STR News.

This iGMS report highlights the top 14 vacation rental sites hosts should use in 2026. Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com remain the most popular, driving the most bookings. Diversifying listings across niche sites like Plum Guide and Homestay.com can attract specific guest types and maximize revenue.

Marriott Homes & Villas is a growing vacation rental platform offering professionally managed properties with hotel-like consistency. It provides access to the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, attracting higher-spending guests and offering longer stays. However, the platform is limited to property managers, has strict eligibility requirements, and lacks guest reviews, which may impact conversion.

This iGMS article compares Airbnb and Vrbo, two major platforms for short-term rental hosts, highlighting key differences in property types, target audiences, and service fees. It reveals Airbnb's broader appeal to younger, budget-conscious travelers and Vrbo's focus on families and longer stays, and recommends listing on both platforms for maximum exposure. Hosts can use iGMS tools to sync the calendars across platforms.

Vrbo is rolling out AI search features, and Australia's tax laws are tightening for STRs starting July 1, 2026. Maui's Bill 9 debate continues, with a proposal advancing for hotel zoning to accommodate affected vacation rental operators.

May's Lodgify Lowdown highlights major shifts: TikTok enters vacation rentals, Uber adds Vrbo, Airbnb launches 220+ updates including car rentals & AI tools. EU data rules are live, impacting European hosts.

Vrbo offers hosts three customer service channels: a 24/7 phone line, an in-product live chat, and a self-serve Help Center. There is no public support email. Use phone for urgent issues like double bookings or fraud, chat for routine account questions, and the Help Center for policy lookups.

This article from VRBO discusses optimizing listings for conversational AI search, focusing on using PriceLabs' tools. It highlights how hosts can adapt their listing descriptions to match the language used by guests. Optimizing listings for AI search can significantly improve visibility and bookings.

Expedia's Vrbo is adopting conversational search and AI-driven features like natural language search and Family Highlights, mirroring Airbnb's move. These changes prioritize structured listing data, impacting how hosts optimize listings. Hosts need to focus on amenity tags and structured fields for AI parsing to surface in relevant searches.

Airbnb and Vrbo cater to different guest types and charge distinct fees, significantly impacting property manager revenue. Airbnb dominates in booking volume, while Vrbo excels in family-oriented, whole-home rentals and delivers higher net payouts for hosts. Understanding these nuances, especially with the 2025 fee changes, is crucial for optimizing channel strategy.

This Hostfully guide from 2026 provides actionable insights for launching a profitable Vrbo business, emphasizing Vrbo's family-focused niche. It outlines key differences from Airbnb, highlighting longer stays and higher nightly revenue on larger properties. It stresses the importance of high-quality listings, competitive pricing, and multi-channel distribution for long-term success.

Vrbo does not perform thorough background checks on guests, relying instead on basic verification like email and phone. Hosts must build their own screening processes to protect their properties. Implementing request-to-book mode, asking pre-booking questions, requiring signed rental agreements, and using third-party screening tools are all recommended to mitigate risks. Data shows 77% of hosts do not collect a damage deposit, which increases risk exposure.

This Hostfully article provides a comprehensive Vrbo marketing strategy for property managers, emphasizing listing optimization, platform promotion, and off-platform demand channels. The article highlights that listings with 25+ photos get 40% more views, and amenities are key for filtered searches. Building a direct booking website is also a crucial strategy.

Syncing Airbnb and Vrbo calendars is essential to avoid double bookings, but iCal syncing has limitations. This article reveals how to sync using iCal links and channel managers, emphasizing the need for two-way syncing. Channel managers offer real-time updates and more comprehensive functionality for those with multiple listings, streamlining operations and boosting revenue.

Vrbo lacks a formal co-host program like Airbnb, offering property manager access instead. Co-hosts typically charge 10-25% of gross bookings, with responsibilities impacting the rate. Multi-property operators often benefit from a Property Management System (PMS) to streamline operations and handle tasks such as automated messaging, task routing, and calendar synchronization.

This article explores the evolving landscape of short-term rentals in Michigan, examining how platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are reshaping neighborhoods. While specific data is missing from this prompt, the context suggests analysis of rental market impacts. This may include changes in property values and rental regulations.

Sandbars to Sunsets and Future Home Realty offer a free city-by-city vacation rental investment guide for Pinellas County, Florida beach markets. The guide aims to aid Airbnb and VRBO buyers. This resource provides potential investors with valuable insights into the local short-term rental market.

Sandbars to Sunsets Team with Future Home Realty is offering a free city-by-city vacation rental investment guide for Airbnb and VRBO buyers on Florida's Pinellas Gulf Beaches. This guide is designed to aid potential investors in navigating the market. Learn how to identify optimal investment opportunities.

Sandbars to Sunsets Team with Future Home Realty is offering a free city-by-city vacation rental investment guide for Airbnb and VRBO buyers on Florida's Pinellas Gulf Beaches. This guide provides valuable insights for those looking to invest in the short-term rental market in the area. Learn how to navigate the Pinellas Gulf Beaches market effectively.

Sandbars to Sunsets Team with Future Home Realty has launched a free city-by-city vacation rental investment guide for Airbnb and VRBO buyers on Florida's Pinellas Gulf Beaches. This guide provides valuable insights for potential investors. It helps navigate the vacation rental market in this specific region. Get a free guide and discover investment opportunities!

Expedia's CEO highlights the growth of its B2B sector, experiencing a 25% revenue increase in Q1 compared to 8% for the consumer business. The article also touches upon Expedia's AI strategy, partnerships, and its Vrbo vacation rental business, offering insight into the company's evolving approach to its diverse market segments.

Illinois is considering a 4% tax on short-term rentals, affecting platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo for stays under 30 days. This potential tax could impact host profitability and increase costs for guests. Hosts in Illinois should stay informed about this development and understand the potential financial implications.

Host & Guest launched Fix+, a platform to reduce after-hours guest calls by guiding guests through troubleshooting steps for issues like heating and appliances. This service leverages AI for property-specific guidance and is designed to alleviate host burnout, ensuring only critical issues reach them. The platform integrates with Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.

Crafted Stays research reveals a significant visibility gap for vacation rental brands in AI search results. While operators are cited in 97% of branded searches, this drops to 10-15% for unbranded trip planning queries, creating a 'discovery funnel cliff.' Airbnb and Vrbo dominate these broader searches, but regional operators show promise. Focus on AI SEO and structured data.

Vrbo is integrating with Uber, allowing users to book vacation rentals directly within the Uber app, powered by Expedia's B2B distribution network. This move aims to place Vrbo listings where potential guests already spend time. Meanwhile, Airbnb focuses on keeping guests within its ecosystem by offering additional services. Property managers must prioritize listing quality to be visible in these expanded distribution channels.