RStays launches a story-driven booking platform for the UAE
A mobile-first travel platform where a stay is discovered through short-form video rather than a gallery of stills — iOS, Android and web from one product team.
rstays.com
Problem
Boutique hotels and villas were being sold through static listing pages that could not carry what a place actually feels like to stay in. The properties were distinctive; the listings were interchangeable.
Constraints
Three surfaces — iOS, Android and web — from one team. Arabic and English throughout, including right-to-left layout. A video-first feed that has to stay smooth on a mid-range phone and a hotel Wi-Fi connection.
Decisions
One product API behind all three clients, so a listing is written once. Vertical short-form video as the primary format rather than an extra tab. Curated collections instead of open search, because the catalogue is chosen rather than exhaustive.
Trade-offs
Open search and filters were postponed in favour of curation. Host self-service was cut from the first release; properties are onboarded by the RStays team until the catalogue justifies a portal.
Results
[Downloads, booking conversion and time to first booking after launch.]