:
Four Seasons unveils luxury resort and residence plans in UAE
Reading Time: 2 minutesUAE / Worldwide: Luxury hospitality and branded residential company, Four Seasons, and Ras Al Khaimah-based real estate developer, RAK Properties, have unveiled plans for a new beach resort and private residences as part of a new flagship 400 hectare master-planned waterfront destination – Mina.
Airbnb unveils trending destinations for 2025
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWorldwide: Airbnb has unveiled its 25 trending destinations for guests to visit in 2025.
Japanese lodging startup Earthship closes pre-seed funding round
Reading Time: 2 minutesJapan: Japanese outdoor lodging startup Earthship, which aims to offer immersive experiences in national parks with its cabins, has completed an undisclosed pre-seed funding round.
Japanese startup NOT A HOTEL closes Series B funding round
Reading Time: 2 minutesJapan: Vacation home shared ownership brand NOT A HOTEL has raised 5.5 billion yen [approximately US$35 million] in a Series B funding round to roll out its major expansion plans.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card to create travel loyalty portal with Hopper
Reading Time: 2 minutesJapan / Canada: Sumitomo Mitsui Card [SMCC], the leading credit card issuer in Japan and part of SMBC Group, has joined forces with Hopper Technology Solutions [HTS] to create a travel loyalty portal for SMCC customers.
matsuri technologies Inc notches $8.65m in Series D funding
Reading Time: 3 minutesJapan: Tokyo-based startup matsuri technologies Inc, which develops rental property management software to manage and operate private accommodation, has closed a Series D round, securing 1.34 billion yen [JPY] or $8.65 million.
Blueground announces franchise agreement to launch in Japan
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS / Japan: Furnished flexible rental operator Blueground has entered into its first-ever franchise agreement with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. to establish its brand in Japan.
Asian vacation rental bookings surge 84 per cent in a year
Reading Time: 3 minutesAsia: Asian vacation rental bookings have shot up by 84 per cent on 2022 pacing levels, according to global travel media startup Trip101, which curates the best recommendations for short-term rentals and a host of other lodging verticals.
Rakuten plans global expansion for STAY rental business
Reading Time: 2 minutesJapan: Japanese e-commerce and technology conglomerate, Rakuten, is seeking to accelerate the international expansion of Rakuten STAY, its latest vacation rental model in which it will own, manage and operate its inventory.
Japan to explore relaxing ‘minpaku’ vacation rental rules
Reading Time: 2 minutesJapan: The Japanese government is considering relaxing the requirements for property management businesses operating ‘minpaku’ vacation rentals [i.e. private lodgings on platforms such as Airbnb] in a bid to galvanise regional tourism in the country.