STR News.

Richmond officials are unable to identify who paid $5.6 million in outstanding Airbnb and Vrbo taxes. This lack of transparency raises concerns about tax collection and compliance for STR hosts in the area.

Scammers are creating fake rental listings on Airbnb and VRBO, targeting summer travelers. These fraudulent listings often use stolen photos and pricing, leading to financial loss and disappointment. Hosts should be aware of this growing threat and take precautions.

A traveler faced an inaccessible VRBO rental, highlighting the importance of robust support. VRBOCare intervened to resolve the issue, showcasing the value of platform-provided assistance in challenging guest situations.

A Vrbo guest faced an access issue with their rental, highlighting the importance of swift support. VrboCare intervened, resolving the lock-out problem. This incident underscores the need for robust guest support systems and clear communication channels for hosts and guests.

Hudson officials have postponed a decision on new regulations for STR platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, citing the need for further analysis. This delay allows more time to understand the full impact of potential rules on hosts and the community.

OwnerRez rolled out significant May updates: Passkey sign-in, a redesigned guest payment form, and new listing discounts for Airbnb/Vrbo (20%, auto-disabled). Notifications for OwnerRez-powered locks (Schlage, igloohome, Hubitat) are now available, including low battery alerts.

Bakersfield is considering new regulations for Airbnb and Vrbo properties, including a potential permit requirement. These stronger rules aim to address concerns surrounding short-term rentals, potentially impacting hosts operating in the city.

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.

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.

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.

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.