In the process of buying and renovating a hostel in south Florida. Wanted your input on what you want in a hostel apart from cleanliness and security?
Thanks for your input!

Rooms for one person! I used hostels in New Zealand, and concluded that while I can share a bathroom with no problem, sharing a bedroom with a bunch of strangers is just not something I'm happydoing. I'll even travel a bit less if it means I get a bedroom to myself!

Also, somewhere to store food and cook it is usually popular, along with a "gathering" room of some kind, hopefully with TV and newspapers.

But you're more likely to find your target customers over on Lonely Planet's thorntree. You could also look at hostels.com for reviews of existing hostels.

Private single rooms. With private bathroom... even better!

The only thing that now prevents me from staying in hostels are the mandatory late afternoon lock-outs, where you can't get in while they clean for a few hours. Late afternoon is my favorite time to unwind when I travel.

For me personally, there's really nothing you could do to make it desirable. I crave privacy, and would rather have the shabbiest hotel with a private room, then the nicest hostel where I actually have to interact with strangers. Not my idea of a vacation, I'm afraid.

Very few hostels have late afternoon lockouts.