Chattanooga's Crash Pad is again up for a Hoscar award, a 21-year-old online competition presented by Hostelworld to celebrate the best hostels in the world.
The Crash Pad is nominated in the eco-warrior category, which was added to the competition last year.
The category focuses on hostels that promote eco-friendly features such as solar power, harvesting rainwater or adopting stray animals.
Other categories include the community champion, the new hostel on the block, the people person and the digital nomad. The Crash Pad is up against hostels around the world.
Co-owner Max Poppel said the hostel off of Main Street, which opened in 2011, is again up against stiff competition but the Crash Pad is deserving.
"We hope Chattanoogans will go online and vote to put us on the world map," he said by phone.
Poppel and partner Dan Rose said before the venue opened it was being targeted primarily to climbers who traveled to the area to enjoy the rich natural resources and climbing opportunities.
According to the description provided for the Hoscar, the Crash Pad hostel is described as a blend between a boutique hotel setting, an inexpensive hostel budget and a community atmosphere. It offers a "full kitchen and living room area designed to foster a communal spirit and encourage our guests to share their adventures and make new friends. Freebies include Wi-Fi throughout and breakfast fare."
According to the online description, it is built on the site of a 100-year-old house that was beyond repair and demolished, but 99% of its materials were diverted from going to the landfill. Bricks and wood from the old house were incorporated into the new building, which consists of a pre-cast concrete exterior and is topped with a green roof.
A solar array above the entrance is tied into the city's power grid, and the description says the hosts use gas-powered tankless water heaters, low-flow sinks, showers, toilets, LED lighting, energy-efficient washers and dryers, and re-useable cloth hand towels.
To vote, go to bit.ly/Crash-Pad. Voting ends March 10.
— Compiled by Barry Courter