The Hollander pitched its shared loft-style rooms to encourage a group of up to four guests to "make real connections with each other" after having digitally connected through Instagram. So instead of bunking with nameless faces, guests at the hostel can relish a community feel.
The hostel's street level coffee shop is a communal area that also serves as a bar, lounge and lobby where guests can get to know each other and even strike up conversations with locals of the Windy City. Seated at the center of Chicago's Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods, what used to be the historic 1905 Hollander Fireproof Warehouse now holds 66 beds designed for private and shared rooms with connecting bathrooms outfitted with Beesential natural skin care products as well as a bicycle rental and repair shop. Whether it's the lure of Instagram or to take part of a social stay, The Hollander invites guests to book with friends, family members or solo travelers and use the hostel as a staging ground for meeting new people.
