Navajo Nation Builds Its Own STR Booking Platform

Key Takeaways

The Navajo Nation approved a $146,000 contract to build its own short-term rental booking platform
The site will let hosts list properties while travelers search, book and pay without relying on major third-party platforms
The platform is expected to launch within roughly 8 to 16 weeks of contract approval

Move over Vrbo and Airbnb, the Navajo Nation wants to have its own short-term rental booking platform.

President Buu Nygren approved a $146,000 contract with Laguna Creek LLC, a Navajo-owned software company, to build a site where hosts can list properties and travelers can book stays directly.

The goal is to create a homegrown option for vacation rentals across the Navajo Nation rather than relying entirely on major booking platforms.

According to the Navajo Nation Office of the President, travelers will be able to search listings, make reservations and pay through the platform, while hosts will get tools to manage bookings via the new site once it’s live.

The booking platform is expected to include secure payment processing, administrative tools and mobile and desktop access.

“This contract reflects our commitment to supporting Navajo-owned businesses and investing in innovative solutions that create economic opportunities for our people,” Nygren said in announcing the agreement. “Laguna Creek LLC is demonstrating how Navajo entrepreneurs can use technology to strengthen tourism, support local hosts, and showcase the beauty and culture of our Nation to visitors from around the world.”

Laguna Creek LLC is listed as a Priority 1 Software as a Service company on the Navajo Nation Source Listing. The company also says it gives 10 percent of its net revenue to Indigenous charitable events.

A booking platform built for Navajo Nation stays

A close up of a desert field with a mountain in the background (Photo by Alexandra Nicolae via Unsplash)

For hosts, the biggest difference could be having another way to reach travelers without depending solely on the large national booking sites.

That could be especially useful in a region that draws visitors to destinations including Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, where travelers may already be searching for lodging close to tribal lands and local attractions.

The new platform also gives the Navajo Nation more control over how its short-term rental market is presented and managed online, rather than leaving all of that discovery and booking activity to outside companies.

The platform is expected to be completed within roughly 8 to 16 weeks of the contract’s approval. Officials have not yet said how many hosts are expected to list properties when it goes live.