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Will You #SleepForPeace? Sometimes, talking to strangers can be a very good thing. HI-USA hostels bring together travelers from more than 100 countries, enabling dialogue among kindred spirits from diverse backgrounds. These personal connections often provide new perspective on global issues and world cultures. For this reason, HI-USA hostels across the country will celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21, with unique activities that reflect the personality of the hostel's destination. Some celebratory activities from Sleep for Peace 2013 included: HI-Austin: Jam Night for Peace
Guests and community members were invited to a welcome reception, with local musicians leading an open mic night at the hostel. HI-New York: All Day Events
From performances to a peace cookie bake off to facilitated dialogue, HI-New York hosted a range of activities throughout the day. HI-Santa Monica: Dinner and a Movie – and a Pub Crawl
After screening the short film, The Day After Peace, the hostel led a discussion, followed by dinner and a pub crawl. Check back here for updates on activities and events for 2014. On September 21, stay at any HI-USA hostel and sleep for peace. Or help spread the word using #SleepForPeace.
The World's Biggest Blogging Competition is Back  The Big Blog Exchange (BBE) is back, where 16 bloggers have the chance to win a 10-day hostelling exchange with another blogger from a different part of the world. Who gets chosen? Well, a lot of that depends on you.
The top 100 bloggers are selected by the public, with the final 16 chosen by an international jury. If an American blogger is one of the winners, then HI-USA gets to host a blogger from another corner of the world. It’s an amazing opportunity to introduce someone from another culture and background to the U.S., so we’re hoping an American blogger makes it through, and your vote can help make it happen! Through September 3, you can cast your vote for one or more bloggers at bigblogexchange.org. And if you happen to be a blogger, you can enter the competition up until that deadline as well. Use hashtag #BIGBLOGX to join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For further information, contact Brianda Lopez, BBE Project Manager, at blopez@hihostels.com.
HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL PROMOTION
Book 4 Nights, Get 1 Free in Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world, but the Hong Kong YHA hostels provide an intimate, welcoming community to help you explore the diversity and culture of this world class destination. With 7 hostels peppered across the region, spanning big cities, small towns, and the countryside, you can get to know the many different sides to this globally-significant metropolis. Now through September 30, Hong Kong YHA is offering a free night when you book 4 nights at any of 6 hostels. And you'll need this time and more to explore the striking temples, night time markets, Asian gardens, and other attractions, as well as sample all the internationally-inspired, mouth-watering cuisine. Not sure where to start? Hong Kong YHA has created a comprehensive 10-day itinerary, divided into two parts, to help guide you. Check out part 1 and part 2.
Trivia Contest As a nonprofit organization committed to creating a more tolerant world, we take pride in the diversity of cultures the U.S. is known for. But do you know which city is the most racially and ethnically diverse in the country? A: San Francisco B: Washington DC B: Houston B: Los Angeles Send your guess to travelbytes@hiusa.org, and all correct responses will be entered to win a 1-year HI-USA membership. For full contest rules, click here. | 
