Our Model
Hostel Detroit is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that looks to connect visitors to Detroit with the people and places that make our city great. Our goal is to teach each of our visitors about the history and evolving future of our city. Our guests leave Detroit with local perspectives and a deeper understanding of the city. We offer maps, “adventure-planning”, self-guided explorations, and personalized tours led by local volunteer ambassadors.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Hostel Detroit is dedicated to being the catalyst for educational and cultural exchange between Detroit and the global community.
Hostel Detroit works to educate travelers about the past, present, and future of the city of Detroit. We create experiential connections between locals and visitors, fostering creativity and global understanding of Detroit
Early Beginnings
Hostel Detroit began in November 2010, when founder Emily Doerr and a dedicated group of volunteers realized the city needed a place for curious travelers to come stay, explore, and learn about Detroit. As an avid traveler and couchsurfer, Emily often hosted guests in her Corktown condo – sometimes as many as 10 per week! The influx of visitors gave her an idea: to open a hostel in Detroit!
We leased a building in Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, Corktown. Hundreds of hours of volunteer work and thousands of dollars were donated to realize our vision. After lots of building, painting, planting, and cleaning, it was ready. Hostel Detroit hosted its first guests on April 17th, 2011.
Our Team
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