How do properties join? Free to register as long as you understand the four basic hosts’ requirements.

Can any property join, or is there a criterion? 

• The space is only used for lodging.
• The space, if a mobile home, sailboat, yacht, or another vessel, will be semi-permanently attached to a set location and will be parked in a privately-owned space during the reservation.
• The space is accurately represented, located where the host says it is, and is bookable by the host.
  • Listings that don’t meet these criteria include:
    • Motor vehicles or watercraft intended for mobile use.
    • Any listing whose primary purpose isn’t serving as a lodging.

Fee to Host: Host Service Fee: 3%

• Additional fee for the following hosts:
  • Airbnb Plus Hosts.
  • Hosts with listings in Italy.
  • Hosts with Super Strict cancellation policies.

Fee to Guest: Guest Fee: 14%

Payment Mode:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Amex
• JCB
• Debit cards that can be processed as credit cards.
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• PayPal
• Other payment options available in other countries.

Does the OTA offer insurance for the Host?

Do they offer liability insurance? Yes.

• On Platform Insurance: Aircover
• $1M liability insurance

Do they offer damage insurance? Yes.

• On Platform Insurance: Aircover 
• $1M damage insurance

Do they collect a security deposit? Not taken, but Hosts who manage their listings with API-connected software can set a security deposit using our offline fees feature.

Do they provide guest details such as email address and phone number to the host?

The phone number is provided, but not the email address.

Is there dedicated customer support for the host?

• Phone
• Text
• Chat
• Email

How does the host get paid? Typically 24 hrs after check-in.

Additional Helpful Information:

Superhosts must meet the following criteria to qualify for—and maintain—their special status:

• Maintain a high overall rating
• Be experienced
  • You must have hosted at least 10 stays in the past year, or if you host longer-term reservations, 100 nights over at least 3 stays.
  • Guests can feel confident staying with an experienced host.
• Avoid cancellations
  • You must have canceled less than 1% of the time, not including extenuating circumstances. This means 0 cancellations if you have fewer than 100 reservations in a year.
  • Rare cancellations mean more peace of mind for guests.
• Be responsive
  • You must have responded to 90% of new, booking-related messages within 24 hours. When guests ask you questions, they know they’ll get a quick reply.
• Qualify every 3 months
  • Four times a year, you’ll have the chance to qualify for Superhost status. Airbnb checks all hosts every three months based on their previous 365 days of hosting. If hosts have areas to improve, they need to meet all requirements by the next assessment to earn or keep their Superhost status.

How do properties join? Register and List your property.

Can any property join, or is there a criterion?

• Any property can join.

Fees Charged by OTA:

• Commission fee
  • A 5% commission fee is charged on the rental amount and any additional fees you charge the traveler (such as cleaning, pet, and boat fees). Bookings that originate from Vrbo’s expanded distribution partners may have higher fees.
• Processing fee
  • A 3% payment processing fee is charged on the total payment amount you receive from your guest, including taxes and refundable damage deposits. The processing fee charged on the damage deposit portion is reimbursed when you refund the traveler’s deposit.
• Fees when using property management software
  • If you use property management software to manage your listings, you’re charged a 5% booking fee for bookings made through Vrbo’s family of sites. The fee is calculated on the rental amount and mandatory fees, excluding taxes and refundable damage deposits.
• Taxes and security deposits
  • Taxes and security deposits are subject to a 3% payment processing fee but not a 5% commission fee. Where VAT applies, VAT is charged in addition to the 5% commission.

Fee to Guest: 12%

Payment Mode:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express

Does the OTA offer insurance for the Host?

• Liability insurance
  • Yes, through Generali Global Assistance amounting to $1M.
• Damage insurance
  • Property damage protection (PDP) is optional insurance purchased by travelers to help protect them from paying out of pocket for accidental damage to your property.
  • You can set a damage deposit amount that your guest will be responsible for if they cause damage to your property. You’ll have up to 14 days to file a claim after a guest checks out. We’ll charge this amount on your behalf to the traveler’s credit card used for the booking.

Do they collect a security deposit? No.

Do they provide guest details such as email address and phone number to the host? Yes.

Is there dedicated customer support for the host? 

• 24/7 chat 
• Phone

How does the host get paid? Payouts are sent approximately one business day after your guest checks in.

Additional Helpful Information:

• The Expanded Distribution Network aims to promote vacation rental listings to a new, broader audience that aren’t familiar with this market. Vrbo believes that by growing awareness of the vacation rental industry, they can attract countless new travelers to their listings. The Expanded Distribution Network includes Expedia Distribution brands, such as:
  • Travelocity
  • CheapTickets
  • Orbitz
  • Expedia
  • Trivago
  • KAYAK
  • Other affiliates that specialize in vacation rentals.
• Eligible listings are automatically enrolled in the program. Currently, the following types of listings are eligible for the Expanded Distribution Network:
  • Pay-per-booking and subscription listings offering online booking, online payments, and in good marketplace standing.

Integrated listings must be enabled on Vrbo’s latest listing and booking integrations in order to be distributed to Trivago and KAYAK.

Commission: Commission on the Expanded Distribution Network is charged at the same rate as Vrbo.

Boost Program:

The Boost program: using your power-ups

• The Boost program allows Premier Hosts to improve a property’s listing position in our search results. Listings that are signed up to the Fast Start program may also be eligible for early access to the Boost program, if they meet our eligibility criteria.   
•  Properties in the Boost program are awarded power-ups every time they receive a booking, and when a guest completes a stay. Use your power-ups to give your listing a boost during the off-season, or to promote upcoming calendar availability.
•  Power-ups expire at the end of the month one year after they’re earned.

Become a Premier Host: Premier Host is a free, invite-only program that recognizes owners and managers who consistently deliver great traveler experiences. As soon as you meet the eligibility criteria, you’re automatically added to the program.

The benefits of becoming a Premier Host apply to all properties in your account.

• Program eligibility: Your eligibility is based on all your listings in your account achieving the following:
  • An average review rating of 4.3 or higher.
  • A booking acceptance rate of 90% or higher.
  • An owner-initiated cancellation rate of 5% or lower.
  • Three or more Vrbo reviews.
  • Five bookings or 60 booked nights.
• Quarterly assessments
  • Every quarter, Vrbos review your Premier Host status to determine whether you still qualify for the program. Quarterly assessments take place on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
  • Vrbo reviews performance over the past 365 days and removes accounts that no longer qualify. You’re automatically added back into the program as soon as your account meets the eligibility. criteria.  

Individual Self-Managing Property Owners – 

Property Managers and Co-hosts –  

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