It’s been a busy month for the vacation rental giants, especially Airbnb. From higher commissions and tighter control of guest relationships to new distribution deals, there’s plenty happening.
- Vrbo raised host commissions to 12% on Oct. 29, more than double what some hosts were paying, with 30 days’ notice. That’s still below Airbnb, which dropped guest fees late last year and moved hosts to commissions of around 15.5%.
- Airbnb’s new house rules start Nov. 20. Hosts generally can’t ask guests to wash dishes, strip beds, or haul trash. They can’t require separate rental agreements or keep copies of guest IDs.
- Airbnb is also hiding phone numbers. Hosts connected through property management software get temporary phone numbers for guests that expire two days after checkout. Airbnb says it’s about privacy. Property managers say it’s about making sure the guest never books direct.
- Airbnb has moved into Amex Travel. More than 1 million Airbnb listings are now available through American Express Travel, making Airbnb its exclusive vacation rental partner. The interesting twist? Expedia supplies Amex Travel’s hotel inventory and technology.
Standardize the product, own the guest, expand distribution, and charge more for the privilege. Sound familiar? 😉
Want to dive deeper? Airbnb’s new house rules | Vrbo commission hike | Airbnb and Amex Travel
