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| The Council has served a
community
of travelers
for nearly 50 years
Founded in 1958, Golden Gate Council is a network of 10 affordable accommodations providing top-quality service, cleanliness and security to guests in San Francisco, Sacramento and other scenic Northern California locations.
Hostelling International operates more than 4,000 hostels worldwide, including 100 in the United States, bringing travelers together to learn about other people, places and cultures.
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HI Brand
HI is a seal of approval
recognized around the world
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. Golden Gate Council is among the top HI-USA affiliates with more than 200,000 overnights annually at its 10 hostels.
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.
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Mission and Vision
The Council is a mission-based nonprofit
with a vision for intercultural understandings
The mission of Golden Gate Council 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.
- 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.
History
The Council invests in Northern California while
supporting travelers
from around the world
Hostelling began in 1909 to help young people of limited means experience the countryside and cities of the world. Hostels are now at the heart of international tourism for a wide age group. Hostellers contribute up to US$1.4 billion to tourist revenues worldwide every year.
Golden Gate Council was founded in 1958 as Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. This remains our nationally registered legal name. In 2004 our trading name became Hostelling International USA, Golden Gate Council to strengthen the HI brand while showing our affiliation with HI-USA.
- 1934: Isabel and Monroe Smith found American Youth Hostels (now Hostelling International USA) and open the first U.S. HI hostel in Northfield, MA.
- 1937: Frank and Josephine Duveneck open the Hidden Villa Ranch Hostel (now HI-Hidden Villa) in Los Altos, CA.
- 1958: Kathleen and Walter McAdam found Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels (now HI-USA, Golden Gate Council) with volunteers.
- 1960: First HI-USA hostel in San Francisco opens in Pacific Heights at Conard House.
- 1972: Golden Gate Council volunteers transform an old farmhouse into the Laguna Ranch Hostel (now HI-Point Reyes) in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore.
- 1978: Golden Gate Council volunteers open the Marin Headlands Hostel (now HI-Marin Headlands), its second National Park hostel.
- 1980: San Francisco International Hostel (now HI-SF Fisherman’s Wharf) opens in Fort Mason due to the generosity of Sybil Jean Logan and hundreds of donors and volunteers. It is an instant success and the model for future urban HI-USA hostels.
- 1980: Bob Coppock and Golden Gate Council volunteers work to save two lighthouses on the San Mateo coast: Montara Lighthouse Hostel (now HI-Point Montara Lighthouse) opens in 1980 and Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel (now HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse) opens in 1981.
- 1986: The Hostel Adventure Program is developed to provide environmental education and outdoor experiences to Bay Area inner-city children.
- 1987: Golden Gate Council opens the Redwood Hostel (now HI-Redwood National Park) in the historic DeMartin House in Redwood National Park; a partnership between HI-USA, the National Park Service, the Coastal Conservancy and the California Conservation Corps.
- 1992: Hostel at Union Square (now HI-SF Downtown) opens in partnership with HI-USA.
- 1995: Sacramento International Hostel (now HI-Sacramento) opens after seven years of political maneuvering in partnership with the City of Sacramento and funding from the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency.
- 1998: Golden Gate Council celebrates its 40th anniversary.
- 2001: HI-SF City Center, the first Golden Gate Council-owned hostel, opens weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Board
The Council is governed by a local board
HI-USA members in Northern California elect our directors to a three-year term. Each director can serve a maximum of three terms.
- Walter Knoepfel, President
- Richard Winer, Vice President
- Dennis Isaac, Secretary
- Alek Vernitsky, Treasurer
Members:
- Harris Bostic II
- Vatche Kalfayan
- David Madson
- Andrew Mowat
- Aimee Scott
Staff
The Council is a dedicated
team of 100 professionals
Golden Gate Council is a central services office that provides support to the 10 hostels in Northern California. Most of our employees work at one of the hostels, providing outstanding service to our guests. Visit Our Hostels to learn more about these staff members.
Jobs
Join us!
This is a listing of current openings at Golden Gate Council. Please also visit the national HI-USA site for opportunities throughout the country.
HI-Point Montara Lighthouse, CA
HI-Point Montara Lighthouse is a 50-bed hostel providing low-cost, short-term overnight accommodations for 8,000 educational and recreational travelers each year. It is based at a State Park Historic Site on the beautiful San Mateo coast, just south of San Francisco and north of Half Moon Bay.
Responsibilities:
- Take individual and group reservations by telephone, e-mail, and an online system
- Assist in the organizing and processing of group reservations
- Welcome, register, orient, and supervise guests
- Maintain security and safety of the hostel and personal belongings of guests
- Represent and promote Hostelling International USA and the hostel in a positive manner to guests, callers, local officials, and the general public
- Provide information about HI-USA, the hostel, and the local area to guests in person and over the telephone and e-mail
- Update daily availability on recorded voice system
- Collect and accurately record overnight fees, sale of goods, and equipment rentals using a Windows-based, computerized registration system
- Provide espresso bar service to guests during open hours
- Maintain online reservation allotments
- Assist in the planning and implementation of special events and fundraising
- Provide group orientations; assign and supervise group clean-up and check-out
- Extensive housekeeping duties including the daily cleaning of the hostel
- Provide on-call assistance in emergencies any time while on the hostel premises
- Additional duties in one or more of the following areas: cleaning, building, maintenance, bookkeeping, reservations, gardening, and/or supplies purchasing and stocking
- Other duties as assigned by the Hostel Manager
Qualifications:
- Must have customer service experience and enjoy working with the public
- Excellent oral communication and organizational skills
- Experience handling cash and recording sales transactions
- Accurate, neat, and thorough record keeping
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively without immediate supervision
- Housekeeping or janitorial experience
- Conflict resolution skills and ability to act effectively in a crisis
- Hostelling experience and support of the mission and goals of HI-USA
- Must be flexible regarding work schedule; must work evenings, early mornings, days, holidays, and weekends
- Computer skills (WINXP, MS Word word processing, Excel database management, Outlook)
- First Aid and CPR certification preferred; training can be provided
- Live/work experience a plus
Salary, Benefits, Hours:
25-35 hours per week. Occasionally staff must work a 40-hour week in order to cover another staff’s vacation. Hostel Assistants work a combination of both desk and cleaning shifts. This position necessitates work in early mornings, late evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-site/on-call overnight duties. Housing may be provided. The starting wage is $7.62 per hour for live-in or $9.62 per hour if living off site. Liberal benefits include vacation, holiday, and sick pay, dental and health insurance.
Reports to: General Manager
To Apply:
Send letter of interest and resume to:
cbauman@norcalhostels.org
Hostel Assistant Search
HI-Point Montara Lighthouse
PO Box 737
Montara, CA 94037
HI-Marin Headlands, CA
The Hostel Assistant II position is 24-32 hours per week. Occasionally staff must work a 40-hour week in order to cover another staff person's vacation. Hostel Assistants work a combination of both desk and cleaning shifts. This position necessitates work in early mornings, late evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-site/on-call overnight duties.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a welcoming atmosphere, while maintaining a clean and secure facility
- Deliver Hostelling International and National Park missions in a positive manner
- Take reservations for individuals and guests by phone, e-mail, and an online system
- Orient guests to the hostel and local area; assist in planning trips
- Collect and accurately record overnight fees and sales of goods
- Provide emergency assistance when needed
- Clean the hostel
- Help with special events, educational programs, light maintenance, and other hostel projects
- Other duties assigned by the Hostel Managers
Benefits:
Hostel Assistant II staff may choose to live on or off site. As part of their compensation, HAII employees are offered housing (a wage differential is provided for live-out staff). The hostel consists of two federally owned historical buildings under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Because of this the HAII must be willing to follow the rules of safety and sanitation dictated by Hostelling International and the NPS.
Staff members are eligible to receive health benefits including medical, dental, chiropractic, and acupuncture. These benefits are prorated to the amount of hours worked per week.
To Apply:
Send relevant cover letter and resume to:
HMorris@norcalhostels.org
Fax: 415-331-3568
HI-Marin Headlands
Building 941 Fort Barry
Sausalito, CA 94965
HI-San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, CA
Love hostelling? Are you into travel, world peace, and cultural understanding? Then spend your time with an organization devoted to making the world a better place. HI-USA Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco's most popular youth hostel, needs your help. We need a cafe assistant/barrista for our fun, international cafe. Prior barrista experience helpful but willing to train.
Responsibilities:
Friendly, positive, outgoing personality, computer literacy, and food service experience essential. Cash-handling experience and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Foreign languages and knowledge of the city helpful. High school diploma, proof of eligibility to work in US, and solid work references required.
- This is an on-call position, hours TBD.
- Must be able to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Salary: $8-10/hr DOE, plus tips
- Free parking
- Work environment with view of the bay
- Complimentary overnights at regional HI hostels, and most national and international HI hostels
To Apply:
Please answer the following questions and FORWARD WITH YOUR RESUME (NO ATTACHMENTS, THANKS) to the address below.
- Have you stayed in a hostel before?
- When are you available to start?
- What is your ideal work schedule?
- Are there days/hours you are unavailable to work?
- What computer programs have you used at work?
- Briefly describe your food service experience.
- Briefly describe your cash-handling experience.
- If hired, how would you ensure our guests’ expectations were surpassed?
- Do you have vacation plans or need time off in the next six months?
- Why are you leaving/did you leave your last job?
Attention: Cafe Assistant
Email: fwcafe@norcalhostels.org
(DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Cut and paste your resume if you are sending via email.)
Fax: 415-771-1468
Phone: No calls, please. Qualified applicants will be contacted for interview.
Walk-in: Applications accepted at Fort Mason, Building 240, San Francisco.
(Enter the park at Bay and Franklin streets, continue to the stop sign, then pass to the left of the chapel. We're the long building at the back, #240.)
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