Airbnb Doubles Down on Professional Vacation Rentals in Resort Areas
Photo Credit: A sample vacation rental that has been reservable at Booking.com is this property, Villa Zest, in Suratthani on Koh Samui island in Thailand. Airbnb
Skift Take
The online juggernaut isn't satisfied with dominating urban markets. Airbnb wants to take the beaches and the mountains, too, in the battle for short-term rental bookings. So the company is becoming savvier in how it approaches local property managers.
In urban markets in the U.S. and Europe, Airbnb probably handles more short-term rentals than any other online booking agency. But when it comes to whole-home rentals in resort towns, the rental booking juggernaut has struggled to expand, particularly with the full-service property management companies that own the turf.
Airbnb's point person on the effort, Clara Liang, has been leading an effort to solve the "last mile" relationship puzzle with full-service property managers.
"We're still listening and responding, but we acknowledge we have a backlog," said Liang, vice president and general manager of the Lux division that overseas Luxury Retreats and Airbnb Luxe branded properties and general manager of professional hosting. Liang spoke to property managers during presentations Tuesday at a Vacation Rental Management Association conference in New Orleans.
Airbnb covets the so-called "destination market" of resort towns because the average transaction value on whole-home book
