FamilyMart to Team Up with Airbnb in Minpaku Biz

May 15, 2018

Tokyo- Major Japanese convenience store operator FamilyMart Co. said Monday that it has basically agreed to team up with the Japan unit of U.S. vacation rental website Airbnb Inc. in "minpaku" private lodging services in Japan.

FamilyMart will offer services, such as allowing minpaku guests to collect and leave room keys, at its outlets.

The company hopes that the collaboration will help attract more customers to its stores and improve convenience for visitors from abroad.

Other convenience store operators are taking similar moves ahead of the effectuation of a Japanese law regulating minpaku services in June.

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. plans to start a check-in service for minpaku guests at some of its outlets in a tie-up with leading Japanese travel agency JTB Corp. Jiji Press