Edinburgh Realty launched its Edinburgh Short Stays service at Dunedin’s craft brewery New New New, attracting about 60 people.
Short Stays manager Veronica Miller believed it was the first service solely for short stay accommodation, covering Dunedin and Central Otago.
"This is an untapped growth market with increasing demand for homestays ... and it’ll bring more visitors to the city, and Central," she said.
The Short Stays will work in with other online marketing platforms.
Mrs Miller said Short Stays would be another option for visitors to the city, given the bed shortages at times of graduations, large sporting events or concerts.
She said aside from the owners of empty holiday homes making use of the service, investors could also consider buying a property and having Short Stays manage it.
For the house owner, there is an annual $350 marketing fee, a management fee of 18% of the rental charges, other maintenance and cleaning fees, plus GST for most services.
The service has also compiled information for homeowners on liabilities and obligations covering insurance, tax implications and GST registration, banking terms and conditions and how council rates could be affected.
