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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 […]
Virtual tour tech growing in vacation rental sites
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: In a market that is becoming more crowded than ever before, services are looking at the virtual tour as a way to separate their property from others. Though the technology has been in use in the traditional real estate market for a few years, vacation rental companies are only just beginning to use the […]
Oxford Economics releases housing affordability crisis report
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Research firm Oxford Economics has released its latest in-depth report highlighting the extent to which short-term rentals are leading to the housing affordability crisis facing American communities. The deep dive analysis covered more than 2,500 counties over a four-year period leading up to 2018 and included model extensions on urban areas and vacation destination […]
Jeff Hurst replaces John Kim as head of Vrbo unit
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Jeff Hurst has replaced John Kim as senior vice president and general manager of Expedia Group’s vacation rental unit Vrbo. Other changes in the restructuring of Expedia Group’s senior leadership team include Cyril Ranque taking over the role of president of the company’s Travel Partners Group, and Sarah Gavin becoming vice president of Expedia […]
Internet access a vacation rental priority according to Savills and Vrbo
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: A recent analysis study by Savills and Vrbo® has revealed that internet access is the most important amenity when deciding on a vacation rental, not just for travellers but also for second home owners thinking about purchasing a second home. For the Savills Second Homes Report, Savills Research surveyed 7,800 property owners who list […]