Gree's entry into hotel-reservation apps is part of a larger fight for a share of Japan's ¥15 trillion ($148 billion) domestic travel market, which is benefiting from a revival in the nation's economy. In the Japanese market, online-services company Rakuten Inc. 's travel site and Recruit Holdings Co.'s Jalan site currently control about 60% of hotel bookings made via online travel agents, according to market research firm PhoCusWright Japan.
Earlier this month, Gree invested $4.5 million in Hong Kong-based HotelQuickly, a mobile app that offers last-minute hotel rooms at discounted prices. Gree hopes HotelQuickly will help operations of its own booking app, Tonight, launched in Japan last month.
Representatives of Rakuten and Recruit declined to comment on Gree's move but said they have long offered last-minute booking discounts.
