Owning a hostel can be pretty competitive nowadays. It is a good idea to stand out with some simple additions to have a leg up over your competitors. You don't have to make huge investments, a lot of times its small practical things that will make a big difference. Here are a few suggestions.

Comfort
Guests value comfort. They will be exploring their place of visit all day and getting a good night sleep is very important. You don't have to invest a lot but make sure your mattresses and pillows will offer your guests a pleasant night.

In shared rooms a cheap but very welcome idea is to offer free ear plugs and have face masks available so guests don't get woken up by others coming in and leaving the room.

Safety
Your guests will be traveling with very important items without which they would be lost (wallet, passport, tickets etc.). It will help them relax if they can keep their valuables safe so make sure they can lock their rooms up well and in case of shared rooms offer them safety deposit boxes. Providing small safety deposit boxes just for their most valuable items is not expensive but will help your guests relax.

Also make sure you have a procedure on hand in case any problems arise. You don't want to be caught by surprise if any of your guests start causing problems and upset your other guests. Unexpected things will happen but your guests need to know you're prepared and you have everything under control.

Cleanliness
This is one of the most important things and it should be your primary concern. Hygiene is important to people who have been traveling all around. Make sure toilets are inspected regularly and that they're well stocked. It is also a good idea to have some soap and towels on hand for guests which may have forgotten it and can't go to a shop. It won't cost you a lot but will make a great impression on your guests.

Also think about investing in to a vending machine for toothbrushes and toothpaste. It's not costly at all and will show your guests you are thinking of their needs.

Community
People will very often go to hostels to meet fellow travellers. So providing an environment where socialisation is easy will be a great advantage. Provide your guests with a common room where they can meet new people. Stock it up with activities. They don't have to be expensive, board games and playing cards will do. Or add a beer pong table if you want more of a party atmosphere.

Put up blank posters all over the hostel so guests can draw or write about their experiences. It will create a sense of community and inspire creativity.

Extra equipment
Consider adding vending machines for guests who get hungry or thirsty late at night. A coffee machine is also a very sensible investment. It's not costly and it will end up making you money. Travelers have a lot of things to do and limited time so they will be drinking a lot of it.

This article was written by Neza Vizintin, a content marketer for an SEO agency in London.