nonprofit hostel network

Hostelling International USA

Industry Travel

A nonprofit hostel network offering affordable travel accommodations and cultural-exchange programs in U.S. cities and destinations. Hostelling International USA scores well because the model leaves more value with stakeholders and ownership is comparatively aligned, and no current penalty outweighs that structure.

Why this matters: HI USA is a useful travel alternative because surplus is reinvested into hostels and programs instead of extracted for shareholders.

Letter grade A Good Medium confidence (AI) Rubric gcd-rubric-v1 Last reviewed May 6, 2026

Final Score 53* A - Good

AGOOD53 pts

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

Base Material50

Bonus+3

Cap66No structure cap

After Cap53

Penalties0

!Not Verified

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Evaluation Overview

A - Good

The score turns mainly on Extraction; no penalty currently dominates the evaluation.

Strengths

Extraction8/10
Ownership7/10
Governance6/10

Penalties

No penalties applied in this version.

Evidence state

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)
ThoroughnessPartial (AI)
Linked claims5
Direct axis claims4
Coverage4/10

Scoring Axes

Axis	Score	Why this score
Ownership ? Control rights: shareholder-dominated at 0, worker cooperative control at 10.	7 / 10	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA in the middle of Ownership: there is some mission, member, producer, or public-interest constraint, but decisive control is not fully democratic. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 146 scored entries below, 21 tied, 59 above on Ownership. Linked evidence HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1]
Governance ? Binding decision authority: centralized control at 0, democratic stakeholder control at 10.	6 / 10	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA in the middle of Governance: there are accountability mechanisms, but they stop short of broad democratic control. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 148 scored entries below, 14 tied, 64 above on Governance. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Extraction ? Surplus allocation, wage share, CEO pay ratio, margins, and structured extraction judgment.	8 / 10	HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. That places Hostelling International USA high on Extraction: surplus is structurally routed toward workers, producers, users, or public benefit instead of being primarily captured upward. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 173 scored entries below, 34 tied, 19 above on Extraction. Linked evidence HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2]
Labor Sovereignty ? Worker power: coercive conditions at 0, co-determination or ownership at 7. Employee dissatisfaction matters only when source-backed evidence shows concrete limits on worker agency, such as coercive scheduling, retaliation, wage theft, harassment, unsafe conditions, suppression of worker voice, or extreme turnover.	4 / 7	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA in the middle of Labor Sovereignty: workers or participants have some protection or agency, but not enough binding power to control the relationship. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 112 scored entries below, 39 tied, 75 above on Labor Sovereignty. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Solidarity with the Unemployed ? Treatment of exits and nonworkers, including severance, redeployment, and non-competes.	5 / 7	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA in the middle of Solidarity with the Unemployed: some access, severance, retraining, openness, or mutual-aid value is present, but it is not central or durable. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 158 scored entries below, 38 tied, 30 above on Solidarity with the Unemployed. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Loss-Bearing Fidelity ? Willingness to absorb costs to preserve values, workers, users, and public obligations.	6 / 7	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA high on Loss-Bearing Fidelity: the institution is structured to absorb real costs rather than shifting losses onto weaker parties. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 163 scored entries below, 54 tied, 9 above on Loss-Bearing Fidelity. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Market Conduct ? Pricing fairness, switching costs, lock-in, and rent extraction.	5 / 5	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. That places Hostelling International USA high on Market Conduct: pricing, access, switching, and bargaining practices show restraint compared with ordinary rent-seeking competitors. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 180 scored entries below, 46 tied, 0 above on Market Conduct. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Product Integrity ? Preservation of quality rather than degradation for monetization.	5 / 5	HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. That places Hostelling International USA high on Product Integrity: the core offering is genuinely useful and comparatively less dependent on traps, degradation, or harmful dependencies. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 134 scored entries below, 92 tied, 0 above on Product Integrity. Linked evidence HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]
Scale Integrity ? Whether growth improves or degrades fairness and accountability.	4 / 5	HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 109 scored entries below, 81 tied, 36 above on Scale Integrity. Linked evidence context HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network. [1] context HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year. [2] context HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3] context HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. [4]

Penalties

No penalties applied in this version.

Bonus Credits

Bonus	Credit	Why this credit
Good Deal ? Credit for unusually fair value: durable quality, fair pricing, low lock-in, and clear customer surplus.	3 / 3	HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Column-spectrum position: 200 scored entries below, 26 tied, 0 above on Good Deal. Linked evidence HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible. [3]

Confidence Basis

Confidence is computed from the evidence trail and review state, not typed into the profile by hand.

Medium 70/100

5 verified linked claims 4 direct axis claims 0 disputed claims 4/10 components covered

This confidence label measures the source-backed evidence trail. AI-scaffolded scores remain tentative until human review.

Claim confidence 19/20

5 verified linked claims

Source quality 12/18

Best source per verified claim, weighted by institutional reliability

Direct axis-specific claims 6/18

4 direct claims across 10 active components

Dispute load 12/12

0 disputed claims on this entity

Recency 10/10

Newest accepted timestamp: May 13, 2026

Reviewer status 7/12

Human-reviewed components score higher than AI scaffolding

Component coverage 4/10

4/10 evidence-bearing components have direct support

Evidence State

Profile stateAI draft / human-pending

VerificationUnverified

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)

ThoroughnessPartial (AI)

Correction routeUse “Challenge this rating” for factual errors, missing counterevidence, source problems, or calculation mistakes.

Company responseCompany representatives can submit source-backed corrections; payment never changes scores or reviewer authority.

Claims and Sources

Claims are the evidence record. Each claim needs a source link, axis category, status, confidence level, and timestamp before it can support a score.

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

1HI USA states that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the Hostelling International network.

Ownership Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

HI USA aboutOfficial self-description · 68%

2HI USA says it reinvests surpluses back into hostels and programs so they can have greater impact year after year.

Extraction Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

HI USA aboutOfficial self-description · 68%

3HI USA describes its hostels as affordable travel accommodations and emphasizes making cross-cultural experiences more accessible.

Good Deal Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

HI USA homepageGeneral web source · 58%
HI USA aboutOfficial self-description · 68%

4HI USA states its mission is to help people, especially the young, gain greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.

Product Integrity Verified High confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 6, 2026

AI scaffold

HI USA aboutOfficial self-description · 68%

5Hostelling International USA's public materials state a mission, values, ownership model, advocacy role, or institutional standpoint plainly enough that this record does not identify penalty-level neutrality theater.

Ideological Disavowal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 9, 2026

AI scaffold

Hostelling International USA official siteGeneral web source · 58%
HI USA aboutOfficial self-description · 68%

Competitors

BQUALIFIED45 Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels employee-owned restaurant and hotel company · same market CPERFORMATIVE36 Best Western / BWH Hotels independent-hotel brand network · same market DEXTRACTIVE34 Drury Hotels family-owned value hotel chain · same market DEXTRACTIVE22 Marriott International public hotel and lodging company · same market DEXTRACTIVE12 Hilton public company · same market DEXTRACTIVE8 Hyatt public company · same market FMALIGNANT-3 Expedia Group public company · same market FMALIGNANT-7 Booking Holdings public company · same market

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Evidence comes in through contributors, is checked by verifiers, and is synthesized by reviewers. Founder authority remains narrow and visible; scores recalculate when verified claims or the rubric change.

Civic Note

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Audit Log

Recent public changes for this company or group. The full audit log is part of the Transparency record.

May 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC ai-scaffolding

Added source-backed tentative evaluation during the hospitality, travel, restaurants, and better-alternatives expansion pass.

View Full Audit Log