From 2db34ee757f98e52d77f765703abc887f476c79c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: root Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 12:13:14 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Expand GM report: tables + non-leading hypotheses --- .../flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_2026-01-03.md | 137 ++----- ...aneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md | 355 ++++++++++++------ 2 files changed, 270 insertions(+), 222 deletions(-) diff --git a/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_2026-01-03.md b/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_2026-01-03.md index 36954f7..1cd9ef5 100644 --- a/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_2026-01-03.md +++ b/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_2026-01-03.md @@ -1,126 +1,35 @@ -# Lyon Hostel Footprint Report (HO36 vs Le Flaneur) +# Lyon Hostel Footprint Report (HO36 vs Le Flaneur) - Exec Memo -Date: 2026-01-03 (UTC) +Date: 2026-01-03 -Full report (with citations): `reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md` +Full report (tables + citations): `reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md` -## Scope and method (what is and is not verified) +## What is verified (public, no-login) -- Public, no-login sources only (no CAPTCHA or paywall bypass). -- "HO36 full vs Flaneur empty at New Year" cannot be verified directly after-the-fact because booking engines do not allow querying past dates. This report uses a proxy stay window to compare current demand signals and conversion drivers. -- Proxy pricing/availability window used: 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-04 (1 night). -- Review theme analysis uses Hostelworld reviews from the last 12 months (public API observed via browser network traffic; no login). Google Maps review text was not collected (only rating + review count). +Channel traction: +- Booking.com: HO36 8.2 (1,356 reviews) vs Le Flaneur 8.1 (502 reviews). +- Hostelworld: HO36 8.86 (1,587 reviews) vs Le Flaneur 8.1 (2,332 reviews). +- Google Maps: HO36 4.1 (1,447 reviews) vs Le Flaneur 4.3 (855 reviews). -## Executive summary (what likely explains the gap) +Pricing/availability (proxy window 2026-01-03..2026-01-04, 1 night): +- Le Flaneur is cheaper and more flexible (refundable until 15:00 prior day) yet shows materially higher dorm availability than HO36. -1) Cleanliness/facilities perception is the strongest gap. -- Flaneur: 11 negative Hostelworld reviews (<= 65/100) in the last 12 months, with repeated hygiene/bathroom complaints. -- HO36: 1 negative review in the last 12 months; high cleanliness and facilities averages. +## What is not verified here (needs exports/manual capture) -2) Booking.com channel traction appears materially stronger for HO36. -- Similar rating (HO36 8.2 vs Flaneur 8.1), but HO36 has far more Booking reviews (1,356 vs 502), which usually correlates with higher visibility and stronger conversion on that channel. +- Booking.com search ranking, impressions, and conversion (Booking extranet). +- Google review text themes (we only have rating + count). +- TripAdvisor rating/review counts (blocked by DataDome CAPTCHA in this environment). -3) Price is not the primary driver. -- In the proxy window, Flaneur is cheaper and more flexible (refundable) yet shows materially higher availability than HO36. +## Working hypotheses to validate (ranked) -4) Flaneur has a product advantage (full kitchen) that is not currently compensating for the trust gap. -- Kitchen/self-catering is a differentiator vs HO36 (microwave-only), but it needs to be paired with visible cleanliness and sleep-comfort improvements to convert. +1) Trust conversion issue (HIGH): bathrooms/odor + sleep product issues appear repeatedly in negative Hostelworld reviews for Le Flaneur; HO36 has far fewer negatives in the same 12-month window. +2) Booking visibility gap (MED-HIGH): similar Booking rating but HO36 has ~2.7x the review volume; likely impacts ranking and click-through. +3) Seasonal closure impact (LOW-MED): Le Flaneur publicly states a Christmas closure (22-25 Dec); may have disrupted momentum and returning-guest patterns. -## Side-by-side comparison (high-signal metrics) +## Immediate asks (next 60 minutes) -| Category | HO36 | Le Flaneur | Evidence | -|---|---:|---:|---| -| Booking.com rating (reviews) | 8.2 (1,356) | 8.1 (502) | `data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__booking__listing__20260103.png`, `data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__booking__listing__20260103.png` | -| Hostelworld rating (reviews) | 8.86 (1,587) | 8.1 (2,332) | `data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__hostelworld_listing__20260102.png`, `data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__hostelworld__20260102.png` | -| Google Maps rating (reviews) | 4.1 (1,447) | 4.3 (855) | `data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__google_maps_embed_iframe__20260102.png`, `data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__google_maps__20260102.png` | -| Instagram followers | 3,247 | 2,296 | `verify/results/ho36_googlebot_audit.jsonl`, `verify/results/flaneur_googlebot_audit.jsonl` | -| Direct booking engine | Mews (`www.mews.li`) | RoomRaccoon (`booking.roomraccoon.fr`) | `data/ho36/evidence.json`, `data/flaneur/evidence.json` | -| Proxy min dorm bed EUR (availability) | 28.00 (3 beds) | 22.88 (10 beds) | `data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__mews__pricing__20260103_20260104__20260103.png`, `data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__roomraccoon__pricing__20260103_20260104__20260103.png` | -| Proxy min private room EUR | 55.00 | 50.88 | `data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__mews__pricing__20260103_20260104__20260103.png`, `data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__roomraccoon__pricing__20260103_20260104__20260103.png` | -| Kitchen (Hostelworld facilities) | Microwave only | Full self-catering | `verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_ho36_270217.json`, `verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_flaneur_100844.json` | +If you need a GM-grade answer today, pull these exports: +- Booking.com extranet (Le Flaneur): impressions, page views, conversion, cancellations, Genius/Preferred status, ranking snapshots for Lyon hostels. +- RoomRaccoon (Le Flaneur): occupancy + ADR by day (last 90 days) with channel mix; closure/stop-sell timeline. +- Google Business Profile (Le Flaneur): last-12-month reviews export + GBP Insights. -## Pricing and availability (proxy window 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-04) - -This is a like-for-like snapshot from each hostel's direct booking engine (not an OTA), used to compare relative demand and conversion constraints. - -| Hostel | Cheapest dorm bed | Cheapest private room | Cancellation signal (proxy window) | Availability signal (proxy window) | -|---|---|---|---|---| -| HO36 | 28.00 EUR ("Lit en dortoir mixte") | 55.00 EUR ("Chambre single RDC") | Non-refundable | 3 beds available on cheapest dorm | -| Le Flaneur | 22.88 EUR ("Dortoir mixte 16 lits") | 50.88 EUR ("Chambre Privee 4 personnes") | Refundable until 15:00 day before | 10 beds available on cheapest dorm | - -Interpretation: Flaneur is cheaper and more flexible, yet shows higher availability. This points away from price/policy as the root cause and toward trust (cleanliness, comfort, safety perception) and channel visibility. - -## Product/amenities - what is different (observable) - -| Area | HO36 | Le Flaneur | Why it matters | -|---|---|---|---| -| Kitchen | Microwave only | Stove + utensils + fridge + self-catering | Kitchen is a strong value driver for budget travelers; it can be a conversion lever if paired with cleanliness trust. | -| Bar/cafe | Yes | Yes | Both compete on "social + bar/cafe"; differentiation needs to be sharper (events, atmosphere, review narrative). | -| Coworking / meeting | Not clearly listed in Hostelworld facilities | Listed (meeting rooms, coworking space) | If Flaneur targets remote workers, the offer must be visible on OTAs and reflected in reviews/photos. | -| Accessibility | Not listed in captured Hostelworld facilities | Wheelchair friendly + accessible bathrooms | Can widen addressable audience; should be highlighted consistently across channels. | - -## Review themes (last 12 months - Hostelworld) - -Source: `verify/results/hostelworld_review_themes.md` - -### HO36 (12m) - -- Reviews (12m): 16 -- Mean score: 84.4/100; median: 89/100 -- Positive/Neutral/Negative: 12 / 3 / 1 -- Biggest positives: cleanliness, staff; consistent "feels safe" despite some neighborhood concern mentions. -- Main negative (low frequency): occasional check-in / keycard / process issues. - -### Le Flaneur (12m) - -- Reviews (12m): 51 -- Mean score: 78.3/100; median: 83/100 -- Positive/Neutral/Negative: 25 / 15 / 11 -- Recurring pain points (seen in multiple reviews, not single outliers): - - Cleanliness issues (especially bathrooms, odor) - - Safety/neighborhood discomfort framing (more frequent than HO36 in negative reviews) - - Reception availability / staff process issues (distinct from "staff friendliness", which is often praised) -- Recurring positives: - - Staff friendliness - - Kitchen/self-catering - - Value for money - -## Ranked hypotheses (evidence-backed) - -1) Cleanliness + bathroom trust gap reduces conversion (HIGH). -- Evidence: Flaneur has repeated negative cleanliness/bathroom mentions and lower cleanliness/facilities averages; HO36 has far fewer negatives and higher cleanliness averages. - -2) Booking.com visibility gap (MED-HIGH). -- Evidence: Similar rating, but HO36 has ~2.7x the review volume on Booking (1,356 vs 502). Review volume generally correlates with ranking and click-through. - -3) "Safety in the neighborhood" narrative is hurting Flaneur more than HO36 (MED). -- Evidence: Safety/neighborhood appears as a repeated negative theme for Flaneur in the last 12 months; for HO36 it appears more as a neutral/positive reassurance theme. - -4) Sleep comfort and dorm UX issues compound the cleanliness narrative (MED). -- Evidence: Flaneur has recurring mentions of sleep/noise and dorm comfort in neutral/negative themes; this matters disproportionately around peak periods when guests compare options quickly. - -5) Flaneur's differentiators (kitchen, coworking, "tiers lieu") are not driving enough demand because they are not turning into social proof (MED). -- Evidence: Kitchen is praised but does not dominate the overall review narrative; Booking review volume is relatively low for the category. - -## Action plan for Flaneur (10 concrete, fast experiments) - -1) Bathrooms: 14-day deep clean + odor elimination sprint; publish proof (photos, short reels) and push it to OTAs as new images. -2) Housekeeping QA: introduce a visible checklist and nightly spot checks; track defects; respond to every cleanliness review with a specific fix. -3) Sleep product upgrade: add curtains where feasible, tighten bunks, improve lighting; then message it as "better sleep" on Hostelworld/Booking. -4) Reception reliability: ensure real 24/7 coverage or clearly communicate the actual hours and self-check-in; reduce "process" complaints. -5) Safety perception: improve lighting/signage at entrance; add clear guest guidance for late arrivals; emphasize lockers/security features on listings. -6) Reposition the kitchen: run 2-3 weekly communal cooking nights (cheap, high-UGC) and push as a reason to stay during winter. -7) OTA listing optimization: refresh top-fold photos (bathrooms, beds, common areas, kitchen), and align amenity lists across all channels. -8) Review ops: QR code at checkout; staff asks happy guests for reviews; target +30 Booking reviews and +50 Hostelworld reviews in 60 days. -9) Pricing tests: keep dorm prices, but bundle value for privates (late checkout, breakfast voucher, bar credit) to drive higher ADR. -10) Local partnerships for NYE-like periods: bar/event partners + "stay and go out" packages; create a dedicated landing page and social cadence. - -## Evidence index (quick links) - -- HO36 evidence: `data/ho36/evidence.json`, `data/ho36/evidence.csv`, `data/ho36/profile.md` -- Flaneur evidence: `data/flaneur/evidence.json`, `data/flaneur/evidence.csv`, `data/flaneur/profile.md` -- Pricing snapshot JSON: `verify/results/pricing_window__20260103_20260104__20260103.json` -- Review theme summary: `verify/results/hostelworld_review_themes.md` -- Hostelworld facilities JSON: - - `verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_ho36_270217.json` - - `verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_flaneur_100844.json` diff --git a/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md b/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md index 6b94716..289884a 100644 --- a/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md +++ b/reports/flaneur_vs_ho36_gm_report_full_2026-01-03.md @@ -1,167 +1,300 @@ -# Full Report: Why HO36 Fills and Le Flaneur Does Not (NYE Lens) +# Full Report: HO36 vs Le Flaneur (NYE Lens, Evidence-First) Date: 2026-01-03 -## 0) Scope, constraints, and how to read this +## 0) Objective, scope, and constraints -This report uses public, no-login sources only. We do not bypass CAPTCHAs or paywalls. +Objective: explain (with evidence) why HO36 appears to be significantly stronger on NYE demand than Le Flaneur, and what Le Flaneur can do next. -Key limitation: we cannot reliably verify historical availability for Dec 29-Jan 2 after-the-fact because booking engines do not allow selecting past dates. Instead, we use a proxy pricing/availability snapshot (2026-01-03 to 2026-01-04) plus distribution and reputation signals to explain likely drivers. +NYE window referenced: 2025-12-29 to 2026-01-02 (most recent NYE at time of capture). -Evidence is cited inline like [S01]. Full source links are at the end. +Constraints (hard): +- Public, no-login sources only. +- No CAPTCHA/paywall bypass (TripAdvisor is blocked here). -## 1) Executive narrative (what is most likely true) +Critical limitation: +- We cannot reliably verify historical availability for 2025-12-29..2026-01-02 after-the-fact because booking engines typically do not allow selecting past dates. For price/availability, we therefore use a proxy window capture: 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-04 (1 night). [S10] -If you strip the story down to mechanics, the gap looks like this: +Evidence is cited inline like [S01]. All source links are at the end. -1) HO36 has materially stronger Booking.com traction (review volume) than Le Flaneur. - - HO36: 8.2 with 1,356 reviews vs Le Flaneur: 8.1 with 502 reviews. [S01] [S02] - - That difference typically translates to higher visibility and conversion on Booking (more impressions, more clicks, more bookings), even when ratings are similar. +## 1) What is verified vs what is hypothesis -2) Le Flaneur has a recurring cleanliness/bathroom trust problem in recent reviews. - - In the last 12 months on Hostelworld, Le Flaneur shows 11 negative reviews (<= 65/100) and repeated cleanliness + bathroom issues, while HO36 shows 1 negative review in the same window. [S13] - - Trust problems dominate short-funnel decisions around peak periods (NYE: guests book fast, filter hard). +Verified (directly supported by artifacts in this repo): +- Channel traction (ratings + review volume) across Booking, Hostelworld, Google Maps. [S01] [S02] [S03] [S04] [S06] [S07] +- Proxy-window direct booking pricing/availability (room list, min prices, refund hints). [S08] [S09] [S10] +- Amenities/features as listed on Hostelworld + selected official-site positioning/amenities quotes. [S11] [S12] [S16] [S17] +- Guest pain/happy themes from last-12-month Hostelworld review text (with transparent thresholds and an outlier policy). [S22] [S23] -3) Price is not the main explanation. - - In the proxy window, Le Flaneur is cheaper and more flexible (refundable) yet shows far more dorm availability than HO36. [S08] [S09] [S10] +Not verified here (requires internal exports or manual capture): +- Booking.com search ranking and impressions/conversion (extranet). +- Google review text (we only captured rating + count). +- TripAdvisor rating/reviews (DataDome CAPTCHA block). [S18] [S19] -4) Operational disruption is a plausible amplifier: Le Flaneur publicly states a Christmas closure (Dec 22-25). - - A short closure can break momentum: repeat guests re-route, and OTAs may see a short-term conversion dip that takes weeks to recover. This is not proven here, but it is consistent with the mechanism and should be validated internally. [S14] +## 2) High-signal comparison (facts) -## 2) Hard facts comparison (high-signal) +### 2.1 Channel traction (ratings and review volume) -### 2.1 Ratings and review volume (channel traction) - -| Channel | HO36 | Le Flaneur | Why it matters | +| Channel | HO36 | Le Flaneur | Notes | |---|---:|---:|---| -| Booking.com | 8.2 (1,356) [S01] | 8.1 (502) [S02] | Review volume often correlates with ranking + conversion velocity. | -| Hostelworld | 8.86 (1,587) [S03] | 8.1 (2,332) [S04] | HW is meaningful for backpacker demand; HO36 scores higher, Flaneur has more volume. | -| Hostelworld Lyon directory position | 8 [S05] | 7 [S05] | Similar directory visibility on HW (very close). | -| Google Maps | 4.1 (1,447) [S06] | 4.3 (855) [S07] | Maps is top-of-funnel; Flaneur has higher rating but fewer reviews. | -| Instagram followers | 3,247 [S21] | 2,296 [S20] | Lightweight signal of brand reach; not decisive alone. | +| Booking.com | 8.2 (1,356 reviews) [S01] | 8.1 (502 reviews) [S02] | Similar rating; large review-volume gap. | +| Hostelworld | 8.86 (1,587 reviews) [S03] | 8.1 (2,332 reviews) [S04] | HO36 scores higher; Flaneur has more volume. | +| Hostelworld Lyon directory position | 8 [S05] | 7 [S05] | Similar directory visibility (close). | +| Google Maps | 4.1 (1,447 reviews) [S06] | 4.3 (855 reviews) [S07] | Flaneur higher rating; HO36 higher volume. | +| Instagram followers | 3,247 [S21] | 2,296 [S20] | Lightweight reach signal; not decisive alone. | -### 2.2 Direct booking (proxy window 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-04) +### 2.2 Product framing (official-site positioning, verbatim) + +| Item | HO36 | Le Flaneur | +|---|---|---| +| Positioning | "an atypical, cool and affordable place... place of exchange and discovery" + artistic programming. [S16] | "Bar, cafe, auberge, lieu de rencontre, tiers lieu... ouvert tous les jours, par tous les temps..." [S17] | +| Amenities highlights (examples) | 24/7 multilingual reception, luggage storage, breakfast, cafeteria, bar, living spaces, artistic programming. [S16] | Free wifi, 24/7 reception, equipped kitchen, meeting room, inner courtyard, PMR accessibility. [S17] | +| Seasonal closure notice | None captured. [S16] | "Conge de Noel du 22 decembre au 25 decembre inclus." [S17] | + +### 2.3 Direct booking: price + availability (proxy window 2026-01-03..2026-01-04) + +Interpretation rule: if one property is cheaper and more flexible yet shows higher availability, pricing is unlikely to be the primary explanation. | Metric | HO36 | Le Flaneur | |---|---:|---:| | Booking engine | Mews [S16] | RoomRaccoon [S17] | | Cheapest dorm bed (EUR) | 28.00 (3 beds available, non-refundable) [S08] [S10] | 22.88 (10 beds available, refundable until 15:00 prior day) [S09] [S10] | -| Cheapest private room (EUR) | 55.00 (non-refundable) [S08] [S10] | 50.88 (refund signal same as above) [S09] [S10] | +| Cheapest private room (EUR) | 55.00 (non-refundable) [S08] [S10] | 50.88 (refund hint as above) [S09] [S10] | -Interpretation: Le Flaneur is cheaper and less risky to book, yet has higher availability. That points away from pricing as root cause and toward trust + channel momentum. +## 3) Like-for-like room + price table (proxy window) -## 3) Distribution: the Booking.com traffic thesis (and what we can prove) +Source: direct booking engines snapshot (2026-01-03..2026-01-04). [S10] -Your read ("HO36 dominates available traffic because Booking traction is higher") is directionally supported by the evidence we have: +| Property | Room type (proxy window) | Unit | Min price (EUR) | Availability units | Refund hint | +|---|---|---|---:|---:|---| +| HO36 | Chambre Ho my God | par chambre/par nuit | 75.00 | 4 | Non remboursable | +| HO36 | Chambre familiale | par chambre/par nuit | 180.00 | 1 | Non remboursable | +| HO36 | Chambre single RDC | par chambre/par nuit | 55.00 | 1 | Non remboursable | +| HO36 | Dortoir privatif pour 2 personnes | par dortoir/par nuit | 76.00 | 1 | Non remboursable | +| HO36 | Lit en dortoir mixte | par lit/par nuit | 28.00 | 3 | Non remboursable | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 16 lits | bed | 22.88 | 10 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 10 lits - 1 | bed | 25.88 | 8 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 10 lits - 2 | bed | 25.88 | 9 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir feminin 12 lits | bed | 25.88 | 11 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 6 lits - 1 | bed | 28.88 | 5 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 4 lits D4 /D8 | bed | 30.88 | 7 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Dortoir mixte 4 lits D7 | bed | 30.88 | 3 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | D9 - Dortoir Feminin 4 lits | bed | 30.88 | 3 | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | +| Le Flaneur | Chambre Privee 4 personnes | room | 50.88 | | Remboursable jusqu'a 15h la veille | -- The strongest measurable delta on Booking is review volume: 1,356 vs 502. [S01] [S02] -- Ratings are close (8.2 vs 8.1), so review volume is the likely differentiator for perceived legitimacy and ranking. [S01] [S02] +## 4) Feature comparison (amenities) -What we cannot prove in this environment: -- Actual Booking search ranking positions for the same query, same dates, same device/location, same logged-out session. -- HO36 vs Flaneur channel mix (Booking share of bookings) without internal data. +### 4.1 Key deltas (high impact) -How to validate quickly (internal, 15 minutes): -- Pull last 90 days bookings by channel (direct vs Booking vs Hostelworld) and compare conversion drops around the closure period. -- Check Booking extranet: impressions, page views, conversion, cancellation rate, and Genius / preferred program status. +Source: Hostelworld facilities lists (not exhaustive, but consistent across both listings). [S11] [S12] -## 4) Product reality check: amenities and "value per euro" +| Feature | HO36 | Le Flaneur | Why it matters | +|---|---|---|---| +| Kitchen | Microwave only [S11] | Full self-catering (stove, utensils, fridge/freezer, etc) [S12] | Strong value driver for budget travelers. | +| Housekeeping | Listed [S11] | Not listed [S12] | If true operationally, should show up in review narrative. | +| Air conditioning / fan | Not listed [S11] | Listed [S12] | Summer comfort + odor/ventilation perception. | +| Coworking / meeting rooms | Not listed [S11] | Listed [S12] | Useful if targeting remote workers. | +| Accessibility | Not listed [S11] | Wheelchair friendly + accessible bathrooms [S12] | Broadens audience + improves trust. | +| Free security lockers | Not listed [S11] | Listed [S12] | Safety/convenience signal. | -### 4.1 Kitchen is a real differentiator (but it is not currently winning the sale) +### 4.2 Full Hostelworld facilities matrix (appendix) -Hostelworld facilities list: -- HO36 kitchen: microwave only. [S11] -- Le Flaneur kitchen: full self-catering (stove, utensils, fridge/freezer, etc). [S12] +Appendix A contains the full item-by-item matrix. [S11] [S12] -This should be a powerful lever for budget travelers in winter. The fact it is not translating to higher occupancy implies the purchase decision is being lost earlier (trust, cleanliness, sleep, safety narrative). +## 5) Guest voice (Hostelworld reviews, last 12 months) -### 4.2 Amenities matrix (select) +Why this matters: around peak dates, guests do not have time to investigate deeply; they filter fast based on trust signals. Review narrative is a direct conversion driver. -| Amenity (Hostelworld facilities) | HO36 | Le Flaneur | -|---|---|---| -| Kitchen | Microwave [S11] | Full self-catering [S12] | -| Bar / cafe | Yes [S11] | Yes [S12] | -| 24h reception | Yes [S11] | Yes [S12] | -| Coworking / meeting rooms | Not listed [S11] | Listed [S12] | -| Free security lockers | Not listed as free [S11] | Listed as free [S12] | -| Air conditioning | Not listed [S11] | Listed [S12] | +Data + method (transparent): +- Data source: Hostelworld public review JSON captured in this repo. [S22] [S23] +- Window: last 365 days relative to report date (cutoff 2025-01-03). [S22] [S23] +- Scoring: we use Hostelworld overall (/100) to bucket reviews: + - Positive: >= 85 + - Neutral: 66..84 + - Negative: <= 65 +- Outlier policy for the pain-point table: we exclude the most extreme negative reviews (overall <= 30) to reduce the influence of likely "screamer" outliers; this removed 2 reviews for Flaneur. (We still recommend reading them, but not letting them dominate prioritization.) [S22] -## 5) Reputation: what guests actually complain about (last 12 months) +Counts (12m): +- HO36: 16 reviews, 1 negative (<=65). [S23] +- Le Flaneur: 51 reviews, 11 negative (<=65), including 2 extreme outliers (<=30). [S22] -We cannot extract Google review text here (only rating + count). The deepest public review text we have is Hostelworld, which is still highly relevant to hostel demand. +### 5.1 Top 10 pain points (comparison, last 12m) -Summary source: [S13] +These counts are "mentions": number of negative reviews (31-65 overall) that contain keywords for the theme. Themes can overlap. [S22] [S23] -### 5.1 HO36 (Hostelworld, last 12 months) +| Pain point (Hostelworld, last 12m) | Flaneur mentions (neg 31-65) | HO36 mentions (neg 31-65) | Representative Flaneur quote (date, overall) | +|---|---:|---:|---| +| Bathrooms / cleanliness / odor | 6 | 1 | 2025-10-25 (46/100): Did not like this place. The bathrooms reeked and generally felt dirty. Beds had no curtains and rattled like hell when going up and down bunk bed ladder. St... | +| Safety / security (in property) | 5 | 0 | 2025-06-13 (49/100): Really weird homeless smelly French people in my room. Bathrooms smelled worse than anything I've ever smelt. Super hot at night. Felt gross sleeping there b... | +| Reception / process / staff | 5 | 1 | 2025-10-25 (46/100): Did not like this place. The bathrooms reeked and generally felt dirty. Beds had no curtains and rattled like hell when going up and down bunk bed ladder. St... | +| Beds / privacy / noise (sleep) | 3 | 0 | 2025-10-25 (46/100): Did not like this place. The bathrooms reeked and generally felt dirty. Beds had no curtains and rattled like hell when going up and down bunk bed ladder. St... | +| Guest mix / long-stay residents | 3 | 0 | 2025-10-25 (46/100): Did not like this place. The bathrooms reeked and generally felt dirty. Beds had no curtains and rattled like hell when going up and down bunk bed ladder. St... | +| Location / transport | 3 | 0 | 2025-09-09 (60/100): Not in a great location within Lyon, and definitely not a youth hostel, some people seem to be full time residents there. It is ok for a budget stay but prob... | +| Atmosphere / social vibe | 2 | 0 | 2025-05-31 (46/100): Good: Staff, vibe if you like this hippie vibe. Bad: Awful and dangerous location (junkies etc), security (strangers entered my room to use the toilet), amen... | +| Kitchen / bar / common areas | 2 | 0 | 2025-06-13 (49/100): Really weird homeless smelly French people in my room. Bathrooms smelled worse than anything I've ever smelt. Super hot at night. Felt gross sleeping there b... | +| Neighborhood perception | 2 | 1 | 2025-05-31 (46/100): Good: Staff, vibe if you like this hippie vibe. Bad: Awful and dangerous location (junkies etc), security (strangers entered my room to use the toilet), amen... | +| Amenities (WiFi, laundry, AC) | 1 | 0 | 2025-04-10 (57/100): Wish I had booked elsewhere. Room was smelly and had poor ventilation with body odor smell and cigarette smoke drifting inside. WiFi didn't work half the tim... | -- Reviews (12m): 16; mean score 84.4/100; negative reviews 1. [S13] -- Most consistent positives: cleanliness + staff; safety narrative is handled as reassurance even when the neighborhood is mentioned. [S13] +### 5.2 Top 10 happy points (comparison, last 12m) -### 5.2 Le Flaneur (Hostelworld, last 12 months) +These counts are "mentions": number of positive reviews (>=85) that contain keywords for the theme. Themes can overlap. [S22] [S23] -- Reviews (12m): 51; mean score 78.3/100; negative reviews 11. [S13] -- Recurring pain points (multi-mention, not one-off "screamer" reviews): - - Cleanliness / bathrooms (odor, hygiene) [S13] - - Safety / neighborhood discomfort [S13] - - Reception reliability / process issues (distinct from staff friendliness) [S13] +| Happy point (Hostelworld, last 12m) | Flaneur mentions (pos >=85) | HO36 mentions (pos >=85) | Representative Flaneur quote (date, overall) | +|---|---:|---:|---| +| Reception / process / staff | 11 | 4 | 2025-09-05 (89/100): Clean place, all the facilities, good interaction with staff, very near from Perrache station. All in one, is worth to stay in this place. Recomended | +| Kitchen / bar / common areas | 9 | 4 | 2025-10-20 (86/100): Decent wifi. Bed linen provided. Warm (October) confortable room despite the hard-closing window. Common bathroom is quite clean, but the common kitchen coul... | +| Location / transport | 8 | 7 | 2025-09-05 (89/100): Clean place, all the facilities, good interaction with staff, very near from Perrache station. All in one, is worth to stay in this place. Recomended | +| Bathrooms / cleanliness / odor | 7 | 5 | 2025-10-20 (86/100): Decent wifi. Bed linen provided. Warm (October) confortable room despite the hard-closing window. Common bathroom is quite clean, but the common kitchen coul... | +| Beds / privacy / noise (sleep) | 7 | 5 | 2025-10-20 (86/100): Decent wifi. Bed linen provided. Warm (October) confortable room despite the hard-closing window. Common bathroom is quite clean, but the common kitchen coul... | +| Atmosphere / social vibe | 5 | 2 | 2025-10-15 (100/100): My daughter and I spent a few days here and absolutely loved it. The rooms are comfortable and not overpacked. The lounge and bar are wonderful - good prices... | +| Neighborhood perception | 5 | 8 | 2025-09-02 (89/100): Great stay not too far away from the centre of Lyon. Close from bus and metro. Very friendly staff. Great communal area and terrace. | +| Safety / security (in property) | 4 | 3 | 2025-10-20 (86/100): Decent wifi. Bed linen provided. Warm (October) confortable room despite the hard-closing window. Common bathroom is quite clean, but the common kitchen coul... | +| Value / price | 4 | 0 | 2025-09-05 (89/100): Clean place, all the facilities, good interaction with staff, very near from Perrache station. All in one, is worth to stay in this place. Recomended | +| Amenities (WiFi, laundry, AC) | 3 | 2 | 2025-10-20 (86/100): Decent wifi. Bed linen provided. Warm (October) confortable room despite the hard-closing window. Common bathroom is quite clean, but the common kitchen coul... | -What this implies: -- Even if the physical product is "good enough", the public narrative is not. -- Fixing narrative requires fixing the underlying operational drivers and then creating fresh social proof fast. +## 6) Ranked hypotheses (non-leading; confidence-based) -## 6) The Christmas closure hypothesis (Dec 22-25) +These are hypotheses, not facts. Each has evidence and a suggested validation step. -Le Flaneur homepage includes a seasonal notice: "Conge de Noel du 22 decembre au 25 decembre inclus." [S14] +1) Conversion is being lost on trust: bathrooms/odor + sleep product issues reduce booking conversion for Flaneur (HIGH). + - Evidence: Flaneur has more negative Hostelworld reviews in the last 12 months (11 vs 1), and pain points cluster on bathrooms/odor + safety + reception + beds/privacy. [S22] [S23] + - Validate: track and categorize all complaints for 4 weeks (bathrooms, smell, beds, noise); compare to review narrative shift. -Plausible mechanism (needs validation): -- Closure forces repeat guests (and local word-of-mouth) to choose substitutes. -- OTA algorithms (especially Booking) are momentum-driven; a temporary drop in conversion/availability can reduce short-term ranking, which reduces impressions, which further reduces bookings (feedback loop). +2) Booking.com visibility is plausibly the largest demand lever (MED-HIGH). + - Evidence: Booking ratings are similar but HO36 has ~2.7x the review volume (1,356 vs 502). [S01] [S02] + - Validate: Booking extranet export (impressions, click-through, conversion, ranking, cancellations) for Flaneur; add competitor benchmarks if you have access. (See section 7.) -Evidence needed to confirm/refute: -- Channel bookings before and after closure (especially repeat guest identifiers). -- Booking extranet metrics (impressions, conversion) for Dec and Jan. +3) Price is not the binding constraint (MED). + - Evidence: In the proxy window Flaneur is cheaper and more flexible (refundable) while showing higher availability. [S08] [S09] [S10] + - Validate: ADR vs occupancy by day for last 60 days, with channel split (RoomRaccoon export). -## 7) Ranked hypotheses (with confidence and what to verify) +4) Flaneur's product differentiators exist but are not "winning the first click" (MED). + - Evidence: Flaneur has a full kitchen, coworking/meeting rooms, and accessibility listed, but those do not overcome trust issues in the review narrative. [S11] [S12] [S22] + - Validate: run a listing refresh on Booking/Hostelworld (photos and copy focused on bathrooms/beds/kitchen + proof of cleanliness improvements) and measure conversion lift. -1) Cleanliness/bathroom trust gap reduces conversion (HIGH). [S13] - - Verify: review responses, housekeeping logs, defect rate, bathroom photo quality on OTAs. +5) The Christmas closure may have broken momentum (LOW-MED, needs internal data). + - Evidence: Flaneur publicly states closure 22-25 Dec. [S17] + - Validate: internal: compare channel demand/conversion before vs after closure, and returning-guest behavior (RoomRaccoon + channel export). -2) Booking.com traction gap drives visibility (MED-HIGH). [S01] [S02] - - Verify: Booking extranet ranking + impressions and Genius / preferred status. +## 7) Missing paywalled/internal data (what to pull in the next 60 minutes) -3) Safety/neighborhood narrative hurts Le Flaneur more (MED). [S13] - - Verify: late arrival guidance, entrance lighting, locker/security messaging, review response strategy. +If you need the full picture for a GM decision today, these exports matter more than additional public scraping: -4) Sleep comfort / dorm UX issues compound the above (MED). [S13] - - Verify: curtains, bunks stability, noise, heat/AC, wifi reliability. +Booking.com extranet (Flaneur account): +- Search/visibility: impressions, page views, ranking snapshots for Lyon hostel queries, Genius/Preferred participation, competitive set. +- Conversion: page->booking conversion, cancellations, no-shows, rate-plan performance, availability restrictions (min nights, closures). -5) Closure + momentum break reduced repeat demand and algorithmic position (LOW-MED). [S14] - - Verify: internal channel/time-series data. +Hostelworld extranet (Flaneur account): +- Traffic and conversion, ranking/position changes, source markets, recent review velocity. -## 8) What to do next (triage plan) +RoomRaccoon (Flaneur PMS/channel manager): +- Occupancy and ADR by day (last 90 days), with channel mix. +- Events: closures/stop-sells, min-stay rules, and re-opening campaigns. + +Google Business Profile (GBP) for Flaneur: +- Review export for last 12 months (text + date + rating) and GBP insights (calls, directions, website clicks). + +For HO36 competitor benchmarking: +- If you cannot access HO36 internals, use third-party market reports (STR-like) or treat competitor internals as unknown. + +## 8) Action plan for Flaneur (evidence-mapped) + +This is prioritized to address what appears in negative reviews and what converts on OTAs. ### 0-14 days (stop the bleeding) -1) Bathroom trust sprint: deep clean + odor elimination + visible QA checklists; publish new bathroom photos across OTAs. [S13] -2) Reply to the last 50 negative/neutral reviews with specifics: what changed, when, and how you will prevent repeats. [S13] -3) Sleep product quick wins: tighten bunks, add hooks, improve lighting, reduce squeaks; message it as "better sleep" on Hostelworld/Booking. [S13] -4) Safety framing: improve entrance lighting/signage; publish "late arrival" guidance; highlight lockers/security features consistently. [S12] [S13] +1) Bathrooms/odor sprint: deep clean + ventilation/odor remediation; photograph proof; update listing photos (Booking/Hostelworld) with bathrooms + dorm beds + kitchen. [S22] +2) Bed/sleep privacy: add curtains where feasible; tighten bunks; reduce squeaks; message it as "better sleep" on listings. [S22] +3) Guest-mix controls: if long-stay residents are real, set clear policies and communicate them; protect dorm experience. [S22] +4) Safety story: highlight lockers/security, publish "late arrival" guidance, tighten access control narrative. [S12] [S22] -### 15-60 days (rebuild demand) +### 15-60 days (recover channel momentum) -5) Booking review acquisition push: QR at checkout, staff ask, post-stay email; target +30 Booking reviews in 60 days (focus on cleanliness and bathrooms). [S02] -6) Activate the kitchen: 2-3 weekly communal cooking nights (cheap, social, high-UGC) and post it relentlessly. [S12] -7) Listing optimization: replace top-fold photos with bathrooms, beds, kitchen, common areas; keep copy consistent with the "tiers lieu" concept but lead with what converts. [S12] [S02] +5) Review operations: QR at checkout + staff ask + post-stay email; target +30 Booking reviews in 60 days with focus on bathrooms + sleep + safety. [S02] [S22] +6) Activate the differentiator: weekly communal cooking nights (kitchen + bar) to generate UGC and "atmosphere" reviews. [S12] +7) Listing alignment: ensure amenities lists match reality across Booking/Hostelworld/official site (kitchen, coworking, accessibility). [S12] [S17] -### 60-120 days (structural advantage) +### 60-120 days (build structural advantage) -8) Track defect rate: weekly dashboard of cleanliness issues, bathroom incidents, noise complaints; tie it to staff incentives. -9) Package peak periods: NYE-like periods need a clear product (social events + partners + bar programming) and a landing page. -10) If closure is needed in future, pre-plan reactivation: communicate early, keep OTAs consistent, and run a "we're back" campaign to recover momentum. +8) Weekly defect dashboard: categorize issues (bathrooms, noise, safety, reception) and tie to owners/targets. +9) Peak-period packaging: NYE needs a clear product (events + partners + bar programming + landing page). +10) Closure playbook: if closure is required, pre-plan reactivation (OTA messaging, "we're back" offer, review push) to avoid momentum loss. [S17] -## 9) TripAdvisor status (attempted) +## 9) TripAdvisor status (blocked; not a business finding) -TripAdvisor pages remain blocked by a DataDome CAPTCHA in this environment; no bypass attempted. [S18] [S19] +TripAdvisor pages are blocked by a DataDome CAPTCHA in this environment; no bypass attempted. [S18] [S19] + +Fast workaround (manual, 5 minutes): +- Open each TripAdvisor listing in a normal browser and save 1 screenshot of the listing header (rating + review count + rank if shown) and commit it to the repo; then this report can include those metrics with citations. + +## Appendix A) Hostelworld facilities matrix (full) + +Source: Hostelworld facilities JSON for each property. [S11] [S12] + +| Facility (Hostelworld) | HO36 | Le Flaneur | +|---|---|---| +| 24 Hour Reception | Yes | Yes | +| 24 Hour Security | Yes | Yes | +| Adaptors | | Yes | +| Air Conditioning | | Yes | +| Bar | Yes | Yes | +| Bicycle Parking | | Yes | +| Board Games | Yes | Yes | +| Book Exchange | Yes | | +| Breakfast Not Included | Yes | Yes | +| Cafe | Yes | Yes | +| Ceiling fan | | Yes | +| Charging Plugs | Yes | | +| Common Room | Yes | Yes | +| Coworking Space | | Yes | +| Dryer | | Yes | +| Filtered Water Dispenser | | Yes | +| Fire Extinguishers | | Yes | +| First Aid Kits | Yes | | +| Flexible NRR | Yes | | +| Free City Maps | | Yes | +| Free Internet Access | Yes | Yes | +| Free Iron / Ironing Board | Yes | Yes | +| Free Luggage Storage | Yes | Yes | +| Free Security Lockers | | Yes | +| Free WiFi | Yes | Yes | +| Fridge/Freezer | | Yes | +| Games Room | Yes | | +| Hair Dryers | | Yes | +| Hair Dryers For Hire | Yes | Yes | +| Hot Showers | | Yes | +| Housekeeping | Yes | | +| Internet access | Yes | Yes | +| Internet cafe | | Yes | +| Iron / Ironing Board | Yes | Yes | +| Key Card Access | Yes | | +| Laundry Facilities | | Yes | +| Linen Included | Yes | Yes | +| Lounge Room | | Yes | +| Luggage Storage | Yes | Yes | +| Meeting Rooms | | Yes | +| Microwave | Yes | Yes | +| Mini-bar | | Yes | +| Mini-Supermarket | | Yes | +| Outdoor Terrace | Yes | Yes | +| Paid Security lockers | Yes | | +| Pots and Pans | | Yes | +| Reading Light | Yes | Yes | +| Recycling Bins | | Yes | +| Safe Deposit Box | | Yes | +| Security Lockers | | Yes | +| Self-Catering Facilities | | Yes | +| Sink | | Yes | +| Smoke Alarms | Yes | Yes | +| Smoke Detector | Yes | | +| Stove | | Yes | +| Tea & Coffee Making Facilities | Yes | Yes | +| Towels for hire | Yes | Yes | +| Towels Not Included | Yes | | +| Utensils | | Yes | +| Washing Machine | | Yes | +| Wheelchair Friendly | | Yes | +| Wheelchair-Accessible Bathrooms | | Yes | +| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | ## 10) Sources (one URL per line) @@ -183,7 +316,7 @@ https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/ho36/raw/h [S06] HO36 Google Maps embed iframe screenshot (review count) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__google_maps_embed_iframe__20260102.png -[S07] Le Flaneur Google Maps screenshot (rating) + embed iframe screenshot (review count) +[S07] Le Flaneur Google Maps screenshot (rating + review count) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/flaneur/screenshots/flaneur__google_maps__20260102.png [S08] HO36 direct booking pricing snapshot screenshot (Mews, proxy window) @@ -195,10 +328,10 @@ https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/flaneur/sc [S10] Pricing snapshot JSON (room list, prices, availability, refund hints) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/pricing_window__20260103_20260104__20260103.json -[S11] HO36 Hostelworld facilities JSON (kitchen: microwave) +[S11] HO36 Hostelworld facilities JSON https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_ho36_270217.json -[S12] Le Flaneur Hostelworld facilities JSON (kitchen: full self-catering; coworking/meeting rooms) +[S12] Le Flaneur Hostelworld facilities JSON https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/hostelworld_facilities_flaneur_100844.json [S13] Hostelworld last-12-month review themes summary (method + counts) @@ -210,10 +343,10 @@ https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/flaneur/sc [S15] HO36 official site screenshot (positioning + amenities highlights) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/ho36/screenshots/ho36__official_site__home__20260102.png -[S16] HO36 evidence dataset (booking engine, links, metrics) +[S16] HO36 evidence dataset (positioning, amenities, booking engine, links, metrics) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/ho36/evidence.json -[S17] Le Flaneur evidence dataset (booking engine, closure notice, links, metrics) +[S17] Le Flaneur evidence dataset (positioning, amenities, closure notice, booking engine, links, metrics) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/data/flaneur/evidence.json [S18] HO36 TripAdvisor blocked (DataDome CAPTCHA screenshot) @@ -227,3 +360,9 @@ https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/ [S21] HO36 Instagram follower count (audit output) https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/ho36_googlebot_audit.jsonl + +[S22] Le Flaneur Hostelworld reviews (raw JSON; includes text + dates + scores) +https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/hostelworld_reviews_flaneur.json + +[S23] HO36 Hostelworld reviews (raw JSON; includes text + dates + scores) +https://git.infrafabric.io/danny/flaneur/src/branch/data/flaneur/verify/results/hostelworld_reviews_ho36.json