Vrbo News

Vrbo has emerged as a major player in the short-term rental space, serving families and group travelers with a platform focused on whole-home accommodations. At PhocusWire, we bring you the latest Vrbo news, examining the company’s strategy, platform innovations, and its impact on the evolving home-sharing economy.

Vrbo vacation rental updates and home sharing market trends

Our reporting explores Vrbo’s product enhancements, marketing shifts, and partnerships within the broader Expedia Group ecosystem. From traveler experience upgrades and host tools to policy changes and regulatory challenges, we follow how Vrbo is positioning itself in a highly competitive vacation rental landscape.

Expedia partners with Perplexity for Comet launch
News / Technology
Expedia partners with Perplexity for Comet launch
By Morgan Hines | October 6, 2025
Expedia is offering Silver status in its OneKey loyalty program in exchange for users downloading Comet’s recently launched browser. Read More
How much opportunity is there for STR ancillaries? Experts weigh in
News / Online
How much opportunity is there for STR ancillaries? Experts weigh in
By Morgan Hines | August 22, 2025
Executives from Safely and Interhome highlighted the lucrative potential of ancillaries for STRs during a studio interview at Phocuswright Europe. Read More
Expedia Group reports stronger results in Q2 amid ongoing U.S. headwinds
News / Online
Expedia Group reports stronger results in Q2 amid ongoing U.S. headwinds
By Abby Crotty | August 7, 2025
While numbers improved overall, second quarter results were still tempered by “soft demand” in the United States. Read More
OTA marketing spend rose in Q1 2025
News / Online
OTA marketing spend rose in Q1 2025
By Linda Fox | June 3, 2025
As Airbnb, Booking Holdings, Expedia Group and Trip.com Group continue to up marketing spend, PhocusWire looks at what they're saying about these investments. Read More
Rapid Fire with Shilpa Ranganathan of Expedia Group
News / Online
Rapid Fire with Shilpa Ranganathan of Expedia Group
By Morgan Hines | May 29, 2025
As we count down to Phocuswright Europe, PhocusWire is shining the spotlight on a selection of conference speakers in a series of Q&As. Read More
Expedia Group’s Ariane Gorin opens up about first year as CEO
News / Online
Expedia Group’s Ariane Gorin opens up about first year as CEO
By Morgan Hines | May 21, 2025
Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group, looks back on her first year in the role in an interview with PhocusWire. Read More
Ancillaries in the vacation rentals sector: 'The new frontier'?
News / Distribution
Ancillaries in the vacation rentals sector: 'The new frontier'?
By Abby Crotty | May 19, 2025
Guests are looking for more from their vacations—what will it take for the STR sector to fully embrace alternative revenue streams? Read More
Expedia Group leans into B2B arm, adding new APIs, advertising capabilities
News / Technology
Expedia Group leans into B2B arm, adding new APIs, advertising capabilities
By Morgan Hines | May 14, 2025
The B2B expansion and new AI tools come on the heels of Expedia Group's Q1 earnings last week, which fell within company guidance. Read More
97% of STR hosts say tech is “critical” to success
News / Technology
97% of STR hosts say tech is “critical” to success
By Abby Crotty | May 12, 2025
Hospitable surveyed 566 short-term rental hosts across different management types, including self-managers, co-hosts and property managers.  Read More
Expedia feels pinch of drop in inbound U.S. travel, Canada bookings fall 30% in Q1
News / Online
Expedia feels pinch of drop in inbound U.S. travel, Canada bookings fall 30% in Q1
By Morgan Hines | May 8, 2025
The company also announced a new AI-powered tool to turn Instagram Reels into travel inspiration, recommendations and itineraries. Read More
Report—The short-term rental guest: 2025 trends, insights and research
From Our Partners / Online
Report—The short-term rental guest: 2025 trends, insights and research
By Cathy Walsh | April 15, 2025
This report is based on findings from a study of the short-term rental market in the United States conducted by Phocuswright in partnership with Expedia Group and other travel leaders. Read More
Vrbo plans greater traveler targeting through marketing tech
News / Online
Vrbo plans greater traveler targeting through marketing tech
By Linda Fox | April 4, 2025
Vrbo is focusing on growth, more dynamic and personalized offers and property quality. Read More
Expedia Group makes job cuts
News / Online
Expedia Group makes job cuts
By Morgan Hines | March 3, 2025
The job cuts come about a year after the online travel agency announced up to 1,500 layoffs in February 2024. Read More
CEO Spotlight: Eric Goldreyer of Savvy
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Eric Goldreyer of Savvy
By Morgan Hines | February 26, 2025
Eric Goldreyer has spent three decades in the travel industry, with a focus on short-term rentals as founder of BedandBreakfast.com back in 1995 and later co-founder of TurnKey Vacation Rentals. Read More
Expedia Group CEO outlines three strategies for using AI in the year ahead
News / Online
Expedia Group CEO outlines three strategies for using AI in the year ahead
By Mitra Sorrells | February 6, 2025
 The company finished 2024 strong with double-digit percentage growth in room nights, gross bookings and revenue in the final quarter.   Read More
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