Torsten Loos is the new COO of Berlin-based budget group a&o Hostels. He has been with the company since 2002 and, as Director Operations, has been responsible for the operation of the total of 40 properties with 35 general managers and more than 1,000 employees since 2014. During this time, he has developed and established a new management trainee program and the a&o Academy, among other things. The top issue and motivation for Loos as COO remains: “Budget yes, but the focus is on quality.”