It’s not too late to show your support for a U.S. hostelling postage stamp

December 4, 2007

Since the first hostel opened its doors in Germany in 1909, there have been over 1.2 billion overnight stays in hostels by travelers worldwide. Last year alone, travelers from more than 100 countries spent nearly one million nights in Hostelling International USA’s 75 hostels. Now, with the international hostelling movement gearing up for it’s centennial in 2009, HI-USA members, alumni, supporters, and travel enthusiasts alike are coming together to propose a U.S. postage stamp to honor this history.

An online petition has been set up to enlist support for the postage stamp proposal, which was created at HI’s 2006 national meeting. The initial proposal for the stamp is currently under consideration by the U.S. Postal Service, so now is the time to show your support of this commemorative stamp before a decision is made in early 2008.

In the past 60 years, six countries — Australia, Germany, India, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, and Sweden — have all issued postage stamps honoring the history of hostelling in their nations. The United States is among several countries working towards establishing a centennial postage stamp for 2009.

"With millions of current and former hostellers in the United States, we expect high interest in a U.S. postage stamp to commemorate hostelling," says Russell Hedge, CEO of HI-USA, the United States affiliate of the International Youth Hostel Federation. "Hostelling has made a unique and notable contribution to cross-cultural understanding in the United States and around the world. It is certainly worthy of postage stamp recognition."

Don’t miss your chance! Show your support for the hostelling postage stamp by signing the online petition. You can find the petition and more information on how you can get involved at openingdoorsopeningminds.org.