If you’re a host or vacation rental manager, you’ve likely weighed the pros and cons of listings your properties across various platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway, Vrbo, and others. While Airbnb and HomeAway are competing platforms, the difference between Vrbo and HomeAway (along with companies in the HomeAway family) can be less clear.

Here’s a quick rundown of HomeAway vs Vrbo and what you need to know to maximize your listing’s exposure.


HomeAway was founded in 2005 and went public in 2011. During its time operating as an independent company, HomeAway acquired more than 20 companies, which included Vrbo. Some of these acquisitions were for competing short-term rental platforms, while others were for vacation rental software or mobile app technologies.

 This means that if you list on HomeAway, your property will automatically be displayed on these platforms (if applicable).

Below is a list of acquisitions that are now part of the HomeAway family, including Vrbo. Most of these listing sites focus on a specific regional area or cater to speakers of a specific language.


Bookabach
Audience: Travelers looking for accommodations in New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands
Website: www.bookabach.co.nz

Stayz 
Audience: Travelers looking for accommodations in Australia 
Website: www.stayz.com.au

TravelMob 
Audience: Travelers looking for accommodations in East and Southeast Asian locations such as Bali, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Taipei 
Website: www.travelmob.com

Toprural 
Audience: Travelers looking “casas rurales,” which are boutique country properties that are mostly located in Spain, but also exist in other parts of Europe 
Website: www.toprural.com


AlgueTemporada 
Audience: Portuguese-speaking travelers 
Website: www.aluguetemporada.com.br

VacationRentals.com 
Audience: English-speaking travelers 
Website: www.vacationrentals.com 

Vrbo 
Audience: English-speaking travelers 
Website: www.vrbo.com

Arbitel 
Audience: French-speaking travelers 
Website: www.abritel.fr

Homelidays 
Audience: French-speaking travelers 
Website: www.homelidays.com

FeWo-direct 
Audience: German-speaking travelers 
Website: www.fewo-direkt.de


Short-term Rentals and the Expedia Group


In 2015, Expedia Group acquired HomeAway. While the sites above continue to be part of the HomeAway family, there are additional sites that are part of what Expedia call its “expanded distribution network.” This network consists of sites like Trivago, Hotels.com, and other places where travelers are looking for accommodations but might not be considering a short-term rental just yet.

According to Expedia, listings that are eligible for the expanded distribution network will be automatically enrolled in the program. You can read more here or contact HomeAway support if you have questions about your rentals.



HomeAway vs Vrbo: Which Do Travelers Prefer?


Travelers in different markets have different brands that they associate with short-term rentals. When they’re looking for a place to stay, are they more likely to search for a short-term rentals on Vrbo or HomeAway? The answer largely depends on where they live.


HomeAway vs Vrbo: What does this mean for AirDNA data?

We recently integrated HomeAway into MarketMinder data, allowing hosts and vacation rental managers to get a complete view of their market. Instead of only seeing the individual listing performance, you can now see how properties themselves are performing—regardless of which platforms, they’re listed on. 

If a property is listed on HomeAway—or any of HomeAway’s associated platforms listed above—it’s part of AirDNA’s global data set of over 10,000,000 unique properties across 80,000 markets. 


Is HomeAway the same as Vrbo: Do you know the difference? Read our quick guide on where your listings will show on Vrbo. Read the blog here by AirDNA!

HomeAway vs Vrbo: Where Should You List?