EXPEDIA GROUP UNLOCKS MORE DEMAND FOR VACATION RENTAL PARTNERS WITH STRONGER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS ITS MARKETPLACE AND NEW TECH FEATURES

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Expedia Group announced the expansion of Vrbo® distribution through its globally renowned brands and updates to its vacation rental marketplace, including strengthening the Premier Host program and introducing new products for hosts. The company also announced new AI-powered features and upgrades to its guest review experience to simplify travel planning.

“We believe great hosting isn’t optional, it’s the Vrbo standard. That’s why we’re recognizing partners who deliver excellence, supporting those who are on the path to getting there, and providing tools to attract quality demand.”

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The announcements were made during EXPLORE Connect: Vacation Rentals, where hundreds of partners convened to hear the latest on Expedia Group’s vacation rental strategy and developments to its Vrbo brand.

"When choosing a vacation rental, travelers expect quality and reliability - from booking to the stay itself," said Larry Plawsky, General Manager of Vrbo. "We are investing in products and features that enhance every step of the journey, driving more demand for our hosts and making Vrbo the most trusted vacation rental marketplace."

Better Visibility Across Expedia Group’s Ecosystem: Expedia Group’s globally recognized brands and B2B partnerships are diversifying demand for vacation rental partners and amplifying discoverability for travelers.

• B2B Expedia Group: Expedia Group is gradually rolling out the distribution of eligible Vrbo properties through its B2B network, which consists of 70,000 businesses and more than 160,000 travel agents. Partners like Delta, Alaska Airlines, and Revolut are among the first to distribute Vrbo supply.
• Expedia®: Expedia is making it easier for travelers to find and consider vacation rentals with enhanced search capabilities, including a new tab-view filter that seamlessly switches between hotels and vacation rental listings, and a new fall advertising campaign.
• Vrbo®: Beginning in early 2026, Vrbo will deliver greater visibility to exceptional hosts by transitioning its Premier Host program from a host-level to individual listing-level recognition. Updated qualifications include a 99% acceptance rate, 0% cancellation rate, and a 4.6+ review rating.

“Outstanding homes and excellent hospitality are what create unforgettable stays,” says Tim Rosolio, Vice President of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group. “We believe great hosting isn’t optional, it’s the Vrbo standard. That’s why we’re recognizing partners who deliver excellence, supporting those who are on the path to getting there, and providing tools to attract quality demand.”

Harnessing the Power of Expedia Group’s Technology: Vrbo’s latest tech solutions streamline operations and unlock new revenue opportunities for partners.

• Performance Milestones: Beginning in early 2026, Vrbo’s new personalized coaching experience provides actionable insights to help hosts improve performance. As partners improve, they unlock benefits through Vrbo’s new Performance Milestones, including new trust signals -- such as the Top 1% badge – and increased visibility in search.
• Content Management and Onboarding (Live Now): Partners can now easily onboard new properties and manage content and policies seamlessly within their software. The new self-service capabilities reduce these tasks from days to hours and enable near real-time content updates.
• Vrbo Promotions (Live Now): More partners will now have access to Vrbo Promotions through their software of choice, including early booking, last minute, mobile, and Member Only deals. Escapia, the first third-party software in development, will offer partners access to Vrbo Promotions later this year.
• Vrbo Payments (Pilot): Vrbo’s new optional payment solution enables Vrbo to act as the merchant of record and directly collect booking fees from travelers. Vrbo Payments helps property managers drive more bookings, streamline operations, and unlock the ability for One Key^® members to redeem OneKeyCash^® on more vacation rentals than ever before.

Trust-Building Tools Powered by AI: Vrbo is testing new AI features to simplify trip planning for travelers and put guest reviews at the forefront.

• AI Guest Review Summary (Live Now): This feature uses GenAI to instantly scan and summarize guest reviews, making it quick and easy to see at a glance what real guests consistently call out about properties.
• AI Property Q&A (Beta): This feature uses AI to provide instant answers using property details and guest reviews.
• AI-Powered Property Highlights (Testing): Located near the top of the property details page, Property Highlights uses AI to dynamically showcase a property’s unique features leveraging guest reviews and listing details. Using AI, we can display highlights that are targeted and personalized for the traveler.
• Trust Through Real Photos (Testing): During the review process, guests can upload their own photos alongside their written feedback.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, Expedia Group™ helps people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections.

Expedia Group’s three flagship consumer brands are Expedia®, Hotels.com®, and Vrbo®. Its B2B arm, Private Label Solutions, delivers industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group Advertising helps partners extend their reach and connect with travelers across its travel sites and a broad range of offsite channels through its travel media network.

© 2025 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia Group and the Expedia Group logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2029030-50.

For more information, visit www.expediagroup.com.
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