Case Study: Hostelworld.com

The case describes the market growth of Web Reservation International an Irish SME company, which is a market leader in the Budget, Independent and Youth Travel (BIYT) market through its online reservation system. The case describes the development of the company through organic growth and acquisitions. The case raises four main questions. Is the WRI domination position sustainable in the long term? Is WRI business and revenue model transferable into other sectors of the travel industry? Does WRI have the management capability to transition to a post-entrepreneurial phase? What is the most appropriate option to develop the business?