What Stayokay does

Stayokay, legally Stichting Stayokay, is the largest operator of budget hostels in the Netherlands, running 21 properties ranging from urban centres (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Maastricht) to Wadden Islands (Texel, Terschelling), coast (Noordwijk, Domburg, Egmond), and countryside (Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Gorssel, Bunnik, Soest). Each location is operationally distinct, including a 13th-century castle at Heemskerk and the cube houses at Rotterdam. The portfolio offers shared dorms, private rooms, family rooms (up to 6 people), themed rooms (Miffy, Railway, Apenheul), and Wikkelhouses — sustainable cardboard tiny houses at Gorssel, Dordrecht and Apeldoorn. Target segments are individual backpackers, families, school and sports groups (11+ persons), and corporate clients; groups of 21+ persons and meetings are handled by a dedicated Booking Office. Approximately 1 million stays are delivered annually with an average guest satisfaction of 8.2/10 across 16,027 reviews.

The core technology stack is a proprietary reservation and e-commerce platform at stayokay.com with payments processed via Worldline (Ingenico). Marketing is run through Google/Bing paid search, Hotelchamp automation, Awin affiliate, and email, with a separate member portal at member.stayokay.com. Operational technology includes the Orbisk AI-powered smart food monitor in kitchens (driving a 12,000+ kg reduction in food waste), a Wufoo-hosted card activation flow, and Gifty for gift-voucher balance validation. All properties are EU Ecolabel certified, HI-Q (Hostelling International Quality & Sustainability) certified, with Amsterdam Oost additionally holding BREEAM.

Revenue comes from overnight accommodation (transaction-fee, FIX non-refundable rates with 10%/5% early-bird discounts versus standard FLEX rates), F&B (breakfast/lunch/dinner buffets and The 5th bar & café at Amsterdam and Utrecht), Stayokay Card annual memberships (€1 per card donated to Stay4all Foundation), gift vouchers (from €25), and meeting/event hires from €23 per person. Distribution is exclusively direct via stayokay.com and hostel front desks, with international reach via the Hostelling International network of 2,500+ hostels in 60+ countries. Most recent expansion moves include the Eindhoven opening (2024), the Amsterdam Stadsdoelen renovation reopening (2025), and a planned Groningen hostel (2027).

Name

Stayokay

Legal name

Stichting Stayokay

Website

https://stayokay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Stayokay operates the largest budget hostel network in the Netherlands with 21 uniquely located properties across cities, coast, and countryside. A non-profit foundation serving backpackers, families, school and sports groups, and corporate clients with overnight stays, F&B, memberships, and meetings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hostel Accommodations

NAICS

Accommodation (721), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213), Other Traveler Accommodation (72119)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Quiet/Work-Friendly (Digital Nomad) Hostels (THAMAIAF)

Keywords

• Hostel accommodations
• Budget lodging
• Group travel
• Membership programs
• Meeting facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Overnight Accommodation: Stayokay's primary revenue stream is overnight stays in private rooms, shared dorms, family rooms, comfort rooms, themed rooms, and Wikkelhouses across its 21 Dutch hostels. Booking is direct via stayokay.com. Revenue is generated per-night on a per-person or per-room basis.
2. Food & Beverage: On-site F&B includes breakfast buffets (included in many hostels), lunch buffets/packages, dinner buffets, and à la carte dining at The 5th bar & café. Revenue is generated per transaction.
3. Stayokay Card Membership: Annual membership card (Stayokay card) providing 10% discount on stays and bar. Sold at hostels or via website. Generates recurring annual subscription revenue per card.
4. Gift Vouchers: Digital or physical gift vouchers sold from €25, redeemable on Stayokay.com for accommodation bookings. Revenue is recorded upon purchase and redeemed against future stays.
5. Meeting & Event Hire: Rental of multi-purpose meeting rooms and event spaces to corporate clients, with bundled meeting packages starting from €23 per person. Revenue is generated per booking.
6. Group Bookings & Packages: Group bookings (21+ persons) and education/sport packages including accommodation, meals, and activities. Revenue is generated per group reservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stayokay operates a network of 21 hostels across the Netherlands providing budget overnight accommodation in private rooms, shared dorms, family rooms, themed rooms, and Wikkelhouses. The company also sells on-site food and beverage, meeting and event spaces, an annual Stayokay Card membership, and gift vouchers, with all bookings fulfilled through its own website and hostel locations.

Product overview

Stayokay operates as a hostel chain providing budget accommodations at 21 unique locations across the Netherlands, from city centers (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht) to coastal areas (Texel, Terschelling, Noordwijk) and countryside settings (Apeldoorn, Gorssel, Bunnik). The core product is hostel stays offering shared dorm rooms, private rooms, and specialty accommodations. Additional offerings include the Stayokay Card membership program (providing 10% discounts and exclusive member weeks), on-site food and beverage services (breakfast buffets, dinner, bar), meeting and event spaces, group accommodations with educational packages, MIVA accessible rooms, gift vouchers, and an online member portal. The company is a founding member of Hostelling International with approximately 1 million stays annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stay4all: Foundation that enables families in financial difficulty to have holidays and children to attend school camps
• The 5th
• BeeOkay
• Wikkelhouse

Products and services

• Hostel Accommodations Budget overnight stays at 21 hostels across the Netherlands, offered in shared dorms, private rooms (up to 6 beds), family rooms, comfort rooms, themed rooms, and Wikkelhouses, with breakfast included at most locations and en-suite bathrooms in private/family options.
• Stayokay Card Membership Annual membership card providing 10% discount on overnight stays and bar drinks at Stayokay, exclusive Member Weeks with up to 25% total discount, and reciprocal benefits at 2,500+ Hostelling International hostels worldwide, with €1 per card donated to the Stay4all Foundation.
• Food and Beverage Services On-site hospitality offerings including breakfast buffets (included in many hostels), lunch buffets or packed lunches, daily-changing dinner buffets, à la carte dining, and bar service at The 5th bar & café in Amsterdam and Utrecht, featuring organic, sustainable, and locally sourced products with dietary accommodation.
• Meeting and Event Hire Rental of 17 multi-functional meeting and event spaces for corporate meetings, team-building, conferences, and company retreats, with meeting packages starting from €23 per person and €1 per booking donated to Stay4all Foundation.
• Stayokay Gift Vouchers Digital or physical gift vouchers available from €25, valid indefinitely on Stayokay.com for accommodation bookings in the Netherlands and redeemed at checkout via the Gifty balance checker.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guest satisfaction score of 8.2/10 based on 16,027 reviews across 21 hostels
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Good RollminorOthers · 7 February 2024Stayokay was the first hostel chain in the world to switch entirely to bamboo toilet paper from The Good Roll, a sustainable paper company. The Good Roll donates 50% of its profits to build toilets in developing countries.
• Hostelling International (HI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStayokay is a founding member of Hostelling International, a global network of approximately 2,500 hostels in 60+ countries. Through this partnership, Stayokay Card members receive up to 10% discount at HI hostels worldwide, and HI members receive 10% discount at Stayokay. The HI-Q (Quality & Sustainability) certification programme is a joint initiative recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
• The 5th (Bar & Café)minorOthersThe 5th is a bar and café brand co-located at Stayokay Amsterdam and Stayokay Utrecht. It offers food, drinks, and co-working space to hostel guests and the public, with fresh-ground coffee and free WiFi. The 5th venues are open daily 7:00–23:00 and host regular evening activities.
• Verspillingsfabriek (The Waste Factory)minorOthersStayokay sources soups made from rescued vegetables from the Verspillingsfabriek, a social enterprise that fights food waste. In 2022–2024, Stayokay saved 18,400 kg of vegetables through these soups.
• Too Good To GominorOthersStayokay partners with Too Good To Go to offer leftover food from its hostels at a discounted price through the app, reducing food waste.
• Trees For AllminorOthersStayokay partners with Trees For All to donate a tree for every booking made on Green Friday, supporting reforestation projects.
• Nederland SchoonminorOthersStayokay partners with Nederland Schoon, an organisation on a mission to prevent litter. Together they organise cleanup days at hostels and beaches.
• Join UsminorOthersStayokay works with Join Us, an organisation combating loneliness among young people and encouraging social encounters. Join Us uses Stayokay locations free of charge for their meetings and events.
• KinderzwerfboekminorOthersStayokay hosts Kinderzwerfboek (Children's Roaming Books) stations at select hostels. These books with stickers can be taken home for free and left to 'roam' again at Stayokay locations.
• CuNa EducationminorOthersStayokay collaborates with CuNa Education, where students learn about sustainability and the climate through interactive sessions inside a Stayokay hostel with a sustainability expert.
• DopperminorOthersStayokay sells Dopper reusable water bottles to guests. 1,179 Dopper bottles were sold in 2022–2023, preventing approximately 47,160 single-use plastic water bottles.
• LammeminorOthersStayokay uses Lamme for sustainable laundry services for bedding and towels. Lamme, like Stayokay, prioritises sustainability in its operations.
• MUD JeansminorOthersStayokay partners with MUD Jeans for circular workwear. MUD Jeans are made from 'pre-loved jeans' and 100% organic cotton under fair conditions, with every pair recycled into a new pair. This saves 92% water compared to conventional jeans production.
• NS Group Ticket (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)minorOthersStayokay promotes the NS Group Ticket for sustainable group travel by train, offering a cost-effective and environmentally conscious transport option for groups visiting its hostels.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MEININGER Hotels: Hybrid hotel-hostel operator with 30+ properties across European cities. Offers private rooms and shared dorms at budget price points, with on-site F&B and meeting spaces — directly comparable to Stayokay's product mix, especially for groups and city-break travellers.
• Safestay: London-listed hostel operator with properties across UK, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria. Directly comparable business model (budget hostel operations with group and leisure focus) and pan-European footprint that overlaps with Stayokay's inbound tourism catchment.
• a]o Hotels (formerly A&O Hostels): Large European hostel chain with 40+ properties primarily in Germany and Central Europe. Direct competitor on room type (mixed dorms/private), target customer (budget-conscious travellers and school groups), and group booking business. Comparable scale and amenity set to Stayokay.
• Wombat's Hostels: Independent hostel chain operating in Austria, Germany, UK, and Hungary. Closely comparable to Stayokay on backpacker positioning, dorm/private mix, group booking capability, and on-site bar/café operations. Smaller scale but overlapping customer base in the European hostel market.
• Clink Hostels: UK-focused hostel operator (London, Manchester, Glasgow). Directly comparable on dorm/private mix, school and corporate group bookings, and on-site F&B. Geographic mismatch but similar operating model and target customer.
• Generator Hostels: Pan-European design hostel operator with ~15 properties across major European cities. Closest direct peer to Stayokay — both operate multi-city hostel portfolios serving backpackers and groups, with on-site F&B and private/dorm mix. Generator has larger geographic footprint and PE backing, while Stayokay is Netherlands-only and non-profit.
• St Christopher's Inns: European hostel chain (UK, France, Germany, Netherlands) targeting backpackers and group bookings. Operates the 'Beds and Bars' integrated hostel-and-pub concept — comparable to Stayokay's The 5th bar & café model — and directly competes for hostel travellers in Amsterdam.

Emerging players

• The Hoxton: Lifestyle hotel brand with several Netherlands locations including Amsterdam. Targets design-conscious, value-segment travellers — overlapping with Stayokay's premium private room positioning, though at a higher price point. Indirectly competes for the same urban leisure and group bookings in Dutch cities.

Others

• Hostelling International: Global federation of 2,500+ hostels that Stayokay co-founded. Not a competitor but a strategic partner: HI distributes Stayokay to international members via reciprocal membership benefits and the HI-Q quality certification framework. Comparable mission (youth/sustainable travel) but operates as a network rather than an operator.

Broad incumbents

• Hostelworld Group: Publicly-listed global hostel booking platform (not an operator). Adjacent to Stayokay because both serve the same backpacker customer base and Hostelworld is the dominant discovery channel for hostels — Stayokay's absence from the platform is a notable distribution choice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/stayokay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stayokay
• Facebookfacebook.com/stayokay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stayokay
• Instagraminstagram.com/stayokay

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stayokay