Our Story

Hosteleer’s mission is to connect people. We believe that exchanging skills and cultures is the best way to breakdown borders and promote global inclusivity. We believe travel is the best teacher and experiencing the world through slow, extended backpacking affords lessons that you cannot learn anywhere else. We welcome you to our tribe!

Hosteleer was created by Mitchell White and Morten Ege Jensen, who met during a Christmas party at Common Grounds hostel in Pai, Thailand in 2014. The party’s decorations, family dinner, secret Santa gift exchange, and other fun activities were all arranged by the hostel’s volunteers. After a few too many White Russians (tastefully shaken by yet another hostel volunteer), Mitchell and Morty got to talking and the seeds for Hosteleer were planted. At first just a side project, Hosteleer is now finally ready to be released to the world.

With countless volunteer experiences across three continents over the past decade, Morty is the quintessential ‘hostel volunteer’. From Workaway’s in the Spanish Sierras to bar gigs in downtown Kyoto, Morty has been there and done that when it comes to work exchanges all across the world. Using Morty’s extensive volunteer experiences, we have built Hosteleer to be the easiest to use work exchange website out there. Hosteleer is the best way for you to travel the world on a shoe string budget, meet tons of friends from all over, and have truly life changing experiences.

Through running a busy hostel for over six years, Mitchell fully understands what it takes to operate a successful hostel business. This insider knowledge has played a key role in the design and development of Hosteleer. Hosteleer was built by a hostel owner for hostel owners (no other work exchange website can say that). Hosteleer was created to help your hostel have an amazing atmosphere, get better reviews, and fill more beds.

We’re so happy for you to be here.

-Mitch and Morty