Vrbo

Leading vacation rental marketplace, second to Airbnb in market share, part of Expedia Group

Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a prominent online marketplace that connects property owners and managers with travelers seeking vacation rental accommodations. Operating as a subsidiary of Expedia Group since its acquisition in 2006, Vrbo specializes in whole-home rentals including houses, cabins, condos, and villas across global destinations. The platform serves as a two-sided marketplace facilitating bookings between property owners who list their vacation homes and travelers looking for alternative accommodations to traditional hotels. While Vrbo is not a traditional AdTech company, it operates within the digital advertising ecosystem as both an advertiser and a platform that enables property owners to promote their listings. The company invests significantly in performance marketing, display advertising, and search engine marketing to attract travelers to its platform. Vrbo competes directly with Airbnb and other vacation rental platforms, differentiating itself by focusing primarily on whole-home rentals rather than shared spaces or individual rooms. As part of Expedia Group, Vrbo benefits from shared technology infrastructure, cross-platform marketing opportunities, and access to Expedia's extensive travel network. The platform generates revenue primarily through service fees charged to both property owners (subscription or commission-based) and travelers (booking fees), positioning it as a significant player in the online travel and vacation rental marketplace sector.