Press Releases

School trips made possible by a relief fund – a&o educare raises donations and provides unbureaucratic support to low-income families

"Everyone comes along" is a project of the nonprofit organization a&o educare, which was founded on the initiative of Berlin hostel founder Oliver Winter to enable children and teenagers to participate in school trips. Funded exclusively by donations, the organization supports low-income families. It is estimated that up to 50,000 children and teens stay home due to a lack of funds. When the booking season for school trips begins in September, some families face major challenges.

• Markus will play a key role delivering a&o’s digitalisation strategy, leveraging his track record driving exceptional growth at several European technology unicorns

• More than 14,000 respondents aged 18 and older from twelve European countries
• YouGov survey commissioned by a&o on travel behavior
• One in ten will stay home this summer
• City breaks and short trips are booming – especially among younger people

Further reduction in CO2e footprint per overnight stay for Europe’s largest hostel chain and major advancements made towards green energy consumption

• a&o Hostels has published its fourth annual sustainability report
• Emissions per overnight stay reduced by 1.9 percent to 3.58 kilograms of CO2e
• Overall company emissions rise by 3.1 percent due to opening of several new properties in 2025
• 43 of the 46 a&o locations are conversions of existing properties
• a&o is conducting a life cycle assessment study for the new Berlin location in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin

Travel smart, save more with a&o: Promotions and offers (not just) during the holiday season

• Promotion: Double room stays across Europe from €49
• Summer Sale: 10% discount on stays
• at many a&o properties until the end of August
• Very smart: stays in shared rooms from €12
• Free: children stay free in their parents’ room
• Until the end of June: petrol vouchers to be won

• A YouGov survey commissioned by a&o Hostels of over 14,000 respondents across 12 European countries has revealed travellers are open to using AI-assisted tools when booking their travels but remain opposed to fully automated processes
• Europe’s largest hostel chain is utilising these insights to shape its guest experience

a&o now offers also Wero and Bling

• a&o now offers Wero and Bling as new payment services
• Eleven digital payment options are now available across the network
• An industry first at the first hostel chain to accept Wero

Win a gas or charging voucher every day worth 100 Euros

Adrien Colpaert, David Kupsky, and Christos Praftsas strengthen the French, UK, and Scandinavian markets

• Meanwhile a Sales International team of ten
• a&o with currently 45 locations in 31 cities and ten countries throughout Europe
• Sales manager for France again, new appointments for Scandinavia and UK

• Transformative €40 million capex programme will deliver flagship 2,500 bed scheme in a superbly located, dynamic tourist hotspot, a short walk from the iconic Checkpoint Charlie
• Acquisition continues for a&o’s initial €500 million investment programme and represents its fifth asset, totalling 8,000 beds in its home city of Berlin
• Hostel sector continues to benefit from price-sensitive, experience-driven Gen Z and millennial travellers, the fastest growing segment in the global travel market

• Carolin Paarmann returns as GM to a&o Hostels
• a&o London open since the end of November
• Renovation and modernisation of the old harbour building to begin in 2026
• 500 rooms and 2.100 beds after completion
• a&o outlook London: 180.000 overnight stays in 2026

• Adjoining ibis and Novotel hotels located between Deansgate and Piccadilly
• Following an £8.2m refurbishment, scheme will total 303 rooms and 1,218 beds
• Manchester is a&o's fourth UK asset, taking its European exposure to 44 properties across 10 European countries