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.

Short-term rental industry must do a better job vetting travelers
Opinion / Online
Short-term rental industry must do a better job vetting travelers
By Carl Shepherd | April 25, 2022
The co-founder of HomeAway says, with property owners becoming farther removed from those renting their properties, a new, stronger system is needed to minimize the chance of tragedy. Read More
my-method-pacific-vrbo
News / Online
My Method... How Vrbo used videos to increase its search visibility
By Shawn Massie - Pacific | April 13, 2022
Vrbo raised its rank and visibility on YouTube and Google using SEO-friendly videos created from its destination guides. Read More
similarweb-april-2022
News / Distribution
Online activity shows growing recovery for travel
By Mitra Sorrells | April 12, 2022
An analysis by Similarweb shows visits to airline and hospitality websites are up as consumers act on their desire to travel.   Read More
Hopper outperformed all other OTA apps in 2021
News / Online
Hopper outperformed all other OTA apps in 2021
By Jill Menze | March 25, 2022
According to a report from Apptopia, Hopper grew 494% in 2021, overtaking Airbnb as the leader in market share by monthly active users. Read More
The most used booking platforms for short-term rentals and what makes them attractive
News / Online
The most used booking platforms for short-term rentals and what makes them attractive
By Phocuswright Research | March 2, 2022
Over the past several years, travel distribution players have scrambled to add short-term rental properties and content, all vying for their share of the growing rental market. Read More
Challenges remain but progress emerges in vacation rental governance
News / Distribution
Challenges remain but progress emerges in vacation rental governance
By Kevin May | January 27, 2022
The Wild West days of short-term rental owners battling with local authorities might be subsiding, according to a new study from Rent Responsibly. Read More
2021 was best year ever for short-term rentals
News / Online
2021 was best year ever for short-term rentals
By Jill Menze | January 24, 2022
According to AirDNA research, 2022 is on track to outpace 2021 bookings by 88%. Read More
Rentals and SPACs spotlighted as Vacasa goes public at $4.4B valuation
News / Online
Rentals and SPACs spotlighted as Vacasa goes public at $4.4B valuation
By Mitra Sorrells | December 7, 2021
Vacasa CFO Jamie Cohen says the company has two priorities that will drive how it uses the new capital: adding supply and developing its technology and product. Read More
How rentals can prepare for and manage regulatory shifts
Opinion / Online
How rentals can prepare for and manage regulatory shifts
By Pamela Knudsen - Avalara | November 30, 2021
It's important that owners take a moment to understand new efforts to enforce marketplace legislation around lodging, lest they trip into the myriad of compliance-related potholes that are popping up... Read More
VIDEO: How Expedia Group wants to sharpen its focus
News / Online
VIDEO: How Expedia Group wants to sharpen its focus
By PhocusWire | November 29, 2021
Appointed at the outset of the pandemic, Peter Kern appears to be a pragmatic and humble CEO - something that many companies have been in sore need of during the last two years. Read More
expedia-group-q3-2021
News / Distribution
Expedia Group nearly matches 2019 profit levels in Q3 2021
By Mitra Sorrells | November 4, 2021
Expedia Group says recovery in Q3 2021 was led by leisure and domestic travel, coming in particular from Vrbo.   Read More
Short-term rentals have become inexorable
Opinion / Online
Short-term rentals have become inexorable
By Tom Caton - AirDNA | November 4, 2021
The dam has broken on short-term rentals becoming an asset class with fantastic returns available to all. Read More
Short-term rental market sees bump in supply, holiday bookings
News / Online
Short-term rental market sees bump in supply, holiday bookings
By Jill Menze | October 21, 2021
According to AirDNA, about 150,000 new short-term rental listings were added in Q3 2021, while bookings for Thanksgiving weekend are pacing 65% higher compared to 2020. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2021 - five questions for Peter Kern
News / Online
The Phocuswright Conference 2021 - five questions for Peter Kern
By PhocusWire | October 19, 2021
Kern oversees a portfolio of brands such as Expedia, Vrbo, Hotels.com and Trivago, as well as a number of B2B services including Expedia Group Media Solutions and Expedia Group Partner Solutions. Read More
VIDEO: Imagining a new world for rentals
News / Online
VIDEO: Imagining a new world for rentals
By PhocusWire | October 13, 2021
The emerging trend around digital nomads and the combining work with leisure trips has forced many companies to emerge or rethink how they service customers with new requirements. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026