RentHome.ru makes a step forward in the Russia independent travel market
RentHome.ru, a new online resource for independent travelers offering a wide selection of short-term vacation rentals across Russia and the CIS, is growing in strength on RuNet.
The free to use website, provides travelers with access to an extensive inventory or paid listings for short-term/vacation rentals, and they can then make a reservation by contacting the homeowners directly. RentHome.ru profits from listing properties on the website.
RentHome.ru is developing rapidly and aims to shortly become the most recognized resource for all independent travelers in Russia and the CIS. The website is building an online catalogue with a wide selection of properties to meet the needs and the budget of any traveler. Users currently have more than 17,000 properties across Russia and the CIS to choose from, with the database being updated daily with new listings. By the end of the year the company is planning to increase this number to over 24,000.RentHome.ru has also just launched this service for European listings, and is aiming to have the number of listed accommodations in main European cities amount to 5,000, by the end of the first quarter of this year.
In order to maintain a high level of service, RentHome.ru has a qualified Customer Service Department, which ensures that all catalogue listings on the website are kept up to date. Customer Service Managers are available to resolve any queries or questions travelers may have and if required, will also act as a go-between for travelers and landlords.
Dwight Linden, CEO of RentHome.ru, commented: “Currently, there are no recognised brands or market leaders in the vacation rentals market in Russia, providing a reliable and comprehensive properties database service. At the same time, Russia’s rapidly growing independent travel market with its weak hotel industry requires a breakthrough short-term rentals services.”
According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, in 2011 the average price of 2-3* hotel rooms averaged 2,500 rubles per night, and 4-5* hotels averaged 7,300 rubles. Furthermore, according to the statistics, there are only 4.5 hotel beds per 1,000 people who live in Russia and in Europe that number is between 13 to 35 beds per 1,000 people. On RentHome.ru, the average price of a one-bedroom apartment is 2,000 rubles a day.
Dwight Linden added: “The private sector is fast becoming a serious competitor and successful alternative to the hotel industry in the area of independent travel. Within three months the company has become one of the top three websites for short term rentals with daily traffic of over 11,000 visitors and the number of booking requests growing to more than 30,000 a month in December.”
RentHome.ru is a portfolio company of Fast Lane Ventures, the leading developer of internet companies in the high growth Russian internet market. “We are happy to introduce RentHome.ru into the market”, says Marina Treshchova, CEO of Fast Lane Ventures, “With the number of independent travelers increasing daily, we believe the website will become a preferred option to the limited, over-priced hotels available across Russia and the CIS. RentHome.ru is certainly a step forward on the Russian travel market.”