All Forum Posts by: Thanh Lu

I am using Hostaway and they integrate with Google Vacation rentals. I just started doing this in January. Across 4 properties I have only received 2 bookings from Google Vacation Rentals so far. Having said that I think they are having a hard time telling the difference between a booking from Google Vacation Rentals and a direct booking if you have that running. This is because Google Vacation Rentals ends up pointing to your direct booking website.

Thank you Ken, super helpful!

1 Vote

Upstate New York, New York

Quote from @Shannon Strickland:

@Thanh Lu John’s post was very informative. I just explored my PMS (OwnerRez) and I followed the API link for GVR and it will connect if I have a direct booking landing page.

Curious if you were able to verify if your listing showed up on the Google search/map when you typed in, say "places to stay in...."?

0 Votes

Upstate New York, New York

Quote from @Thanh Lu:

Quote from @John Underwood:

I wasn't 100% sure myself. I know that some other 3rd party OTA's push to Google vacations rentals.

Here is what I found with a Google search.

To get listed on Google Vacation Rentals, you'll need to connect your property through an online travel agency (OTA) or a connectivity partner that integrates with Google. While direct listings are limited to property management companies with extensive portfolios, other property owners can leverage OTAs like Tripadvisor, Expedia, or HolidayLettings, which are partners with Google Vacation Rentals. Alternatively, you can use a connectivity partner like Uplisting, Rentals United, or Hostaway to manage your listings and connectivity to Google.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. List through an OTA:

Find an OTA that is a partner with Google Vacation Rentals, such as Tripadvisor or Expedia.

List your property on their site, ensuring your details are accurate and complete.

Your listing will likely be crawled by Google and displayed on Google Vacation Rentals.

2. List through a connectivity partner:

Explore connectivity partners like Uplisting, Rentals United, or Hostaway.

Connect your property management system (PMS) to the connectivity partner.

The partner will sync your property data and make it visible on Google Vacation Rentals.

3. Ensure compliance:

Make sure your property meets Google's criteria, including being a short-term rental with a valid address.

Ensure your listing content (descriptions, photos, pricing) is accurate and high-quality.

Comply with cleanliness and safety standards.

Sync availability through your partner's calendar integration.

Yes, I got the exact same answer that you pasted here, from my own Google search :) Google and ChatGPT are the first places for researching anything. But what OTA, specifically, have other used? that's why I am asking BP audiences. And I went to Tripadvisor -they changed their policy early this year and don't work with individual hosts. Expedia - is the same as VRBO - I can't verify whether they do or not, yet. I posted this question on BP to hopefully hear from specific host who might have specific experiences they can share.

0 Votes

Upstate New York, New York

Quote from @John Underwood:

I wasn't 100% sure myself. I know that some other 3rd party OTA's push to Google vacations rentals.

Here is what I found with a Google search.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. List through an OTA:

Find an OTA that is a partner with Google Vacation Rentals, such as Tripadvisor or Expedia.

List your property on their site, ensuring your details are accurate and complete.

Your listing will likely be crawled by Google and displayed on Google Vacation Rentals.

2. List through a connectivity partner:

Explore connectivity partners like Uplisting, Rentals United, or Hostaway.

Connect your property management system (PMS) to the connectivity partner.

The partner will sync your property data and make it visible on Google Vacation Rentals.

3. Ensure compliance:

Make sure your property meets Google's criteria, including being a short-term rental with a valid address.

Ensure your listing content (descriptions, photos, pricing) is accurate and high-quality.

Comply with cleanliness and safety standards.

Sync availability through your partner's calendar integration.

Yes, I got the exact same answer that you pasted here, from my own Google search :) Google and ChatGPT are the first places for researching anything. But what OTA, specifically, have others used? That's why I am asking BP audiences. And I went to Tripadvisor -they changed their policy early this year and don't work with individual hosts - you have to go through their connectivity partners. Expedia - is the same as VRBO - I have to verify with VRBO whether my listing is integrated with Google vacation rentals.

But, I posted this question on BP to hopefully hear from specific host who might have specific experiences they can share.

1 Vote

Upstate New York, New York

I have my STR listed on Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com already. However, I feel that I'm not getting enough exposure and want to increase my occupancy rate. For host with a single STR, how do you get listed on Google Vacation Rentals or Marriott Homes & Villa? I've been doing some research find the connectivity partners who are integrated with these 2 sites, but haven't found yet. I'll continue to search so wanted to get some leads from BP here.

Also, what other ways have individual hosts found success in marketing and exposure? Thank you!

1 Vote

Upstate New York, New York

For single property host/owner, how do you get on Google Vacation Rentals?

0 Votes

Madison, Wisconsin

My home is upstate NY. This inquiry is from Booking.com and my listing is new so it has the 20% new listing promotion.

I'm a bit surprised with the 28 day request (vs a weekend booking) so I'm not yet comfortable with this new inquiry. However, since it's less than 30, they would not be classified as tenant. But I also wasn't expecting the promotion to apply for a 28-day booking. I think I may want to amend the promotion period to 2 weeks max.

Any tips/insights? If you have experience renting week or month-long STR, would love to get your thoughts. Thank you, from a new STR host!

0 Votes

When you get mid-term rental inquiry from booking platforms (like for 28 days, which doesn't turn guests into actual tenants), what steps do you take? Do you collect security deposit, sign a rental agreement, background check, etc?

0 Votes

Quote from @Don Konipol:

Quote from @Thanh Lu:

For owners with a small portfolio (1-3 STR), how did you decide between self management vs hiring a vacation rental company? If you have a larger portfolio, are you still self managing? I am just starting out and have 1 STR.

Would love hear the pros/cons that you took into consideration when deciding how you want to manage your STR.

Self managing STR properties, from afar, while maintaining other employment, is only a possibility because of the new technology made available in the last 10 - 15 years. When I got into the STR space in 2015, I needed my daughter to be available on a full ti e basis as PM. While I do believe that some of the posters on BP are able to do a quality job self managing their portfolio of STR properties, they are spending a lot more time doing it than they’d like to admit.

10 years ago in many markets STR provided outsized returns. As more people placed more properties in STR inventory, and as more municipalities taxed and regulated the industry, the profitability of the overall industry has reverted to a much more aligned (lower) risk adjusted return. So, we now find most areas where the cost of PM leaves but the general real estate passive investment ROI for the investor hiring property management. PM fees are high, exactly because so much work is required in managing STR. If you want to do it yourself, be ready to answer text messages at 3 AM, solve problems within a 2 hour window, deal with contractors who aren’t able to “turn” a vacancy quick enough, and guests who want “instant” gratification. Since STR “lives” on reviews, being “right” because of the contract the guests signed might be the most expensive “right” you’ve ever experienced.

So what’s left for the “wanna be” STR investor in today’s market? Well, STR can work well for people who own a vacation house for personal use, and just want to generate some extra income when not in use. Also, for those whose BUSINESS (as opposed to just investment) is STR, they can scale successfully while their experience and knowledge of the industry may allow them the opportunity to uncover and recognize those few opportunities that will provide a much higher than market risk adjusted ROI.

Here’s what I did when I withdrew from the STR programs. I went to both MTR and LTR of FULLY FURNISHED units. Not some basic furniture with a couple of sets of silverware thrown in. I’m talking about upper middle class quality furniture and furnishings withEVERYTHING included. In 2014 it cost me about $42k to do this. The original six month tenant I had extended the lease 9 times and stayed a total of 5 years, paying me about $15k over market rent annually. So by spending $42k I collected an additional $75k over 5 years, and then sold the furniture through a consignment store collecting $8k as my share. Has almost no management headaches and my only cost for the tenant was a $1500 fee to a Realtor.

That's amazing. I am also interested in the MTR and LTR market as an option. This is something that recently came up so I'm still looking into. Would appreciate any insights on this as well! Like partners or how to "break in."

0 Votes

Upstate New York, New York

Would love hear the pros/cons that you took into consideration when deciding how you want to manage your STR.

0 Votes

Upstate New York, New York

All Forum Posts by: Thanh Lu

Thanh Lu has started 5 posts and replied 14 times.

Post: How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott Homes & Villa?

Post: How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott Homes & Villa?

Post: How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott Homes & Villa?

Post: How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott Homes & Villa?

Post: How to get listed on Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott Homes & Villa?

Post: Looking for Advice! Where are the best places to advertise your STR + MTR?

Post: Process for Midterm Rentals

Post: Process for Midterm Rentals

Post: For owners, self management vs hiring a vacation rental company?

Post: For owners, self management vs hiring a vacation rental company?