Nathan St Cyr: the Investment Strategy behind the FASTEST Growing Hostel Empire

Today, I welcome Nathan St. Cyr to The Gould Mine.

Nathan is the co-founder of Malama Capital and the visionary behind House of Hostels—one of the most exciting new concepts in the hospitality world. In just a few short years, Nathan has helped build one of the highest-rated hostels in North America, with his Maui flagship earning the title of Best Small Hostel on the continent. But this isn’t just about beds and bunks. Nathan is pioneering a fresh take on American hostels—think boutique-level design, curated community experiences, and investor-grade returns.

In today’s episode, Nathan walks us through how he transitioned from apartment investing to redefining what a hostel can be. He breaks down the hostel model, explains why Gen Z craves community-driven experiences, and reveals how his team leverages creative financing—including seller carries and bankruptcy buys—to scale efficiently. We also get deep into the numbers, discussing NOI, expense ratios, and the massive spread between acquisition cost and operational income.

Whether you’re a hospitality investor, short-term rental operator looking to level up, or simply curious about a hidden niche in the commercial real estate world, this conversation is a gold mine of insight. Nathan proves there’s serious opportunity in hostels—and he’s just getting started.

Welcome Nathan St. Cyr, to The Gould Mine.

Follow Nathan:
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/42PlVQ7
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3G3xhId
Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram: https://bit.ly/42ABLxU

Follow Me:
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3L2sTc7
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3soYxtW

Looking to build lasting wealth through alternative investments? You’re in the right place.

If you’re new here, my name is Danny Gould. I’m the founder and CEO of Gould Capital, a private equity firm specializing in exclusive commercial real estate and other alternative investments. We connect investors with elite opportunities - investments that aren’t public, aren’t cookie-cutter, and most importantly, aren’t what your financial advisor is pitching.

Here’s how I got here…

1) Started as a pre-med student at Stanford University, but a lifelong dream of building the biggest hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip ignited my passion for real estate.
2) Transitioned to residential real estate, driving over a quarter billion dollars in sales, and became an industry leader in one of the most competitive markets in the world.
3) Decided to finally pursue my Hotel dreams and founded GMS Ventures alongside two experienced Hoteliers, with a total Hotel Portfolio Size of over $300M
4) Leveraged my expertise and relationships to build Gould Capital - which empowers investors to access transformative commercial real estate deals and alternative investments.

FULL DISCLOSURE
I create content to connect with ambitious investors - people who want to take control of their financial futures. If that’s you, let’s build something extraordinary together - I invite you to take the first step by connecting with me via a 20 minute Zoom Call.  Here’s my calendar: https://bit.ly/3rVfqwn