AirBnb and VRBO News Thread

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AirBnb and VRBO News Thread

Lauren Kormylo
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

I thought we should have a post about changes to Airbnb and Vrbo, or news concerning them, and everyone can keep updating it as changes happen.  Because it seems like every week there's something new that hosts need to know about.

First up is Airbnb has now changed their age policy. They now allow hosts to require that a guest be up to age 25 to book. For the last few years, Airbnb has said that any guest 18 years old is allowed to book your property (unless your town or HOA has other requirements), and hosts have no say in it. But now that has changed: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3930?fbclid=IwY2xjawPTpN...

The second thing is not new, but I had a phone call with a Vrbo rep today, and then they sent an email recap.  They call every few months trying to get me to look at policies and make changes.  Today they went over things that help my rental go up in visibility on their platform, meaning I will rank higher in their algorithm if I do these things.  I thought you all would like to see what they are: 

Pending opportunities just for you to considerate in order to increase your exposure on Vrbo:

  • Apply Mobile Booking Promo: Provide 10% off travelers booking through the mobile app.
  • Apply Last Minute Promo: Provide 10% off to travelers booking within the booking window of 30 days pre-stay.
  • Apply Early Booking: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 60 days in advance pre-stay.
  • Apply Members Only Deal: Provide 10% off for Blue members, 15% off for Silver members and 20% off for Gold and Platinum members of Expedia.
  • Appy Weekly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 7 nights or more.
  • Apply Monthly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 30 nights or more.
  • Change cancellation policy: Relaxed cancellation policy will help you to attract more travelers since over the 75% prefers properties with this cancellation policy.
  • High Fees: Lower your fees and add the amount to the rate per night. Finding a property with low fees, is more attractive to travelers. You don't have to cover the fees, you just have to make them look low.
  • Instant Booking: pushes your property out to all of our other platforms (Expedia Group).
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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
9mo

The age requirement on Airbnb is definitely good.

I have taken advantage of most of Vrbos recommendations. I'm not taking off the cleaning fee and adding it to the nightly rate. That is just a shell game. I think most people look at the total anyway.

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    9mo

    The age requirement on Airbnb is definitely good.

    I have taken advantage of most of Vrbos recommendations. I'm not taking off the cleaning fee and adding it to the nightly rate. That is just a shell game. I think most people look at the total anyway.

    4Reply
    • Lauren Kormylo
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      9mo
      Quote from @John Underwood:

      The age requirement on Airbnb is definitely good.

      I have taken advantage of most of Vrbos recommendations. I'm not taking off the cleaning fee and adding it to the nightly rate. That is just a shell game. I think most people look at the total anyway.

       Right about the cleaning fee, and adding it in complicates pricing when a guest stays longer or shorter.  I don't want to overcharge or undercharge.

      1Reply
  • Mike GrudzienPro Member
    Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9mo

    Lauren,
    Thank you for this list.

    1Reply
  • Janice Carter
    Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 606 votes
    9mo


    Lauren, thanks for sharing as it can definitely be challenging to keep up with all the ongoing changes.

    1Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9mo

    Thanks for sharing the news.  I have always been 25+ (we granted limited exceptions) and Airbnb only got on my case once or twice but I always got my way.  Good to know I won't ever be hassled about it again.

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Patricia Andriolo-Bull
    Member since 2022 · 527 posts · 413 votes
    9mo

    Odd about fees since everything is now included and you don’t see the fee breakdown. I think they use the same script when they call people even though they changed their all inclusive model months ago. 

    0Reply
    • Lauren Kormylo
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      9mo
      Quote from @Patricia Andriolo-Bull:

      Odd about fees since everything is now included and you don’t see the fee breakdown. I think they use the same script when they call people even though they changed their all inclusive model months ago. 


       You're right.  I forgot that Vrbo is doing the total pricing thing too.  

      1Reply
  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8mo
    Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

    I thought we should have a post about changes to Airbnb and Vrbo, or news concerning them, and everyone can keep updating it as changes happen.  Because it seems like every week there's something new that hosts need to know about.

    First up is Airbnb has now changed their age policy. They now allow hosts to require that a guest be up to age 25 to book. For the last few years, Airbnb has said that any guest 18 years old is allowed to book your property (unless your town or HOA has other requirements), and hosts have no say in it. But now that has changed: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3930?fbclid=IwY2xjawPTpN...

    The second thing is not new, but I had a phone call with a Vrbo rep today, and then they sent an email recap.  They call every few months trying to get me to look at policies and make changes.  Today they went over things that help my rental go up in visibility on their platform, meaning I will rank higher in their algorithm if I do these things.  I thought you all would like to see what they are: 

    Pending opportunities just for you to considerate in order to increase your exposure on Vrbo:

    • Apply Mobile Booking Promo: Provide 10% off travelers booking through the mobile app.
    • Apply Last Minute Promo: Provide 10% off to travelers booking within the booking window of 30 days pre-stay.
    • Apply Early Booking: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 60 days in advance pre-stay.
    • Apply Members Only Deal: Provide 10% off for Blue members, 15% off for Silver members and 20% off for Gold and Platinum members of Expedia.
    • Appy Weekly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 7 nights or more.
    • Apply Monthly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 30 nights or more.
    • Change cancellation policy: Relaxed cancellation policy will help you to attract more travelers since over the 75% prefers properties with this cancellation policy.
    • High Fees: Lower your fees and add the amount to the rate per night. Finding a property with low fees, is more attractive to travelers. You don't have to cover the fees, you just have to make them look low.
    • Instant Booking: pushes your property out to all of our other platforms (Expedia Group).

    I had to practically give away a 9 day booking last December on VRBO because they stacked together several discounts. Rubbed me the wrong way. 

    Also had VRBO reps call me at the worst time to get me to change pricing over the phone. This is not say that VRBO is worse as ABNB certainly has their unique brand of nonsense as well. 

    At least VRBO finally joined us in the 2020s by allowing automated messaging. Truly groundbreaking technology. 

    0Reply
    • Lauren Kormylo
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Jon Martin:
      Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

      I thought we should have a post about changes to Airbnb and Vrbo, or news concerning them, and everyone can keep updating it as changes happen.  Because it seems like every week there's something new that hosts need to know about.

      First up is Airbnb has now changed their age policy. They now allow hosts to require that a guest be up to age 25 to book. For the last few years, Airbnb has said that any guest 18 years old is allowed to book your property (unless your town or HOA has other requirements), and hosts have no say in it. But now that has changed: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3930?fbclid=IwY2xjawPTpN...

      The second thing is not new, but I had a phone call with a Vrbo rep today, and then they sent an email recap.  They call every few months trying to get me to look at policies and make changes.  Today they went over things that help my rental go up in visibility on their platform, meaning I will rank higher in their algorithm if I do these things.  I thought you all would like to see what they are: 

      Pending opportunities just for you to considerate in order to increase your exposure on Vrbo:

      • Apply Mobile Booking Promo: Provide 10% off travelers booking through the mobile app.
      • Apply Last Minute Promo: Provide 10% off to travelers booking within the booking window of 30 days pre-stay.
      • Apply Early Booking: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 60 days in advance pre-stay.
      • Apply Members Only Deal: Provide 10% off for Blue members, 15% off for Silver members and 20% off for Gold and Platinum members of Expedia.
      • Appy Weekly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 7 nights or more.
      • Apply Monthly Discount: Provide 10% off to travelers booking 30 nights or more.
      • Change cancellation policy: Relaxed cancellation policy will help you to attract more travelers since over the 75% prefers properties with this cancellation policy.
      • High Fees: Lower your fees and add the amount to the rate per night. Finding a property with low fees, is more attractive to travelers. You don't have to cover the fees, you just have to make them look low.
      • Instant Booking: pushes your property out to all of our other platforms (Expedia Group).

      I had to practically give away a 9 day booking last December on VRBO because they stacked together several discounts. Rubbed me the wrong way. 

      Also had VRBO reps call me at the worst time to get me to change pricing over the phone. This is not say that VRBO is worse as ABNB certainly has their unique brand of nonsense as well. 

      At least VRBO finally joined us in the 2020s by allowing automated messaging. Truly groundbreaking technology. 


       I can see them stacking discounts, that's something they'd do.  And now they want to give a discount for booking on a cell phone - which most people do now anyway!   And yes, the automated messaging is groundbreaking! LOL

      1Reply
  • Lauren Kormylo
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7mo

    Something new is being offered to some guests by VRBO - rainy day insurance by partnering with WeatherPromise.  

    During checkout on selected stays (mostly outdoor-centric like beaches and mountain cabins), a guest is asked if they would like to buy this insurance that pays them if a threshold of rain is reached during their stay, which is customized for each stay.  For instance, the insurance could specify that if it rains .04" per hour or more for more than 4 hours during daylight hours for more than 2 days (meaning it's now raining for a 3rd day), the cost of the trip would be refunded to the guest, and the guest will still be allowed to stay for the remainder of it.  WeatherPromise uses historical data in their offers, and tracks the weather and current global grid points using imagery via NASA and NOAA.  And payouts are automatic, they keep track of rainfall in the guest's location and the guest doesn't have to do anything to get a payout.  

    This doesn't affect the host or their payout at all.  I have no idea how much the insurance costs.  I assume in rainy locations it will cost more, in dry locations, less.  

    1Reply
    • Collin HaysBusiness Member
      Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
      7mo
      Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

      Something new is being offered to some guests by VRBO - rainy day insurance by partnering with WeatherPromise.  

      During checkout on selected stays (mostly outdoor-centric like beaches and mountain cabins), a guest is asked if they would like to buy this insurance that pays them if a threshold of rain is reached during their stay, which is customized for each stay.  For instance, the insurance could specify that if it rains .04" per hour or more for more than 4 hours during daylight hours for more than 2 days (meaning it's now raining for a 3rd day), the cost of the trip would be refunded to the guest, and the guest will still be allowed to stay for the remainder of it.  WeatherPromise uses historical data in their offers, and tracks the weather and current global grid points using imagery via NASA and NOAA.  And payouts are automatic, they keep track of rainfall in the guest's location and the guest doesn't have to do anything to get a payout.  

      This doesn't affect the host or their payout at all.  I have no idea how much the insurance costs.  I assume in rainy locations it will cost more, in dry locations, less.  

       If they are offering this in the Smokies, the insurer will go broke.

      [email protected]806-672-7102
      SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
      WebsiteView Page
      0Reply
    • Lauren Kormylo
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      7mo
      Quote from @Collin Hays:
      Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

      Something new is being offered to some guests by VRBO - rainy day insurance by partnering with WeatherPromise.  

      During checkout on selected stays (mostly outdoor-centric like beaches and mountain cabins), a guest is asked if they would like to buy this insurance that pays them if a threshold of rain is reached during their stay, which is customized for each stay.  For instance, the insurance could specify that if it rains .04" per hour or more for more than 4 hours during daylight hours for more than 2 days (meaning it's now raining for a 3rd day), the cost of the trip would be refunded to the guest, and the guest will still be allowed to stay for the remainder of it.  WeatherPromise uses historical data in their offers, and tracks the weather and current global grid points using imagery via NASA and NOAA.  And payouts are automatic, they keep track of rainfall in the guest's location and the guest doesn't have to do anything to get a payout.  

      This doesn't affect the host or their payout at all.  I have no idea how much the insurance costs.  I assume in rainy locations it will cost more, in dry locations, less.  

       If they are offering this in the Smokies, the insurer will go broke.


      I think they are offering it there, I saw one review from someone who stayed in Gatlinburg, they said it rained every day, and they are getting a payout.  But I'm sure if the company is losing money, they will adjust the rain threshold so high, it will be hard to meet. Or drop that area altogether.
      0Reply
    • Collin HaysBusiness Member
      Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
      7mo
      Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:
      Quote from @Collin Hays:
      Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

      Something new is being offered to some guests by VRBO - rainy day insurance by partnering with WeatherPromise.  

      During checkout on selected stays (mostly outdoor-centric like beaches and mountain cabins), a guest is asked if they would like to buy this insurance that pays them if a threshold of rain is reached during their stay, which is customized for each stay.  For instance, the insurance could specify that if it rains .04" per hour or more for more than 4 hours during daylight hours for more than 2 days (meaning it's now raining for a 3rd day), the cost of the trip would be refunded to the guest, and the guest will still be allowed to stay for the remainder of it.  WeatherPromise uses historical data in their offers, and tracks the weather and current global grid points using imagery via NASA and NOAA.  And payouts are automatic, they keep track of rainfall in the guest's location and the guest doesn't have to do anything to get a payout.  

      This doesn't affect the host or their payout at all.  I have no idea how much the insurance costs.  I assume in rainy locations it will cost more, in dry locations, less.  

       If they are offering this in the Smokies, the insurer will go broke.


      I think they are offering it there, I saw one review from someone who stayed in Gatlinburg, they said it rained every day, and they are getting a payout.  But I'm sure if the company is losing money, they will adjust the rain threshold so high, it will be hard to meet. Or drop that area altogether.

       The Smokies gets up to 70 inches of rain per year.  Good luck to the insurer on that!

      [email protected]806-672-7102
      SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
      WebsiteView Page
      1Reply
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