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Rakuten LIFULL STAY Opens Vacation Rental Registration

2018.03.15

Tokyo, March 15, 2018 - Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Inc.,has begun accepting registrations of vacation rentals to be posted on its Vacation STAY website. The site will go live before June 15, 2018, when the Private Lodgings Business Act (also called the “Minpaku Act”) takes effect.

Individual and corporate property owners wishing to register their vacation rentals on Vacation STAY can do so by logging into the site as Rakuten LIFULL STAY members or by using their Rakuten member ID, and then inputting the required information on a dedicated page on the site. Required information includes the applicable law (Private Lodgings Business Act, Hotel Business Act, National Strategic Special Zone vacation rental), room type, amenities, house rules, room introduction, price and available payment methods. Property owners will also need to acquire the necessary approval or business permit, from a public authority and upload those documents to the site. A Vacation STAY staff member will then confirm all requirements have been met before the property is listed on Vacation STAY.

In addition, Rakuten LIFULL STAY is planning to launch in mid-June a “Vacation rental starter pack” for property owners registering their rentals. The package will allow owners to make the most of their rentals by offering a range of products vital to vacation rental management at special prices, including “insurance for vacation rentals” covering liability for risks borne by the host for compensation to guests or third parties as a result of inadequate property management and also liability for risks borne by the guest for compensation to the host or third parties on the property. Other services will include a “smart lock” that removes concerns about key handover and loss, and Wi-Fi routers that facilitate guest access to the internet.    

Other services to address the needs of property owners include Rakuten STAY, offering branding and management services for vacation rentals and other budget lodging facilities, and a “Full Service Management Plan” that takes care of all rental matters for owners. The plan features a wide-ranging menu of options, from promotion and marketing to management, which harness Rakuten’s membership base, Rakuten Group services assets and accommodation platforms in Japan and around the world.

Rakuten LIFULL STAY, by comprehensively supporting individual and corporate property owners wishing to offer vacation rentals in a range of areas, is pleased to contribute to the sound development of the Japanese vacation rental market.

※Vacation rental registration webpage: https://vacation-stay.jp/

 

Overview of vacation rental registration
Registration start date: Thursday, March 15, 2018
Website: https://vacation-stay.jp/
Target market: Individual and corporate property owners planning to operate or already operating vacation rentals, National Strategic Special Zone vacation rentals or budget lodging facilities
Fees: 3% of the set accommodation price (incl. tax) at the time the booking is confirmed
Special features:
・Manage sales, set nightly rates and rental inventory through a single account.
・Promote your rental efficiently by targeting Rakuten members.
・It is expected that properties will be posted and offered for rent on partner accommodation platforms in Japan and around the world.
　* Collaboration with partners on rental inventory is expected to start up gradually once the Vacation STAY platform goes live on June 15.
How to register a property:
1.Register as a member
You must register using your email or phone number and password, or by logging in with your Rakuten member ID, after agreeing to the terms of service.
2.Register your property
Content of registration
Applicable law (Private Lodgings Business Act, Hotel Business Act, National Strategic Special Zone vacation rental)), building type, address, geographic data, room type, amenities, photos of property, house rules, room titles, rental listing, price, check-in time, booking details, transaction method, calendar, etc.
3.Approval of rental listing, marketing agreement
How to submit documents:
1.Upload the results of the inspection by a public authority or your business permit (Private Lodgings Business Act, Hotel Business Act, National Strategic Special Zone vacation rental) from the website
2.Documentation will be assessed by company officers
Note:
・Sales of approved properties may commence once the Vacation STAY website goes live on June 15.
・Even where properties are registered, they may not be offered for rent on the website before submission of documents related to approvals and permits.

■ Overview of the Vacation rental starter pack
Launch date: mid-June 2018 (tentative)
Target market: Property owners who have completed registration of their property and are approved for listing on Vacation STAY
Website: https://www.rakuten-lifull-stay.co.jp/insurancepack.html
Product content:
・A package that brings together the insurance and devices you need to start out in the vacation rental business.
・A monthly premium covers insurance for vacation rentals, smart lock, Wi-Fi router and more.
・Insurance for vacation rentals will cover liability for risks borne by the host for compensation for damages to guests or third parties as a result of inadequate management of the property, etc., and liability for risks borne by the guest for compensation for damages to the host or third parties on the property.
・The “smart lock” eliminates the need to arrange handover of keys, as well as preventing the loss of keys.
・Wi-Fi routers make it easy for guests to access to the internet.
・Rental prices and details about the rental of properties are expected to follow when they are determined. Further details will be sent to those who have already registered their email address with Rakuten LIFULL STAY.