Unique website launched for rugby world cup accommodation

Kiwicrib today launched an online, self-managed room rental service, which asks Kiwis to open their doors and help solve the accommodation shortage for Rugby World Cup fans coming to New Zealand in August 2011.

New Zealanders using the site http://www.kiwicrib.co.nz/ are now able to list rooms in their homes or their whole house for overseas visitors to book for the time they are supporting teams at the event. There is no cost for listing. Director Matt Kardos says “There will be a shortage of visitor accommodation and we want international fans to experience great Kiwi hospitality by living with locals. It will also be an opportunity for kiwis to make some money from renting out their spare rooms.

Matt says that, with an expected 70,000 visitors coming to New Zealand for the World Cup, accommodation is likely to be very tight and this website will help solve that problem as well as put people in touch with overseas visitors.

Ten Arrows Ltd, trading as Kiwicrib, is a privately owned New Zealand company. The principals involved in Kiwicrib are Vicky and Matt Kardos (mother and son). Vicky has 12 years management experience and Matt has recently returned from 10 years in the States where he worked for a leading web development company digitaria.

Matt says that “from talking to overseas friends who are planning to come to New Zealand, we realised there was a need for a website where followers of the 2011 World Cup Rugby could search for alternative accommodation, as we were aware that there would be a shortage of hotel rooms.
We wanted to provide a secure platform where New Zealanders living near to the rugby venues could offer a spare room in their homes for bed and breakfast accommodation, or alternatively, they could rent their entire home. We were keen to develop a website where these people could upload their home details and photos in a few easy steps at no cost.

We also thought it would be an advantage for overseas travellers to secure the accommodation they wish to rent by making an immediate payment by credit card rather than having to organise an international money transfer through their bank. This is why we are offering an intermediary payment service. It also gives added security for both parties to have Kiwicrib manage the transactions.”

ENDS