Job Description

HI Banff

Banff is a world-class destination, it's on every backpacker's bucket list, both for the unspoiled wilderness and outdoor opportunities the National Park has to offer. The town is internationally renowned for being a great place to work, live and party with young travel driven people from all over the world and there's no better place to do this than at our hostel.


We're a team of avid travellers who've chosen to work in this place, and this hostel, because we want to be immersed in a culture of other like-minded people who believe in respecting each other, learning about other people's cultures, making meaningful connections, and getting the best out of their Canadian experience.


There's room for growth and discovery! Many of our leaders started out on the front lines, and we're eager to promote from within and provide opportunities to try out different roles. Looking to stay in Canada permanently? We can help! Ask us about our Manager-In-Training (MIT) program!


We have a fleet of mountain bikes and all the camping equipment you need to get out and explore even more. You'll have access to our staff vehicle to access remote trailheads and you'll get to stay for free at any of our 13 properties in the Canadian Rockies. A trip to Jasper, a getaway in Kananaskis, a city trip to Calgary, we've got you and your friends covered, all the way to Whistler B.C.

What's in it for

you ?

Constant events to join in on with other guests and staff, such as karaoke, pub crawls, BBQs, campfires, learn-to-rock-climb days, spikeball tournaments, yoga classes, ... or borrow one of the mountain bikes, canoes, paddle boards, or camping gear and head out with your teammates for your own adventure! Chance to win a Sunshine Village ski pass for the 2025-2026 season during our summer HI-MAZING RACE. All units are fully furnished, have access to WIFI, and include all utilities/cable TV, PS4 or Xbox360 provided! Free stay at other HI properties (13 other hostels in the Banff/Jasper/Yoho area alone!) and 50% for your friends and family. 40% off any meals in our restaurant, and great deals in our bar: "The Storm Cellar". Free Hosteling International Memberships. Free FAM trips. Meet like-minded travellers everyday and become their local guide. A laid-back atmosphere where the uniform's a T-shirt and the motto is to have fun.

What you will be doing as a Front Desk Agent

You'll ensure that our guests have a pleasurable stay by meeting their needs in a professional and courteous manner. You'll need to bring your positive energy, smile, and ability to handle high workloads and stressful moments with aplomb. An understanding of service recovery, some conflict management experience, and the ability to resolve guest complaints effectively are all key attributes of a great front desk agent. We encourage our staff to mingle with our guests, you will become their personal go-to for anything Banff related, and you will most likely end up in the bar with them to plan their next adventure. We're always looking for ambitious candidates who want to grow within the industry and acquire leadership experience. Most of our Assistant General Managers and General Managers in our network started as Front Desk Agents. We love sharing our knowledge and helping our staff get the most of their experience with us. You will have the opportunity to build up your Sunday-Funday fund by earning commissions on tours, activities, and membership we sell at the front desk!

What we look for

Ideally, you'll have some prior Front Desk experience in a hostel environment. We'll train you up on our Property Management system, but some PMS experience will be a key asset to get you through the door. You'll need to be a quick learner and bring your willingness to learn more - you will become an expert on all things to do with the hostel, the town and the Park, as guests will turn to you for answers on everything. See yourself as an in-flesh ChatGPT specialized in Banff queries! You'll also need to bring your positive energy and humour to work every day. Forget about best employee of the month, we reward the most FUN employee! And finally, you'll have to be able to handle stressful times with a smile and quickly come up with the best solution for any given problem (don't worry, a supervisor should always be nearby and willing to help).

Join our community

If everything you read above got you excited, you'll be a great fit for our team. Whether you're on a working holiday and this will be a short stop on a longer trip, or you're looking to stay connected to the hostel lifestyle by working among travellers, HI Banff is the right place for you.


Our team is made up of people from all over the world who are bound by our shared desire to discover new places, meet new people, and keep living the traveling life. You recognize that what draws you to Banff is what draws our guests here, and you're committed to working with a team of like-minded people to create a unique experience for everyone that comes through our doors.


Wondering what working for us would look like? Check out @hibanff on Instagram for a sneak peek and visit www.hihostels.ca/workinbanff for more info.

Background Checks

As part of our standard hiring procedure, successful candidates will be subject to comprehensive background checks. These checks may include employment verification, reference checks, educational qualifications verification, and criminal record checks where applicable.

About HI

We love travelling. To us, travel isn't just about going to places, it's also about meeting people, discovering cultures, eating new food and most of all, learning how people do things differently than we do back home.


We believe that through hostelling, we become more conscious of the world around us; and we can even make the world a better place. Our mission is to build a community of conscious travellers who share a greater understanding of people, places and cultures through our network of hostels and people.





* Staff accommodation is not provided with this position.