VRMA Administrator
Rakuten, the Japanese e-commerce giant, has unveiled Rakuten STAY, a vacation rentals model in which it will own, manage, and operate its inventory worldwide, with accommodations fully powered by services within the Rakuten eco-system. According to Munekatsu Ota, CEO of Rakuten STAY, 90 percent of operating costs regarding the Rakuten STAY accommodations are already powered by Rakuten services. “Inside the accommodation, we have e-commerce services where people can buy immediately via QR code. There’s Rakuten Music, Books, etc. Only water and gas are out of the Rakuten eco-system and with Rakuten working on energy – solar power and gas – soon, it will only be water that’s not provided by Rakuten.” The idea is that the Rakuten STAY villas and apartments will be fully unmanned, said Ota.
PhocusWire (06/13/23) Yeoh Siew Hoon
