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Vrbo reports major growth as Expedia moves to cut costs
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Vrbo is reporting significant growth as vacation rentals across the United States surge, helping to boost revenue for parent company Expedia Group. This contrasts with earlier in the year, when the company called its short-term rental service “fairly muted”. In an unscheduled financial filing yesterday, Expedia Group said: “Vrbo, Expedia Group’s alternative accommodation business, […]
Expedia Group to simplify portfolio by retiring HomeAway U.S. brand
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group has announced that it will retire its HomeAway brand in the United States next month, instead refocusing on simplifying its vacation rental portfolio and diverting U.S. users away from the HomeAway website and mobile app towards its Vrbo brand. The group has also confirmed that any travellers who have made existing bookings […]
Expedia notes uptick in Vrbo rental bookings in May
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Despite announcing first quarter losses and a reduction in revenue, Expedia Group has offered cautious optimism for a market recovery in both the vacation rental and hotel segments post-pandemic. In his first earnings call as CEO since being appointed to the role last month, Peter Kern said the group’s vacation rental brand Vrbo had seen […]
HomeAway adds tools to meet evolving customer needs
Reading Time: 3 minutesLondon: HomeAway, a Vrbo brand and part of Expedia Group, has announced more ways to help families find holiday homes, so that they can find accommodation that meets their standards for cleanliness and flexible cancellations when travel picks up again. Vrbo president Jeff Hurst said: “HomeAway has been connecting families with private, holiday homes for 25 years, and it […]
Vrbo creates new cleanliness guidelines and search filters
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: In response to travellers’ increased hygiene standards, Vrbo has introduced new cleanliness guidelines for its properties. The group hopes to support future customers worried about the impact of Covid-19 on a vacation. This new policy is informed by a combination of data from the CDC, WHO and hotelier risk management firm Cristal International Standards. […]
Stay Alfred to close its properties for eight weeks
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Travel apartment hospitality startup Stay Alfred is to close its properties across the United States for eight weeks from 1 April in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to Spokane-based newspaper The Spokesman. Speaking through a company spokesperson, Allen would not be drawn on commenting on whether Stay Alfred would refund its […]
Vrbo CEO Jeff Hurst expands COVID-19 refund policy
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: In a letter sent to Vrbo users, CEO Jeff Hurst has unveiled the first update to the company’s COVID-19 cancellation policy. The group has previously been alerting users that the situation was not severe enough to mandate full refunds. Vrbo now offers two options for a return of funds due to the virus. The […]
Guests seeking refunds for COVID-19 cancellations
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: South by Southwest [SXSW] and Coachella, two large-scale entertainment events in the United States, are among those to have announced delays due to COVID-19. As a result, many guests who have booked for these events are searching for refunds, to mixed results. While Airbnb has modified its cancellation policy to add a new category […]
Rentals United becomes Vrbo Elite Software Partner
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBarcelona: Channel manager Rentals United has announced it has become a Vrbo® Elite Software Partner, the highest designation available for vacation rental software companies that integrate with Vrbo. Vrbo, Expedia Group’s global vacation rental business, is a leading booking platform for vacation homes, cabins and condos with more than two million places to stay around […]
Steamboat Springs and HomeAway tax agreement signed
Reading Time: 1 minuteUS: Vacation rental platform HomeAway and the ski town of Steamboat Springs signed an automatic tax collection agreement. The small town, famous for its vacation rentals, hopes the agreement will make it easy for property owners to start listing on the platform. The agreement confirms that any homeowner advertising their property on HomeAway or its […]