Hostelworld Group Plc · LSE:HSW
Hostelworld — H1 2026 Earnings Presentation
34 slides from Hostelworld's earnings presentation, Jul 29, 2026
Slide 1: 2026 Interim Results
World’s Social Travel App 2026 Interim Results July 29th 2026 Came for the burger. Left with a new travel bestie.
Slide 2: Disclaimers
2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 2 Disclaimers NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. This presentation has been prepared by Hostelworld Group plc (the “Company") for informational and backgr
Slide 3: About Hostelworld
2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 3 About Hostelworld Hostelworld Group plc is a ground-breaking social network-powered Online Travel Agent ("OTA") with a clear mission to help travellers find 4.0m 180+ ~275 people to hang out with. Our mission is founded on the insight that most travellers go hostelling to
Slide 4: Highlights
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A World’s Social Travel App Highlights
Slide 5: H1'26 – Financial Summary
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 5 H1’26 – Financial Summary 3.8M €14.91 €52.2M Net Transactions1 Net ATV2 Net Revenue3 +1% vs H1’25 +11% vs H1’25 +12% vs H1’25 65% 49% €22.9m Social member4 Marketing as a % of Net Margin messaging growth Revenue5 H1’25: 51% +1
Slide 6: H1'26: Key Highlights
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 6 H1’26: Key Highlights Accelerating revenue and improved marketing efficiency ● Revenue acceleration: net revenue of €52.2m (+12% YoY) with net average transaction value of €14.9 (+11% YoY) and transactions of 3.8m (+1% YoY). A
Slide 7: H1 2026 Results
World’s Social Travel App H1 2026 Results
Slide 8: Demand driven by customers from Europe, USA & Canada
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 8 Demand driven by customers from Europe, USA & Canada Net transactions by customer nationality YoY UK USA & Canada (19% of net (22% of net transactions) transactions) EMEA* (41% of net +10% -3% transactions) Asia (6% of net Glo
Slide 9: Strong European demand, long-haul international impacted by conflict
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 9 Strong European demand, long-haul international impacted by conflict Net transactions by destination region YoY USA & Canada North Asia €45.91* €24.35* 4% of net 3% of net transactions Western Europe Eastern Europe transaction
Slide 10: Solid growth in all regions, particularly in Europe, our largest market
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 10 Solid growth in all regions, particularly in Europe, our largest market Generated Revenue1 by destination region YoY USA & Canada North Asia €45.91* €24.35* Western Europe Eastern Europe €38.83* €26.57* -4% +4% +10% +28% Glob
Slide 11: Marketplace monetisation & marketing efficiencies expanding margins
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 11 Marketplace monetisation & marketing efficiencies expanding margins 12% growth in commission rate to 17.7% in H1’26, due primarily to Elevate product €m 26.0 Net Margin1 expansion driven by: • Net transactions of 3.8m, +1% vs
Slide 12: Targeted investment to support key CMD growth initiatives
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 12 Targeted investment to support key CMD growth initiatives Operating costs increased to 28% of Revenue, strategic investment in our platform capability Opex as % of Revenue €m 28% 16.0 27% 27% 14.7 14.0 12.5 12.4 Operating cos
Slide 13: Growth investments contributing to net margin growth
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 13 Growth investments contributing to net margin growth Revenue growth accelerating, marketing efficiency improving year-on-year, margins expanding Net Avg. Txn Value (YoY%) Generated Revenue (YoY%) Marketing % of Revenue Net Ma
Slide 14: Double-digit growth in Adjusted EBITDA to €8.2m
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 14 Double-digit growth in Adjusted EBITDA to €8.2m Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16%, with €3.2m of deferred revenue benefit to unwind in H2 €m 12.0 H1’26 EBITDA €8.2m, +11% vs. prior year: 0.8 0.8 • Net transactions of 3.8m, combin
Slide 15: Strong cash generation returning the business to net cash position
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 15 Strong cash generation returning the business to net cash position Share buyback programme delivered and dividend reinstated €m 25.0 Closing cash of €15.0m, net cash position of €2.5m 0.2 20.0 1.3 • Adjusted free cashflow2 of
Slide 16: Capital allocation priorities, balancing investment & returns
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 16 Capital allocation priorities, balancing investment & returns €10m returned to shareholders since announcement of capital allocation framework at Apr’25 CMD Dividend Interim payment of 0.83 € cent per share, an expected yield
Slide 17: ESG is at the core of our culture and our category
2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 18 ESG is at the core of our culture and our category Environmental Social Governance • 2,700+ hostels participating in “Staircase to • 2026 Board appointments, Chair, RemCo Sustainability” programme • ‘Investors in Diversity’ Gold accreditation, Chair and SID, sustaining i
Slide 18: Strategy Update
World’s Social Travel App Strategy Update Best night of the trip. Worst bowler in the alley.
Slide 19: From a single product OTA to a multi stream social platform
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 19 From a single product OTA to a multi stream social platform Bigger addressable market, multiple revenue streams, compounding advantage Where we started — 2024 Where we’re heading A structurally l
Slide 20: Underlying momentum is strengthening
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 20 Underlying momentum is strengthening Reported growth held back by the Middle East travel disruption, a sector-wide drag Net Transactions1 (YoY%) Net Avg. Txn Value2 (YoY%) Generated Revenue3 (YoY
Slide 21: Strong core business with growth engines building momentum
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 21 Strong core business with growth engines building momentum New engines adding new customers at low/zero marketing cost, accretive to the core Core Hostel Budget Social Business Accomm. Passes Eve
Slide 22: Social network growth accelerating
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 22 Social network growth accelerating Membership is growing, with engagement rising even faster Year on Year Growth (H1’26)1 Winning more social members unique ● Paid search targeted at Social Membe
Slide 23: Social members are materially more valuable than non-members
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 23 Social members are materially more valuable than non-members Social members deliver higher transactions, revenue and better profitability per acquired customer Cumulative transactions / customer
Slide 24: Social members lead on every metric
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 24 Social members lead on every metric App-centric social network drives superior profitability across our social member base Net transactions1 (m) Generated revenue1 (€m) Direct margin1 (€m) H2'22–
Slide 25: Cohort economics direct investment towards the highest RoI opportunities
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 25 Cohort economics direct investment towards the highest RoI opportunities Investment is focussed on the strongest long-term growth drivers Attract more social members Deepen the network’s pull Fir
Slide 26: Well positioned for the shift to AI-powered discovery
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 26 Well positioned for the shift to AI-powered discovery Proprietary social and booking data improve relevance, while app-only access protects monetisation AI plays to our strengths Execution plan D
Slide 27: H1'26 delivery gives us confidence in the growth trajectory
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 27 H1’26 delivery gives us confidence in the growth trajectory Revenue and margin drivers are progressing in line with CMD targets Revenue Drivers Commission Rate Expansion H1’26: 17.7%, up from 15.
Slide 28: The social base is now driving growth and margin
Highlights FY ‘26 H1 ‘25Results Results Strategy Update Strategy Update Q&A 2026 INTERIMS JULY 2026 | 28 The social base is now driving growth and margin Proven higher value today, and our most efficient lever for compounding, profitable growth Stronger, ● Three revenue streams where there was one:
Slide 29: Q&A
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A World’s Social Travel App Q&A
Slide 30: Meet the World
— MEET THE WORLD —
Slide 31: Appendices
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A World’s Social Travel App Appendices
Slide 32: Balance Sheet
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A Balance Sheet KEY HIGHLIGHTS Jun '26 Dec '25 Mvmt NON-CURRENT ASSETS • Intangible assets €71.0m (FY’25: €71.5m) Intangible assets 71.0 71.5 ▼ (0.5) Property, plant and equipment 1.1 1.2 ▼ (0.1) • Balance driven by Hostelworld brand name, IP and tech stac
Slide 33: Income Statement
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A Income Statement KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Net revenue increased 12% to €52.2m (H1 ‘25: €46.7m) H1 '26 H1 '25 Mvmt • 3.8m net transactions (H1 ’25: 3.7m) growth of +1% vs. PY, booking volumes Revenue 52.2 46.7 ▲ 5.5 estimated ~3% lower than otherwise expected due
Slide 34: Cash Flow Statement
Highlights H1 ‘26 Results Strategy Update Q&A Cash Flow Statement KEY HIGHLIGHTS H1 '26 H1 '25 Mvmt Cash generative business Cash generated from operating activities of €12.2m (H1 '25: Adjusted EBITDA 8.2 7.4 ▲ 0.8 €8.5m), reflecting Adjusted EBITDA growth and a working capital inflow Working capita