The most valuable conversations, partnerships and innovations at the Liftoff conference often happen outside the conference hall
In recent years, global platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb have strongly changed the way accommodation is booked, but at the same time, they have increased renters' dependence on large international sales channels and their commissions. On the Croatian market, StayPicker, an online travel agency (OTA platform) for searching and booking private accommodation, responds to this trend.
The project is developed by MyRent, a Croatian tech company whose property management system is used by renters and professional property managers. The platform consolidates bookings, availability, prices and sales channels, automates guest communication and check-in, and also supports solutions like smart locks.
StayPicker is designed as an additional sales channel for apartments, holiday homes, villas and other forms of private accommodation, with an emphasis on a more direct relationship between the guest and the host.
Direct contact and online booking
"The idea is simple – connect real guests with real, verified hosts, enable direct communication between them and use technology that has been supporting professional accommodation management for years. The guest gets the simplicity of a modern OTA platform, while the host gains an additional sales channel with transparent terms and greater control over their business," explains Neven Palčec, CEO and founder of MyRent.
Through the platform, guests can find accommodation, check availability and prices, and contact the host directly. Direct inquiries are free, while for bookings completed entirely through the platform, the commission for the host is 8 percent plus VAT, with no extra fees for the guest. According to the company, funds are paid out to the host 24 hours after guest arrival.
This model positions StayPicker between classic classifieds and fully automated OTA platforms: users can communicate directly with the host, but can also complete the booking online, including payment.
Technological infrastructure already exists
Unlike new platforms that are just building accommodation management systems, StayPicker relies on the existing MyRent infrastructure. Availability, price and booking data can be synchronized between connected sales channels, reducing the possibility of errors and double bookings.
According to MyRent data, its ecosystem includes more than 10,000 accommodation units. StayPicker thus represents an extension of the existing tech system towards the end guest.
The project is being developed with the support of the Zagreb Innovation Centre – ZICER, where the team uses the infrastructure and professional support, as well as participating in the center's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Focus on the domestic and regional market
MyRent does not position StayPicker as a direct copy of large international OTA platforms, but as a local alternative with a different distribution model. The ambition is to gradually develop a regional platform for short-term accommodation relying on real-time availability data and direct booking.
Initial results, according to the company, show market interest. In its initial stage, without significant advertising, StayPicker generated direct accommodation inquiries with a potential value exceeding 500 million euros. This figure refers to the potential booking value from inquiries, rather than generated revenue or completed bookings.
For local renters, the platform strives to open another sales channel and reduce reliance on individual global intermediaries. MyRent's long-term goal is to develop its own OTA product from Croatia for the domestic and regional market, leveraging its existing property management technology.
